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Underwhelming for actors with great chemistry...
**spoilers ahead**This is my first JoongDunk series - I watched this the while I excitedly waited for their new series "Hidden Agenda". I honestly expected a lot more since my last watch was "Bad Buddy". Needless to say, this was not as good. I understand it's not a fair thing to compare to but the disappointment after watching such a good series and then this. I point this out to give a context on my mindset while I was watching this. The thing that bugged me the most was that there were a lot of irritating plot points and if there was anything that could sum up the plot it’s one word: miscommunication. Because Kluen doesn't know how to communicate. Or DaoNuea didn’t say how he felt and lied to himself about how he felt. Or WHATEVER. This series made me realize I loathe miscommunication tropes. While it's understandable that Kluen may have valid issues about communicating (something we never got a reason to, were we to assume it's just something he had from birth? Literally all his close friends and Nuea were frustrated at him constantly for this), it was so exasperating to see him navigate through situations that could have been easily resolved with him just saying what he fucking needs to. It was more frustrating that he also knew this about himself but until someone he cared about (DaoNuea) was hurt was when he finally did something about it. He had plenty of time to work on it and get better but didn't do anything about it.
I understand that this is a short series, but "Bad Buddy" was able to captivate and made me feel for the characters just from 5 episodes, something Star in My Mind failed to do so through all 8 episodes. I feel like we barely got to meet each character so it makes it hard to understand their actions too - especially when we don't really have a true understanding of who they are and what they're like.
The acting also took me out in most aspects. While I love and respect both actors, it’s not difficult to see that they are novice actors as some scenes felt awkward and forced- something I personally think they can definitely improve on as I believe they have the true potential to be amazing actors. I can't fault the actors for this alone though, as I feel like the director could have put in more effort on directing and guiding the actors. Their plot and idea were good but the implementation is truly lacking.
Overall - as a series, it was underwhelming as JoongDunk have amazing chemistry. Though I still have my reservations about their next series “Hidden Agenda”, seeing as it's the same director as the travesty that is "Step By Step", I am enthusiastic that since it's been over a year, "Hidden Agenda" will be both an improvement from this.
Satang/Sean was the perfect comic relief!
[END]
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A little, just a little, boring (In a cute way, but still, boring).
Hmm I have mixed feelings for this series. At the same time that was cute, it was boring.The storyline it's just... annoying? It's another lazy script from GMM, nothing surprising. But I really like Joong (Kluen) and Dao (Dunk) bcs of their chemistry. At the end of the day, I'm being way too easy on this review bcs I'm biased.
Their acting is ok, they have good chemistry and it's okay, nothing special tho. Since I have already watched them in another series and it was their first job together, it's great to see that they improved since Star In My Mind.
In resume, it's cute, but still way too boring and I watched in 2x just to say that I watched bcs I like the pairing. Going to watch the second part (Sky In Your Heart) now!
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Started out 'above average' but dipped to only 'average'
The acting and chemistry were good enough in the beginning that I was invested, but the turn of the story in the second half just felt like way too much drama and was quite convoluted. They also didn’t really execute the stoic character type that Kluen is very well. I thought there would be some insight into why he is the way he is, but the story just decided to say he’s dumb when it comes to love. And that felt cheap? Like, nothing more complex?Because there were meaningful moments, scenes and interactions in the first half I thought we would get some kind of pay-off in the second half. But it felt like they changed writing teams halfway through.
Or it’s possible some people are good at romance buildup, but they aren’t good at sustaining conflict after the confessions. This show probably would’ve been better if it ended in romance instead of inserting extra drama to keep them separated until the end.
The series suffers the most from relying on only words instead of using visuals to tell us what people are feeling. There are even chunks of exposition given by side characters to advance the story. If there were no side characters, then nothing would’ve happened between the main couple, which is an issue because romance should grow out of two characters actions, not out of the actions of the people around them.
Promising in the beginning but then it just turned out stale in the end
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Typical BL and almost borderline of Cringe + Boring
I have so much high expectation of this since the director is New but it almost disappoint me a little bit after the climax of the plot. I mean I understand how Kluen's character were supposed to be but honestly, I wish he could show more expression like how he is so frustrated at himself for not knowing how to expression his feelings better. The tears I am seeing is not enough, its not sufficient. Joong is like a doll who produce tears but thats it. I'm not sure if its his acting or Kluen's character is really like that but I wish there is something more you know? I am really glad its just 8 episodes cause if its 12 episodes, bruh, i might die out of bored. I wish there are more heart throbbing scenes where Kluen is the one that help Dao with his assignments or take care of him in secret but its just blergh. I am a little bit disappointed to be honest but the way the plot develop before it reaches their climax really good. I feel so frustrated and Kluen for not saying anything so I guess that's good, right?I HATE DAO'S CHARACTER SO MUCH. Okay for someone that have a crush, he surely doesn't act like it. He looks like Kluen is the one that been chasing him. I mean there is no love in their relationship. Something is just NOT IT. When your crush said they like you back, shouldn't you feel butterflies or feel joy overload? But Dao is just.. oh okay. Nice, bruh. Like????? If you want to know how you were supposed to react, you really should watch 2 Moons ( the first one ) and the way Wayo shows how much he likes Phana really portrays how someone should act with their crush. But Dao? Not feeling it. I am sorry but I think they can do better than this because I like seeing them together but.. what is this???
