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Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice
A very light-hearted series blending mostly comedy with romance, along with a few action elements that were more than decent considering its genre. The premise was interesting, but it could have benefited from fewer episodes. The build up in the first nine episodes, in particular, felt unnecessarily slow, while the humour and the situations depicted seemed better suited for the early teen audiences. After that point, however, it really picked up, and it became much more enjoyable to watch. The characters and the story itself, gained a more consistent identity and I enjoyed the humour much more than I expected—especially the goofy kind of humour that was portrayed mostly by the antagonists in the story.As for the romance, it was cute. The main leads had a fun dynamic and good chemistry overall and I really enjoyed their acting. I've watched Shahkrit act before, so I knew he'd nail his part, but it was my first time seeing Vill and she was pretty good as well. The same goes for the rest of the cast, too. Everyone gave solid performances.
The weakest parts of this series, for me, were the side couple, mainly due to age reasons, and the writing near the end, which tested my patience in all the wrong ways. Absurdity is fine, but even that has its limits.
Having said that, my experience was positive overall. It was a very fun series to watch and I do recommend it to anyone who looks for a show to spend their time pleasantly, without much drama or overcomplicated situations.
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A Category of Its Own
I highly do not recommend this series to anyone expecting a cute and happy romance set in the 60s. This show falls under the category of queer media and not BL. It's politically heavy, with the romance being a naturally integrated part of the story rather than its main focus. It preserves a serious and realistic tone for the most part, but also mixes in lighthearted moments and elements of idealism that sometimes fit and others feel a bit out of place.Watching this show requires attentiveness. It took me a while to warm up to it, because I felt a bit lost at the early episodes. Having at least a general idea of the political landscape of that period, might get you immersed to the plot much faster, without that of course being a necessity, since a lot of the themes addressed more or less transcend borders to other countries as well.
Regarding the acting, the series has a great collection of very capable people who portrayed the complexity of their characters in the best way possible. I have to point out how much I enjoyed Mile in the role of Tanwa, especially due to the striking contrast to his most known role of Kinn. He pulled off his part magnificently, showcasing his range as an actor.
Overall, it was a good show—deep, well made with beautiful cinematography. I do recognise its thematic significance and value, but at the same time it didn't leave me with a long lasting impression as a viewer. I found the premise interesting, but at times it felt like too many things were happening within just eight episodes, or that some dialogue was a bit stilted, just to create a dramatic or poetic impression. I liked the characters as well, but I didn't connect with them that much. Even so, they were properly fleshed out and the show still managed to resonate emotionally through some impactful scenes.
It has its own unique character as a story, and I do recommend it to anyone who looks for something different to watch.
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It was fine
One of the most visually pleasant GMMTV series I've watched so far. The cinematography was really beautiful and unique, accompanied by smooth transitions and proper music choices that complimented each scene in the best way possible to create a mystic atmosphere. The acting was pretty good and I was glad to see Win specifically in something so different.Regarding the story, I'd say it was well written overall and the premise was interesting enough and the series does a good job to keep you interested, but it didn't hold any significance for me. The attention to detail on the writing part, was mostly what this show lacked in, for me. Neither the fantastic element nor the characters were developed enough.
The series is slowly building up its story on layers, probably planning on getting deeper as the seasons go by, but as a stand alone, the first season felt like it briefly narrated the supernatural aspect of the story, instead of delving a little more into that incorporate part of the world building.
As for the characters, I didn't connect with them, and it had less to do with the number of the episodes and more with the fact that the story didn't invest time to really focus on any of them, but only on what was happening outside of them, which wasn't explored either. That significantly reduced the emotional impact a scene aimed for and could have accomplished.
Overall, this show is well crafted and definitely worth watching for the visual part alone, and I recommend it to people who are fans of the genre.
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Unfortunately Too Real
Among the most realistic and emotionally raw gmmtv shows. In only five episodes, the series dives deep into the detrimental consequences of comments, especially those that are made online, showcasing how social media, from a simple means of communication and expression, can also be weaponized to hurt people. The isolation, the peer pressure, the obsession of maintaining a fake image, the envy, the validation, the bullying, are common themes that naturally unfold in the course of the story to convey the simple message that people need to think twice before they speak. For me, I'd say it was hard to watch --even triggering at times-- because it doesn't shy away from exploring the ugly and very harsh side of people, but that alone makes it even greater of a show.The acting is amazing as well with all the actors giving the 100% and bringing out a gorgeous result.
