BadPenny

Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed it. I am deeply in love with the show and it's characters and cast. So I enjoy sharing my reactions. I appreciate you reading.

Hmmm. Last season Pha wasn't around. And as there was no season previous to that. All I can suggest is that you shouldn't conflate the characters in Gen Y with the characters in 2 Moons--even though Gen Y got its start as 2 Moons fanfiction with the legal names knocked off to prevent getting sued.

The author of Gen Y was quoted as not being particularly fond of Phana, who could be kind of a condescending dick. Pharawee, by contrast, is a sweetie. But he still has some serious flaws in how he approaches love.

So it was never really the intent of the story for Pha to end up with Wayu. And Wayu is not Wayo. Wayo was often short tempered, abrasive and reactionary. Very unlike Wayu in Gen Y. The complete opposite, in fact.

Try to have a look at the show only on its own merits, separate from 2 Moons. Maybe it will help you feel better about the direction the show is going.

This episode made me feel lots and lots of things. So if you take in the length of this and wanna TL;DR, man I feel you. I wrote the damn thing and even I don't want to read it.

But the episode has a lot going on. And overall I really liked it. It was intense! If you take away nothing else, take away that KitMark and Jack Koh moments notwithstanding, this episode was a powerhouse of stuff happening. And while Sab is usually my hero, today's episode was brought to you by the letter "P". For Phai.

First, I want to know when the swim team coach is going to get his head out of his ass and read the room! Tone deaf doesn't even cover it. You do not pit team members against each other like that unless you actually WANT to breed strife inside the team. So poor Pok. He's back to taking it on the chin. Literally.

And Wayu... My sweet, sweet Wayu... has spent the season with his love for Thanu symbolized by an apple. Which often is a stand-in for the human heart but also has a place in archery mythology. William Tell, anyone? LOL.

But I love how previously Thanu had bitten into Wayu's apple. (Just a step shy of foreplay?) And then in last episode Wayu meticulously cut up and fed his apple to Thanu. Which was just made of homoerotic subtext ("This dick-shaped piece of apple represents me and I am putting it/myself in your mouth.") And in this episode Wayu has his back to Pha, remembering Thanu while he almost takes his finger off, stabbing wistfully at his apple. (Yes, apparently you can stab something wistfully. I did not realize that until today) There is a lot of piercing of Wayu's apples going on in this drama. I am waiting for the moment when Gen Y completes the sexual and mythic metaphors by having Thanu shoot an apple with his bow. Because what is more phallic than a knife? An arrow, of course.

I will say the symbolism was very on the nose, but in a good way. Wayu cups the apple, imagines Thanu and stabs at it with his knife (Which I was not sure if it was meant to be angst or pseudo-sexual wish fulfillment) But the moment Pha touches Wayu, he drops the apple. Drops his heart. His link to Thanu.

Between dropping the apple suddenly when Pha touches him, and his "back to Pha" pose, it's clear Wayu is dealing poorly with the situation. Not out of choice, or even wrong action. But because the strain of being torn between two people has caused him to sort of split himself between them. And that's not healthy or sustainable. However, it does clarify for the audience how Wayu feels, even if Wayu himself is still struggling. And wow, is he struggling. The thing is, Wayu isn't torn between Pha and Thanu. It's very clear he's torn between Pha's illness and Thanu. Which is probably an even harder choice because it involves so much guilt and emotional debt. And when Pha almost turns his back to Wayu as well, we see the tension ease just a bit.

I'll detail more later, but by the end of the episode, Wayu is entirely overwhelmed by being torn between the two circumstances--his love for Thanu and his sense of obligation to Pha. And it's obviously a terrible, painful situation to find himself in. I was pitching my Slim Jim wrapper at the screen going "Hug him, Sab! For fuck's sake hug your cousin!" And he sort of did. Kind of. It was perfunctory at best. But Sab's face said it all.

If I was Sab, at this point I would be like "Imma cut a bitch if my cuz doesn't get a happy ending."

