LoveSick 2024

A Remarkable Remake That Captures the Heart of the Original While Adding a Fresh Twist

First of all, I want to acknowledge the producers, director, actors, and the entire staff of LoveSick 2024 for doing an exceptional job with this remake. LoveSick 2014 is one of the pioneering BL series that helped establish the entire industry. As someone who became a fan after watching both Seasons 1 and 2 of the original, I approached this remake with excitement and a touch of nostalgia. This review will include a comparison between the original and the remake, highlighting their strengths and differences.

When I first learned about this remake, I was thrilled and found myself constantly checking for updates. Once it aired, I was glued to the screen. Even if you haven’t watched the original series or read the novel, you’ll likely find yourself falling in love with this remake. Similar to the original, the 2024 version features young and fresh talents, giving the series a vibrant and contemporary feel.

Differences Between the Original and the Remake

One of the most noticeable differences lies in the structure. The original LoveSick spans two seasons: Season 1 has 12 episodes, focusing on how the main characters, Phun and Noh, begin to develop feelings for each other, culminating in an open-ended finale. Season 2 extends to 36 episodes, delving into multiple story arcs for almost every character in the story. The remake, on the other hand, compresses both seasons into a single 15-episode series.

This was an ambitious task, and I was initially skeptical about how they would manage to incorporate the iconic moments of a 48-episode story into just 15 episodes. To my surprise, they succeeded. The remake skillfully retains the core elements of the original while streamlining the plot for a modern audience.

Although both versions follow the general storyline of the novel, the remake introduces adjustments to better align with the sensibilities of a new generation. Certain character arcs have been altered, which I will touch upon later in the review.

Strengths of the Remake

The comedic antics of the side characters continue to provide the same entertaining vibes as the original. Notably, the remake includes an uncut version, which I highly recommend for fans of the novel and the original series. This version includes scenes that flesh out the arcs of the side couples, adding depth to their stories. In contrast, the YouTube version feels fast-paced, often omitting critical moments involving characters like Per, Win, Earn, and Pete.

Character Comparisons

- Noh: Across the novel, original series, and remake, Noh has always been a lovable character. In the remake, Progress captures Captain's (the original Noh) charm, wacky expressions, and overall adorableness. Watching him felt like Noh hadn’t changed a bit, even after a decade.

- Phun: Almond brings his own flair to Phun, delivering a softer, flirtier interpretation compared to White’s (the original Phun) more masculine portrayal. Both interpretations are excellent, but Almond’s relatable charm stands out.

- Ohm and Mick: Ohm, portrayed by 2 different actors in the original (the 2nd season of the original was way cuter then the 1st season), but NJ in the remake, exudes charisma and sex appeal, making this version even more captivating than the original. Meanwhile, Mick transitions from reserved and adorable in the original to a bolder, K-pop-inspired character in the remake, enhancing the Ohm-Mick dynamic.

- Yuri: Both versions depict Yuri as clingy and sweet, but I found the original portrayal more compelling. The remake’s Yuri feels slightly clueless at times, though her role remains crucial to Noh’s journey to self discovery.

- Aim: A significant change was made to Aim’s character. While she was romantically involved with another guy in the original, the remake reimagines her as a girl fallin in love with a fellow girl student named Li, making her arc with Phun more cohesive and offering a satisfying resolution to her mistakes.

- Per and Win: Shane’s Per in the remake is undeniably handsome but lacks some of the goofy charm that made the original Per so entertaining. I just really hope that Shane can improve his acting on his next projects. Sky’s Win, on the other hand, is absolutely adorable, delivering a refreshing chemistry with Per. Just by Looking at Sky's face will make every viewers heart melt. Their revamped arc is relatable and emotionally engaging much to my liking.

- Earn and Pete: Earn remains a pivotal character, with Krit’s portrayal in the remake brimming with charm and charisma. I also think that Krit was the best actor to play the role of Earn for the remake. He has 3 times the charm and sex appeal of Ngern(The original Earn). I also love the way he makes his facial expression every time he makes a move on Noh and make Phun extreemly jealous. Pete was originally played by August in the original and now Played by Phop. Pete's character is full of inocense and pure unrequited love for Earn, however, the lack of character development for Earn and Pete is disappointing. Their storyline deserved more screen time to highlight the complexity of unrequited love.

- Jeed: In the remake, Jeed is more of a straightforward antagonist, a departure from her anti-hero arc in the original. While this simplifies her role, it does make her easier for viewers to dislike.

Improvements in the Remake

The remake wisely eliminates unnecessary drama, focusing instead on the novel’s central storyline. The bond between Noh and Ohm is given more emphasis, showcasing their deep friendship and brotherly love. Additionally, Fi’s role is expanded, making him more integral to the story as Phun’s best friend and a part of the Ohm-Mick-Fi love triangle.

One delightful addition is the Phong-Ngor ship, which wasn’t in the original but provides a charming subplot. While some comedic scenes felt slightly forced, they didn’t detract significantly from the overall experience.

