Nyx Medina

I understand the immaturity if that is what the writers are going for. Like I said before, Mico might have thought that it was just a joke. But on top of that, he even suggested to upload the song? Then later on, he felt hurt because Xavier did exactly what he said? Even if all of that can be attributed to his immaturity, I am also uncomfortable for the lack of remorse or regret on the part of Mico. Doesn't he realize that he also has to share the blame for what happened? I mean, why blame Xav for all the hurt he's feeling?

Yes. While it is true that he is a college freshman, he is also a "top student". After the jealousy, hurt, anger and tears, he could have spared even just a few seconds to think that maybe he is also to blame for the predicament even a little? If this happens, it could have been a good plot point because that would give Mico an opportunity to acknowledge his own shortcomings and even a bit mature before reconciling with Xav and thus result in better character development overall. I hope that this matter will be addressed before the series ends.

Don't get me wrong. I like the series despite the apparently simplistic plot. The editing was superb and the acting chops of Mico is simply great. I just wish that the story could have gone on with more depth and not just a simplistic teeny bopper feel.

hear! hear!

Yeah! It sounds so... stupid. haha. Mico only has himself to blame for the drama which he created. I could empathize more with Xavier if only Tony's acting was much better. :-) Despite this, a lot of people are clamoring for a 2nd season? WTH! A spinoff series for the side characters perhaps. But for the main characters? Hell no! I guess a lot of people are starving for drama with more depth (and sense). If we keep on putting up with the usual crap, we end up with the same subpar plot full of cliches. Ugh!

Yes. And we end up having a final episode where the confrontation, revelation, resolution and "happy ending" crammed in one. Ugh!

I agree with you. This predicament was brought about by Mico's own reaction when Xavier dedicated the song to him. He treated it as a joke for pete's sake! I could understand that maybe as a defense mechanism perhaps? But if that wasn't enough, Mico even suggested to upload that song and dedicate it to Crystal? Duh! And now Mico has the nerve to "punish" Xavier? Huh? What gives? Mico is really a great actor but the way the plot is going seems to be making the story dull. Ugh!

I agree. Tony's acting is already subpar as it is when it comes to those scenes requiring more emotions and he looked kinda stiff if not forced. This is further exacerbated when the emotional scene is with Mico because his acting is simply good and Tony pales in comparison. Hope we will see better acting from him in the subsequent scenes especially in the finale.

Btw, aside from the acting chops of JC (Mico), I guess the make-up department is also good. Mico looked thinner, paler and sadder than the previous episodes. It really went well with the heartbroken phase he is in now. :-)

Be careful what you wish for. Filipino productions have this tendency to prolong those drama series which are successful. There were even times before that many series (most of which are shown daily for an hour from Mon-Fri) have gone on for more than 6 months or even years (yes, it's plural). I think that's already stretching it too far, don't you think? Crass commercialism at its finest. Not only does it appear lazy, but it also shows how creatively bankrupt some of these productions are . Even Thai productions wait a few months or even a year before making a season 2 after the 4-month original run of the drama. That's why I do not wish another season for Hello Stranger. Maybe they could instead make a new one with better script, directing and acting. Still, a spinoff series for the side characters would be a nice idea though. :-)

On second thought, I hope their fund-raising activity for the "advanced screeening" is successful so that they will have the finances to make a new and improved BL series in the coming months (preferably one that is not cliche ). Now that their TV network has effectively been shutdown in the free-to-air channel, they need all the money they could get through other avenues. It seems the income from YT is not cutting it. LOL

Well to be fair, the editing is really good as well as the acting chops of JC Alcantara (Mico). But apart from those and some nice scenes and dialogue which are quite few and far in between, the series as a whole is really not that mind-blowing. Maybe those who hype it are just starved for better drama, it's already good enough for them. Hello! Can we have better writing and directing soon? Oh well! :-(

Considering the TV network which the YT Channel is connected, suffered a very huge setback (the franchise was not renewed), this paid "advanced screening" of the show's finale smells a lot like desperate fund-raising moves. haha

I guess I am already used to watching dramas with a very prolonged exposition and rise in the plot only to have its climax and denouement hurriedly done in the last 2 episodes before finally ending . Ugh!

By now, one could only hope that they allot more time and scenes in the last episode showing the main couple's happiness after they resolve the conflict. (Not holding my breath though. haha)

P.S. To add insult to injury, aside from the simplistic conflict and hurried pace in the last few episodes, the channel would now charge for "advanced screening" of the finale. WTH! :-(

My comment last week:
"With only two episodes remaining, there is not much room left for a more well-thought and creative denouement. So unfortunately, it is expected that the resolution of the (unnecessary) "drama" of the main characters will be played out in the next few weeks in the usual way. Meaning that the climax of the story (confrontation, revelation and all) will happen in Episode 7 which will end again in a cliffhanger, while the conflict resolution, reconciliation and lovey dovey stuff will all happen in Episode 8 . "

After watching Episode 7 a while ago:
Told you so! This is so predictable. haha

Episode 11 was a sucker punch episode. I honestly didn't expect much depth with this series. The Shipper started off with a simplistic premise and another tired trope (i.e. body-switching). And so, we were so used to having silly antics and amateurish scenes since Episode 1. In my mind, I have already classified this series as another fluff show (which I sometimes like to take a break from more serious drama). Then lo and behold, Episode 11 happened. Like WTH! I cried!!! I f***ing cried! I effing cried many times. Not just in one scene, but in at least 3 scenes in just one episode. After watching about 50 or so Thai drama, I think this is only the fourth series where I did that (Theory of Love, Until We Meet Again and He's Coming to Me being the other three series where I shed bucket of tears so to speak). Kudos to the writer, director and actors for this one. Since there is only one remaining episode, I really do hope that this will have a happy ending for all characters especially for the KimWay and KhettPan pairings. :-D