I definitely recommend this show to everyone. Living in an era where social media is part of our everyday lives and harassment has become a second nature to many people who abuse the freedom of speech instead of using it productively, I feel this series is a good way to increase awareness of the problem.
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Good overall
It took me a while to warm up to this series. Plot wise, it's not something super unique to lose your mind over, but it does have its comedic moments and at the end I came to love each and every one of these eccentric characters and all the chaos that was happening around. But I have to point out that Pond as Judo won me over the most. His role is really hilarious and he does justice to his part.Overall, it's a fine mini series if you want to pass your time and if comedy is among the genres you enjoy, I recommend it.
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P.S. I loved it
A series that perfectly combines unpredictability and predictability at the same time. Its enticing plot sucks you in early in the series and doesn't let you go till the end. It does have its dark elements, but it's still very enjoyable to watch. By no means it's perfect and there are some exaggerated even unrealistic moments that don't align that much with the show's identity, but they don't overshadow the overall experience. I gave it such a high rewatch value, because in the second time I feel one will be able to piece better some of the info scattered into the episodes and also pay more attention to the characters and their mannerisms.I do recommend the series to anyone who loves messiness and a bit more heavy drama.
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Authentic and unpolished
In all honesty, it's not a bad bl at all. It actually feels very down to earth and real in comparison to the majority of the shows of this genre. It addresses some matters more realistically and successfully captures the struggles of teenagers. It may be overdramatic at some points, but it's the right amount of overdramatic if that makes any sense.The actual drawback for me, was the lack of care put in this show. The writting in some scenes was great and in others was scrappy, making you wonder if you missed something along the way.
Overall, it's a fine show and very unique, but if they had paid a little more attention and made a few adjustments, it could have been incredible. I do recommend it to people who look for an unconventional series or people who would like to see Frank and Drake as leads.
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Welcome the Morally Grey
A very interesting series that tackles the sensitive subject of euthanasia and addresses the matter from every angle by exploring the perspectives of doctors, patients, nurses, family members and the state, without supporting a specific side. Every character is loyal to their beliefs and supports them through their own ideologies and experiences. As for the acting, it was really good from all the cast members. They portrayed their roles very well and the way they should.For me, it was one of those series that could use a couple more episodes to flesh out the characters a bit more and make the flow of the story smoother without jumping from one scene to another. Even so, it's definitely a series worth watching if you like social issues represented and you usually enjoy a show with darker undertones.
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Disturbing and unpleasant, but not bad.
An interesting concept for a story. Its strong qualities I'd say laid on the plot and the character writing. They portrayed well the disgusting and shameful part of society, giving a sense of realism to the show, which is something that I appreciated. However, the thriller part lacked in both acting and execution. On the drama part the performances were actually good, but the genre of thriller is a bit more demanding. In many scenes the emotions of terror, anguish and agony either felt extreme or underwhelming. Fuaiz and Ta were the only ones who rose to the occasion and acted very naturally with convincing reactions. For me, a better guidance from the director or choosing more experienced actors on that part might have done the trick. So it's a yes to the story and the plot, but no to the direction and acting on the thriller part.I would recommend it to anyone who likes darker stories, though. The drama part is actually pretty good and worth giving it a shot.
PS: It's one of those shows that you might need a second watch just to pay attention to the details and the character reactions on the early episodes.
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Nothing to lose my mind over..
A decent story overall. I generally enjoyed the elements of realism when it came to the school bullying and the depiction of poverty and struggle in contrast to wealth and power. The characters for the most part were fine, but not that much developed. I get that the protagonists need more screen time, but I needed for the side characters to have their own goals and motives instead of their life revolving around the main couple 24/7. And speaking of the main couple, their love story I can't say it won me over. The actors did their job, but I wasn't convinced to root for them based on the writing. It felt kinda forced.I was more intrigued in the first half of the show, but it kinda flopped after a point. The plot was all over the place, the writing wasn't that good and many things were wrapped up fast, which I guess has a lot to do with the number of episodes being fixed and not with the writers.
Still I'll recommend it to anyone who likes a typical romantic story with.
