I will genuinely miss this show. And that's a rarity. I never intended to watch it, but started it off just to fill time. Best decision ever. Every episode gave us enough of the plot to keep us satisfied every week, but also successfully managed to keep us on the edge of our seats for more. This is more than just a BL to me.
In terms of the subject matter, it really only scratches the surface with regards to the extent of corruption, and how big, private corporates manage to create and discover more loopholes within a legal system that is already falling apart at the seams. However, the show does a great job at making complex concepts easy to understand. It's somewhat of a starter-pack to understand Thailand's political ethos.
Considering that the show is based on corruption, which is systemic, the open ending is justified. As Gumpa said, the fight's just begun for them. You can't eradicate something so deeply rooted in society in a matter of few days. I totally enjoyed the ROL concept of the show, and how protests and movements were seen as an effective method of dissent, especially when we're predisposed to think that it is not. White and the gang being rescued by the protesters was a tiny milestone, and achieving such milestones over several years might, just might, effectively punish political corruption at most.
On the other hand, this show is a go to for Off-Gun fans. Gun blew me away with his performance. You can tell he really paid attention to all the subtleties in both Black and White, and it reflected brilliantly in the final product. I, for one, found White to be an extremely relatable character, especially as someone who usually observes political events on the sidelines, and is usually passive and un-biased. Off, as many others have stated, has massively improved from his previous roles. I'm glad that he's really expanded his scope. It's such a welcome change from his roles in 'I'm Tee, me too' and 'Theory of Love'. This show also has some of the most sensible female characters, and I loved how they held themselves so confidently, and always prioritised their feelings and well-being.
Mond and Papang were amazing as well. However, First and Gawin. Damn. Those two were simply wonderful. One of my favourite highlights of this show is the scene where Yok draws Dan. It was so sad, yet beautiful to behold how Gawin manages to bring out all that remorse and regret Dan kept inside. Besides, First made my eyes water in the last episode.
I can't possibly summarise all my thoughts about this show, but it turned out to be incredibly brilliant. In the end, a show that I didn't really take all that seriously turned out to be the only one I took seriously, and learnt useful things from. Again, best decision I've ever made.
Anyone planning to watch this show should go ahead with it! It's definitely worth your time!
This show is a good distraction from the more serious ones out there. I admit, the pacing is a little wacky; it's quite slow for the most part, the actors are quite stiff when delivering dialogues (as expected from first-timers, so I've let that go), and the incessant staring makes me want to sit in the director's chair and shout 'cut!'. I didn't really understand the connection between this and UWMA in the beginning, except when I carelessly thought "hey, wasn't Lukchup that Thai sweet Pharm gave Dean?". And then it hit me while watching episode 2 that the dynamic between Ram and Lukchup was similar to that between those two.
Also, those sweets look very appetizing. It's definitely made me put Thai sweets on my checklist for things to try out.
All things said, this is a really chill show, and it's worth a shot!
P.S Namning's giving me Plern Pleng vibes from together with me. Yikes.
I'm still holding out hope that Phob might be alive. I mean, this is a Thai 'drama'. Because, in all honesty, I don't want this to end like the show 'He's coming to me', which would be so impractical and illogical.
Supposing Phob's still alive, this could go the really soapy route, where he's been presumed legally dead for insurance purposes or something. Everyone in the show has been sort of vague and secretive, so I'm sure the story will face some sort of curveball.
If he's actually dead, then that's that. After Phob resolves everything, Phat'll grieve and move on himself.
Anyway, pretty excited to see what's coming up next episode!
Well, let me just start off by saying that using the stalker trope for romance is utterly detestable, and it is one which I hate with a burning passion. Now that being said, why am I even watching this show?