The switch in scenes was really unwelcome. I was suddenly ripped unwilling from the land of apples and the things that stab them, symbolizing Thanu's dick, and I was thrown right into the world of WTF KIT!

Seriously. I want to say I get nuanced gay cultural shit. I do. But I do not get these men! These man-boys! These lovely, lovely children who feel feelings but do NOT know what to do with them. No one ever needs complain Wayu is too Byronesque when Kit and Mark are doing... whatever it is they're doing. Because honestly I'd love to describe it. I would love to analyze it. But I am genuinely fucking confused.

To me it looks like they're maybe experimenting with a trial separation for some reason related to the scholarship. But Kit hasn't actually gotten the scholarship approval yet and even if he had there's nothing to be gained from "trying it out". It's not like it will make the distance between them any easier to handle if Kit is on another continent, just because they gave it a trial run ahead of time. So I am unable to figure out what this is, except extremely unnecessary and very uncomfortable and silly. And I mean SILLY.

These bitches both have more important stuff going on around them. They do not need to be play acting a study abroad scenario that may not even come to pass, just to spice shit up. Kit's best friend is still dying by inches and Mark's best friend is in charge of the literal struggle bus at this point. Why are they making their lives harder? Their relationship was going well. Why even!? Is this Kit testing Mark? They're flirting and sharing emotional moments and declaring their love and blowing kisses and... I have no idea. Someone let me know if you figure it out.

As for Jack and Koh.. Pfft.

Jack. You are in Engineering. You've seen blood before, honey. Probably even your own. The whole flailing thing was very... I don't know. But it wasn't good. I did laugh though so maybe that was the point.

Jill. Sweetie you are the best. But Jack caught a ball to the face, he didn't lose a limb. No need to call for a doctor like he'd just lost a hand to a tragically hungry skill saw.

And Koh, my man. Despite them playing their classic "I'm the cute guy" hero music when you walked up, you were definitely NOT the hero. I get why Jill rolled his eyes when you started talking shit. That was the clumsiest, most ridiculous, cheesiest, most unnecessary hymen joke in the entire history of them. And let's be honest, they're never good humor anyway. "...So you'll remember that you bled for me..." ??!! If I did not think Koh was a raging dick before, I certainly do now. So at least that was in character for him. But the whole thing made me a little annoyed at Jill for not launching the basketball at Koh's crotch.

Then came the whole Wayu and Thanu looking at the same photos of each other and thinking similar thoughts. It was a little heavy handed, mostly because I see it all the time and it's pretty much an easy way to establish that two soulmates are pining for each other. Which we already knew. I think the important thing of that scene was just for Wayu and Thanu to both be seen struggling from opposite ends of the... parking garage? Okay, Nevermind. It was a timestamp.

Phai then moves into the episode and he's actually very likable. For once his motivations are clear. Which is splendid. And though I am not hugely fond of Phai because he seems to have exactly two facial expressions, this time he carried off more. Including some nice, brotherly playfulness. Kit is apparently not making sense to Phai either, which really sets me at ease. Because at least I'm not the only one confused about what Kit and Mark are doing.

And the moment the tattoo was revealed and the music changed to a minor key, I was like 'uh oh'. But then I was like "Naw. Phai will fuck over destiny by getting a tattoo that isn't basically Thanu's artist signature on his back." And I was right.

The scene with Mark in his lonely dark apartment looking at his empty bed felt kind of frustrating for me. I was like "Call him. I know you have his number. Use that data plan and call the MF!" But alas, Mark is having a rough time of it. Someone stole his knowledge of how cell phones work. I just wish Mark's insecurities and Kit's insecurities would go hug it out at the little cafe that was so popular last season. Then Mark and Kit might start making some sense to me. I don't need their relationship to be good. I don't even need it to work. But I do need to understand WTF is going on.

