No BL. No GL. How I do despise bait-and-switch marketing for subpar productions. If you're not confident enough in your series that you have to pretend it's a whole other genre, perhaps improve the story or just don't make it at all.
I mean, we know there is a vocal set of DMD fans salivating for a MaxZee series. First order of business there, I think, is making it routine to break ships.
You can be hopeful actually.The pairs are together in the pilot's interview, as the main CP in the story. But!…
I'm not overly hopeful. Ships are the engine that drives Thai's BL industry; without ships and their subsequent fandoms, it wouldn't be nearly as profitable for anyone involved, especially the actors. While this isn't an official DMD production, and they actually let their actors work outside of the company, I don't really believe anyone's willing to risk the product by not following the formula.
But if they did...well, I would certainly applaud.
I have no feelings about MaxNat as either a ship or as actors, I would just appreciate a Thai BL series willingly breaking a ship onscreen, especially if it would better serve the story. That would be bold indeed.
Given that the nature of the love triangle here seems authentic and plot-relevant, rather than existing to create drama only for drama's sake, there is potential to NOT service a pre-existing ship.
It's always so nice when a JBL doesn't shy away from sex. And just when I was considering shelving this one. Doubtful it will but perhaps this one will give us more blatant action, as it's really not giving much by way of story. One can always dream...
The assistant is just annoyingly pathetic. You were a brief bit of tail, a warm body on offer years ago. You've been told and shown repeatedly that you are unwanted, and to stop making such a childish ass of yourself. Have some self-respect, man.
Badly written, poorly acted, awkwardly paced, strangely shot, flashbacks, flashbacks, flashbacks, focus so soft you think you're going blind. Everything you'd expect from the company that brought us "Venus in the Sky". Unfortunately, this version of the template is missing that certain Sitzfleisch encouraging element. The comedic but devoted second couple? Tod's charismatic smile and naked chest? Silly but enthusiastic sex? Not quite sure but whatever made that series occasionally watchable just isn't present here.
It's bland and predictable but passes a bit of time. Some scenes are worth not FFW through but this is, overall, another forgettable factory-line Thai BL production. If you haven't started it, wait. This is a bored weeknight binge-watch.
Though I will say that Junior has grown on me, in much the way Tod did. They do layered well; at least, to the level of complexity these scripts offer. Junior's portrayal of teenaged Achi's heartache is actually making me feel nostalgic and a little sad.
Ultimately had to drop this one. While there were many parts about the series that I enjoyed, the romance elements…
So, anyway, for those wondering whether they should watch:
If you find romantic/love-line elements annoying in non-romance K-dramas, this is probably not the series for you. A not insignificant amount of character motivation, development, & story progress is reliant on the love-lines between the main MLs and the supporting FLs. It hampers the bromance and renders irritating a number of scenes. In many ways, it undermines the basic Western-inspired noir formula, as the women play a much more significant role in this series than noir, as a genre, typically affords. Overall, the "Does she/doesn't she" nonsense is an exceedingly tedious element.
However, if you love romance in your dramas, or want to see any unsubtle romance aspects in your series, and you also like violence and bloodshed, this may well be right up your alley.
Uncle insinuating that Yi Ping broke Ever 9 with his penis is just funny. Every time he shows up on screen, he's got something to say about Ever 9's additional functions. If you want to build a line of sentient sexbots just go ahead, no one's stopping you. I bet they'd sell out on pre-order alone. Of course, sentient sexbots sounds like the first step in an eventual robot uprising but, meh.
What was happening in this drama I would most definitely not call romance 🤔 There was a love element that was…
I did not misunderstand the concept of the show. I began watching the show hoping that, like so many k-dramas, especially those that are not pure comedies or slice-of-life dramas, the romance parts would be negligible. Yes, K-dramas 99% of the time will include romance but that those romances are rarely plot-relevant or story supporting makes the series still perfectly watchable because you can FFW through every single one of those scenes and lose nothing in the main story. Once it became clear that would not be the case in this series, and the romance is actually integral to the story, I lost interest in the series overall.
