Fondueforkharpoon

Messy, Queer, And Fun

This little movie has a fairly simple premise and pulls it off with panache. It's a short glimpse into the wonderful, messy, overlapping lives of a group of queer women as they spend an evening drinking together and it feels incredibly real.
The writing and acting are both fantastic and without the level of quality they provide to the show I don't think this would have worked nearly as well as it does. If the only plot you have is your characters, they have to feel believable and this movie manages that expertly.
I'd recommend this short to anyone who likes mature slice-of-life type stories or who simply wants to bask in the joy of getting to watch queer women simply existing.

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Made me feel like dancing

This is such an incredibly sweet film it almost sent me into a diabetic coma.
The production quality is truly excellent, the editing is perfectly suited to the story, and the acting is absolutely fantastic.
And, most importantly, in just barely thirty minutes this movie manages to perfectly capture the feeling of being a young queer kid in dance class, dancing with your best friend. Yes, that's a way more common experience than you think.
I also really love how the movie manages to portray the feelings and attitudes of young people living in a relatively conservative environment and being subjects to its rules. It never explicitly goes into detail on this, but all the subtle little nods towards the topic, like the girls talking about queer relationships openly while the teachers are lecturing them about topics such as conforming to the virtuous culture of Thai society, paint a very clear picture.
In short, I highly recommend watching this film. It's a simple, hopeful story which provides a brief window into the day-to-day of two queer girls simply living their lives. It's tender, it's charming, and it is absolutely worth your time.

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A masterpiece that has stood the test of time!

When I stumbled across this movie for the first time I thought "Huh..." and somewhere in the dark recesses of my mind I started to vaguely recall having read the manga years ago.
So I thought "Why not" and decided to give the movie a shot. And absolutely nothing could have prepared me for how much I've grown to love it.

From the very beginning the movie has a distinct quiet feel to it, a sort of understated grace that is incredibly hard to pull off without becoming boring. But bore me this did not!
The, let's be honest, fairly shallow and fluffy story is given depth by absolutely stellar performances and gains an undercurrent of authenticity and, for me personally, an aching sense of nostalgia. It effortlessly conjures up the absolute, razor sharp, stepping-around-landmines tension of being a queer kid, who maybe isn't even aware they're a queer kid yet, making a queer connection for the first time with such incisiveness that I found myself absolutely speechless.

And that feeling didn't let up. The entire movie is an absolute masterclass in tension. From the recurring theme of archery, the creaking drawing of bowstrings, to the ceaseless push and pull of the main characters' dynamic - that hesitant reaching out and pulling back of two people who are terrified, terrified of wanting but much more terrified of not being wanted in return - to the long static shots, the lingering close-ups, and the drawn-out continuous takes. It all adds up to steadily build a breathless sort of tension until you feel as if you're being forced to walk a tight-rope of emotions.
It's absolutely incredible.

If you like slow-building romances, stories with lots of tension but very little angst, or movies that speak volumes by deliberately saying very little out loud, then I couldn't recommend this movie more.
It's also a very faithful adaptation of the manga so if you're a fan of the source material you'll very likely love this as well.
Go watch it and then go watch the sequel, I promise you'll be in for an absolute treat.

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I liked it in spite of myself

I don't know what it is that makes this show as enjoyable as it is, but there's just something about it.
The premise is interesting but poorly executed, the writing is solid but the plot doesn't exactly make sense, the acting is great but the characters are underdeveloped. So why in the hell does it work so well then?
I can't answer that question with any certainty but I can sure try.