Did I mention this episode we get the Saendee redemption arc? You know, where he suddenly comes to terms with everything his evil doing has cost him and exactly how wrong he was? I get that Phai is sad when Sab throws down some hard truths in a group chat. I get that he feels sorry for his former-still-but-not-quite-friend. But c'mon! Saendee actually hurt people! But instead of championing Saendee's victims, Phai goes to Saendee's rooms and tries one last time to lure Jr Palpatine away from the dark side. I had to respect Saendee for doubling down on the whole "FOR DESTINY! AND FOR YOU, PHAI!",

Phai then shocked the shit out of me by deciding NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE MY SHIRT OFF! FOR JUSTICE! And then he proceeds to do just that. And he fucks Destiny good and hard with his magical bamboo tattoo that looks very much like it's not actually a new tattoo. Or a tattoo at all.

But regardless, Saendee blew my mind. He proceeded to have an epiphany. An actual honest-to-classic-liturature Epiphany. Or at least he seemed to. And I was torn. Because he and Phai have some smolder. And What?! How is this possible? Phai can't smolder! He's like not even got the combustibles, or something. Please feel free to end that metaphor better than I just did. My point is that it was hot-adjacent. And I liked it. And it was actually kind of believable, almost. I am shook. Consider me shooketh!

And then it gets weird. (I know, I know. NOW it's weird?) Mama Phai makes Saendee grudgingly apologize to Thanu and Wayu like they were neighborhood kids he sprayed with the hose (in December?) and not a pair of adults whose emotional lives he basically took a Combine Harvester to with extreme prejudice. I didn't mind that, if only because of the occasionally petulant, shifty look from Saendee that was like the Iliad of "I don't wanna be here, ma!".

I loved how Wayu didn't commit to forgiving Saendee. I think that's only rational. Thanu, stop being a pushover. Saendee hasn't proven he's a reformed gremlin yet.

But then Wayu didn't let Thanu hold his hand? Aw shit no! Something inside me broke. I was yelling so loud my S.O. stuck his head in the media room and was like "are you okay in here?". And I was like "NO! I am emotionally crippled for life! My little Gay is too conflicted to accept the love he knows he wants and needs!" My S.O. could obviously hear my deep, deep emotional distress. He brought me a fish sandwich from McDonald's. Xtra cheese. The only true balm to my soul.

What happened next made me deeply conflicted. Again. There was so much overlapping symbolism I couldn't actually fault Saendee if this time he DID decide it was fate. I lost track. Hell even I almost was like "wait, bro. That's totally fate." I somehow refrained. In the end THE picture got ripped! The Phai drawing! That's like tearing up the Watergate tapes!!! And it was Phai and Thanu that ripped it! And then Phai had a not-vision and suddenly announced DUDE! I'M CURED OF THE DESTINY!

Given the variant multitude of micro-expressions that warred for dominance on Saendee's face, I think he had a stroke.

Seriously though, I am not sure Saendee bought it. If I were him I'd have watched all that and went "Okay. Look, cool crackerjack bamboo water transfer tattoo or not, that freaky shit means something". But I hope Saendee is done with his meddling. Because if that all meant something I'm going to need a year and a degree in Metaphysical Cryptology in order to unravel it and create theories. It was so, so weird. It's only halfway through the series, though, so I am not convinced Saendee's over his case of crazy. I am fully expecting Delta variant doolally from him, oh, probably next episode.

But I did like Phai telling Thanu "Hey! Hey that whole stoic thing you do? Not so great right now. Make like Prince Eric and go KISS DA GIRL!"

Thank you Phai. Finally someone addressed poor Thanu's communication deficit. And man, how! He spilled actual words at Wayu. The right words™. And then Wayu started with this manic string of observations about how Thanu looked tired and unwell and was he sleeping poorly or was it the rigors of a medical degree and then "the Phai Effect" wore off and Thanu was back to saying shit you could interpret too many ways. And I could just SEE the guilt and conflict swirling around in Wayu. Wayu was standing there cataloguing the cost on Thanu of waiting for Wayu and it was just one straw too many. And then Thanu declared that he would always wait for Wayu and the combination of guilt over Thanu and guilt over Pha just blue-screened poor Wayu. He hit that pinnacle moment of 'brain can't handle more' and I was wrecked for him.

