Better than expected, less cringe than expected and some fluff...
With WeTV it's always a gamble, either we get crap or we get medicore and only sometimes we get something good. In this case I would say it was "good". While the first two episodes did not catch me it got better with every episode after but of course the finale did disappoint me. Not because it was very bad, it was just lazy writing. Solving conflicts with drama and of course the bad guy had to die and lots of fanservice. This could have been resolved in a better way.In this case I won't be too tough on them, because besides some cringe, they depicted the characters very well, all of them grow throughout the series and there were even subtle moments which I like the most. If facial expression and eye contact can tell a story without words, it's perfect for me. Compared to "Monster Next Door" this was lighyears ahead. Both actors excelled in their roles and they felt so much more into it too. The side-couple was the secret star of this show, because while they had not so much screentime, they did the best with it and the "cat and mouse game" was funny to watch.
Other reviews will depict all the ins and out, but I'm quite busy today so I will keep this short. Cinematography, music, settings, props and so on was top notch. I felt entertained and storywise they put some thought into it. The only shortcoming is the finale which felt rushed in the drama-department, because they needed time for the fanservice. But overall worth a watch.
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Till episode 10 it was quite fine, but then the script plummet...
The positive first: The special effect makeup was on point :) Even the acting was on point, even when we know that Pooh will never be a top actor because he does need a lot of speech training, but his facial expressions where also on point. When I watch a horror/mystical/crime series I expect the characters to act appropiate and we did not get that all the time. It makes no sense whatsoever when King enters the "Fridge" alone - no police officer would do that - also that Thup left the car, when his mom said he should not - there are more of such loopholes. As usual with a change2561 production the culminating finale is rushed and does not make much sense. The fighting in the end was also so off for me. So as usual the scriptwriters could not complete a very good story appropriately.To contrast this type of show with poetic love scenes felt off and it seems they did cut the NC scenes, because the editing is quite rough in that places. I would have prefered when the main couple had lust and desire first and love after the solving of the case which would also have more impact. The side couple was done better, because there was love from Darin all the time, but Sey not recognizing it. King which was not liked by most disappeared and the father-son conflict was unresolved. Was there corruption at work because dad would like to bury the case? We will never know, because the scriptwriters made the choice to give us drama but not resolve it.
I personally don't like stupid acting characters and I don't like drama when it's not resolved. So while I had rated this show very high till episode 10, the end "ruined" it for me. It's not catastrophically bad, but it could have been so much better. And so this series is far from a 9.5 or 10 I see here in so many reviews. I will always be critical when I see bullshit and I really hate it when they do it. Maybe some of you are fangirling or fanboying over the couples, but I do not care about the couples or the actors, only the story and the performance count (and of course production quality - but I can't say anything negative about that). For me it's a disappointment that a very good show got ruined for no benefit at all.
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A generic BL with a weak story and no highlights.
To say this is a short series is an exaggeration because every episode is around 50 minutes and drags on like a chewing gum. There is not much of a story and the acting is medicore, so it feels more like an ad with some BL mixed into it. While they did try to make it a cute story, I did not feel any spark. The characters are trivial, they are very 2D and it feels just boring.So maybe this was an outing for new actors but with a weak script there is nothing they could do. There is no drama, there are only some clichés. When I see some people rating this show as high as "The Proper Way to Write Love" I don't get it. It's a far cry from the other series and offers nothing of value. So, watching this, is a waste of time.
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That's how an manga adaption should always be...
Once bitten, twice shy - I thought "please let it be at least decent", but compared to GMMTV this show blowed any other thai manga adaptation out of the water. Of course this show is also not perfect with some characters less developed then they should be, but: SmartBoom saved the day. There acting is far ahead of what we often get served nowadays, because the script was good. Their chemistry is excellent and once I wish they end up together 🤣. One show which does not play at an university, one show which is not absurdly cringe or stupid or childish and one show that tells a meaningful story. I have not read the manga, because I don't like spoilers at all, but everything in the story makes sense for me, so I have no need to do so now.If your are sensitive like me, you need a tissue-box for sure, it's an emotional rollercoaster between dreadful sad to happy to enthusiastically overjoyed. And don't forget the honey NC scene, which got even artsy. So even the fangirls get served (I mean the fangirls not caring about a story of course).
Production quality, cinematography was perfect as well. All the other reviews will depict the story for sure, but the only thing which is important is, I hope we get season 2 and season 3 asap. This is also a novum at least in the thai industry, to plan a series for 3 seasons and not compromise on the story-telling.
