This review may contain spoilers
GMMTV new starting point (with its good and its flaws)
I have only one thing to say: finally! Looking at their latest work (basically 90% of the series in the 2024 lineup that are out) I was so afraid that this would have been another bad series, with bad writing, bad timing, bad actors, bad execution (u name it) but they actually worked, pretty well. And it really made me even more exited for next year series (who all seem way more promising than anything proposed last year)
Now, I want to give a small disclamer: I don't think that this series it's perfect. It has some flaws (some bigger than other) but it was such a good series for me that I was able to overlook them (and for me to do so, u know ur doing a good job).
And as I said, I hope this is just a new beginning for GMMTV, to start taking notes from their own work (like they should have done back in the days with Bad Buddy) and improve from here on, so that the flaws of this series will not appear anymore.
The plot it's very very simple, but it still works very well. We got a group, medium popularity, on the brick of disbandment because one of their member, Thame, have to leave for South Korea. Po starts working on the disbandment/Farewell documentary that is going to be shown at their last show and by doing so he get to know the member of the group, specifically Thame, with whom he falls in love. And from here on we see the development of their story. And it's honestly so cute, like a geniunly good love story. Now, before anybody says anything (cause I saw the most out of pocket critique for this show) this is a SLOW BURN. It's supposed to be slow, to create a long buildup for the character to get together. It makes u frustrated and in an endless wait, but it's a GENRE. It's not "slow pacing" it's not "it took them too long". It's literally how it's supposed to work. And I geniunly love slowburn so much because they actually take time to characterize and build the relationship between the two lead instead of like "oh let's fck/ ok/ ily/ ily2" or the worst "u helped me carring books once/now i love you" Damn those are so unrealistic, so that's the main reason I love love love slowburn. U can feel and understand why Thame and Po fell in love with eachother.
The writing, especially the dialogues among characters were so cute and funny and natural (which is another thing that is almost completely missing in some older bl). I do get and I completely agree that the silences while they were talking were a little too much and a little too long. But either way, when they spoke they seemed like actual person speaking, not like Shakespearean character from 1600. Especially Po with his "uhm?" was so ME CODED. Thanks god someone who speak like an actual human being. And ofc, the dialogues between Nano, Dylan and Jun were the funniest. I loved Mars (and I love LYNK) so kudos to that as well.
ALSO the sentence "aren't u tired? Mhm?" in the history book of saddest bl quotes cause damn?!?
And talking about it, another thing (which I think I was the only one that really loved it) is the fact that Po's mever said "ily" back to Thame. It might feel like it's bad, but Po's always showed his love for Thame in literally EVERYTHING HE DID. They were the literal description of "Words of affirmation (Thame) & Act of service (Po)". It's amazing how they were able to showcase both type of love (and if I had to go through a traumatic love experience like Po's one with Earn I would find saying ILY pretty difficult as well but)
And how their relationship progressed? oh good aaaaaa!! They weren't the typical didascalic couple "ily/ily/let's be tght/ok". They were holding hands, kissing, having this type of mutual strong crush on one another.. everything develoed really naturally but idk, the way it was all made was just so realistic, at least for my experience. I was feeling called out by them
One thing I wasn't really the fondest about was the "attempt" (? Idk how to call it??) of a love triangle in the middle section of the show. Completely unnecessary. Or better, they could have kept literally EVERYTHING, without including that Jun developed romantic feelings. It was completely non relevant, and honestly useless. I think they could have been best friends, like when Jun and Thame clarified Jun could have told him something like "oh but I dont like him, he is an annoying man, he is my bestfriend" or Smith like that. But I moved on pretty quickly (exactly like Jun did?!?!?)
The acting was good. Est is a good actor and Thame was on pair (taking into account that it was his first acting gig, and he was playing the protagonist). I especially loved their kissing scenes, natural and very intimate (lately I've found myself thanking God every single time two bl actors kiss like normal people and not mannequins) The rest of the LYNK member did pretty well (Lego u have a future in the acting industry, just so u know).
And the character they were playing were pretty itnresting and fun. Everyone had their own characterization (which made them very funny to look at) and I've liked majority of them. I've especially liked Po's charcter. FINALLY A NON CANONIC BL PROTAGONIST. finally someone who knows what's going on around him, that is actually capable of thinking by himself, that is reasonable and takes his own decision. And I loved the whole "having a dream" concept at the end. It felt very personal. It was a breath of fresh air having a character that was not chasing a dream, but was OK with normality, with simplicity, with an easy life. He took a bold decision and he doesn't regret it. I really loved and connected with him, he is just that guy. Especially counting that he was persuing his dream mainly to get back to his ex.
