FreshKicks

So far this is the best "audition" reality show I've ever seen. Really makes the ones produced in the US look like pathetic junk that assumes the audience has the attention span of a flea. (Episode 4 of 'Idol Producer' is almost 3-1/2 hours long, and there hasn't been a single wasted moment.)

This gives you a sense of how this series really takes the time to let us watch the process. It doesn't skimp on the actual performances either -- we get to see them from start to finish. (In the States they'd focus only on the high points and the screw-ups.) And of course we get to know the contestants along with their personal issues and struggles.

I've reached only the fourth episode and a big elimination is going to happen soon. I know I will be sad to see so many of these amazing boys depart.

About one hour into Episode 3, where they're handing out the grades for the video performances that the trainees gave for the theme song performance, there's one guy in blue who gets an F and is standing in the front row with the other F's ... and the production blurs him out completely.

Does anyone know why?

This guy has charisma for DAYS ... he needs a major project asap.

I think in terms of the timeline of events the episodes should be in the order of: 2, 1, 3. (Although a good case can be made that it should be 2, 3, 1.)

My theory about the order in which they're presented is that the audience is meant to be shocked to realize at the end of Episode 1 that Peem is actually a ghost, so the circumstances of his death aren't revealed until later. (And in my case this tactic was successful since I knew nothing about the plot before watching.)

Episode 2 is a flashback to show how and why Peem became a ghost, and why Mike would be especially terrified to see him.

I think that Episode 3 comes last because there is a sense of closure between Mike and Peem, as Mike grieves for Peem and apologizes to him, and Peem appears to forgive Mike and disappear.

I'm not sure about the mechanics of the exercise in acting class. Was Mike doing the scene alone and remembering Peem? My best guess is that Peem remained invisible to Mike but got into his head somehow and made him relive the time when they made out. Then he reveals his presence and scares the crap out of him.

Right. You know you’ve got a plot issue if the episodes could be viewed in random order and you wouldn’t even realize something is off. I really like the leads though.

If they kiss as enthusiastically as they did in ‘He She It’ you’ll be glad you stuck around.

Stunningly great. Jeff and Gameplay are perfectly cast. What an original story, and so inventively told! Why such a low rating?

Jeff is who should have played Sarawat. He’s gorgeous, plays guitar, has a singing voice like golden honey, and is not afraid to kiss another boy. Ah, what could have been.

The judging panel noticed things in Daniel's performance that weren't visible to the other contestants as they performed, and they awarded him a high score because of that. I don't know if it was smart of him not to let it slip to at least one person that he had a good score. The boys seem smart enough to know that they should keep the good performers (at least for now.)

Yes. And there's two.

I like Pod's look in this a lot more than how he looked in Dark Blue Kiss. Although at first I wasn't sure it was the same guy. :)

I haven't been this excited over a trailer since, well, the ones that came out for '2gether' ... but I have a really good feeling about this series! The trailer shows more affection between the leads than all of the episodes of '2gether' combined. :)

They are such a great match-up. I wish they'd keep co-starring together, they could become the Asian drama version of Tracy and Hepburn. :)

We seem to be in such a competitive culture. Having both series to watch is a gift and it's dumb to play them against each other. 'Hello Stranger' is a sweet little confection and whatever its weaknesses might be, the people behind it are putting in a lot of hard work for our benefit -- and for free.

I see people micro-analyzing each episode like it's a Fellini film and I just roll my eyes. Be grateful and enjoy the ride.

Mico is a babe.

That ending song is certainly catchy!!

I wonder ... did Xavier say what he said at the end just to test Mico, and if he succeeds in getting Mico to say the same thing back to him, will Xavier just laugh and say he was kidding?

It has surprised me how much the tone of the series has changed from light-hearted and cute to dark and grieving. It does seem like the last three episodes will have to be centered around illness and grief, and the audience for that kind of drama isn't always the same as one for a romantic comedy. At least they didn't do what MODC did by making joy turn tragic without warning in the final episode.

I think your predictions on the final episodes of Gameboys are at least in the right ballpark. The reunion at the end will be bittersweet, though. At this point I can't imagine how they'd be able to end on a light note now that they've come to the edge of the abyss. In fact, I think if they were to try to do that it might come off as insensitive given the direction they've taken the series.

They used up four segments to do what they could have done with just one but at least the BL hopes are still alive ... for now.

We'll have to see if all the big names can salvage a concept that seems straight out of Screenwriting 101.

While trying to learn Thai I discovered that teachers are revered in Thailand and are considered to take an active role in raising a child to adulthood. This is probably the reason why a student's misbehavior outside of school can result in a punishment at school.

The show producers were at least careful enough not to put Kim and his teacher in an actual physical relationship. If they made it seem like they've been intimate with one another then I think they'd have a real problem on their hands.

Nonetheless, the additional disclaimer that suddenly showed up at the start of each episode was probably necessary after the teacher-student relationship in the series was revealed.