Overall, this thai series is highly recommanded!
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oh sooooo boring....
While not really a bad show, man was it boring.The writing was predictable, there were no real challenges and if you do food, why is the "super monster chef" just the jury verdicts?
At least one fresh face with Aungpao who did a good job but most were acting like highschool kids and not like grown up humans. I am also not a fan of the weird sounds used in Thai romcons, but at least they did not overdo it.
The kissing scenes with OffGun looked strange for me. I mean they kissed really well in other shows but here it feels shallow without the feeling of love or desire.
This show is a good downer if you have seen something like "Not Me", to calm you down and turn your brain off, because the story does nothing to challenge it.
The finale was an all around happy end, all the parents are soooo nice and so understanding especially Fire's mother. Of course grandma was always cool and always supportive but for the rest I would have wished a more rocky ending or more episodes to see them come to terms and less of the earlier meaningless stuff.
All in all this show was a disappointment.
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I do not like trashy soap opera style BLs....
This series has the same problem as "Love in the Moonlight", with the exception that it was not painful to watch, just cringe. The overdramatized bad guys/gals and the excessive pathos was still the same. And what also obvious, they can't do action right. While it looks nicely coreographed especially in the beginning, you see that the punches do not connect in the slightest. I won't write about the shooting scenes which were just embarrassing.The only positive I have to say is that DaouOffroad are very good when they act alone or in a serious setting, their chemistry just works. Also the other actors were not bad, but I don't like the overacting and over-dramatization. They could have done this in a serious more thriller-like setting and then the story would have had much more impact, But no, they went the thai way which in this case is bad way.
Spoiler:
The finale was also bad: Pheen has a plan and of course he does not tell his husband. We all know, he can't die, because a BL has to have a happy end (very few exeptions), so he left for a long time, hurting Than again (and again). The reason: Because he needed to change his name, so he can disappear. WTF? Is that, because he don't want to face the consequences of his actions? And he was already married, so he could have taken the name of his husband. And of course everyone dies, so there are no real consquences, no court session to exploit all the bad things the characters did. It's a lazy and cheap way of story-telling.
Edit: Of course the whole inheritance arc did not make any sense, because: if Pheem was decleared dead Than would have inherited the whole company with all the hospitals. Because he was the last legal heir before any uncles and cousins. So Pheem changing his name would not let him get away from his family background because his man would own EVERYTHING. And would be richer than he alone was. And because Than would then be famous Pheem could not be with him. So the writers had no clue what they wrote about and this makes no sense whatsoever.
End of Spoiler
So considering everything, this is not even a medicore show and I know many will hate me because I think so. But that's what I felt when I watched this and sadly this is also one of the shows I will never watch again, because it's a waste of my time.
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Different, interesting but lackluster finale & kissing....
This series plays out in two worlds, one the reality and one the perfect version of the same reality. But as it is with perfect versions, it may seem perfect at first, but life is not interesting when all is perfect.The main character realizes this when thrown in the perfect world, everything is too easy, there are no challenges and there is no room to grow. So he reflects on himself, breaks out of his box of thinking and recognizes his own faults and misinterpretations. Storywise the series is perfect. But the finale lacks in the intimate scenes considerable. There is no real kissing and also the longing of Kano is not delivered in the way I wish they had.
Both actors did a great job to play out the characters but failed when intimacy was required. The production quality is also top notch with very nice cinematography and variety in the vibes of the show through the lighting. Still a very good show even when it's sometimes a slow burn, but with a downer in the end. Because the story is unique it is still on my recommanded list. Too bad such a good story could not have been executed perfectly.
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A show nobody needed....
With WeTV nowadays you have a chance to get a gem or in this case step into a big pile of crap.I have no idea what the writers/director/producer smoked to put a) so many clichés b) so many couples c) rape into such a short story. Especially c) is repulsive because it does not have any consequences and the character who got raped acts like as nothing ever happend. WTF?
It's a waste to write anything more about this pile of crap. I'm really sorry for the actors who had to act out this shit. But at least it did not drag for twelve episodes 🤣. The money could have been used for other things!
Verdict: Avoid it like the pest, it matched the absolute low like "Flirt Milk", both shows are equally terrible.
Edit; Meanwhile the actors are suing the production company for not paying them the agreed sum which is paltry in comparision to other productions. So now we know where the money went... not into this productions, not to the actors.