My favourite part of the show are the characters. Yes, they are somewhat underdeveloped and don't really have character arcs as such, but they are all incredibly, bizzarely charming.
Our prince is as sweet as sugar, he is a ridiculously kind and gentle person who is very inconveniently stuck in the body of a royal. He is almost as much of a fish out of water as Eun Ho and watching him doing his best is as funny as it is sweet.
Our bodyguard is the epitome of the tortured, brooding servant utterly devoted to his master and absolutely no-one takes him seriously. He waves around his sword and makes threats and vows to protect the prince with his life and mostly all he gets in response is "yeah yeah we got it, calm down and come join our cuddle pile instead".
Our hapless time traveller steals the show by virtue of being utterly, hilariously unflappable. No matter what happens to him, no matter how strange his environment is, he faces it all with an attitude of "Yeahh this might as well happen" and then simply gets on with his day.
The dynamic between the three is incredibly entertaining to watch and there are many fairly unsubtle hints at a potential polyamorous relationship between them, which makes the whole thing even more enjoyable.

So take all that, mix it with an absolutely gorgeous wardrobe and a story utterly devoid of angst, shake it vigorously, and what you get is this odd, off-beat, wholly charming show. It's not a good show by any common metric, but it is undeniable fun to watch and at the end of the day that's what's important.
So give it a shot, you'll very likely be entertained.

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A brief moment of enjoyment that didn't linger

This one left me with a profound feeling of "Yup, that sure was a show I watched!"
It's one of the lightest, easiest to watch dramas out there and I'm sure many people will, understandably, love it for that.
The writing is solid, the actors deliver fun and believable performances, and the visuals and editing work well.
And that's about it.
The main leads have an engaging and enjoyable dynamic which leads them approximately nowhere.
Don't get me wrong, I love a good "nothing really happens" story and slow, quiet explorations of life and what it means to be human delight me like nothing else, but that's not what this show gave me.
There is such a profound lack of plot, such a wealth of characters doing nothing more than vaguely existing together that after each episode I just found myself asking "Okay, and?"

So if you're in the market for a show that's nice to look at and will certainly help you while away some 80 odd minutes, this one will deliver. If you're looking for something more you probably won't find it here.

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Incredibly torn about this one

It's been difficult to sort out my exact feelings about this show but if I had to pick out the most prevalent one it'd be "visceral disappointment".
I went into watching the series fully aware that it's a satire (which I'm generally quite a big fan of) and absolutely loved it in the beginning. I mean the setup is absolutely fantastic, there's just no two ways about it.
A Buddhist vampire with recessive genes? Excellent.
He's got a cat he takes everywhere, a coffin with no lid, and a vast collection of umbrellas he colour coordinates with his outfits? Showstopping, absolutely spectacular.
Add a cast of charming weirdos, a blood pork soup cart, and a very self-aware type of humour, and you've got a clear recipe for success in my book. Hell, I kind of thought this was going to be Thailand's answer to What We Do In The Shadows.
Whoever was responsible for sets and wardrobe absolutely went above and beyond and there are so many fun little unexplained oddities sprinkled through the story (looking at you, Yoh's haunted room) that clearly show a lot of love and effort was put into this production.

But unfortunately, that's where the good ends and the problems begin. For this type of story and style to work you need solid performances, precise comedic timing, and tight editing, none of which the show delivers.
A lot of the acting is quite stiff (I feel very mean coming after someone's performance like this but it really is a big issue here), the dialogue can be incredibly awkward, and the pacing is painfully slow. I don't mind a lack of plot and generally enjoy little more than watching a bunch of interesting characters just existing and living their lives, but I truly cannot overstate just how much time the show wastes with needless filler scenes, it genuinely put me in a sort of bored fugue state.
Towards the end the plot does pick up a bit but the show completely wastes the potential there too.
The concept of Pun being an unreliable narrator (or, more accurately, a lying liar who lies) could have worked so well if the writing had been slightly more consistent and if the whole "dramatic, blood-drinking vampires" part of his backstory had been woven into the plot from the beginning.
If we, as the audience, had had some indication of how limited Pun's time with his friends was supposed to be, if we'd seen him struggle with breaking away from his responsibilities to his "vampire family", how much more impactful would the sweet and emotional moments have been? A lot, in my opinion.
Even the "find each other in every life-time" cliche could have worked here if, once again, it had been woven into the story a bit more and if the romantic connection between Yoh and Pun had been given a bigger focus. I don't even mean NC scenes, hell just having them hold hands occasionally, or cuddle, or display any other type of non-sexual intimacy would have been enough. Or having Yoh engage with Pun's clear adoration of him more openly and acknowledging his own feelings earlier.
There are so many ways in which this show could have been great and so many ways in which it isn't.