JUSTICE FOR TYPHOON. WHERE IS THE SIDE PAIRING???? I mean okay fine there is side pairing but why must it be Fah x Prince??? UM HELLO??? TYPHOON DESERVES LOVE TOO LIKE WTF IS GOING ON????? Im sad.
KISS SCENES? LIKE BRUH. I feel so disappointed with their kiss scenes. Like WHAT IS THIS BRUHHH???? Kiss scenes are like what? 3 - 5 scenes only? But it's more like a peck and not like a real kiss. I don't feel it. Im sorry but I just don't. What is going on and why aren't they kiss passionately? Like fuck that shit 'we have innocent love'. BRUH. The kiss is just merely pressing against each other lips that's it. Im sorry but i am not loving it.
Overall, I think good actors, so-so plot, disappointing plot development.
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Not a very likeable MC
This has happened before where I liked every other character except the main characters. In my case, that would be Dao. The little bantering moments between him and Kleun, when they met again, were funny and nice to watch. Their friends/roommates added to the overall enjoyment of watching the series. I didn't like Typhoon that much because he reminds me of those 'try-hard and can't take the obvious no' for an answer. While Dao never rejected him, he knew and kept ignoring the signs and was all up in Dao's space.The character I felt was the most wronged in this series was Kleun. He never rejected Dao but rather was unable to explain himself. That's something he struggles with, expressing his feelings, which is actually related since I am very much like Kleun. Their roommates and friends could see the obvious feelings the two have for each other except Dao and this kept making him see Kleun as the bad guy whenever he couldn't put into words what Dao wanted to hear. I felt like Kleun was the one trying the most while Dao kept messing things up.
The way he reacted when Kleun got a call from a distressed Gia and making him choose at that moment was too much. Feelings and ex-girlfriend status aside, that was still Kleun's friend who obviously needed help at that moment. There was no time to feel hurt but rather to feel like a human and try to understand. Instead, he accepted to be Phoon's boyfriend for the day. Which obviously didn't end well. And this is another reason why I do not like Phoon. There were so many ways to show Kleun what they talked to him about but instead chose an option that made everything even more messy.
In all honesty, I kept watching because of Kleun as I wanted him to have a happy ending as well as Fah.
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Star and Sky
Okay.... Umm Star and SkyWell, Cool cast, the main actors are cute, well the storyline sounds cool but i mean it something we've all watched before but this has potential 😊
The intro of the series, i don't like it, the painting intro 👎👎The friends seem funny. It seems like there's gonna be love triangle 😁😁😁
It actually nice to see family faces from UWMA (until we meet again)
Room for improvement
It seems the last scene was a dream, if i want there to be a change, it will be the theme song
Still watching tho but i like it 😊😊😊
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This a Good BL
This not a great BL it's a good BL. It could have been great because the casting was very strong. Especially the secondary characters. I almost wish...well any of the secondary characters would have been a better Dao. Maybe it was the premise of the series, someone who had a crush on someone so they secretly did school assignments for them??? At first I was like ok (?) maybe there's more to it, but no that didn't happen. I did think there was chemistry between the main couple but it wasn't hot and passionate, but it did seem like they liked and cared for each other. Funny thing was it seemed to me that Khab liked Dao more, or it was more obvious. Anyway there are a lot of good aspects to this BL. Best award goes to Joong a Khab and best support goes to Pepper as Phoon. Dunk was ok as Dao I just didn't really take to him or the character. Yes it could be scripting and direction issue for sure. Again I must say that the support cast was all very strong and likeable. Over all a good watch. Note I didn't say great, but it could have been.Was this review helpful to you?
