Mademoiselle Noir

Maybe we can be each other's shelter

It's all empty space and frustratingly suffocating. Like wearing a wool turtleneck on a winter's day. You ache and long to tear the thing off, but it's just so bitterly cold.

The intro itself was a work of art. There and throughout the drama, I particularly appreciated the use of shadows and temperature. Not to mention, the actors did an amazing job. I found myself so weighed down by their emotions I felt like I was sinking.

I found the conclusion both unique and fitting. It ended with an understanding: We need to be on equal footing first, independent of each other, to sort through these muddled thoughts and feelings. Then, perhaps, we can . . .

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Licking the boot of the capitalists

Note: I almost want to go lower, but there was some artistry present, which I cannot deny.

I'm impressed . . .

With how disappointed I am.

The start was so strong, the cinematography consistently superb, and the dialogue snappy. But it was ultimately a steadily speeding, runaway train that made me feel burnt out by the end watching it!

Characters would say one thing with conviction in their eyes while doing another. Accountability or valuing yourself? Out of the question!

All I'm left asking is what a viewer is meant to glean from this?

Because here's what I got:

What even is freedom? Why strive and fight when you can just . . . Succumb. Lick the boot of the powerful capitalists above you with vigor and sacrifice your morality and passions for security and lust.

And, with all sincerity, I don't think that's what Burnout Syndrome meant to say in the end. Which means they completely failed in the execution of their message. And if it is . . . I can't find value in this.

I can't believe I'm saying this about an OffGun drama . . .

But I don't recommend it.

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I can sum up this drama with two words: A Need

Where do I even begin to review this drama?

This was a deliciously teasing slow burn, with the tension (and my anticipation) only rising with each new episode. It wound up getting crazy hype; I'm of the belief it was deserved.

They paid attention to the details here: From meaningful items that come up/are shown in the background—even quietly revealing to the viewers how things are progressing—and minute shifts in framing and lighting of scenes to detailed dialogue with weight, symbolism, and double meanings.

Impressively, while the subject matter was often serious, they somehow smoothly incorporated belly-aching comedic moments as well.

Finally, I would be remiss not to praise the actors, as not only the MLs but every side character nailed their roles.

My only real critique: While the music was great, far too many times, it came on too strong during a pivotal scene.

I would absolutely recommend watching this!

Side Note: Can we talk about the FLIRTING game here?! Not just Xiao Yuan but Wei Qian was freaking smooth as butter. Like, damn, man!

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I Can't Kick the Puppy

Regarding my rating: Rating it any lower seriously feels like bullying and my conscience simply won't allow it! *groans* Honestly, if I didn't feel guilty doing so, I would be rating it a 6 at the highest.

"Why R U?" No, seriously, like, why are you? Hearing the original Thai drama was going to get a Korean remake made me feel skeptical as to the quality, to say the least. Seeing it come to fruition, I could not even muster disappointment, because, really, what did I expect anyway? To be pleasantly surprised? LMAO. The original drama already had its problems but at least it had some semblance of a story and plot and sizzling chemistry to distract the viewers.

When I tell you this made less than no sense! Just . . . Why? Trying to think of something nice to say feels like work. The kisses were better than some K-BLs? I don't know, that's all I can seem to come up with!

Save yourself the time and find something else to watch, or go binge the Fighter and Tutor cut on YouTube. We both know you watched it last week anyway. I see you.

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Honestly, I can't even say they meant well

Here's the thing, I HATE what this drama says about suicide. It basically tells anyone who's suicidal to rethink their decision because it's "selfish." That they would be a selfish person for experiencing deep suffering/depression and not being able to take anymore. That their loved ones being in despair due to their passing is more important than what they're going through. Fucking excuse me?

First off, fuck that message. What a shitty and inaccurate thing to say. What's next, you're going to tell people with clinical depression to not be depressed because they're bringing down the mood?!

Second off, saying that is not even helpful. You shouldn't be convincing someone to live for others because what happens when those people are no longer around? A person needs to learn to live for themself.

This all felt like a demeaning slap in the face to mental health and people's struggles generally. I was just waiting for someone to say, "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps."

