CurlyFries

The circumstances? I'm not a novel reader so I don't really know anything ahead of time other than the snippets that the trailer showcased. Yeah I take what we get of them as a blessing but keep my criticisms until I know the show is finished first. It'd be real embarrassing if they got tons of scenes soon after complaining about a lack of them after all lmao. Don't worry it didn't sound rude to me; I get both sides of the argument but I just think people are blowing things out of proportion is all.

At least someone is aware of it in these comments. A lot of commentors are saying that just because people aren't particularly fond of the toxicity in the main couple's relationship that they can't handle any dark romance and keep referencing other Chinese BL novels as being just as toxic. They need to at least be aware that dark romances CAN portray genuine love that does not equate to pure ownership like this one seems to be going thus far. You can enjoy different degrees of dark romances but need to at least be aware when something is romantic or not. (In case it seems unclear I was agreeing with your comment)

I agree that people shouldn't state that after every ep since it's something that everyone thinks but I heard that the latest ep has literally no scenes for the side couple so I think this time is justified. The show is just proving their point. But I still personally wouldn't comment that under every ep and I'd just wait until the series wraps up to voice my criticisms or concerns, because as someone has stated; the side couple might get more focus in the later eps to make up for main couple special treatment in all the other eps.

ABO isn't inherently about that though. It's just a setting for people to use to tell a story. Similar to historical and fantasy. But not everyone uses those the same way though. But yeah, in this case it is being used to showcase questionable characters but don't label it as only for people who like dark romance. I agree this story isn't for the faint of heart though.

Is The Next Prince worth the watch? I've been considering trying it but the mixed reviews is making me hesitant. Does the story improve as it goes?

I agree. This commenter is more aggressive than a single person I've seen comment how they think the main couple or story is lacking. Telling people to "stfu" just because they voice a preference on an airing show is really inconsiderate and will never lead to any constructive criticism either. And just because the side couple isn't the main couple is not an excuse to give them no scenes in an episode for people who genuinely like them. And just because someone doesn't like the main couple does not mean they hate MLs with questionable morals and not everyone likes those same MLs in every single story.

Well they have a right to not like the main couple though. Like I said, everyone has a preference and when the reviews for this story come out they will show that. The comment under this one is quite literally attacking people who vocalize a preference and want them to "stfu" just because they are voicing said preference. So yes, just because people don't explicitly say "you can't have a preference," does NOT mean they aren't implying the opposite with what they say. If people can say how much they love the main couple, then the same can be said of the side couple and how they think the main couple is lacking.

Yeah I just wish people would be more peaceful in the comments and accept that some people want more side couple scenes WITHOUT starting an argument over which one is better. I might (currently, might change) prefer the side couple but I am self-aware of how the main couple is destined to have more scenes. Despite that, people are justified in being disappointed that their preferred couple have gotten only crumbs for scenes. But that's just my take on it.

I think I need to say this because of the discourse in these comments but why are people so pressed that some people prefer the side couple over the main couple? They say that they are being "too much" but I haven't seen a single comment being the over the top yet. Just like how you guys prefer the main couple, these guys prefer the side couple. Everyone will have a preference whether you like it or not, so just accept that and move on. If you were in their shoes and the couple that you preferred got sidelined then you'd probably be disappointed too. People are allowed to not like a central romance without being considered haters. Just look at My Engineer for example; damn near every viewer preferred a side couple over the main couple but not everyone preferred the same side couple. And guess what? People were able to live in harmony bedsides that fact. So, please, stop attacking people who voice their grievance over a lack of scenes for their preferred couple just because *you* get enough scenes of yours to be satisfied enough to argue with them. And the novel not having them much in the main story isn't an excuse either because I highly doubt they are following it 1:1. Good day.

Hey! I'm honestly surprised someone is commenting on this review this late. I didn't think anyone would even read my twit longer lol. I mean I do think I may have been a bit hard on Uea's actor at the time, but I still believe his crying scenes were bad. I don't think he was terrible playing the rest of the character, but it really took me out of the show with how stiff his crying scenes were because I expected a character like him to either cry really ugly or silently (due to years of trauma building a resistance).

About the 4th ep situation, I agree that King not knowing Uea's trauma contributes greatly to what he said, but I still blame the writers for not proof reading what they decided to make their "green flag" love interest say in such a sensitive scenario. I wouldn't have been as bothered if it was meant to portray a morally questionable love interest and romantic dynamic but since that didn't seem like the case to me, the scene really bothered me even when they officially got together. It gave the same vibes as Vee from Love Mechanics saying he wouldn't take advantage of Mark when he's drunk in a later ep, yet doing exactly that in the very first episode of the series.