So, on the whole, would I recommend watching this show? I honestly don't know. On the one hand I personally would rather watch a weird, off-beat, low-budget story with unique ideas than some milque-toast, cookie-cutter show with high production value that brings nothing new to the table any day. On the other hand, does it really matter how good a story's ideas are if the execution is this poor?
Since I can't figure out a clear answer to that for the life of me, you'll probably just have to decide for yourself.

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It lingered with me

This one is a real gem of a time travel romance. Ironically, I actually found the world-building and time travel aspects more interesting than the romance at times, but I'm going to put that down to personal taste.
The production quality for this show is truly excellent, the cinematography, music, and editing are all absolutely wonderful and serve to create that romantic and melancholy atmosphere that seems to have resonated with so many viewers, myself included.
The performances and script are absolutely stellar as well; you can tell just how much love and effort was put into this entire story.
The characters are all interesting and complex and their sheer likeability makes all aspects of the story more enjoyable and impactful, from the romance, to the humour, to the tragedy and drama.
Personal favourites of mine are James and Mei, but I honestly would happily watch an entire drama dedicated to pretty much any one of the supporting characters.

A lot of folks have praised the show for the varied and diverse relationships it depicts, as well as for how unflinching and brutally honest it is in showcasing the realities of life for servants, the lower classes, women, and queer people in 1920s Thailand - and rightfully so! The show-runners do a fantastic job of highlighting the social and systemic oppression these marginalised groups used to and still do face to this day in a way that is both realistic and relevant to story.
However, there is one aspect of these depictions that I take some issue with, which is the sheer amount of rape scenes included in the show. Don't get me wrong, they are very well done and brutally effective in how uncomfortable they are to watch, but some of them felt unneeded and borderline gratuitous. I don't think any of them are intended to be outright voyeuristic or titillating, but some of them end up unfortunately somewhat coming off as such, at least in my opinion.
If nothing else, I feel it's necessary to give potential viewers a heads up about this, so consider this your trigger warning.

All in all though, I really loved this show and can't wait for a potential season 2 to pick up where the finale left off (and shout-out to the kind souls in the comments who explained the ending more thoroughly than the show did). Seeing all the character dynamics change and evolve in a present-day setting would be an absolute delight and I hope we get to see it.
Meanwhile though, I would recommend this show to anyone looking for a beautifully shot, beautifully realised historical romance, or to any enjoyers of serious, yet wonderfully charming queer love stories that feel almost time-less.

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I actually really love it!

I put off watching this show for quite some time because of how thoroughly mid the ratings and reviews are. Imagine my surprise when I fell completely head over heels for this series after the very first episode.

It's a very quiet, slow story with a lot of lingering shots and silent moments which in a lesser show could very easily have become boring and repetitive, but here, thanks to fantastic acting performances by the entire cast as well as the precise editing, serves to build atmosphere and tension expertly.
Which is not to say the entire show is tense and dramatic, oh no there is plenty of charming, understated humour as well as some perfectly timed non-verbal comedy which genuinely made me laugh out loud.
Through most of the story the characters talk to each other fairly little; instead, the writers take the show-not-tell approach and let the audience get to know the characters through flash-backs and small, silent interactions. This not only serves to highlight the acting prowess of the cast, it also helps build a certain level of suspense as well as drive the plot - the main characters are two people who are, understandably, hesitant to be open and direct with one another and their small, increasingly intimate quiet exchanges eventually culminate in a highly emotional conversation when the two are finally able to communicate clearly with one another. In fact, they talk specifically about what led to their miscommunications and reflect on what they should have done differently so as to avoid further problems and give their relationship a real chance to succeed. This scene is a great release of tension and, in my opinion, a very satisfying pay-off.
One of the biggest complaints people have about the show seems to be the big kiss that happens here and I agree, it's bad.
But personally I don't think it spoils anything. These two are not afraid to get close to each other, we see them get physically close and touch casually repeatedly during the show and there is a clear intimacy and palpable romantic tension between them.
It is also neither the first nor the last kiss the two of them share and I feel their final kiss specifically is incredibly sweet, so I honestly don't think the "big bad kiss" is nearly as much of an issue as people make it out to be.

