Top Form

pretty sure going to be in the minority here, but yes i do love them and ship them and the casting and direction is damn good. all of it is true and yet i was disappointed.

and it wasnt disappointment with just that last episode either.

so hot take or whatever you want to call it, when you watch something that already completely swept you off your feet in the first half, how can you possibly mess it up in the last half? I dont know but here's my honest thoughts.

I have not read the manga so this is based solely off the show, and naturally going to read it now to see who was in the wrong here but its like they picked up a good plot element, super dark, which was the EXPECTATION because I mean not everyone is here for the pointless tears that made no sense when the whole grandma arc was BORINg AS F.

That and the decision to start something dark with akin's character and then it would just get resolved in the next ep!!! like wtf i wasnt there to watch two dudes being boyfriends while the world is against them in a bunch of different pretty looking scenes, that is the plot of every damn bl story line! i was there to watch something different! this was NOT DIFFERENT!

I was there for the plot and it got really thin at one point.

the writing is again, dialogue etc is good naturally but the actual plot they just pick up some conflict and then just go the other way or resolve it way too quick . its like a diff person wrote the last couple of eps because they could have still fixed it in the finale but damn disappointing finale too.

i dont know if some of these things happened because some prude was controlling the creative decisions or because they blvd their audience was too conservative to find akin actually sleeping with someone sus! instead of making it so it didnt actually happen and Johnny just made it look that way! wtaf.

its not even the only time this happened! that one ep where he just tries to solve things on his own was the same resolved by wearing rings ! i mean at least continue that conflict to the finale instead of adding some bs plot about the grandma.

ok like i said, i will definitely rewatch it later and it has some amazing stufff especially pretty much everything to do with the hooney and the xianxia stuff even the sasaeng plot despite being resolved too soon still got to me because they showed a nuanced story for the sasaeng at least.

okay then i will stop nowand get some sleep folks!

have a great day/night and be safe wherever you are <3

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Well, this hurt my feelings

Dear lord, where to start.

Once upon a time, I saw the trailer for this, shortly before it aired, and not being acquainted with the OG manga, I seen a specific scene between Akin and Jonny and noped out of there like a cartoon character, leaving a trail of petrified black glitter everywhere, with old fans laughing at me because, duh, how could I not know what this show was about?

Fast forward to a few days ago, and upon reading the comments and reviews and deciding that it was safe to proceed, I did. And I can see why it got so much hype while it was airing.

I don't have to know that this is a live action remake of a manga because I can see the yaoi manga tropes in the show. Most of the time they are there to hurt your feelings and that can be exhausting. But thankfully, since the show, and thai bls in general, only have 12, in this case 11, episodes to get to an end, they cant dwell too long in that misery because they just dont have the air time.

(glares at cdramas)

On a whole, the editing is pretty seamless. We start off with Jin's perspective and then before you know it, we're looking at everything through Akin's. His pov is the main narrative. This poor man gets the typical yaoi treatment of being the master of his craft and everyone either loves him or hates him. It's a wonder he has never been habitually abused as pretty much everyone is salivating the moment they see him and then run for the hills whenever he is in trouble. No loyalty in show business.

The honey scene was a surprise to me because I expected to hate it, and found that it was very artfully done. For the first few episodes, everything has a very sensual artsy approach.
Once Jin and Akin manage to get together, every episode afterwards it's just another method of torturing Akin emotionally in some way and the editing/filming style switches to a shaky hand cam zooming in and out of the characters faces, at emotional moments.

I had no issues with the SmartBoom chemistry. I didnt feel it as strongly as others did but I still felt like they were comfortable with each other and worked well together.

On a darker note - What Jonny did to Akin was not ok. It may not be considered a 'rape' by some, it was still assault. He undressed him, left hickeys and even told Jin that he was not in the mood anymore after Akin kept calling Jin's name. So he still meant to rape him. He also tried to drug Jin.