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A series with a lot of heart
In all honesty, I expected the silliest and most ridiculous romance plotline of all bls. What I got, though, was a story with so much depth and character analysis you usually don't see in many shows. It consists of 16 episodes of 90 minutes each and no minute goes to waste. No scene felt like a filler to me. If anything I think the episodes could have more duration and still be interesting. The story is so detailed and slowly unfolds along the way giving us an insight to all the characters piece by piece. It tackles serious issues without getting boring or repetitive and keeps a very realistic tone despite the fantasy element. I like that no character is portrayed as ideal in the story and we get to see everyone's flaws. If I could change anything that would probably be some rushed elements, regarding a couple of scenes and some side characters with key roles that needed better writting. As for the acting part, I think everyone was excellent!This series is one that I would definitely recommend if you are not looking for the usual fluffiness and want a story that invests a lot of time on human bonds and interactions!
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A Messier Mess
This season proved to be more than necessary for me. It fixes a lot of issues I had with season one, regarding the depth of the characters and the distribution of screen time for each of them. It's much more balanced and easy to watch. The story gets more complicated with the addition of new characters and new storylines, so it's not like you'll lose interest. Still, I couldn't bring myself to connect with the characters that much this time either. And it doesn't have to do with the acting. The actors were all great, but it got tiresome to watch after a point. I love angst and mess, but dragging it for that long isn't my cup of tea.However, I definitely recommend it if you've already watched the first season. In my opinion, season one can't stand on its own. Season two really completes it and elevates the story.
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Unpredictable till the End
A deep themed drama with a very solid story that engages you from episode one and keeps you on your toes till the end with the mystery solution. I was expecting predictability only to be rebutted time, after time, after time. The plot was complex with twists and turns, succeeding when many shows of the mystery genre fail with cliché plotlines. With that being said, I did have my issues with how some clues came conveniently to the story as a plot device or some parts getting rushed. It just felt too easy, I wish they were developed differently.As for the romance, it didn't win me over personally. The way it was added to the main story was interesting and it did make sense, but I could live without it or at least with less of it. It didn't merge that well for me with the rest of the story. Sometimes it felt that the show turned bipolar, because its tone was shifted. Though, I understand it was for relief purposes, the result wasn't very smooth.
However, that says nothing about the actors themselves. They were pretty skilled with a lot of chemistry and portrayed their characters very well, just like the rest of the cast. I give a little more credit to Meiko, though. I really loved her performance!
I definitely recommend the series to mystery lovers who want something dark and complex with a bit of romance for the flavour..
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A Messy Mess
As the predecessor of Only Friends, the two shows share a lot of similarities: love triangles, trash friendships, questionable decisions and a lot of toxicity in general, but in comparison this one lacks depth. I never really connected with the characters. I felt for the most part they were very superficially portrayed. They were all over the place, jumping from one story to another and never really lingered enough to understand them. This show either needed more episodes or less characters for me to work better.The most interesting part for me was the bl storyline and that's because the dynamics of those characters were richer in emotions, compare to everyone else. There was a little more care in that part of the show that kept you interested to see what will happen. With that being said, like in many shows of P'Jojo's, some serious issues were tackled here as well, that other shows usually don't bother to explore and I really appreciate that.
Most of the characters may have not won me over, but the actors were all great. I'll give a little more credit to Singto and Plustor, though.
I suggest this show to anyone who loves drama and messy storylines. It's perfect for you!
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Exceeded my Expectations
It grabs your attention from episode 1. The plot, in all honesty, is not something so different that you've never watched before, but the execution is what made it stand out and work for me. Its lovable characters, unique sense of humour and even the purple as the show's signature colour are some of the elements that helped it gain its own identity among the other bls.Is it perfect?
No. As every show, it has its issues. The plot dragged a bit on some parts, some plotlines could have been more developed or built up earlier in the show and not get resolved that fast and I'll admit I have an issue with how one serious incident turned into a joke just for the sake of the plot, but the good traits still outweigh the bad.
As for the acting everyone individually deserves a praise. We got a very capable cast. Great and Inn did an amazing job in their debut bl series with Thor and Fluke being on par with them. Both sets of actors were so good I'd love to see them in another bl as main leads.
Overall, it's a series with a lot of heart. It may frustrate you at some points, but the journey is beautiful. If you like romance that's the story for you. And even if it's not you cup of tea, just for the acting alone it's worth giving it a shot.
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