Also, I agree that this show doesn't seem like it's going for "ultimate justice" with each perpetrator, but I felt like it needed more closure considering how often they used abused as plot devices. I feel they should have handled the topics with more care than they did. I also know that it is realistic to a degree because unfortunately a lot of abusers get away with what they did, but I still feel like they should have punished at least 2 of them appropriately to send the message of how serious their crimes were. Light or undisclosed punishments just don't cut it in this kind of romance. It isn't trying to be dark romance or horror after all. Kinnporsche it at least made sense in because of how the narrative was framed around repeated offenders using their power to get away with crimes and take advantage of less powerful people (can't believe I just defended Kinnporsche on something).

As for King and Uea's fwb situationship, I agree that Uea probably desired the dynamic because it allowed him a way to gain control over his sexuality that he feels he had been robbed of in his youth, and he probably judged King because he was jealous and insecure of how well King could own his own sexuality enough to have one night stands galore. I doubt he wanted to slut shame King, but it kind of came across that way. As for King's flirtatious nature, I feel the issue that I have with that is how they needed to show it better instead of just automatically starting with their fwb early on and not showing King being lustful (with others too) just as early on. I think the issue here is time management because their characters would have greatly benefitted from a few more episodes in the long run. I feel this because we are just speculating here since it was never really explicitly shown or implied for what we are saying.

And yeah, how Net plays King is probably what makes him seem like such a lovesick golden retriever half of the time. It was probably how he expressed his character that made King seem so over the top rather than simply the script. I just wish Uea gave that same passion in their relationship as it almost felt one sided to me. I understand he is healing with relationships, but I think a big addition to his character growth would be him gaining back his own autonomy to be flirtatious and enjoy desire openly.

As for the sex scenes, I'm sorry but I just found them so cringe between these two actors in a way most other Thai bls do not evoke in me. I have no idea why, maybe it's how the show frames it, but I don't find them being sexual to be attractive whatsoever. I've felt more attracted to less explicit sex scenes in GMMTV bls for instance. I think they could have been more angsty as well to showcase Uea's inner struggle to regain mental control over his sexuality and learning to explore himself better as well. Btw, love the word choice of "reference pool" LMAO. Leaves much up to the imagination!

Again, I have no issues with Uea becoming fwb with King, I think it would make sense if they just developed it better rather than using the excuse of "because the plot demands it!"

As for James as an actor, I just think he needs some more experience is all; I'm gonna see him as a central antagonist once Mr. Fanboy comes out, so maybe I'll see his improvement then. Who knows, maybe he plays villains better than protagonists?

I was actually honestly surprised to see a comment this in depth in response to one of my reviews. I haven't had one that covered as many specific points as yours did, so I'm genuinely happy for the interactivity! It's fun having a friendly discussion on a review that I feel was a little too emotional as mine was, but it's important to keep in mind that most of my reviews are made almost directly after I finish something so all of my bad feelings are still relatively fresh and that clouds my overall enjoyment and review as a byproduct. If you have any reviews, I'd be glad to read those as well (given I know what series they're reviews of)!

Thanks for the effort and I hope any of my other reviews cover something you're interested in because I'd love to see a response on those as well!

Thought I was crazy thinking the same thing because of the crumbs of screen time they get haha.

Yeah I'm disappointed by it. I'm a true lover of enemies to lovers and the bickering couple troupe, but instead all we got was some generic fluff with no drama romance that failed to captivate me. My heart goes out to JunPo pairing 😔✊️

Absolutely! Imagine how fun it would have been if Po was just really dedicated to his job and wanted to help Thame out (platonically) and ended up meeting the first roadblock: Jun. But then he finds out that Jun only really wanted the best for Thame and Po sees him in a different light from then on and Jun realizes the best way to help his conflicted best friend is through Po's assistance. Maybe even Thame would be the one to realize they like each other because he is best friends with Jun and try to help Jun win him over (instead of Pepper being forced to always give advice as if he is talking to a 13 year old that got their first crush). Imagine how fun it would be for them to have a mutual friend of Thame whilst trying to hide their feelings for each other and he can obviously read them both like a book. Jun also seemed to understand his own feelings better and I don't think it was ever mentioned that he "only liked girls". I need a fanfic like this lmao.

Yeah I would hope they aren't in their teens.

I agree. I love to read others' reviews, especially about shows I feel conflicted about (like Dead Friend Forever as an example).

Yeah, but actor and character ages can be veeeery different so I tend not to look at that for refernce.

Yeaaahhhh I enjoyed the bickering couple trope Jun x Po had going on. I was sad that it was doomed to never go anywhere. As for Thame x Po chemistry, I never really saw it. To be fair, I did stop watching before they got like actually physically intimate, so they could have had chemistry when they got together versus before they did. But I'm glad we agree on most things!

Oh, thank you for telling me. Do you know Po's age? If they stated it in the show then I already forgot.

Never seen a review state pretty much every point that I was trying to state in mine (except this one is better at portraying it).

Roger that. I'm just gonna wait for the reviews people make when the show is completely over (but definitely not the ones that blindly give 10s because I don't trust those ever).