When Wayu became so overwhelmed he tearfully ran off to Sab's car to finally have a cry, I was like "I get it, Wayu. I get it.". Like I said, he really looked honestly like he needed a good hug. But Sab, for once, was not the hero Gotham needed.

I felt every moment of Bas's performance. He was brilliant. Bas and Bank(sinister) both pulled some serious facial gymnastics this entire episode and it was SO GOOD.

In recap, everyone's story got something meaningful this episode except for KitMark and JackKoh. KitMark just... wow. I got nothin'. I won't call it unrealistic because I think there's nothing more realistic than people making shitty choices for weird reasons and then not talking about it in a constructive way. But that relationship has problems.

Jack and Koh don't have any problems that dropping Koh into a vat of personality polish wouldn't fix.

Ah yes. Well I am afraid you are doomed to disappointment with them. That one was planned out last year in a marketing tactic involving a fandom vote. Phai is a sweetheart, though.

Oh they probably can, just not with each other. Not sure if ultimately Pha will get a lover, but Wayu is pretty much meant for Thanu.

I like the pace, but everyone has their preference. What CP are you backing?

You always bring the goods! Ha! Thank you.

I was JUST thinking that. He's a gorgeous person and that pic makes him look like a sick mouse.

I agree that Kit is scared. No doubt there. But there comes a time when your fear is a destructive component in your relationship and I am really hoping Kit starts to outgrow it.

Mark has been with him for nearly a year now and he should have some trust built up.

I know it will work out in the end, though. They are destined for a happy ending. This is just a bump in their road.

And yes, I am very intrigued by Phai this season. Last season he didn't seem like much more to me than a younger, less cute sort of Wayu-like character. It certainly seems Thanu has a type. LOL. But this season he's really got some depth! I am just hoping he doesn't get too hurt by what Saendee is up to. I worry that his romance is far enough back in queue it will have to wait for season 3 or maybe even a spin off.

I am glad you were able to find a way to love Wayu/Thanu/Pha/Pharawee. It's a tangled web but they're all great characters that deserve happiness. Star Hunter does indeed have a knack for creating characters I fall in love with. My partiality toward Thanu and Wayu is hardly a secret. And that scene where Wayu finally reunited with Pha after finding out Pha is dying? Oh wow the packed in emotions! I'm glad to talk to another fan of the show.

Oh Star Hunter really has done a great job with his company. (He's who Star Hunter Entertainment is named after) And I honestly can't think of a single upcoming project I am not excited by.

I'm waiting for the entire season to be out first, as well.

"I love their relationship but kit needs to be less controlling and mark needs to stop doing everything to please kit"

That pretty much nailed it. That and they need to communicate more honestly. Mark says what he thinks Kit needs to hear and Kit says whatever will make him feel least vulnerable. Not a great recipe.

I am so glad you're enjoying it! Gen Y is my favorite franchise.

I agree with your entire analysis. I rewatched the episode 2 more times, trying to pin down how I felt, since often my initial review changes as I see things again. And I dislike the episode somewhat less than before. But it's still not one I really like.

My biggest problem with the episode was not understanding what the purpose of a couple of things was. from a pacing point of view it felt like there was already enough going on to create tension for all the characters, so I did not get why the study abroad prospect was injected into plot. But your analysis of Kit's character is pretty on. I would just have hoped that after almost a year of being together that Mark and Kit would understand each other better.

And Thanu is my juice. He's a nice guy. And I really think he learned from the mistake he made not telling Wayu about Phai. So I have no problems with Thanu. I think he and Wayu make the sensible couple. Thanu supports Wayu, who tends to react to stress with lack of self-care. And Wayu gives Thanu the solid, fun companionship that he needs. On more than one occasion Thanu's isolation has come up as a subject. So they compliment each other in ways Phai and Thanu don't.