This series is billed as a violent action thriller; in most cases, K-dramas with these themes don't have a central romance and any love-lines are so functionally irrelevant entire scenes can be skipped without impacting the story. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case here, so I stopped watching.
So, no, it isn't like ordering a bacon sandwich and then complaining about the bacon. It's receiving a sandwich and not realizing it isn't actually for me until I unwrap it.
Do you get it now? I certainly hope so, since my lengthy posts stress you out.
What was happening in this drama I would most definitely not call romance 🤔 There was a love element that was…
Your reading comprehension is truly terrible, and it's unfortunate your feelings are so hurt over someone not enjoying a series you liked. I hope you feel better soon.
What was happening in this drama I would most definitely not call romance 🤔 There was a love element that was…
I know it's essential to the story. I attempted to endure but I simply cannot.
I am not new to K-dramas. I have FFW through several dozen trite, banal, uninteresting, or otherwise unnecessary romance subplots in otherwise good series. I have awarded extra stars to stellar series that forego the nonsense completely.
Unfortunately, due to the vital nature of the romance element in this particular series, the only solution was to drop the series. And I have lost nothing for doing so, as the presence of that element outright ruined my enjoyment of the series.
Well, that was brisk. Rather a Cliff Notes or film essay summarizing every story ever told about the cruel banality of addiction, from dealers to users to the helpless ones who love them. It's sad but abstractly so, like moody photos of raindrops on glass. But then that's one of the great tragedies of being, knowing, or loving anyone in that world: the relentless monotony of it all. Every story is uniquely personal but entirely unremarkable. Dealers continue to deal or don't, addicts die or don't, friends return or don't, love saves or it doesn't. The numbness becomes the point.
Anyway, I think it's worth at least one watch. There is the occasional inspired bit of cinematography, the lighting designer had a good time, and the soundtrack does a more than serviceable job. And speaking of serviceable—
There are about ten seconds of unsimulated group sex with full-on broad shots of greased erections and anal penetration. It actually feels out of place not because it is explicit but because it's so jarringly out of step with the overall tone of the film. It is meant to be p*rnographic. The lighting is noticeably brighter, the lens harsher, the grunting and moaning staccato, and, oh yes, it begins with a giant BBHIFUN title card. It's clear what's being communicated and it's the only scene where sex is treated with such utilitarian voyeurism but the raw starkness of the scene feels less narrative support and more narrative interruption. It is an intentionally "ugly" scene but not ugly enough for a film that has obviously taken such pains with its depictions of the ecstasy laced through hideousness and grime. It just throws the whole thing off-balance, especially with the orgiastic poem that bookends this downward spiral. The scene is too blatant to be metaphor and too commercial to be cinematic, so it just...exists. Like an unskippable ad.
Ultimately had to drop this one. While there were many parts about the series that I enjoyed, the romance elements were just bloody tedious and I couldn't stand the idea of enduring six more episodes of it. I know having romance in K-dramas is a must for many but I find it just really drags down otherwise good series, especially when it can't be skipped due to plot relevance. It is extra annoying in action-crime dramas like this one.
Literally the romance is the ONLY reason I'm dropping this series. Otherwise, I absolutely recommend giving it a watch, if for no other reason than to watch WHJ at work. I have loved every single performance he's ever given and this is no exception; the man is talented.
Sigh. What a tiresome conclusion. Well, hopefully Phee was right; I cannot stomach the thought of a world where Jin gets to survive and be happy. By the end, I despised him most of all.