In short, if you want a highly character-driven story with great acting, solid visuals, lots of subtle (and some not so subtle) humour, and an incredibly charming slow-burn romance, then this show is for you!
It's obviously not perfect, but it's clever, sweet, and fun so give it a go, I honestly don't think you'll regret it.

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This absolute gem of a show deserves to be recognised!

These showmakers has a vision and goddamn did they ever commit to it! Translating a comedy manga into a live-action series can be challenging and often works best when certain exaggerated elements are toned down, but here the creators fully lean into the style of the source material, utilising camerawork, lighting, and editing to great effect and creating a stylised masterpiece. It is an absolute joy to watch which several people have, deservedly, compared to Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai VS Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko.
Rather than the focus being on comedy however, like it is in that show, here the core of the series is a sweet and sensitive portrayal of a struggling artist learning to break free from expectations and pursuing love and happiness in their various forms.
The romance may be tame, but it feels real and heartfelt - given the show is based on the works of an openly gay mangaka, this authenticity may not exactly come as a surprise, but it is delightful nonetheless.
If you're in search of an uplifting slice-of-life series with great queer representation (Framboise is a personal highlight; he's eccentric, deeply likeable, and provides superb comedic relief without ever being the butt of the joke), highly lovable characters, and an endearing romance then look no further.

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My beautiful, messy ocean

Who needs a plot when you've got a Holland? Seriously I could watch that man in anything, he's just such a damn engaging screen presence.
But even my obvious bias aside, this show is alright! Yes, it's messy, that's undeniable, but it's damn charming.
The relationship progression and overall pacing of the show are very well executed and the leads' chemistry is fantastic.
I suppose there's just something about stories full of strange little guys (gender neutral) that really appeals to me - I absolutely adore all the characters here, odd ducks the lot of them.
The series is wonderfully calm and, inhabited exclusively by weirdos though it is, feels fairly grounded. At the same time it never strives to take itself all too seriously which strangely enough gives the emotional scenes more room to breathe and make an impact. I don't know, something about it all just worked for me.
The soundtrack is absolutely fantastic as well and perfectly underscores the story's tone.
It may not be a cinematic masterpiece, but it perfectly accomplishes what it set out to do - tell a gentle, refreshing story about a genuine queer romance.
I highly recommend you give it a go and see for yourself, you might just end up loving it.

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A solid romcom in a fun fantasy setting

Now, one could quibble over the definition of "rom-com" but that's what this is and I will die on that hill thank you very much.
While I personally don't like this as much as some other shows (The Vampires being my personal favourite), it's still a really solid watch.
The production quality is great, as is to be expected by now, the characters are interesting and lovable, and I actually found myself intrigued by the story line.
Usually these shows suffer a bit from having to cram an insane amount of plot into too short a runtime, but here I actually think the story is perfectly paced and easy to follow.
Sure, there is the odd plot hole, but nothing too grievous or which takes away from the enjoyment of the sapphic sword nonsense.
If you're a fan of C-dramas, or fantasy romance, or queer women in ever more fantastical outfits, then this one is for you.
I will also say that even if you're not hooked by the end of the first season I'd recommend sticking with it anyway.
The plot does pick up a fair bit in season two.

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A thoughtful, realistic queer drama that is most definitely worth your time

This show is a masterpiece. That much cannot be denied. It is visually gorgeous, has an amazing soundtrack, fantastic acting, incredible writing, and one of the most realistic portrayal of queer experiences and relationships I have ever seen in a TV show.
The fact that this is not your average 8, 10-minute episodes K-drama is frankly nothing short of a miracle and if this is the level of quality we can expect from Korean film makers if they are given the resources they need to tell the stories they want to tell, then we can only hope and pray that this show is just a forerunner and that there is more to come.