Final Thoughts

Overall, LoveSick 2024 is a remarkable remake that balances respect for the original with thoughtful updates for a new generation. From the excellent casting to the polished production and engaging storytelling, the series offers a fantastic viewing experience. Fans of both the original and the remake will undoubtedly find themselves wondering what new stories the Friday High students could tell in a potential second season.

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A Compelling Story with Frustrating Love Triangles

Love Sick brings an engaging storyline that keeps you rooting for the characters despite some frustrating moments. The plot is well-crafted, capturing the complexities of young love, especially the journey of Pun and No as they navigate their feelings.

While I’m enjoying the storyline, Pun’s indecisiveness is driving me a little crazy! He still hasn’t fully come to terms with his feelings for No, yet he seems to expect No to patiently wait while he dates someone else. This emotional tug-of-war creates some intense drama but also leaves me wishing that Pun would make up his mind. No deserves more than being left in emotional limbo, and I’m eager to see Pun gain clarity soon, if only for the sake of both their happiness.

Overall, it is off to a strong start with relatable characters and well-drawn conflicts, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Pun and No’s relationship evolves.

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SO Much Better...

As someone who made it through the original Love Sick from 2014 AND the interminably long (36 episodes) Love Sick Season 2 from 2015, I am happy to admit that this 2024 updated version was sooooooo much better! We're still living in a dream high school where most of the boys are gay and just about everyone is accepting and supportive.

Here are my pros and cons:

PROS

PROGRESS (Noh). I can't say enough about this guy. He is so talented and, while Phun was supposed to be the "handsome" one, Progress has a charisma that leaps off the screen at you. I think he carried the whole series practically singlehandedly and I look forward to seeing him in other projects.

PACING. Not too long, not too short. The story moved along nicely and checked all the boxes. It was a fun watch.

MUSIC. I liked the catchy OSTs. And some of these boys can really sing!

GL STORY LINE. They did a good job with the AimLee plot line. GL needs more representation.

NOH IS GAY. I liked that, in the last episode, Noh flat out confirmed that he is gay when confronted by Jeed. None of the usual (and insulting) "I'm just gay for you" crap.

CONS

ALMOND (Phun). I found him really, REALLY dull and uninteresting. He didn't match Noh's energy and, in fact, I was cheering for Earn and Noh to get together. A much better pairing!

I could nit pick at some things, but there wasn't anything else that particularly bothered me.

It's an 8.5 from me.

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The Performers Deserved Better

I hate to be so brutally honest, but this is one of the worst BLs of 2024. Literally, everything about this series, except perhaps the acting, was uninspiring. Although the young performers did a ‘yeoman’s job’ in trying to keep this shipwreck afloat, they alone could not salvage this complete mess from sinking. Honestly, to say otherwise, is living in a fantasyland and not dealing with any sense of reality. It is a tepid story with a fragmental screenplay, ineptly directed, disjointly executed, and undoubtedly should never have been (re)made. The only plus about this series literally is that they had the appropriate aged actors and actresses for the roles. They were young, attractive, innocent in real life, and tried their best to make sense of a story that was essentially senseless. Full disclosure, I did not watch the first ‘Love Sick’, so this was all ‘new’ to me. Thus, I cannot compare it to the original. Besides, this is a stand-alone production and ought to be judged on its own merits or faults.

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ABSOLUTELY AMAZING

I was so shocked to see such young actors and actresses acting so good. A thing that I noticed was that every scene was such on point. These people acted so amazing they literally made me feel every single emotion that the characters were feeling and that is not an easy thing to do. This series will forever live in my heart it was so heartwarming and at the same time showed realistic things like what's it's like to be scared of people to know that you're in a homosexual relationship or scared to tell your parents even friends. I love this series and will always appreciate it (sorry if they're some mistakes English is not my first language)

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I love this remake

I watched the original series in 2023, Seasons 1 & 2 plus the short Series ReminderS. I also re-watched a cut version where most of Jeed's and Tangmo's stories were deleted; I preferred the cut version because the focus was on the main leads.

In this remake, it's definitely focused on Noh and Phun. There are sub-plots but they don't take too much time away from our leads; Hard to believe but there are actually fewer characters in the remake than the original. They consolidated certain characters and attributed certain roles to the more prominent characters, and these were well executed.

Noh and Phun have amazing chemistry and their longing for each other is so evident in every scene. I admired Noh's patience waiting for Phun to figure out what he needed to and just stayed by his side the whole time, but also gave him space if that's what he needed.

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You should watch it

Overall this series is light and cute . For the younger bl fandom this would be perfect. I would love to see a season two where they are in college and more intimate . If they were able to use the exact cast it would be superb.

Story/Plot
This received the lowest rating for me simply because the story followed the flow of a circle . In the beginning it was fine but as the series progressed the plot became boring and predictable. This would have had a greater shock value if it was between 8-10 episodes.It really did not need 15 episodes.For the appropriate age group (anyone below 20) the plot is quite relatable and you will now be bored . However if you typically watch more mature series you will get bored of the plot around episode 8. The good thing is that each episode has that one moment that makes you want to watch the rest.