I was annoyed with Phee by the end too but only because he kept spouting nonsense about what Non would or wouldn't want. Non was not Non by the end; the Non that Phee loved was already dead. Hell, the last time that group of assholes saw Non he'd just knifed one of them and was gearing up to murder the lot. If he hadn't passed out before Jin could confess, I sincerely believe the tenuous hold Non had at that moment would've broken and people would have died. So shut up, Phee; you were nowhere to be found when Non finally fell over that ledge, don't presume to speak on his heart.
And was the insinuation that White slept with Por or someone(s) at some point and caught an STI? What was that vision all about? I rewatched it three times and it just feels like a sloppy tack-on so he doesn't seem too innocent but, sullied or not, the poor kid was still collateral damage. He didn't know anything about any of it and didn't even want to be there in the first place. But I suppose when you're looking to trap people in their own personal hell, the ethics behind the mechanisms aren't bothering you.
Also, Barcode must've been having the time of his life filming that last episode's scenes.
Oh finally, we glimpse a conflict. Apparently it's only a minor setback but anything to break up the fluffy, lovey-dovey monotony of these last few episodes, and most of this episode. Thank goodness for the FFW button.
The shine has most definitely gone off this one. The plot simply cannot bear the weight of its concept. I wasn't expecting anything dazzling in that department, not from a BL, but at this point I suspect the whole artificial intelligence thing was more of a sales gimmick than an actual, earnest story element. It doesn't actually matter in any significant way that he's not Human; yes, he can briefly malfunction or permanently shut down, but so can Humans, and that might be an intentional parallel except this series is neither smart enough nor invested enough to elevate the metaphor.
I had begun considering the underlying question was, at what point is a machine so advanced it is indistinguishable from its maker, both in form and function, but the series keeps skirting any serious evaluation of Ever9's existence. The nature of the soul, the bifurcation of assignment and agency, the truth and value of love when materiality is programmable and measureable—all of these are ripe for exploration and conflict but the best this series seems able to do is a limp-wristed "You can fuck the robot but maybe don't get too attached". It's a shame.
I'll hang around to see how things ultimately shake out with the Uncle (I remain confused by his level of actual authority, and what he can and cannot do at a company he either does or doesn't own/command) but I sense my final rating on this will be low.
I appreciate the aspiration but the effort simply hasn't risen to it.
But if they did...well, I would certainly applaud.
Given that the nature of the love triangle here seems authentic and plot-relevant, rather than existing to create drama only for drama's sake, there is potential to NOT service a pre-existing ship.
The assistant is just annoyingly pathetic. You were a brief bit of tail, a warm body on offer years ago. You've been told and shown repeatedly that you are unwanted, and to stop making such a childish ass of yourself. Have some self-respect, man.
It's bland and predictable but passes a bit of time. Some scenes are worth not FFW through but this is, overall, another forgettable factory-line Thai BL production. If you haven't started it, wait. This is a bored weeknight binge-watch.
Though I will say that Junior has grown on me, in much the way Tod did. They do layered well; at least, to the level of complexity these scripts offer. Junior's portrayal of teenaged Achi's heartache is actually making me feel nostalgic and a little sad.
If you find romantic/love-line elements annoying in non-romance K-dramas, this is probably not the series for you. A not insignificant amount of character motivation, development, & story progress is reliant on the love-lines between the main MLs and the supporting FLs. It hampers the bromance and renders irritating a number of scenes. In many ways, it undermines the basic Western-inspired noir formula, as the women play a much more significant role in this series than noir, as a genre, typically affords. Overall, the "Does she/doesn't she" nonsense is an exceedingly tedious element.
However, if you love romance in your dramas, or want to see any unsubtle romance aspects in your series, and you also like violence and bloodshed, this may well be right up your alley.
This series is billed as a violent action thriller; in most cases, K-dramas with these themes don't have a central romance and any love-lines are so functionally irrelevant entire scenes can be skipped without impacting the story. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case here, so I stopped watching.
So, no, it isn't like ordering a bacon sandwich and then complaining about the bacon. It's receiving a sandwich and not realizing it isn't actually for me until I unwrap it.