The only thing I appreciated and enjoyed about this was the action. Because when it was all chase scenes, murders, and new unique stories it was legitimately entertaining. If this was about Death being some cruel game master and went more the route of Alice in Borderland, I would find it not only palatable but worthwhile to recommend. As it stands, due to its messaging, I can't. Skip this one, my dear MDLers.

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A dishonest rating but an honest review, because I am a fool for OnlyOneOf

Is my rating honest? No. In reality, it's more like a generous 7. But I love my LGBT+ supporting kings OnlyOneOf, and I would just cry if I rated a drama they starred in any lower than an 8, okay?! So forgive me for fudging the numbers! I am a person with feelings!

All this being said, just because I won't rate it honestly doesn't mean I won't review it honestly.

It makes sense that the acting here wouldn't be stellar; they were all new to this. Credit where credit is due, though, Nine and Mill managed to pull off some pretty decent chemistry with their characters despite not being given a lot to work with. However, the editing, story beats, and pacing desperately needed work, and there is no excuse for that. Many times, when scenes continued, they would abruptly cut to new locations or would skip forward a few hours, giving the watcher this uncomfortable feeling of being rushed. Also, more screen time should have been devoted to showing more of the leads spending quality time together rather than talking about or cutting to very brief clips of it. As they say with books, "Show, don't tell." Finally, did we need the scheming ex? No, we did not.

All in all, could have been a lot better.

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Mission Accomplished

More than thorough enjoyment, I appreciated the unique world and full-rounded story they brought to fruition here. The game aspect made for highly creative and fun as well as stressful "mechanics," the use of harsh sound effects and "errors" in particular lended well to this.

Love for Love's Sake managed to toe the line between light action/almost horror and comedic school romance in a way I don't think I've seen before. And the banter between the two MLs allowed some levity in times when the world went dark.

Particularly, I want to highlight how they fully utilized the potential of Cha Yeo Woon's character, managing to hint at his desire as well as fear to be vulnerable and his shyness in expressing his interest in someone (Tae Myung Ha), all within a few episodes. And his actor plays his sulking moments and hesitancy very well.

Also, I would be remiss not to mention Tae Myung Ha's character; the quiet depth he had in a story that wasn't supposed to be his. And the complex expressions he had astounded me. Especially in moments he had to put on a happy face as well as convey that he was barely keeping it together.

I am so glad I didn't miss this surprising masterpiece.

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Touching

This was a dramatic improvement compared to the first season. Fuyu reemerged more emotionally vulnerable and, though battered from intense familial pressure, managed to rise above and take a true stand for her and Itsuki's relationship.

Not only was there a more concrete storyline and satisfying ending, but they also had something to say: If we always hide, we'll never create a more accepting world where Queer people can feel safe and comfortable to come out. Let us not reinforce our culture's promotion of silence and enduring.

And Tsuki—darling Tsuki—was a national treasure, encouraging and supporting her moms just by being an innocent, confident, and kind little girl.

Even if you never watched the first season, I recommend you watch this one.

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Not perfect, but memorable

I'll be upfront and admit I did not go into this with an open mind, AT ALL. I went into Deep Night fully expecting to find something cheap and surface-level that would make me cringe and regret hitting play. I'd probably end up rating it a 6-6.5/10 and say it was a tasteless, eye-candy watch.

Well, you know what? Shame on me!

This drama had glaring flaws, for certain. The main ones were the villain FL, who screamed like a banshee for no reason and was just plain annoying/idiotic, loud and out-of-place sound effects, and the central roadblock problem for everyone playing out in too similar a way each time.

But it also had highlights as bright as spotlights. And I'm not just talking about the amazing acrobatics, stunning performances, and intense chemistry between the MLs, oh no.

Quietly, a theme of breaking down prejudices and shifting perspectives unfolded, particularly on the part of Khem. He went on a long, difficult, growth-filled journey. From judging hosts, never wanting to be associated with the Deep Night club, and allowing his jealousy and lack of understanding of his boyfriend's career to overtake him to admiring the hosts and noticing their efforts, taking pride in Deep Night and working to make it succeed, and accepting and respecting his boyfriend's work to the point of feeling fully secure in his relationship and cheering him on without any reservations.