I've read enough japanese yaoi's growing up to know that there is a serious fetish happening in them and I'm very repulsed by it. It shouldnt still be a thing. But since the creators were likely just following the general narrative of the OG, I am willing to give them a pass. Jonny I will not.
This has clearly been left open for a season 2 and considering how popular it is, I'm not surprised. But I will not be caring for Jonny. They can pair him up with the cutest little twink they can find, I will not be interested. The character needs to be seriously redeemed in someway. Big time. I would need to see some serious karma for his behaviour.

Speaking of the ending, I'm assuming that in a season 2, Jonny and Naru will be the competition against Jin and Akin. They appeared to have hinted at that in the last scene.

What really had me looking forward to a second season though was the snippet of Producer Jade telling Akin he had bought the rights for another show. When Akin replies with 'but I've left the industry', Jade does the classic glasses character motion of pushing up his glasses with a smile, replying with 'oh I heard'.

My all time favourite eff you line to use in my own life. - "Oh I heard you, and I don't care" =)

To be fair, as far as we know, Akin didn't sign anything. His agreement with Sigma's head honcho was purely verbal, which isn't legally binding. Akin could absolutely return to acting, now as a director as well, and there would be nothing Sigma could do about it, other than retaliate in some other underhanded means. But I'll still be clapping for the big middle finger from Jade, and I would love to know who 'LIT' is.

Music was in English a lot of the time, and I enjoyed what I heard. I even recognised one song, to my surprise.
The styling I thought was beautiful and very Japanese. Another sign that this is a Japanese OG work.
I was also really impressed with the chinese outfits the leads had on at one point for a show they were working on. The wigs were exactly like how they are styled in cdramas and I appreciated the attention to detail by the stylists.

Overall, this started off as an artsy, trendy bl and very quickly sped into a rollarcoaster of common bl tropes that had me stressing. I'm not sure how often I would watch this again, but I did enjoy it a lot and I will definitely be back for second season.

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Could've been a 9....

This is a great serie... except it isn't.
The first 4 episodes suck you right in. They are great, amazing even and while watching them I was already thinking this serie was going to be a 9 or, dare I say, a 10.

Then eps 4 happened.

First, let me say that I did not read the manga. I do understand that this is an adaptation and they had to keep a number of elements intact.
However, how is it possible in 2025 to have a caracter kiss another while he is sleeping?? That is not okay.
Even if Akin opened his eyes after Jin left, Jin still kissed him while he thought he was sleeping. You have no idea how my blood started boiling when I saw that. It is just not acceptable in 2025.

That was just the beginning of the serie going downhill.

Let me be clear : there is a rape/fake rape/sexual assault scene, however you want to call it. Per usual, the reaction of the characters was underwhelming and there was next to none consequences.
At the risk of repeating myself, how is that still okay in 2025? Even if they had to stay close to the manga, I believe they should've still made some changes regarding this part.

I won't go into much details because I don't want to give spoilers, but at least now you were warned of the lack of awareness of the director.

Other than the non-consensual kiss and the rape sequence, the serie was incredible! Which is why these two elements are so maddening : if better executed, this serie could've been a 9.

At first, I didn't want to give over a 6 to the serie because of that, but the undeniable chemistry between the main actors convinced me to mark it a 7.5.
They truly saved the serie.

I was also a bit disappointed we couldn't learn more about Jin other than his quick backstory, as the serie seemed to focus more about Akin.

The NC scenes were great, but there are no sex scenes that could compensate the two major sexual aggressions that happened in this serie.

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Exceeded my expectations!

I rarely watch shows while they’re airing, so my plan was to wait until this one finished before starting it — but I failed. I saw a clip online that drew me in, and I pretty much devoured the first nine episodes. Thankfully, I only had to wait three more weeks for the final ones.

I really liked it, and I truly hope there’s a season 2.

The only issue I had was with the makeup. The cast’s makeup was overly done — borderline cakey at times.

At first, I assumed it was intentional because the main leads are celebrities, but I noticed it with the side characters too. I really hope they fix that in the next season (if we get one — fingers tightly crossed!).