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The best thing I can say: I'm happy it ended...
The biggest problem with this show it the main cast called "Win". He has the charisma of a wallpaper. He speaks more robotic then most and his facical expression was mostly not existent. Of course nobody told him, that his orangeblonde hair does not fit his type, but that's only my opinion. 🤣As usual this series has a ridicilous story, but it can't reach Khemjira or Goddess Bless You from Death. It has nothing interesting in it. The ordinary BL stuff is there, yes, but it makes this series not interesting. Also the naked ghost with his rabbit mask was an eyesore, because when he took of his mask we know how handsome he really is. But at least he got an nonsense happy end.
The only interesting character of the show was Tong imho. He had emotional scenes and he was the best written. The rest of the script is trash, the direction was weak and overall this show is mostly boring af. The other characters did not make me feel anything, I couldn't have cared less. The finale did not resolve anything, because the writers had no clue what they wrote about. There is something positive: I don't hate it like others in this rating bracket. It's just bad, but it does not get my riled up of it's stupidity. So, if you have not watched yet, skip it, it's not worth your time.
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not a BL, thank you!
What a powerful story. While it may be confusing at times, everything will get clear the closer to the finale you get.The acting and cinematography was top notch, the story could be a bit more clear for the viewers even when you will understand it at the end.
This is not a BL, it's a drama, with gay characters. One who denies his past and his pain and the other one who is trying to help his love even when that not always works out as intended. They deliver an emotinal rollercoaster which makes you shed some tears but also depicts how hard a relationsship can be because of all the baggage you have collected in your past and how to communicate to clear the air, to solve misunderstandings, to overcome your faults and your past and make it so you will truly understand each other.
After "Love in the Big City" and "Gray Shelter" we have the third Korean series not fitting in the BL catagory. While BLs can be fun, I personally like realistic, complicated, sometimes painful gay dramas a lot more because they also educate the viewers, that nothing is black and white but shades of gray and that relationsships are complicated and not easy to do especially when your emotional baggage is huge and the world was never kind to you.
This is a must watch for everyone who can cope with painful stories and is willing to give a real drama a chance.
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A slow burn with a happy but unfinished finale...
While this is a short series, it started extremly slow to pick up pace in episode three. Then in culminated in drama, miscommunication, non-communication, angst and fear. The Finale is slow as well. For reasons unknown, the obvious side-couple don't get an happy end - would it have hurt to add an episode more or extend the finale by ten minutes? So, I'm a bit disappointed that they left that open even when everyone knows what is obvious...In typical KBL tradition, this was filmed really well, the actors did a superb job and made this an excellent series. They even have a quite long NC scene which is untypical for KBLs. Of course many of you will get frustrated with Jiwon who suffers from a traumatic past, which we only get to know about in passing. He does not talk to anyone about this and that makes him so hesistant to form a relationsship for three episodes that some may have questioned his motives. But being a "star" in Korea with a "scandal" about his harsh training and mental/verbal abuse by his trainer and the public itself, did leave a deep scar. So I get it why it's so hard for him, why he thinks about Jeongu and his carrer and why some of the viewers will not be that happy about the storyline. For me all that makes sense even when it slows down the progression.
Overall, it was a nice series with great acting, trying to be more realistic and not in fairytale land. If you have not watched this yet, you should, because it's one of the best this year had to offer.
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Not a BL
The most positive thing I can say is, it does speak about LBGQT issues but only very superficial without much depth. The show was not a BL nor does it include much of any romance. While the struggling of Idol trainees included some entertainment, overall it was very bland.This show only makes the point that excessive alcohol abuse is a bad thing, but nobody needs a show to know this. And maybe that friends do things for their friends even if they don't like to? I am a bit confused about that. If someone is forced to do something he doesn't want and has an emotinal outbreak about it, but then decides to do it anyways because of his friends, I don't get it. Yes friends are important, but to self-sacrifice himself for his friends is not a good solution either and does not lead to his happyness overall.
As a BL fan u can skip this show for sure and for anyone else it does not offer much besides light entertaiment, but you won't miss a thing if you have skipped it.
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How social pressure makes you do the wrong things in life...
Wow, this short does not have a review... I reluctantly write reviews for "old" series/movies but in this case I have to.This short is an excellent example how social pressure leads to an unhappy life in Japan where it is expected to follow social conformity. And with this is brings a lot of pain and heartbreak and it's depicted in detail and nuances in everyones face.