To be honest, I scrolled through the comments and saw a mix of positives and negatives. Halfway through episode one, I found out that it was over the top, cringe-inducing and very creepy, so much so that I had to say "God save this boy" atleast a million times. However, this show's literal alternate title is 'Stalker: the series'. It definitely knows what it's digging into. So, I began looking at it from another perspective (P.S I ain't justifying any of this behaviour). The stalking was intensely disturbing to say the least, but I think they really cranked it upto a hundred, not just because they're using it for comedic purposes (it's not that funny tbh), but also because, as people said, the show's self-aware and it kind of feels like it's inherently mocking the trope, which countless bls have adopted shamelessly and ignorantly. It felt like satire and pure sarcasm when I thought of it that way, and was to me, the only way I could explain Toh's behaviour. For example, those who have watched Utskushi kare know that the protagonist was an active stalker who creeped around with no remorse. However, no one pointed out how toxic and scary it was in the show, and it was just passed off as the norm. Another example comes from Love Alarm (the show which birthed my hatred for the trope), a non-bl k-drama, which normalised stalking and no mutual consent to kick-off a torrid, toxic relationship. Once again, I am by no means justifying the behaviour in the show.
Yet, when one of Toh's friends said "why don't you stop creeping around and face him upfront", it really felt like the show was trying to call out what's wrong, and that secret crush or not, obsession is not the way. Nonetheless the characters all scramble to help Toh, because they have to abide by the trope. I'm not sure if the show actually intends to hold a bit of a satirical tone, but I'm holding out hope.
I am currently crying on the inside while watching the protagonist have a weird-ass fantasy with his pillow (Lol. Jokes on me I only though it was the pillow. The darn covers). At the end of the day, I'm here for the 2160 p res on youtube and the 'silly and funny' content (which I'm still waiting for) which some comments seemed to enjoy.
Edit: I know a lot of people are applauding the show for it's effem gay protagonist, but I'm not sure if this is the right way to represent them either. If anything, it continues the stereotypes that Thai bls have always set aside for effem gay men. You take a step forward by having the protagonist be effem, but take a hundred steps back by making them an outrageous stalker. This reminds me of 2gether the series. It's portrayal of an effem gay man was downright a disservice to Gun (a wonderful actor) and the character himself.
This was a good episode as usual! The emotional and physical buildup between the two side couples were done quite well, but damn, did they royally screw it up for the main couple. I'm in the minority who's interested in Torn and Fah, and I was (and still am) rooting for them, but what was supposed to be a tender moment, going from childhood friends to lovers, was shoddily done. Either they were running out of time, or the scriptwriter just couldn't materialize the buildup well, despite being on point with Dome/Vee (not sure about Ai/Saen: I agree that it felt a little rushed, considering how hesitant Ai usually is). Shame they stuck to the 'stumble, fall and catch' trope in the end. It would have been more meaningful and natural had Fah decided to abandon his poker-faced self at that moment, because he was done being that way, with Torn attempting to vocalise what he'd been feeling for years. Sigh.
Nonetheless, I'm looking forward to the next one! I hope they keep up with the great quality, and make the show even better than it already is.
No kidding. Scared the hell out of me too. On the other hand, I'm glad that they've made the horror aspect actually kinda frightening, and haven't dumbed it down because it's a bl.
I agree with you on Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru. I just found it hilariously creepy. It was edited out like a soap opera and I got rather sick of watching the fl and ml go back and forth. And the flashbacks. My goodness. That bloody kid pointing at young fl is forever engraved into my brain.
I mentioned Bloody-Romance. Another show I hate-watched in 2021 was Well-Intended Love and Tonhon Chonlatee :)
I agree with you on Tonhon Chonlatee. That one was a dumpster fire and I went into it thinking it was going to be a great bl comedy. I was sorely mistaken.
I can relate to almost everything that's written here from the hate watcher section. However, I perceive my constant nit-picking as honest critiquing. Sure, people might find it hard to enjoy a movie with me (usually I shut up and then explode, talking about all the nuances, when the credits roll), but apart from it being a venting mechanism, it's really helped me notice things I normally wouldn't. I think it's something that becomes a habit too. Even when you see something great, it's hard not to point out inconsistencies. I often do that for good shows or movies, and hope to myself that it improves as the plot plays out. I always come across shows that have horrible cinematography but good storytelling, and the more I understand things like budget constraints and bad equipment, the more I compromise out of empathy. It's hard to strike a balance when it's a small show, so my critiques usually end up being constructive.
If it was a big budget show and they splurged without giving a second thought on what's being played out on screen, then I have a lot to say.