I've watched quite a number of Lakorn (not necessarily BL) and that's what I've noticed. The main leads quarrel and tease for like all the episodes except the last one where we get to see the romantic stuff for a few minutes and the next thing you see - end credits. haha. Hopefully it will not happen to this one. :-)

I have to agree with you. I think in terms of story development and dialogue, Pinoy BL series (at least GB and HS) has offered not just the usual fluff and cutesy plots of many Thai BL. Hope they stretch this further and put in much better storylines and character development. That's why I got disappointed with the last episode with its flimsy issue which resulted in the eventual "conflict" between the male leads. Ugh!

As a native speaker of the Filipino language, I can definitely say that the series becomes a better watch in terms of experience since the script is more relatable and convenient (no need to read the subtitles.lol). Maybe, in time (hopefully with more Pinoy BL series soon-crossing fingers) you would be able to slowly become familiar with the words. I know I was able to do that with Japanese by watching tons of anime and some jdramas as well. haha

Grabe ang pakulo no? (The surprise was great right?) And to think they still have 3 more episodes to go. Makes me more excited to watch the remaining episodes. Hopefully the other Pinoy BL will be as good as this eventually. haha

The hug and kiss (with matching plastic in between) scene after the credits, was super "kilig"(romantic excitement).

Yes! Junjun seems to be a nice guy. Hope he finds his own partner. Since it is unlikely it will happen in this series, I hope he also gets a spinoff. :-D

At the start of the series, I didn't like Crystal because she was acting bitchy and all. But now, after what Xavier is doing to her (he made her expect that they can still be together because of the song- in other words in Filipino "pinaasa"), it's like the other way around. Xavier now seems to be a bad guy for doing that to her (at the prodding of Mico mind you). If it happens that Crystal is hurt because of this, these two male leads w now appear like jerks right? My empathy would now be with Crystal. Hope they would be able save this situation.

With only two episodes remaining, there is not much room left for a more well-thought and creative denouement. So unfortunately, it is expected that the resolution of the (unnecessary) "drama" of the main characters will be played out in the next few weeks in the usual way. Meaning that the climax of the story (confrontation, revelation and all) will happen in Episode 7 which will end again in a cliffhanger, while the conflict resolution, reconciliation and lovey dovey stuff will all happen in Episode 8 . Seems hurriedly done right? Reminds me of many lakorn (Thai drama) - only the last episode shows the romantic scenes of the lead characters as a couple. haha. Ugh!

I just wish that someday (hopefully soon), we will have a Pinoy BL series that's a good balance between a good story and character development with improved production values. It's kinda tiresome already to watch the usual drama trope. I am pretty sure that a lot of Filipino writers are more creative than that. :-)

P.S.
On top of the "admission scene" with Mico in front of his friends, another plus point I love about this series is the music. It might appear cheesy but it's actually cute and relevant to the story. Super nice! :-D

Thanks for these suggestions! Will try some of it. :-)

I agree. Their predicament was needless to say the least. That was a simplistic issue that could have been easily resolved. I guess I got tired already of watching the same trope in BL series especially when there is always the girl acting as the 3rd party. I honestly feel bad for Crystal now. Just imagine when she finds out that the song was not for her.

Considering the paltry drama last night brought about by Mico's own insensitivity, I think there is sufficient time in the last 2 episodes to fix it. I have a feeling that the end of Episode 7 next week will be another cliffhanger wherein both male leads will have another confrontation about their feelings (or the non-expression thereof). On the other hand, Episode 8 will (finally) be the admission of their feelings with each other, reconciliation, assimilation to the group of friends and then lovey dovey stuff resulting in happy ending. (How formulaic right? haha)

P.S. Hope that Kookai and Seph will have their own series just like Pearl in Gameboys. :-)

He really has that character flaw. Insensitive much? Maybe that was the writer's intention all along? lol. With 2 episodes to go, I am both excited and anxious how XavMi will express their feelings for each other soon. Truth be told, I was more excited with Seph and Kookai last night than the male leads of the BL series. haha

Wow! So happy she gets her own series. She really is a good actress. You go girl! :-D

That scenario would have been better than the one we got last night. You should have been the script writer. lol. Mico essentially sabotaged himself. I would have understood it if he only panicked after the confession of Xavier. But after treating the confession as a joke, he doubled down and even suggested to post it and dedicate it to Crystal? WTH! And later on, he got the nerve to be hurt when he saw Xavier and Crystal back together? Ugh!

I think (and this is just my opinion) that Mico tends to be an insensitive character. He did that before during the "Young Padawans" group videochat (he kept on talking about Xavier and did not mind his friends problem) that's why his friends got angry at him (but eventually reconciled). And now, he is again insensitive to the confession of Xavier? Hello! Can't you see it in his face that he is being serious? Duh!

I really have high hopes for this drama coz it has better production values than the other Pinoy BLs (so far) but in terms of plot and character development, I'd say Gameboys still is better in this aspect. I just hope that Mico would redeem himself in the remaining episodes.