I will admit, however, that this is a melancholy show. It feels gritty and real and just a little bit heartbreaking.
Now, I don't personally enjoy shows like that and I did have some significant trouble getting into this one, not matter how technically excellent it is on every level.
If you are someone like me, someone who prefers a lighter, more humorous approach to serious topics you might also have some difficulties with this. But I truly believe it's worth watching anyway.
Not only do I think this show is something so unique and well-put together that it has to be experienced at least once, it also has a wonderful, fiercely joyful happy ending. I found it so satisfying, in fact, that I was tempted to go and rewatch the entire thing immediately just to experience it all over again.
I promise you this show will not break your heart, at least not without putting it back together again.
Give it a shot, this story is very much worthy of your attention.

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Poongduck Villa Really Is Special

One of my all-time favourites that I just can't help but keep returning to.
This is a truly excellent rom-com which walks some classic beats but also brings a lot of new ideas to the table.
It's got nice visuals, fantastic acting, a great supporting cast (looking at you Holland, truly noone steals the show like that man does), some great physical comedy, and authentic queer characters with real depth.

This show first won me over with the aforementioned physical comedy, however small a part it may play in the story. It's rare to see a rom-com incorporate a tangible, physical aspect into its humour without it being overly cartoon-y slapstick.
I mean when was the last time you saw one romantic lead deliver a round-house kick to the other romantic lead's face?

Then the show intrigued me with how realistic its characters feel. They all just seem like real, actual people, the main characters especially. Sure, they are both strange in their own ways and completely and utterly fail to be normal about anything at all, but thanks to the clever writing all their silliness feels like the respective idiosyncrasies of two oddly charming and deeply likeable people.
So much so that the two leads felt immediately and startlingly familiar to me. I kept thinking to myself "I know these gays, I have met them before, I know actual people like this"

All of the above are great points in the show's favour, but what really cemented its status as one of the all time greats to me is the deeply realistic and thoughtfully handled portrayal of queerness and queer experience that it depicts.
It explores the disbelief, curiosity, and relief of discovering your sexuality, the continuous heartbreak of pining for someone you can't have and the line between secret love and unhealthy devotion, the all-encompassing, giddy joy of experiencing a true romantic connection for the first time in your 30ish years of life, the way shame and repression affect queer people's lives and relationships, and the happiness and security that come from finding people who are just like you, who care for you, and who accept you.
And that dedication to depicting authentic queer experiences is what elevates the story as a whole and makes every familiar trope seem fresh and new. Take the show's climactic conflict for instance - this is an integral part of the standard rom-com formula which can easily become contrived and off-putting if a show includes it just for the sake of sticking to the format.
But here that conflict doesn't just serve to add drama for drama's sake. It stems directly from both characters' internal issues and insecurities and feels like a perfect culmination of something the show has been building up to from the beginning.
The entire thing is as painfully, achingly inevitable as it is necessary for the characters to progress, both as people and in their relationship. Rarely have I seen story with a romantic core woven together so perfectly and a relationship arc pulled off so masterfully.

I highly recommend this show to all rom-com fans, queer viewers looking for a believable queer romance with excellent representation which notably does not end in tragedy, and anyone in search of a solid romantic romp with great writing and acting and a fantastic wardrobe, that has some real bite and intelligence to it and is, most importantly, just plain fun to watch.

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Much deeper than anyone's giving it credit for

This show is one of my all-time favourite queer TV shows and I don't say that lightly.
The story starts off with the classic character tropes of "big manly jock guy whom everyone fawns over" and "timid, heartwarming orphan who wants nothing more in life than to repay the kindness of the people who took him in" - and then it flips the whole thing on its head.

