Refreshing, and deserving a much higher rating. The writing has an air of confidence that makes me feel they know exactly where they want to take us, and how.
It seems pretty clear which couple is endgame but the fun will be in getting there.
Tbh this is pretty bad. The dramatic situations are so simplistic and predictable that the actors don't have anything interesting to work with, so they can't "sell it".
What makes the age difference in Couple #2 hard for me to get past is that Lu Xi is so immature that I have to question why any well-adjusted adult (or even a mature classmate Lu Xi's own age) would want to date him. Here, the big brother/little brother dynamic overrides everything, and the script insists on inserting one setup after another for the kid to act out impulsively. (And it looks like we're getting another one next week.) I guess they think these little dust-ups will keep us hooked?
And really, what does it say about someone when they're willing to be romantically involved with someone so emotionally unready for an adult relationship?
Couple #1 are not much better. They're more suited to one another but they're also hobbled by the amateurish script.
As I think I said earlier, this series strikes me as reminiscent of "Because of You", which Muji Hsu also starred in. Not because the plots are similar, but because the writing and acting are on a similarly uninspired level. And it doesn't help that we're now five years past "BoY", and BL series have come a long way since then.
A bit disappointed that they'll have Thomas again playing the disdainful gorgeous guy while Kong comes off like Teerak at Hogwarts. (Based on the trailer I'm worried that Kong really does lack range as an actor, since his characterization of Aphere is basically Teerak 2.0.)
Think of how clever it would have been to reverse the roles in all the couples: Thomas as the dimwitted wizard who needs to win over a haughty Kong, Keng as the nervous secretary who has to win over the aloof CEO played by Namping, etc.
I like how this refrains from all the melodrama that you see in many films like this. When it started, I expected Yuki to die in the end, for Urara to become popular at school because of BL, end up dating Kyohei, and be contacted by the BL author for mentoring.
But.... it avoided all that. Which was so refreshing (and realistic)!
I have to feel for the team behind this series. They clearly wanted to deliver a memorable love story but were hamstrung by the strict laws around such a production.
Still, though, I'm pleased that there were so many declarations of love and the kisses that went beyond anything we saw in "Stay With Me". They wanted us to see that this wasn't just another bromance. It's a love story.
They also avoided permanently killing anyone off. As upset as a lot of us are at the ending, I think it would have been much worse if there'd been no way for Shiwen to stay alive.
I loved this series. I initially began watching the series due to the hype over the pairing of RealHia, but to…
Fantastic summary of what makes this series so special. Please consider turning this into a review. Otherwise it will get lost as more comments come in.
Finally, a voice of sanity amongst the cacophony of adoration.
For a fairly high-budget production this is one of the most tedious and unrealistic series I've ever seen. I rolled my eyes so much that I was worried they'd get stuck that way.
Can someone tell me what Hill ever saw in Ter? Or why North would be drawn to a man who has emotionally abused and controlled him?
I remember seeing a comment earlier that in the book Teerak's father's reaction to Teerak's sexuality is based on a past trauma. If that's the case, since that scene has now come and gone in the series, could someone who's read the book give more detail?
What I like about this one is first Thomas .. for his insane facecard ! and he can really act I am really glad…
Interesting!
As much as I absolutely love this series, I can't help thinking that Thomas's acting is fairly one-note, at times almost robotic. Even his big crying scene (which I was hoping we'd get, since Fah has been restrained throughout) was awkward. It was like he was sitting there just working hard to summon the tears. His face was weeping but the rest of his body was not.
Someone on here mentioned how his training as a model might be a factor. I think they're onto something. Acting requires a specific set of skills, such as being able to communicate your character's feelings through body language and facial expression, while modeling is all about controlling your body and holding your face in one expression, whether stony or smiling. I mean, even when crying, Fah sat upright. Why wouldn't he put his face in his hands or do some other gesture that conveys the emotion? Part of that is the director's fault, but still.
Where the hell was Babe after promising Teerak that she'd help him when talking to his parents about Fah? She mostly just watched it all unfold. Bad Babe!
5 
6 
2 
Just a brilliant series. I’m so glad I’ve watched it. I love every character, flaws and all.
It seems pretty clear which couple is endgame but the fun will be in getting there.
What makes the age difference in Couple #2 hard for me to get past is that Lu Xi is so immature that I have to question why any well-adjusted adult (or even a mature classmate Lu Xi's own age) would want to date him. Here, the big brother/little brother dynamic overrides everything, and the script insists on inserting one setup after another for the kid to act out impulsively. (And it looks like we're getting another one next week.) I guess they think these little dust-ups will keep us hooked?
And really, what does it say about someone when they're willing to be romantically involved with someone so emotionally unready for an adult relationship?
Couple #1 are not much better. They're more suited to one another but they're also hobbled by the amateurish script.
As I think I said earlier, this series strikes me as reminiscent of "Because of You", which Muji Hsu also starred in. Not because the plots are similar, but because the writing and acting are on a similarly uninspired level. And it doesn't help that we're now five years past "BoY", and BL series have come a long way since then.
Think of how clever it would have been to reverse the roles in all the couples: Thomas as the dimwitted wizard who needs to win over a haughty Kong, Keng as the nervous secretary who has to win over the aloof CEO played by Namping, etc.
But yeah, I'll watch anyway lol.
But.... it avoided all that. Which was so refreshing (and realistic)!
Still, though, I'm pleased that there were so many declarations of love and the kisses that went beyond anything we saw in "Stay With Me". They wanted us to see that this wasn't just another bromance. It's a love story.
They also avoided permanently killing anyone off. As upset as a lot of us are at the ending, I think it would have been much worse if there'd been no way for Shiwen to stay alive.
For me the hottest moment between Fah and Rak was the nighttime kiss in Ep 6.
For a fairly high-budget production this is one of the most tedious and unrealistic series I've ever seen. I rolled my eyes so much that I was worried they'd get stuck that way.
Can someone tell me what Hill ever saw in Ter? Or why North would be drawn to a man who has emotionally abused and controlled him?
The MDL score for this mess is mind-boggling.
Yet there’s a sweetness to the whole thing that keeps me from wanting to rag on it.
Not the worst way to kill a couple of hours.
As much as I absolutely love this series, I can't help thinking that Thomas's acting is fairly one-note, at times almost robotic. Even his big crying scene (which I was hoping we'd get, since Fah has been restrained throughout) was awkward. It was like he was sitting there just working hard to summon the tears. His face was weeping but the rest of his body was not.
Someone on here mentioned how his training as a model might be a factor. I think they're onto something. Acting requires a specific set of skills, such as being able to communicate your character's feelings through body language and facial expression, while modeling is all about controlling your body and holding your face in one expression, whether stony or smiling. I mean, even when crying, Fah sat upright. Why wouldn't he put his face in his hands or do some other gesture that conveys the emotion? Part of that is the director's fault, but still.