If a particular show or movie was so horrifically bad that I'm at a loss for words or am stuck at the same opinion as time goes by that I have nothing else to point out, I just drop it.
P.S Great article! Enjoyed reading it because I could totally relate!
Extremely well written! I totally agree with how Ki Hyuk was basically Moon Jo's vehicle to prominence in the story. Without him setting up the basic character traits for the evil to come, it definitely would've made Moon Jo's introduction lacklustre, and in my opinion, rather tiresome. Totally enjoyed reading this post!
So I'm planning to watch this, despite it being 50 eps long. I'm not sure I'll stick on, but the synopsis reminds me of Sound of Music, the premise of a young tutor and an older lead mostly.
I also read that people are having reservations about the age gap. But hey, if we can readily accept Maria Von Trapp and Georg Von Trapp (who was 25 years older than her by the way), then we can surely accept this.
This is by far the most interesting bl I've seen! Although it doesn't really talk about DID explicitly, it does give us some insight into the concept of a host/dominant personality and his/her alters/personalities. I'm guessing Noah is the protective, probably older alter, with Yu Shi being the host. The show even gives indications of how different alters have different sexual preferences. It's seriously very intriguing.
However, I do have some reservations about Yu Shi and Wu Zheng. It seems like the host began to be protected by an older, more mature alter, Noah, after a traumatic incident when he was 5. The host probably behaves like a child because he hasn't emotionally developed due to Noah's constant need to protect him. Wu Zheng telling his friend that Yu Shi pointed to himself, when asked who he was running away from, could be indicating that the host was probably trying to break away from Noah's protection, like a young adult wanting space. Now, as he's still developing on the emotional front, I'm unsure how much he's able to grasp with regards to the relationship between him and Wu Zheng. Would he be able to handle it? I'm not sure about that either. It's obvious that Wu Zheng does not seem to understand the situation entirely, but is attempting to for Yu Shi's sake.
On the other hand, Noah's intentions with Wu Zheng are still unclear, but it's definitely shaping up to be something.
This could either be a triangle with the host, his alter and Wu Zheng, or a situation where Wu Zheng is ready to accept both Yu Shi and Noah into his life.
Besides, Yi Da Dian nails it while portraying two starkly different personalities. I could honestly tell that that the atmosphere between them changed when Noah came around!
I have to be honest here, this protagonist is the nicest one I've come by so far, and one I feel the most sorry for.
On another note, I've never seen Korean shows cover topics like this, so I'm glad these ott platforms are allowing creators to bring them to the forefront. Despite what many think, I don't believe that the show is simply just a compilation of sexual jokes right off the bat. Sure, it alludes to them in the beginning, but it's definitely more than that. Its suggestive title is actually more indicative of mental well-being, rather than erectile dysfunction straight up. This show definitely has a lot to say. I don't agree with some things in it (like disregarding medical ethics; seriously, it's messed up and no one should go through that shiz), but I've enjoyed it nonetheless, and will be keeping an eye out for the episodes to come!
I agree with everyone here saying that some of the scenes are drawn out too long, but that doesn't necessarily make this a bad show. I think this show's shot beautifully, and those of you interested in some visually pleasing cooking would definitely continue watching this. That being said, the script and the story are still ambiguous and apart from the fact that the leads are sure to fall for each other, it seems like they're grabbing onto the next best thing for anything related to professional cooking: a competition. Sort of reminds me of My Day (lol), but I'm hoping it'll be much better than that. I personally like calm and slow shows, and I'm beginning to like this one, but I wish they could speed the dialogue delivery up, and seem a little less stilted. There isn't much of a story to tell, and that happens to be the crux of all problems, even the dialogues. My understanding of this show was that the main message must have something to do with food being the way to the heart. I really do wish they could dwell on that more in some way. Nonetheless, we're only on the third episode, and I'm waiting to see how they could turn this story around. It's already visually appealing and super relaxing to watch, so I'd really hope they amp the plot up a bit so it gets slightly exciting alongside.
P.S. That painting never seizes to scare me. Always be staring into my soul that.