My own perspective shifted along with him as I found myself feeling emotional near the end, wishing the best for everyone and wanting the club to do well, not wanting to let these characters that had wormed their way into my heart go.

I wish I could explain in better detail just why I found this so worthwhile. All I can say is that I think you should give Deep Night a chance; it might just surprise you.

Note: .5 out of my score is extra just because, I really wound up loving it, dammit!

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An easy but perhaps too easy watch

First off, the chemistry was insane. I had no idea if Sea and Jimmy would go well together, but these two actors swept all those doubts away almost immediately.

The plot does leave a lot to be desired, though, and the new place Talay and Puen find themselves in isn't explored enough. I would have loved to have seen more differences between the universes and more interesting locations highlighting those differences. There also aren't many conflicts, making the story feel a bit aimless but also pleasant. Each week I could rest assured that I wouldn't feel anxious or upset at big misunderstandings or dangerous situations. It reminded me a little of the few episodes in Bad Buddy where the couple just got to exist together for a while. Either this will make you annoyed, or you'll enjoy the easygoing nature of it. It really depends on what you look for in a drama. For me, I quite liked it. The strong characters and solid acting carried me along to the end.

Side Note: I love how this year we're getting Thai Dramas pushing legalizing same-sex marriage. Not Me and Cutie Pie, for example, would not shut up about it. And we love them for that!

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The two C's: Consent & Communication

I'm going to be the person to say that I would compare Leo and Fiat to Gene and Nubsib from Lovely Writer. Yep, I'm going there. When it comes to asking for consent and checking in with your partner, they were on par and maybe even better about it.

There were so many questions and conversations about what are you into, what are you worried about, what do you like, is this okay, are we on the same page, etc. This showed a level of consent to strive for and look up to.

Okay, onto my more detailed thoughts:

First off, this was adorable. A big portion of this drama (especially in the beginning) focuses on these two people who are starting a relationship and don't quite know how to go about it, have their own insecurities and inexperience, and are trying to overcome their nerves and fear of disappointing the other.

You don't really get to see a drama start with them already being in a relationship and showing how it's not as though everyone knows how to be together perfectly right off the bat. People get nervous and shy. People worry that some aspects of themselves may be disliked by their partner. It's exciting but terrifying to start something with someone you have loved for a long time and have longed to be with.

Also, there were so many amazing conversations being had, whether it was between Leo and Fiat or one of them and their friends. It may have taken this couple a little bit of time to have the talk they needed to but they always brought their deepest thoughts and feelings out into the open. I fell in love with the open conversations we got. Yes, for communication! Yes!

Such a healthy couple. And, I really admire this drama for its tone. It knows when to give you something light-hearted or fun and when to slow down and just have the characters talk. Just, talk. Talk about where they're at and what they're feeling/thinking. I think people forget that relationships aren't just about being physically intimate with someone--and relationships aren't so perfect and easy that you are able to read your partner's mind--they are about voicing your wants, needs, insecurities, and concerns with honest and upfront dialogue.

I loved how this drama would often set things up as though it was going to be something bad when it wasn't at all, twisted our expectations, and/or had its characters deal with legitimate conflicts/issues that fit them/the situation. Seems like this year I am learning to have more faith in my dramas and its characters. And the faith is actually being well-placed.

Once again, I have to reiterate that consent is seen as a priority here and is amazingly done. Not many dramas will set so much of their run-time and lines around this subject. Here, it is a constant.

Regarding representation, because I would be remiss not to mention it, we had a confirmed Pansexual SML, Leon. And they did it in no uncertain terms. They described how he would date/was interested in men, women, and non-binary people, they called him Pansexual at least twice, and he was also involved with a girl before he started seeing Pob. Could we ask for much more? Not really short of him saying it himself.

There were some flaws during the last few episodes but nothing that took away from the overall experience and what they were going for.

Good job, Don't Say No. Good job.

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C'est Meh

Overall, it's kind of just okay. Some episodes have a few engaging moments and instances of good cinematography but the majority is just *shrugs*

The chemistry was mostly *meh,* the acting was usually pretty stiff or just *meh* (with some occasional well-acted scenes), the story was all over the place or *meh,* and the OST was *meh.*

To summarize, it was a big pile of ✨meh✨

It's a skip, my friends. Unless, you're looking for eye-candy faces or abs, in which case, you do you . . . But I still think you won't truly enjoy this, if you're being honest with yourself.