One thing that I didn't like, the only big flaw of the series, was the sudden and not even explained redemption of the CEO at the last episode. Not needed. But I mean, if u have a character that is basically the embodiment of GMMTV wrong doings ofc ur going to glorify her at the end. It was frustrating because for once they were actually able to handle correctly the whole "being famous/having a private life", by showcasing all sides, what the idol and the partner have to go though in a very realistic way. The way hate got to Gam, the way she felt like an impediment (both her and Po). The way fan felt and regretted how they acted (baifern best character, literally my girl). U did a good job, and u have to overshadow it with ur "oh but the Villain of the series was actually good" becaude u the company font want to pass as the villain. Ridiculous.
Aesthetic/visual wise I feel very conflicted. On one hand this series gave us some extremely good scene (the kiss in ep 13, on stage, the hug behind the stage in one of the previous ep, and the bus scene in ep 6 i think and oh the arcade). But in general it wasn't really a masterpiece of visuals. It played a LOT on soft colors, like so freaking much. Specially among very light colors (Po's palette) and very dark colors (Thame's palette). We could spend ages talking about it but whatever. Not my favoruite coloring to be fair, but still looked pretty good. The guys had a very specific styling which is always a thing that I like but they had like three outfit each which okkkkk cheap kings I seeee (they kept all the budget for the ending concert).
Music was OK. I mean, it was like mainly the group music, so yeah it wasn't bad. And, ehm, I did find the LARGE use of kpop terminology (pak, maknae ?!?) pretty cringe at times but then again I remember thay this show is based on a novel (that I honestly didn't read) but I would be surprised if the inspo for the original was a Kpop group, which justified the terminology. Whatever, it was such a big part of the show (especially the PAK part), so ofc they wouldn't be able to change it without having to re-write some major part of the story.
So, this is a very good series. It has its pros and cons, it's slower, it keeps u waiting and wanting for more. Longing for more. The character are realistic and ull bond with them in no time. They had some genius move in the show (especially publicity wise) so the cringe is WAY LESS than a lot of other series I saw. If u want something that makes u think while enjoying a lighthearted romance than this is your place.
Ps. Some of yall moved the most nonsensical critiques towards this show. Yeah, William (as much as Thame) is an adult. Yeah, adults kiss each other. There is absolutely nothing scandalous in them kissing (or the hint of a NC scenes they had, which was the cutest one I've ever seen). If yall haven't kissed anybody in 19 years it's not the show problem; and it's not morally wrong to have sex at 19 (always protected and consensual ofc, feel like i need to leave it there) I rest my case.
Pps. Whoever chose the name of the episodes, u have my whole earth, absolute cinema
Now, I want to give a small disclamer: I don't think that this series it's perfect. It has some flaws (some bigger than other) but it was such a good series for me that I was able to overlook them (and for me to do so, u know ur doing a good job).
And as I said, I hope this is just a new beginning for GMMTV, to start taking notes from their own work (like they should have done back in the days with Bad Buddy) and improve from here on, so that the flaws of this series will not appear anymore.
The plot it's very very simple, but it still works very well. We got a group, medium popularity, on the brick of disbandment because one of their member, Thame, have to leave for South Korea. Po starts working on the disbandment/Farewell documentary that is going to be shown at their last show and by doing so he get to know the member of the group, specifically Thame, with whom he falls in love. And from here on we see the development of their story. And it's honestly so cute, like a geniunly good love story. Now, before anybody says anything (cause I saw the most out of pocket critique for this show) this is a SLOW BURN. It's supposed to be slow, to create a long buildup for the character to get together. It makes u frustrated and in an endless wait, but it's a GENRE. It's not "slow pacing" it's not "it took them too long". It's literally how it's supposed to work. And I geniunly love slowburn so much because they actually take time to characterize and build the relationship between the two lead instead of like "oh let's fck/ ok/ ily/ ily2" or the worst "u helped me carring books once/now i love you" Damn those are so unrealistic, so that's the main reason I love love love slowburn. U can feel and understand why Thame and Po fell in love with eachother.
The writing, especially the dialogues among characters were so cute and funny and natural (which is another thing that is almost completely missing in some older bl). I do get and I completely agree that the silences while they were talking were a little too much and a little too long. But either way, when they spoke they seemed like actual person speaking, not like Shakespearean character from 1600. Especially Po with his "uhm?" was so ME CODED. Thanks god someone who speak like an actual human being. And ofc, the dialogues between Nano, Dylan and Jun were the funniest. I loved Mars (and I love LYNK) so kudos to that as well.
ALSO the sentence "aren't u tired? Mhm?" in the history book of saddest bl quotes cause damn?!?