Episodes 3 and 4 broke my heart. The world that little kid lived in was so cruel to him, and he couldn't even find solace in his own mother, despite his desparate attempts to save her. Her stupidity and toxic attachment to the boyfriend drove her to endanger her son, and enable his murder. I wonder how the Enjiya crew will deal with the long term repercussions of having Tomoki text Aika as Yuto, and more importantly, I wonder how Aika will react to his death, considering she'd been in a similar situation and seems to have survived it.
On the other hand, absolutely wonderful show. Its unique concept really draws us in, and could be applied to act out almost any premise. Waiting for the final ep!
To be honest, Mean has done quite well on his directorial debut. While the story is rather simple, there's a charm to it that keeps us watching. Of course, it does have its negatives - the excessive flashbacks and sometimes redundant scenes of people either in the hospital or elsewhere. The story is still told well whatsoever, it got its main points across quite clearly. On the positive side, I really applaud their dedication to the timeline. All the little details, especially the props, were so appropriate for the time period they were set in. Seeing those rotund, robust nokias took me back to the early 2000s!
On the acting front, I think Man and Title are doing a great job, and since this is their debut, I'm sure they'll have a wonderful career ahead! They're a million times more expressive than the people we'd seen in bls that dated a couple of years ago.
Another thing that's great about this show is the segment towards the end. It's really great hearing the actors discuss their opinions on the episode. They seem extremely happy sharing their thoughts, and honestly, it's a step in the right direction when they're being given a space to discuss and talk to the audience. I've realised that since Mean was an actor first, he must really know what it is like to be on set, and how actors must be treated. To have someone who's already an actor in that industry to direct and guide you is a plus. Grants a more conducive environment for everyone, especially since the show comes from a rather demanding industry.
Anyway, this show is pretty good! For a directorial debut, it's actually impressive. Yes, it does have its faults, but it's plus points really do shine. Waiting for the final ep!
Man, this show's really got me singing 'Hydrangeaaa!' everytime 😆.
On another note, totally enjoying the show! I haven't seen the original Korean version, but this version is really well-paced, and presents a solid story with its limited number of episodes. The chemistry between the leads is perfect, and that build up to when Sosuke gets to know the truth was honestly such an exciting moment. I don't really wait for episodes on a weekly basis, but this show's got me hooked.
Also, special shout out to Akaso Eiji! His range is amazing! From Adachi in Cherry Magic to Higuchi over here, you can see how well he adapts to the characters. I agree with everyone else here - he emotes so well. That's actually such a rarity!
Anywho, fully enjoyed episode 7! Looking forward to the rest!
P.S: A huge thanks to all the MDL peeps who go out of their way to post links of the episodes! It's super hard to watch these shows on the day of release, and some of us don't have We Tv in our regions even if we wanted to subscribe, so I'm really glad everyone's sharing links!
In terms of the subject matter, it really only scratches the surface with regards to the extent of corruption, and how big, private corporates manage to create and discover more loopholes within a legal system that is already falling apart at the seams. However, the show does a great job at making complex concepts easy to understand. It's somewhat of a starter-pack to understand Thailand's political ethos.
Considering that the show is based on corruption, which is systemic, the open ending is justified. As Gumpa said, the fight's just begun for them. You can't eradicate something so deeply rooted in society in a matter of few days. I totally enjoyed the ROL concept of the show, and how protests and movements were seen as an effective method of dissent, especially when we're predisposed to think that it is not. White and the gang being rescued by the protesters was a tiny milestone, and achieving such milestones over several years might, just might, effectively punish political corruption at most.
On the other hand, this show is a go to for Off-Gun fans. Gun blew me away with his performance. You can tell he really paid attention to all the subtleties in both Black and White, and it reflected brilliantly in the final product. I, for one, found White to be an extremely relatable character, especially as someone who usually observes political events on the sidelines, and is usually passive and un-biased. Off, as many others have stated, has massively improved from his previous roles. I'm glad that he's really expanded his scope. It's such a welcome change from his roles in 'I'm Tee, me too' and 'Theory of Love'. This show also has some of the most sensible female characters, and I loved how they held themselves so confidently, and always prioritised their feelings and well-being.