I also have to admit to being annoyed Phai can't hold Saendee to a metric. That whole "If you stop now it's not too late?" shit... Nope. Too late. Of course that's not how things will play out, but I accept that I will be disappointed when it comes to that.

And I don't hate Pha, though at this point for the sake of plot I am kinda hoping he dies. I do think his habit of treating Wayu like a child who needs his decisions made for him is problematical. I know men like that and they drive me a bit nuts. You can almost never get through to them. I keep hoping Wayu will stop being patient with it and start going "Hey, Adult here", though I don't expect that. Wayu tends to be a little too forgiving.

I also am hoping the extended cut available for pay through Star Hunter will make this episode a bit clearer for me later on. It had the feel of "We filmed a lot and had to sacrifice some coherency to get everything in there", particularly around the part involving Wayu fainting.

Kit is not a Doctor and no, doctors do NOT share information with other doctors without patient consent, especially regarding clinical trials. There's a release form specifically for sharing your info with doctors outside your immediate medical team. And Kit isn't a member of Pha's medical team, so he was breaking ethical and privacy standards to even transfer that data to another healthcare professional. Kit ran a fast one around Pha, nothing less. Telling Wayu that Pha was ill would have been far less of a violation of ethics than what Kit did with Pha's medical records. Telling Wayu had zero legal ramifications, but sharing Pha's records sure as shit could have. I've seen Interns removed from medical programs for that sort of highhandedness.

As for Thanu, he came through and did the right thing for Wayu. In lieu of anyone else making a good choice, Thanu did. And no, Kit's choice wasn't based on medical ethical standards. He was very clear what his reasons were. At no point did Kit ever express ethical reservations about telling Wayu. That's as set in stone by show canon as the fact that Pha didn't give him permission to forward his medical records to outside researchers.

Scroll down the page. A link was given earlier.

Kit is Wayu's friend as well. And has referred to him as such in season 1.

And Kit isn't under any moral obligations about patient confidentiality because he's not Pha's doctor. He's not a doctor at all. He's a premed student who isn't anywhere near clinical internship. So Kit has taken no oaths and signed no contracts requiring confidentiality. And guess what, if he had, he'd have blown that confidentiality when he sent Pha's entire medical records off to an American research project director to get Pha into a case study treatment WITHOUT HIS CONSENT.

His entire stated reason for arguing that Mark shouldn't tell Wayu was that he felt Wayu would leave Thanu for Pha if he knew. But that's not his call to make. In keeping silent and pressuring Mark to do so as well, he manipulated Wayu by narrowing Wayu's scope of knowledge, thereby narrowing his scope of choices. It was never for Kit to decide who Wayu should be with.

Thankfully Thanu did the only right thing and brought Wayu into the fold of information.

Kit is prone to autocratic manipulation. He's done it to Pha, to Wayu, to Thanu and to Mark. He's treated Wayu as much like an object as Thanu and Pha have ever done. At least Thanu learned his lesson and did better the next time. Kit and Pha are still at it.

That is entirely subjective, as you and I have discussed in the past. You don't like the show. We get that. But some of us really like it, even though I was disappointing in episode 5.

So yes, I am having a blast.

I agree. I came for Thanu/Wayu, but the Pha interactions this episode were really great. And the plot with them is interesting because last season Thanu had to choose between two men. Now Wayu has to choose between two men. By the end of things they will both respectively have had to choose each other. And that's going to be a ride.

But Kit confuses me. Because even in the scenes with Wayu, Thanu and Pha... When he saw the look on Wayu's face as he approached Pha, the micro-expressions were so good. You could see that Kit hated that Wayu was in pain. But then he's doing this weirdly cruel autocratic shit with Mark that I just don't get. It makes it hard to like Kit or root for MarkKit. In the real world I'd be asking Kit why he was with Mark.

I do not know why the writers felt the need to insert the study abroad as a hurdle in this season. But more importantly, I don't understand Kit's reaction to Mark finding out and supporting him. That was just bad.

I get you about them needing more BL's. But I watch a lot more than BL's so it's a really good deal for me.