Acting/ Cast
I can honestly say the cast is spectacular no cringe moment whatsoever. The acting felt natural and very appropriate for the characters’ ages.The cast if they continue in the Bl scene will be a force to reckon with. If you’re older than 18 you might have trouble shipping them because the cast is so young it feels weird.

No
No’s character is goofy and fun . His emotions were always on spot . ❤️
Pun
Pun’s character brought the damsel vibes but he was so adorable to watch especially when he got jealous ❤️
Earn
Earn’s character was very good as well. My heart broke when he cried but when he got his own boo I was over the moon❤️
Ohm
This character was overall my favorite because he was the perfect balance of all good qualities ❤️❤️
Music
The music was good and the characters who actually sang sounded natural . I think most of the singing was lip syncing but it was very good .

Rewatch value
For teenagers you will definitely watch this multiple times . When watching this series prepare to wish you were in high school or prepare to feel lonely 🫣🫣🫣🫣

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Cult classic, new and improved!!

In an era where BL series were still fairly underdeveloped and in short supply (this was pre-Sotus and pre-Dark Blue Kiss), Lovesick was a cult classic in 2014.

In this current climate where it’s trendy to have spicy BLs, Lovesick is proof that you can still have a great yet innocent story. The actors in Lovesick are really young (the oldest being 17 and the youngest just 14 or 15, so it’s a good thing that this series is kept largely chaste.)

Fundamentally, the story still works. Noh pretends to be Phun’s boyfriend, and the boys end up spending a lot of time together. The butterflies and delicious ambiguity that comes with such young love is something that never gets old.

Phun is a little bit of a red flag at times. But what can one realistically expect from another confused person?

Despite all their problems, it’s easy to root for this couple and their young love, hitting you with the feels of what it's like being a teenager all over again.

Verdict: I am hopelessly hooked onto the OST rn :(

More reviews: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/

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Better on YouTube…

This was a cute watch and puppy love is really the right description. I watched the uncut version for a while but found the cut version on YouTube to be faster moving and just as good.😊🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻💕💕💕💕💕💕💕🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻💕🙏🏻🙏🏻💕💕💕💕💕🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

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Carino

Allora, parto col dire che io ho visto l'originale e questo secondo me è un ottimo remake, ma la magia dell'originale non si matcha. Detto ciò lo ho visto in onore di When Oranges Fall e del fatto che Almond e Progress sono passati alla mia agenzia preferita (la GMMTV) e anche se sono finita a finirla un po' più in la rispetto all'inizio della serie sono comunque contenta di averla vista. Detto ciò, passiamo alla recensione vera e propria: ho apprezzato che se non erro ci sono meno storie (diciamo complessive) rispetto alla serie originale, dove sarò onesta c'erano talemente tante storie che ogni tanto mi perdevo (e credo per alcune puntate non si vedevano nemmneo Captain e White, che in alcuni punti sembravano quasi dei Cameo nella loro stessa serie), e overall per qusto remake ho capito alcune cose della serie che mi ero persa e che, appunto in parte perché sono meno puntate (visto che la seconda stagione sono tipo 36 puntate), mi è parsa un po' più coesa e fluibile. Detto ciò, ritengo comunque che la storia originale abbia una certa magia che questa non aveva. Vi devo dire che secondo me vedendo questa serie senza confrontarla con l'altra non è male, anzi, ma sul confronto ci sono punti di forza e di debolezza in entrambe le storie. Ho apprezzato moltissimo la coppia AlmondProgress e sono contenta di averli visti in questa veste (e nella veste dei due Ko di WOF, dove i loro personaggi sono un pelo simili), quindi non vedo l'ora di esplorare ancora di più le dinamiche di questa coppia. Una cosa per cui ho apprezzato di più la storia originale è che, anche se c'erano 800 mila storie, almeno si vedeva una quota di storie maschili e una quota femminili, mentre qui i personaggi predominanti erano maschili e quelli femminili sembravano di contorno: e una cosa che avevo apprezzato molto nella serie OG è che si desse spazio sia alle storie maschili che femminili. Sorry la recensione scoclusionata, ma ho sonno e devo andare a lavorare.

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Extremely cute, but....

Disclsimer first: I did watch the original series years ago, and re-watched it several times. It gave me a feeling of true teenage angst, anguish of firts love and jealousy and really hit me in the feels. I never read the book

So, now that we have that out of the way, let's get into this. As far as remakes go, this one was a very good one. It stayed very close to the original series in terms of character porttrayal and atmosphere. However, this remake feels much, much lighter than the original. There is still a lot of jealousy, but it is brought with a sense of humor that the original lacked. It is stil angsty, but much less intense. This lightheasrtedness benefits the story greatly. Situations and relations are clearer, characters more balanced and teenage-like. We are watching a coming of age that is both cute and scary.

I do have some points of critique, though. The biggest one being that the only kiss (if you can even call it that) is from a ghost ship. In the last scenes, it is hinted at that Noh and Phun have done "much more", but we never get to see any of that. While I understand the age of the actors has something to do with that, why did we get that ghost kiss but not the real thing? That being said, the last take with the glass door is ever so sweet.

I'm scoring this an 8. woukld have been higher if we had a tiny bit more (age-appropriate) skinship.

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