FreshKicks

Up is definitely talented in the acting department! This gig should open more doors for him.

I'm enjoying the series but for once I wish they'd come up with a crisis that doesn't rely on two people not communicating like normal human beings.

When the episode started I expected that it wouldn't be until the end that we got that event or info that would shake up the status quo and make one or both of them view their relationship differently. Like, maybe Ake would be dealing with a personal challenge that has made him angry at the world and Tue would suddenly feel some empathy over that.

But, as you say, what we got instead was very hurried, as though the writer couldn't wait to get to the 'good stuff'. And so it didn't fit with what real humans do when in the same situation. (I wonder if the people who produce these series think they'll lose the audience if they don't reward them with skinship early on.)

Once that occurred I adjusted my attitude and lowered my expectations. The beginning part held some promise but they definitely botched things.

I really thought they'd drag out the 'hate' phase a lot longer. The change happened so fast that I kept waiting for one of them to reveal that he was pretending, just to get back at the other. But no -- I guess it's supposed to be a legit relationship.

Production values are excellent and the leads are very good-looking, especially Tue. The same actor plays Mork on 'Lovely Writer' so we know he's definitely not shy about kissing on camera!

My final grade for this is 8/10, which is maybe a little generous but as we've talked about here it's possible that cast and crew had a lot of setbacks to deal with during production and did their best to keep the series going. I appreciate that Nam was one of the strongest and most sympathetic female characters I've ever seen in a BL, and that when any of the characters knew they'd wronged someone they tried to make good on it.

I also think Tae and the two Nites were superb eye candy, hence even more grade inflation is called for haha.

I think the speculation about the production being disrupted by COVID is likely the best guess as to what happened to this series. They did what they could to salvage it, and were blessed to at least have the actor for the most central character (Tae) available for the final episodes.

They were faced with either recasting the role of Nite or coming up with this new plotline to give us closure. Scrapping the series would probably have put the production company in debt to their investors (unless they'd purchased insurance that covered COVID-related issues). I would have been fine with Nite II simply stepping in for Cupid-Nite.

Then again, I guess it's possible that what we got was the original concept all along. But I doubt it.

It's now up on WeTV and it looks like it's the entire series. First two episodes are free but the others require VIP membership.

Brilliant. I literally LOLed, which is saying something given how shell-shocked I was by the episode.

The only thing I'd add to your dialog is:

Director: But wait. Even if he knows how to make tasty drinks, how does he manage to do it when they're having dinner in a fancy restaurant?
Writer: He bribes the bartender to give up his post, which turns out to be ridiculously easy despite them being in a classy joint instead of a backstreet bar.
Director: Perfecto!

I agree ... I have to admit that it made me think back to '2gether', where the lack of a kiss was just more evidence of how poorly matched the two actors were, whereas here there is so much romantic tension that a kiss might have been a case of overdoing it. xD

Well, for the shaving scene I'm sure the beard was already 100% gone (if it was ever really there - I think it was just makeup) and the shaving cream was on smooth skin. So, Tian would have been able to 'shave' the chief with a scrap of cardboard haha.

To me this seems particularly plausible when you realize that when filming they need to do multiple takes with different camera angles.

But I was wondering the same thing about the travel. Why not go home to his mom and celebrate the new year, then return to the village? Problem solved.

You summarize it just right. This series is a bit of a marvel in disguise. I feel grateful for staying with it.

Those college photos made him think that his dad and Prab's mom knew each other in college and that his dad might have been having an affair with her while Chol's mom was alive.

But if his mom died I don't understand the divorce certificate. Maybe he was planning to divorce her but then she died?

I agree - Mix is phenomenal. And kudos to the director for working so well with him and eliciting such a great performance from a newcomer. Mix is like BL's Timothée Chalamet. :)

This episode alone could be nominated for several Oscars. The writing, acting, direction ... this series sets the highest standards.

I'm so grateful that they didn't cut it down to one hour and instead took the time to tell the story. For me that's an acknowledgement by GMMTV that they know they have something special here. I hope this inspires them to put as much loving care into some future series.

It will be hard to say good by to '1000 Stars'.

I hope the only evil turns out to be Aoey’s dad

The series producer (maybe it was the director) saw the negative feedback on the sound effects after the first episode and toned them down in later episodes.

I want to see him without that shirt. (¬‿¬)

I like how the stereotypical 'evil' character has been made more complex and sympathetic in their own way. I can't imagine how messed up he must be after growing up in a family like that.

Gawd, what if he's the sister's boyfriend? That might explain why he was seated next to her at dinner and didn't intervene when Aoey's dad was melting down. The only time he acted nice toward Aoey was when they were alone. It would also explain why Aoey came to his senses after their kiss and pushed him away.

Excellent summation of Mhok. Hot as hell but caution advised.