Mond and Papang were amazing as well. However, First and Gawin. Damn. Those two were simply wonderful. One of my favourite highlights of this show is the scene where Yok draws Dan. It was so sad, yet beautiful to behold how Gawin manages to bring out all that remorse and regret Dan kept inside. Besides, First made my eyes water in the last episode.
I can't possibly summarise all my thoughts about this show, but it turned out to be incredibly brilliant. In the end, a show that I didn't really take all that seriously turned out to be the only one I took seriously, and learnt useful things from. Again, best decision I've ever made.
Anyone planning to watch this show should go ahead with it! It's definitely worth your time!
Also, those sweets look very appetizing. It's definitely made me put Thai sweets on my checklist for things to try out.
All things said, this is a really chill show, and it's worth a shot!
P.S Namning's giving me Plern Pleng vibes from together with me. Yikes.
Supposing Phob's still alive, this could go the really soapy route, where he's been presumed legally dead for insurance purposes or something. Everyone in the show has been sort of vague and secretive, so I'm sure the story will face some sort of curveball.
If he's actually dead, then that's that. After Phob resolves everything, Phat'll grieve and move on himself.
Anyway, pretty excited to see what's coming up next episode!
To be honest, I scrolled through the comments and saw a mix of positives and negatives. Halfway through episode one, I found out that it was over the top, cringe-inducing and very creepy, so much so that I had to say "God save this boy" atleast a million times. However, this show's literal alternate title is 'Stalker: the series'. It definitely knows what it's digging into. So, I began looking at it from another perspective (P.S I ain't justifying any of this behaviour). The stalking was intensely disturbing to say the least, but I think they really cranked it upto a hundred, not just because they're using it for comedic purposes (it's not that funny tbh), but also because, as people said, the show's self-aware and it kind of feels like it's inherently mocking the trope, which countless bls have adopted shamelessly and ignorantly. It felt like satire and pure sarcasm when I thought of it that way, and was to me, the only way I could explain Toh's behaviour. For example, those who have watched Utskushi kare know that the protagonist was an active stalker who creeped around with no remorse. However, no one pointed out how toxic and scary it was in the show, and it was just passed off as the norm. Another example comes from Love Alarm (the show which birthed my hatred for the trope), a non-bl k-drama, which normalised stalking and no mutual consent to kick-off a torrid, toxic relationship. Once again, I am by no means justifying the behaviour in the show.
Yet, when one of Toh's friends said "why don't you stop creeping around and face him upfront", it really felt like the show was trying to call out what's wrong, and that secret crush or not, obsession is not the way. Nonetheless the characters all scramble to help Toh, because they have to abide by the trope. I'm not sure if the show actually intends to hold a bit of a satirical tone, but I'm holding out hope.
I am currently crying on the inside while watching the protagonist have a weird-ass fantasy with his pillow (Lol. Jokes on me I only though it was the pillow. The darn covers). At the end of the day, I'm here for the 2160 p res on youtube and the 'silly and funny' content (which I'm still waiting for) which some comments seemed to enjoy.
Edit: I know a lot of people are applauding the show for it's effem gay protagonist, but I'm not sure if this is the right way to represent them either. If anything, it continues the stereotypes that Thai bls have always set aside for effem gay men. You take a step forward by having the protagonist be effem, but take a hundred steps back by making them an outrageous stalker. This reminds me of 2gether the series. It's portrayal of an effem gay man was downright a disservice to Gun (a wonderful actor) and the character himself.
Phew.
Nonetheless, I'm looking forward to the next one! I hope they keep up with the great quality, and make the show even better than it already is.
watching the fl and ml go back and forth. And the flashbacks. My goodness. That bloody kid pointing at young fl is forever engraved into my brain.
If it was a big budget show and they splurged without giving a second thought on what's being played out on screen, then I have a lot to say.
If a particular show or movie was so horrifically bad that I'm at a loss for words or am stuck at the same opinion as time goes by that I have nothing else to point out, I just drop it.
P.S Great article! Enjoyed reading it because I could totally relate!
I also read that people are having reservations about the age gap. But hey, if we can readily accept Maria Von Trapp and Georg Von Trapp (who was 25 years older than her by the way), then we can surely accept this.