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Who doesn't love good Honey

Jin and Akin have taken us on a roller-coaster ride, and I liked it but...... The true story of was lost in the overdramatic acting at times. From their first meeting, Jin has had an agenda, and his purpose never shifted. How to bag Akin? How to be the one who can make Akin the happiest? I will say that after the first nc scene, he had nothing to worry about. Akin was giggling like a teen with his first crush. Racing heart beats, shy hesitant looks, and my man Jin made full use of the kryptonite, honey. I'm sure the demand for honey must have skyrocketed after that episode. We were served and, I must say, served very well. Jin's members (tongue, fingers and.......) should be framed and held in high esteem for eternity. The award winning honey should be glass encased. Viewed but never touched. A population surge, we do not need.

Jin gave new meaning to the term green flag. He came in every sense, he saw and he conquered. He knew that getting through to Akin would take loads of patience, perseverance, flexibility, and vision. He walked beside him, holding his hand every step of their journey. He gently drew him out of his shell and understood him. He allowed him to express himself, validate his feelings, and made him feel safe. His dreams always included Akin at the center. He teased the inner freak out of Akin and was up for the challenge. He was that good.

From being an high strung pampered introvert, Akin matured over time to be a strong, thoughtful decisive lover. Yes, he was a handful, but good actors usually are. Once the reality of his position in the acting world hit, he changed his agenda from ego to lover. Jin had quietly entered his world and gave his life the much needed assurance he craved. He was loved and would be truly loved for himself and not the adoration he had known as an actor. Akin's strength was bringing each actor he worked with to a higher level. It worked well with Jin as Jin loved him. Johnny, on the other hand, should have been left alone. Though, being a perfectionist brought him unwanted pain. He doesn't know how to do mediocre.

Two times Akin let me down. The night after the 'rape' scene and when he was going to be blackmailed with the picture. Firstly, the night after the 'rape'. Unless his anatomy was acting a role and disconnected from his body, he must have known if he was violated from recent activity. Drugged or not, a quick clench would let him know. Either way, confront Johnny instead of running away and continuing to act with him. I didn't like Jin saving him. A good kick to the groin by Akin was needed here. Secondly, why did he feel that taking on the blackmailer by himself was the best way to go? There are different levels of dumb. He chose the highest level. If he wanted to protect Jin, discuss with him what is the best option. But it did make for an anguished nc, which is good tv.

Best lines of the script:
"Did I mean so little to you?"
"You were never supposed to mean anything at all."

Johnny, being a royal pain, should have understood his role from the beginning. A clown will always be a clown, whether he wore fancy clothes or not. I did like his unknowing confession. He knew what he was and the lengths he would take to reach his dreams. Still, don't overreach your position.

What was a big plus for me in this series other than the chemistry and the benefits of honey, was the different difficulties being presented over the course of years. They were together but with the core nemesis still trying to break them as an ongoing thread. It could have become a hindrance if it became too convoluted. It gave the series a realistic passing of time. The secondary actors all did well enough to make it credible. I would have preferred that the series surrounded the battle of an aging actor vs a new actor replacing him. A neurotic Akin would have made must-see moments. Their interractions at this point was electric. Jin winning the award caused the best friction between them. Everything else felt lackluster.

Adding the multiple stories that were solved within an episode or two kind of made it less engaging. We would have still got the honey scene at the end when they got together and would end with a bang. In the other nc scenes, it felt like a decline. Didn't they know that you always save the best for last? Their character growth would be double and not more one-sided as it happened. Jin came in strong and stayed that way throughout. His sole purpose was to be at Akin's side. They way to do it was to become an actor to catch his attention and once that was achieved, follow Akins instructions. Akin is the only one shown to evolve.

The nc scenes aided a lot in the popularity and were done for adults. Boom's go-to crying for sympathy was becoming a little tedious. His baby girl antics, though cute but unrealistic, for a grown man. The ending unbelievable as the entire script felt like a soft breath leaving your lungs. No impact whatsoever. Smart has grown as an actor and adapted well to the script. Smart and Boom made good. This was enjoyable, a little too sweet and not enthralling enough. Should you go watch? Yes, if only for the sweet taste of honey.