Do you get it now? I certainly hope so, since my lengthy posts stress you out.
I am not new to K-dramas. I have FFW through several dozen trite, banal, uninteresting, or otherwise unnecessary romance subplots in otherwise good series. I have awarded extra stars to stellar series that forego the nonsense completely.
Unfortunately, due to the vital nature of the romance element in this particular series, the only solution was to drop the series. And I have lost nothing for doing so, as the presence of that element outright ruined my enjoyment of the series.
Anyway, I think it's worth at least one watch. There is the occasional inspired bit of cinematography, the lighting designer had a good time, and the soundtrack does a more than serviceable job. And speaking of serviceable—
There are about ten seconds of unsimulated group sex with full-on broad shots of greased erections and anal penetration. It actually feels out of place not because it is explicit but because it's so jarringly out of step with the overall tone of the film. It is meant to be p*rnographic. The lighting is noticeably brighter, the lens harsher, the grunting and moaning staccato, and, oh yes, it begins with a giant BBHIFUN title card. It's clear what's being communicated and it's the only scene where sex is treated with such utilitarian voyeurism but the raw starkness of the scene feels less narrative support and more narrative interruption. It is an intentionally "ugly" scene but not ugly enough for a film that has obviously taken such pains with its depictions of the ecstasy laced through hideousness and grime. It just throws the whole thing off-balance, especially with the orgiastic poem that bookends this downward spiral. The scene is too blatant to be metaphor and too commercial to be cinematic, so it just...exists. Like an unskippable ad.
Literally the romance is the ONLY reason I'm dropping this series. Otherwise, I absolutely recommend giving it a watch, if for no other reason than to watch WHJ at work. I have loved every single performance he's ever given and this is no exception; the man is talented.
I was annoyed with Phee by the end too but only because he kept spouting nonsense about what Non would or wouldn't want. Non was not Non by the end; the Non that Phee loved was already dead. Hell, the last time that group of assholes saw Non he'd just knifed one of them and was gearing up to murder the lot. If he hadn't passed out before Jin could confess, I sincerely believe the tenuous hold Non had at that moment would've broken and people would have died. So shut up, Phee; you were nowhere to be found when Non finally fell over that ledge, don't presume to speak on his heart.
And was the insinuation that White slept with Por or someone(s) at some point and caught an STI? What was that vision all about? I rewatched it three times and it just feels like a sloppy tack-on so he doesn't seem too innocent but, sullied or not, the poor kid was still collateral damage. He didn't know anything about any of it and didn't even want to be there in the first place. But I suppose when you're looking to trap people in their own personal hell, the ethics behind the mechanisms aren't bothering you.
Also, Barcode must've been having the time of his life filming that last episode's scenes.
This was a fun watch.
The shine has most definitely gone off this one. The plot simply cannot bear the weight of its concept. I wasn't expecting anything dazzling in that department, not from a BL, but at this point I suspect the whole artificial intelligence thing was more of a sales gimmick than an actual, earnest story element. It doesn't actually matter in any significant way that he's not Human; yes, he can briefly malfunction or permanently shut down, but so can Humans, and that might be an intentional parallel except this series is neither smart enough nor invested enough to elevate the metaphor.
I had begun considering the underlying question was, at what point is a machine so advanced it is indistinguishable from its maker, both in form and function, but the series keeps skirting any serious evaluation of Ever9's existence. The nature of the soul, the bifurcation of assignment and agency, the truth and value of love when materiality is programmable and measureable—all of these are ripe for exploration and conflict but the best this series seems able to do is a limp-wristed "You can fuck the robot but maybe don't get too attached". It's a shame.
I'll hang around to see how things ultimately shake out with the Uncle (I remain confused by his level of actual authority, and what he can and cannot do at a company he either does or doesn't own/command) but I sense my final rating on this will be low.
I appreciate the aspiration but the effort simply hasn't risen to it.