From the very beginning Haebom is not your typical, heteronormative damsel-in-distress archetype. He is fairly introverted and clearly very conflict-avoidant, but he has boundaries that he enforces and defends uncompromisingly from the start.
Over the course of the show, as he gets more and more confident, he starts sticking up for himself slightly more often, but he is not and never has been a pushover.
Taesung, in turn, is far removed from the strong, protective hero stereotype. While he genuinely wishes to help Haebom and does occasionally actively confronts his bullies, he stays mindful of Haebom's wishes for him to not interfere and never tries to swoop in heroically during a conflict, he always lets Haebom handle it himself first.
This puts the two on a fairly even footing with each other and as the story progresses they begin to balance out each others' strengths and weaknesses exceedingly well - Taesung is good at confronting problems head-on and facing people directly, Haebom knows how to elegantly solve and de-escalate precarious situations.
The fact that Haebom at one point calls himself Taesung's "knight in shining armour" and Taesung agrees, is a further subversion of tired old tropes and showcases their deeply loving and respectful "Lean on me if you need to, I'll lean on you in turn" dynamic perfectly.

Another thing the show handles wonderfully is jealousy and insecurity in relationships. Between the two of them Taesung is the touchier, clingier partner while Haebom is more reserved and independent. However the two of them are always on the same page about these issues. They openly acknowledge Taesung's occasional jealousy (which, by the way, never stems from any fear of infidelity or a desire to control Haebom's actions) and find workable compromises.
It's okay to want to spend time with your partner, it's okay to be clingy sometimes. Just as long as all parties involved are happy with their situation and other important aspects of their lives, such as work or social connections, aren't negatively impacted.
From the first episode onwards these two continuously check in with each other to make sure they aren't overstepping any boundaries and that they are both happy in their current situation.
In fact, when Taesung does become insecure in their relationship, and when he does become overly clingy, Haebom immediately recognises this as odd and unhealthy behaviour and sets out to find the cause of the issue.
Furthermore, as an added bonus, we get to see two romantic partners directly asking each other for affection; "Can I have a hug please?" "Can I lay on your arm?" "Please just hold me for a minute". Depictions like this are as incredibly rare as they are wonderful, and I very much appreciate that the creators of the show chose to portray the characters like this.
All of the above then adds up to a nuanced and realistic portrayal of a healthy relationship that honestly made me want to weep with joy a little bit.

Lastly I want to mention one more great strength this show has - its cast of deeply likeable yet complex supporting characters.
From Taesung's mother and Haebom's complicated relationship with her, to Jin Ah and Yong Hee who frequently act entirely independently from the main characters rather than serving as nothing more than a duo of backup yes-men, all these characters are unique and their stories compelling. They bring some interesting depth to what could otherwise have been a fairly shallow, fluffy story and round out the show perfectly in my opinion.

This show isn't perfect, it does have its flaws, but it is so much more than what it appears to be on the surface.
So if you are looking for a low-angst show with truly interesting queer characters and a story with much more complexity than anyone seems to be giving it credit for, then this is very much the series for you.

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Disco Mob

From the moment the intro song started playing, I was hooked.
The whole show just oozes with an incomparable style and charm that really sets it apart from any other show I've ever watched. Its makers had a clear vision of what they wanted to create and they just went for it. Never have I seen a show so utterly committed to the bit.
Every single segment is a masterclass in trope subversion, which, combined with the often tongue-in-cheek humour and some truly stellar performances from the main cast, results in a uniquely hilarious and entertaining final product.

Now I will say that if you are looking for something that is romance heavy or that goes in-depth in its critique and dismantling of the genre, then you won't enjoy this. The point of this show is to make fun - make fun of its viewers, make fun of the genre, and most importantly make fun of itself. There are a couple of digs made at some slightly more serious problems of the genre, but nothing weightier than that.

So if you're in search of a comedy that really knows what it's doing, has a few light sprinklings of genuinely emotional moments, and is just plain fun to watch then you will certainly find it in this show.
I've also re-watched the intro at least a dozen times by now, so I'd say for that absolute masterpiece of an opener alone it's worth giving this show a shot.

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