However, I do have some reservations about Yu Shi and Wu Zheng. It seems like the host began to be protected by an older, more mature alter, Noah, after a traumatic incident when he was 5. The host probably behaves like a child because he hasn't emotionally developed due to Noah's constant need to protect him. Wu Zheng telling his friend that Yu Shi pointed to himself, when asked who he was running away from, could be indicating that the host was probably trying to break away from Noah's protection, like a young adult wanting space. Now, as he's still developing on the emotional front, I'm unsure how much he's able to grasp with regards to the relationship between him and Wu Zheng. Would he be able to handle it? I'm not sure about that either. It's obvious that Wu Zheng does not seem to understand the situation entirely, but is attempting to for Yu Shi's sake.
On the other hand, Noah's intentions with Wu Zheng are still unclear, but it's definitely shaping up to be something.
This could either be a triangle with the host, his alter and Wu Zheng, or a situation where Wu Zheng is ready to accept both Yu Shi and Noah into his life.
Besides, Yi Da Dian nails it while portraying two starkly different personalities. I could honestly tell that that the atmosphere between them changed when Noah came around!
Looking forward to the next few episodes!
On another note, I've never seen Korean shows cover topics like this, so I'm glad these ott platforms are allowing creators to bring them to the forefront. Despite what many think, I don't believe that the show is simply just a compilation of sexual jokes right off the bat. Sure, it alludes to them in the beginning, but it's definitely more than that. Its suggestive title is actually more indicative of mental well-being, rather than erectile dysfunction straight up. This show definitely has a lot to say. I don't agree with some things in it (like disregarding medical ethics; seriously, it's messed up and no one should go through that shiz), but I've enjoyed it nonetheless, and will be keeping an eye out for the episodes to come!
P.S. That painting never seizes to scare me. Always be staring into my soul that.
On the other hand, absolutely wonderful show. Its unique concept really draws us in, and could be applied to act out almost any premise. Waiting for the final ep!
To be honest, Mean has done quite well on his directorial debut. While the story is rather simple, there's a charm to it that keeps us watching. Of course, it does have its negatives - the excessive flashbacks and sometimes redundant scenes of people either in the hospital or elsewhere. The story is still told well whatsoever, it got its main points across quite clearly. On the positive side, I really applaud their dedication to the timeline. All the little details, especially the props, were so appropriate for the time period they were set in. Seeing those rotund, robust nokias took me back to the early 2000s!
On the acting front, I think Man and Title are doing a great job, and since this is their debut, I'm sure they'll have a wonderful career ahead! They're a million times more expressive than the people we'd seen in bls that dated a couple of years ago.
Another thing that's great about this show is the segment towards the end. It's really great hearing the actors discuss their opinions on the episode. They seem extremely happy sharing their thoughts, and honestly, it's a step in the right direction when they're being given a space to discuss and talk to the audience. I've realised that since Mean was an actor first, he must really know what it is like to be on set, and how actors must be treated. To have someone who's already an actor in that industry to direct and guide you is a plus. Grants a more conducive environment for everyone, especially since the show comes from a rather demanding industry.
Anyway, this show is pretty good! For a directorial debut, it's actually impressive. Yes, it does have its faults, but it's plus points really do shine. Waiting for the final ep!
On another note, totally enjoying the show! I haven't seen the original Korean version, but this version is really well-paced, and presents a solid story with its limited number of episodes. The chemistry between the leads is perfect, and that build up to when Sosuke gets to know the truth was honestly such an exciting moment. I don't really wait for episodes on a weekly basis, but this show's got me hooked.
Also, special shout out to Akaso Eiji! His range is amazing! From Adachi in Cherry Magic to Higuchi over here, you can see how well he adapts to the characters. I agree with everyone else here - he emotes so well. That's actually such a rarity!
Anywho, fully enjoyed episode 7! Looking forward to the rest!
P.S: A huge thanks to all the MDL peeps who go out of their way to post links of the episodes! It's super hard to watch these shows on the day of release, and some of us don't have We Tv in our regions even if we wanted to subscribe, so I'm really glad everyone's sharing links!