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A simple story but executed so badly
This gotta be the most basic ass series I have watched in a long time. So the story is a story old as time. Boy likes boy, boy tired of chasing boy, boy tries to get over the other boy but the now the other boy wants him and tries to get him back. So how did they ruin such a basic ass plot? There is one thing that I hate in this series. Its the lack of consent. Its 2022 and people still try pass kissing without consent romantic or acceptable in a series. NO, its not cute and it would never would be. Another thing that I hate is the dragging. It drags the story much with the misunderstandings. Like if the Kluen actually spoke and use his words even once it would have ended so many episodes ago. Now the acting.... to be honest, I like Dunk but boi his acting was kinda bad..The parts where he had to get emotional like being angry and crying were especially weird. I would laugh since I couldn't tell if he was about to sneeze or cry lol. GMMTV need to stop hiring actors for lead role if they cannot act, just because they are attractive doesn't cut it. I do hope he get better tho, cause I like Dunk and Joong's chemistry. The music is nice have no complains whats over. Joong has a nice voice. Now the rewatch value is high cause there are alot of cute moments. Overall, it was not bad not good but just ok. It started out nice but felt flat in the middle. So if want to watch this series just watch it but do not expect anything.Was this review helpful to you?
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Mediocre but could be worse
Overall I think that this series is incredibly mediocre, there's nothing unique to this that I can't find in another Thai BL series. I had watched Hidden Agenda as it came out and honestly enjoyed it, though that series wasn't that much different than this one but I think it just had more too it overall. Neither main character was compelling at all I think they're both pretty generic BL characters.Favorite episode was 8 for sure. Khabkluen wore a shirt that said "Farmer Snake" which is absolutely amazing and had to make it the best. Other than that.... I still think its my favorite its a very sweet and romantic episode that I think could just be the series in one short episode. Bring in some flash backs and some of the argument and bam it would be the whole plot in an hours time.
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Why, just why?
This title has many interesting and well written characters, that dont have enough screen time. Chen's character is quite interesting as well. But thats about it.The "plot" would fit into 2 episodes and it has more holes then swiss cheese. Dao is somehow the most beautifull person under the sun and everybody seems to fall in love with him out of nowhere. The time is very badly shown, so you feel like everything happed in one week, but it is months. Dao and K. were waiting multiple years to get together, but when they do, Dao is like "omg, you already kisses me three times, thats enough." Do they not know young boys at all?
Also, some of the conversations happen multiple times without any reason. You get a lot of eye staring with slow music, that is just funny, because they have these "special moments" all the time. You get multiple shots with dramatic music for just hand grap.
Dao is boring, the show is boring. At least some of the friends are HOT and funny.
Also - wth was the "ending". If you dont like yourself, watch this.
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This review may contain spoilers
Watch this for another drama of Joong Archen Aydin & Dunk Natachai Boonprasert. But like almost all our skyy 2 series. This one turn out have their own stupidity too... Tell story about Daonuea & Khabkluen. Daonuea had a crush on Khabkluen in high school and confessed his feelings before he go to Germany for study. However, he was rejected & had his heart broken. Now in University, Daonuea meet again with Khabkluen & later on also has Khabkluen as his dormmates. How will they story evolved...?
Ok... Now what i like first, cause the stupid thing or minus point as usual has spoiler...
+ Weirdly enough, for me the chemistry between Joong Archen Aydin & Dunk Natachai Boonprasert better in here than in Hidden Agenda. I wonder what happen between this drama & Hidden Agenda, is the actor relationship themselves that get strain or what...
+ Really like how Khabkluen & Daonuea express their feeling through their eyes. I really can feel their pain.
What I don't like:
- All the character is stupid when it comes to love. Like how Typhoon & Phaphaeng 'force' to be with Daonuea. Or how Khabkluen insisted to hide his feelings for Daonuea.
Overall this actually quite good & interesting story. Unfortunately they have stupid plot. So i can't give higher score than 6.5*
Below is SPOILER ALERT!!! Read it with ur own risk.
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SPOILER ALERT!!!
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Stupid thing:
- Why Khabkluen need to hide his feeling in the first place never get explained. I think at first it cause Khabkluen don't want to have long distance relationship with Daonuea. But unfortunately they never really explained to us the why...
- they never give us the good background story of Khabkluen & Daonuea. Like how Daonuea fall in love at Khabkluen. How can Daonuea first start to make art assignments for Khabkluen & how stupid that teacher never find out, or do they find out & what happen. How can Khabkluen fall in love at Daonuea. See this all need some answer but they never really explained
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If only they talked to each other
Ok is the series cute sure... is it also incredibly annoying and hits all the cliches and OML just talk already? Also yes.It's one of those BLs that the actor's chemistry couldn't save, Joong and Dunk have amazing chemistry and I like watching them act together but even that couldn't save this.
The script is another one without a lot of substance, two guys fall in love and proceed to ignore any type of proper communication and make us suffer through too many misunderstandings. Also, the character Typhoon is incredibly annoying and I couldn't stand him the entire show.
And the end scene with Daonuea brother came out of the left field I guess they just wanted a reason for a sequel but damn was it really necessary?
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