And talking about it, another thing (which I think I was the only one that really loved it) is the fact that Po's mever said "ily" back to Thame. It might feel like it's bad, but Po's always showed his love for Thame in literally EVERYTHING HE DID. They were the literal description of "Words of affirmation (Thame) & Act of service (Po)". It's amazing how they were able to showcase both type of love (and if I had to go through a traumatic love experience like Po's one with Earn I would find saying ILY pretty difficult as well but)
And how their relationship progressed? oh good aaaaaa!! They weren't the typical didascalic couple "ily/ily/let's be tght/ok". They were holding hands, kissing, having this type of mutual strong crush on one another.. everything develoed really naturally but idk, the way it was all made was just so realistic, at least for my experience. I was feeling called out by them
One thing I wasn't really the fondest about was the "attempt" (? Idk how to call it??) of a love triangle in the middle section of the show. Completely unnecessary. Or better, they could have kept literally EVERYTHING, without including that Jun developed romantic feelings. It was completely non relevant, and honestly useless. I think they could have been best friends, like when Jun and Thame clarified Jun could have told him something like "oh but I dont like him, he is an annoying man, he is my bestfriend" or Smith like that. But I moved on pretty quickly (exactly like Jun did?!?!?)
The acting was good. Est is a good actor and Thame was on pair (taking into account that it was his first acting gig, and he was playing the protagonist). I especially loved their kissing scenes, natural and very intimate (lately I've found myself thanking God every single time two bl actors kiss like normal people and not mannequins) The rest of the LYNK member did pretty well (Lego u have a future in the acting industry, just so u know).
And the character they were playing were pretty itnresting and fun. Everyone had their own characterization (which made them very funny to look at) and I've liked majority of them. I've especially liked Po's charcter. FINALLY A NON CANONIC BL PROTAGONIST. finally someone who knows what's going on around him, that is actually capable of thinking by himself, that is reasonable and takes his own decision. And I loved the whole "having a dream" concept at the end. It felt very personal. It was a breath of fresh air having a character that was not chasing a dream, but was OK with normality, with simplicity, with an easy life. He took a bold decision and he doesn't regret it. I really loved and connected with him, he is just that guy. Especially counting that he was persuing his dream mainly to get back to his ex.
One thing that I didn't like, the only big flaw of the series, was the sudden and not even explained redemption of the CEO at the last episode. Not needed. But I mean, if u have a character that is basically the embodiment of GMMTV wrong doings ofc ur going to glorify her at the end. It was frustrating because for once they were actually able to handle correctly the whole "being famous/having a private life", by showcasing all sides, what the idol and the partner have to go though in a very realistic way. The way hate got to Gam, the way she felt like an impediment (both her and Po). The way fan felt and regretted how they acted (baifern best character, literally my girl). U did a good job, and u have to overshadow it with ur "oh but the Villain of the series was actually good" becaude u the company font want to pass as the villain. Ridiculous.
Aesthetic/visual wise I feel very conflicted. On one hand this series gave us some extremely good scene (the kiss in ep 13, on stage, the hug behind the stage in one of the previous ep, and the bus scene in ep 6 i think and oh the arcade). But in general it wasn't really a masterpiece of visuals. It played a LOT on soft colors, like so freaking much. Specially among very light colors (Po's palette) and very dark colors (Thame's palette). We could spend ages talking about it but whatever. Not my favoruite coloring to be fair, but still looked pretty good. The guys had a very specific styling which is always a thing that I like but they had like three outfit each which okkkkk cheap kings I seeee (they kept all the budget for the ending concert).
Music was OK. I mean, it was like mainly the group music, so yeah it wasn't bad. And, ehm, I did find the LARGE use of kpop terminology (pak, maknae ?!?) pretty cringe at times but then again I remember thay this show is based on a novel (that I honestly didn't read) but I would be surprised if the inspo for the original was a Kpop group, which justified the terminology. Whatever, it was such a big part of the show (especially the PAK part), so ofc they wouldn't be able to change it without having to re-write some major part of the story.
So, this is a very good series. It has its pros and cons, it's slower, it keeps u waiting and wanting for more. Longing for more. The character are realistic and ull bond with them in no time. They had some genius move in the show (especially publicity wise) so the cringe is WAY LESS than a lot of other series I saw. If u want something that makes u think while enjoying a lighthearted romance than this is your place.
Ps. Some of yall moved the most nonsensical critiques towards this show. Yeah, William (as much as Thame) is an adult. Yeah, adults kiss each other. There is absolutely nothing scandalous in them kissing (or the hint of a NC scenes they had, which was the cutest one I've ever seen). If yall haven't kissed anybody in 19 years it's not the show problem; and it's not morally wrong to have sex at 19 (always protected and consensual ofc, feel like i need to leave it there) I rest my case.
Pps. Whoever chose the name of the episodes, u have my whole earth, absolute cinema
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