"please be happy" and "love someone but me" are the central points in this short. Azusa (speak Az'sa) is selfish, he broke up because he wanted to show his children to his grandma. But even when his Grandma dies and he can*t fullfill her wish he is confined in his personal construct to conform. Yusuke (speak: Yus'ke) is still in love and can't move on. It culmulates when Azusa selfishly asks Yusuke to make wedding photos. And that's where we see that both are not happy.
This short is really depressing but it's also important to show it, especially considering the comments where you read that it is a thing that some people can't escape the social pressure. And it shows, that a lot of people surpress their real selves, which is really really sad. So for me, this is a recommandation. You can watch it on youtube: https://youtu.be/md47vntaqwU
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It's raw, it's dark, it's light, it's depressive, it's happy, it's sad - it's the full spectrum.
As usual I went into this "blind" - I did not watch trailers or read about it, I just knew it's playing in a tumult time for Thailand. Of course this is a drama and it does not represent historical accuracy, but it depicted quite accurate what the gist was. There were protests, there was political killings and there was a revolution (a bit later). Thailands military still has more power over it's goverment than any democracy should have.This series is partly hard to watch. Not because it's bad, because it's so acurate, because the acting is so good and of course because it's so sad - in a good way. The company said this is not a BL, it's a gay story - and it mostly is. They did not disappoint in their description. There is only some fluff but mostly it felt really realistic.
Tanwa (played by Mile) is a typical end of 1960ties free spirit (they would have said hippie at the time), but without a direction. Trin (played by Apo) is more or less the opposite, he knows what he wants and he knows what he stands for. This two worlds clashes and after the traumatic events where Victor (played by Peter Deriy) died, Tanwa find the courage to move on by his mothers unreleased book (given by his father he was at odds). Then we have a second couple, the colonel and the journalist - a poetic love which could not be fullfilled, because the colonel decided to protect his love and sacrifices himself for it. I have read comments that say Dhevi is the villain, but of course she is not. The colonel used her (and her family) to advance his career and he had to pay the price for his decision. This also saved the live of his love the journalist. Is it nice? Of course not, but such were and are (sometimes) the realities we live in. It was quid quo pro - he gained social status which made him go through the ranks of the military into a powerful position and she gained just the man she loved even knowing he has no feelings for her. And in contrast to most BLs: She got not furious and made no scene. It's just realistic.
All the cast were really amazing. When you know that Tencent in the form of WeTV financed this project it's absolutly stunning that they did all that what they can't do in China with such a controversial story. Of course this is a hurtful story, this is not the typical BL fluff you may expect. This is raw, brutal, repulsive, sad but also poetic, happy and beautiful.
For me this is a 10, because besides the realistic approach, a good story and the production quality, it's the right step for Thai's entertainment industry to not just cater to the fangirls. The story is the star of this show and not just some fan-favorite actors. So, if you have not seen it, it's a must watch for me!
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highly overrated
First, I don't like that every couple in a BL has to be BL couple... How stupid is that?Second, the last two episodes are extremly rushed. While 8-parters are nice to binch-watch, they do nothing if the story does not fit.
I did not read the webtoon, so I can only review what I saw.
And the story is a mess and unbelievable. Only Ji Ho Geun and Kim Jung Ha made me believe in their characters. From bully to lover was unblievable as well in just one episode and to cast an idol for a main role was just a financial decision.
The last two episodes where rushed as f, for a better understanding at least four episodes have been needed,.
While the premise of the show started strong, the story falls of a cliff. The kisses shown were mostly just touching lips which is lame. "Song Joo Ha" could have kissed on the cheek to convey his feelings. A kiss on the lips would have not been needed, but maybe the director/writers thought the do need fan-service.. Also Han Tae Yi forcing himself was a stupid thing to do, especially when he does have feelings for Seo Do Yoon. While the first six episodes are ok, the last two are a total mess. Song Han Gyeom looks "gay" -(but which idol doesn't?), he does not fit his role at all. Sometimes you can feel he tries but his own personality is in stark contrast to his role and he does not manage to do it. With all the 10 ratings of several people I think they are fans of eyecandy but not thinking about the story which is maybe because our world gets more and more superficial. And to make all couples gay in a BL, is not what a good story needs. If they had only focused on only one couple the eight episodes might have fit. For me this series is disappointing especially because the first two episodes are the best and the last two are the worst.
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