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A sunny day on Earth with a raincloud overhead

23.5 was a fun flurry of cuteness that managed to wonderfully capture teen love in school. It kept a light comedic tone and, while leaning into many tropes typical of teen Disney romances/Thai BLs, managed to stay fresh with an energetic tone, well-rounded and communicative leads, and unique side characters (need I talk about Aylin, our resident Alien who captured everyone's hearts?).

Even the main misunderstanding was executed better than many similar dramas. Instead of a dragged-out separation topped with assumptions and more misunderstandings, 23.5 pushed through it with heart, developed insight, and thoughtful conversations.

The final conflict is where I felt like this drama was pulled down from greatness.

For a character like Sun, who is presented as a bright, caring ray of sunshine who looks out for others and is mature for her age when it comes to handling emotions and complex situations, you'd think she'd be able to analyze and be critical of her own actions, considering the hurt they caused someone she loved. Granted, she was raised in a fully accepting and supportive environment with a family who never forced their own wants onto her and pushed her toward her dreams. But she also, through Aylin, directly got to see/observe how ignorance/bullying could affect someone.

And while both Sun and Ongsa had work to do on themselves and did grow over time, I found myself unable to fully appreciate it when what should arguably be the biggest conflict they have amounted to a one-sided blame game with a cutesy and rushed make-up unfitting of the situation.

A lack of awareness/regret and the drama's unwillingness/oversight in not calling out its characters is what kept me from finishing 23.5 on a high note. As it stands, I feel pleased as well as disappointed.

All this being said, I do recommend it, just with a small sigh.

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Close to great

This did well with the message of pushing back against conformity as well as capturing the painful experience of youth being faced with monumental pressure during their school years; and the toll it takes on them.

In particular, I was glad to see a Queer character truly given the space to breathe and take accepting their sexuality at their own pace without pressure from their partner.

My big let-downs:

1.) The protesters needed more background to them.
2.) Thua's forceful outing of Akk is never addressed or truly called out. For a drama that portrays young LGBT+ people realizing their identity and struggling with coming out due to legitimate fear and anxiety, you'd think they wouldn't gloss over something as important as this.

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Impressing and Special

I'm giving the male couple a 10/10. If I had to rate the female couple, I would give them an 8/10, and I would give the male and female couple a 7/10.

I do admit I may have a bit of a bias in regards to the Straight couple. As someone who only some years ago came out as Bi, I have been trying to find all the LGBT+ content I can. I have seen so many Straight romances, and the world of tv and film mostly consists of Straight romances, so I have seen every Straight trope and relationship dynamic under the sun. In a way, I find myself bored with Straight romances. Because I've seen it for so long, am always publicly presented with it, and live in a majority Straight world. So, while this premise is unique for the other two couples, I have seen rather similar scenes play out with a Straight couple before (Love Alarm would be the most recent comparable example).

The two guys acted the best compared to the two other couples (I'm not knocking the others' acting, they did a good job overall, I just thought their chemistry and actions didn't feel as natural). Their tension was palpable. It felt as though there was this constant pull between them. It was as though they kept taking turns inhaling and breathing out for each other.

This short is very short (of course, because it's a short film). I only wish I saw a little more. I would have loved to have seen what happened 5 minutes before they went inside to escape the rain. What were they talking about before? Were they hanging out? Or, did they just run into each other?

But, then again, the fact that this short film leaves me longing for more just speaks to how good this was. I think the point of it was to leave you with some questions. So, consider me happily annoyed that not everything was spelled out and handed to me. Lol.

Surprisingly the limited dialogue made it much more interesting. They were able to play more with tone, spacing, and atmosphere. It was also very interesting to see how the 3 different couples' actors changed up the lines in small but subtly beautiful ways. This has to be the best short film I have seen in years.

Also, one final compliment: The sound team did an amazing job! Every sigh and movement felt heightened, which made every moment feel precious and not wasted, and the rain was perfect background noise.

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