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A Visually Impeccable and Moving Series

I absolutely loved ! The direction is excellent, with beautifully shot scenes and colors that tell a story.

Akin is the most striking and endearing character. He endures every misfortune and cries from episode 3 to 11, but his sincerity makes him very human. On the other hand, Jin is often in the background, and his behavior is sometimes strange, even aggressive (the hospital kiss, his reactions to Akin's assaults).

I was disappointed by the lack of development for Johnny and Jade. We didn't get enough time to truly despise Johnny, and Jade deserved more depth.

The series effectively exposes agency tactics for promoting or ruining artists, which is sad but realistic. Boom's acting is excellent, and I hope he wins awards!

I highly this series!

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A Rare Masterpiece Transcending The BL Niche

I rarely write reviews, but The Top Form needed to be reviewed.

The series was incredibly artistic, with every scene tastefully and intricately designed and seamlessly sewn together. The quality of the series truly transcends the BL industry. I don't know about the budget, but I'm sure it was nowhere near that of Kinnporche or The Next Prince; yet it might as well have been. The cinematography was impeccable, and the execution of the characters was perfection.

The actors Boom as Akin and Smart as Jin were absolutely phenomenal, and somehow their characters felt parallel to their real lives. Boom is easily one of the best actors in Thailand and stands alongside War in terms of his micro-expressions and attention to detail. Smart, much like his character Jin, young as he might be, stepped up and did justice to the partnership, especially with all the improvisations he made. They were perfect together.

Loved:
- The screenwriting, cinematography, scene design, and overall production were top- notch.
- The main characters' mutual obsession felt so authentic, and any conflicts they faced were resolved swiftly- thank goodness!
- While I' m not usually a fan of Japanese works, I really appreciate a good story. This series captured the manga' s essence beautifully, blending Japanese vibes with a distinct Thai flair. The balance in the story' s identity was just right!

Could' ve been different:
- Episode 06 was quite triggering for me; I had to pause a few times to get through it. I really dislike Johnny and would have preferred a different approach to his character. However, I do recognise the series' response felt quite realistic, and that' s a bit disappointing too.
- I wish the venue for the award ceremony had a bit more flair, but that' s a minor issue in an otherwise fantastic series.
- It felt a bit short. Those 11 episodes flew by way too quickly!

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IT'S ALL WORTH THE HYPE ❤️

This series is stuning and well-crafted! I'm blown away by Smartboom performances. Smart's acting is consistent and impressive, showcasing his growth from an innocent newcomer to a confident star. Boom being cute and pretty at the same time stole the show for me.

Their on-screen chemistry is undeniable, and the intimate scenes feels so natural and authentic. It's clear they were comfortable with each other, which made their performances even more convincing. I'm glad that Smartboom were given a chance to play in this series as a main couple because for me I find them underrated especially Smart who's always just given a guess or supporting roles in the past.

What drew me to this series is its realistic portrayal of actors' lives, struggles, and issues. It's fascinating to see behind-the-scenes glimpses of their lifestyle. This series lives up to the hype, it's definitely worth watching.

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Run Don’t Walk.!

Let Me Be Clear Before Hand That, Besides “The Untamed” That’s Basically A Bromance This Is The ONLY BL I’ve Given Full Marks To.
Not Only Is It Sweet & Savory But It’s Bittersweet As Well. JinAkin Go Through Ups & Downs But Protect Each Other In Their Own Way The Entire Time. Which I LOVE About Them.
The NC Scenes Leave Nothing To Be Desired…Unless You’re Greedy Then Ofc You’d Want More.
This Pairing & Whomever Paired Them Deserves All The Praise That’s Coming To Them. Especially With This Being Smarts(Jin(Jun)) First MC Role. He Absolutely Smashed It & The Fact That They Even Look The Part Compared To The Anime Is Just The Toppings On This Very Nicely Decorated Cake.

Anime Vers. Dakaichi: I'm Being Harassed by the Sexiest Man of the Year (Crunchyroll)

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