MarieAli

I’m tempted to agree. Thyme is dangerous because he is very powerful but volatile. He’s never downright manipulative or cunning though. Kavin totally is. I hope we get to see more of his dark side, but since his arc with Kaning has already started I’m not so sure…

Yes, the f4 truly are Thyme’s found family! I feel very confident about his healing and change because he has them, he has Tia and Gorya. And all of them are incredibly strong in their own ways.

Oh, that’s such an interesting conversation, because at the core of it all is the very fundamental question about what’s the better motivation for change. Is it being confronted with your worst self or is it the perception of self-efficacy? I’d always argue it’s the latter. Why would you take up all the hard work of changing and becoming a better person if you truly believe you have ultimately no control over who you are. And it’s actually research-backed, perceived self-efficacy is one of the best predictors for psychotherapy response. Positive goals towards something are way more effective than avoidance goals.
Also, just in text, I’d argue Thyme was already very well aware that he was capable of hurting her the moment he stepped off that roof. That’s why he was avoiding her. So what new information do we and does he gain here? Even at his worst he has control if he really really wants to wield it. To me it has less to do with his love for her…

Yes, and just to add to that, this story is a coming of age story at its core and thus has to be set in high school otherwise those themes don’t work as well.

Thank you <3 And I agree completely. For this story to truly work, we had to see him at his worst and still be able to control himself around her. The way they crafted the whole sequence, it was truly heartbreaking. I’m surprised so many people have little to no empathy for him, when this show is doing such a great job showing us exactly how he became the person he is. When his mom says “Don’t make me do to you, what I did to your sister” and looks at him with all that hate, I could only think how is he still somewhat functioning?

Yes, exactly! It' so dense, everything is important, no scene is wasted. All characters get their own arc, the core themes are handled with such consistency providing timeless messages. It's so rewarding to care about this.

Exactly! I absolutely loved her scene with Tesla! Kavin was already taking off his glasses, but no need. Gorya snuck up on him like a predator, just savage!

Yes! He explicitly tells her what he's struggling with in that moment and that's what enables her to take the calculated risk to confront him. That's how she retains her agency throughout this scene. He never manipulates or deceives her pretending he is someone else...

I get that a lot of people felt uncomfortable watching Thyme regress to his old or even worse self. And I have to admit it was disturbing and scary, but it worked for me, because we learn a lot about him and Gorya in the process. So bear with me…

First, we see him run away from it all, getting off that rooftop, clearly out of his mind not even recognizing MJ or Kavin. He knows he’s a ticking time bomb, so he’s got to get out of there. But then that dude who sexually assaulted Gorya gets in his way, mocking another girl he’s leading on. This makes him realize that a) he’s been fooled by Gorya as well (not true but he doesn’t know better) and b) he’s always been honest about his feelings with her but it wasn’t enough. However, he still manages to keep it somewhat together, until the moment that dude questions his authority. Later, we learn that the only thing his mom valued in him, was his ability to exercise power. So he just has to regain control in that moment and that dude is the perfect prey, because he’s not innocent.
Next thing Kavin and MJ enter the scene, but they know he’s totally out of it so they let him run wild, nobody can stop him at this point, he’s untouchable, lost.

Ren and Gorya come in, it’s her voice that gets him to finally snap out of his violent frenzy. He realizes she’s seen it all and he’s defeated. He knows he messed up bad this time and that Gorya won’t be able to accept him like that. We see him adjusting his tiger sweater. He’s clearly uncomfortable in his own (animal) skin, it doesn’t quite fit anymore, it’s itchy and he just can’t stand it, but he’s trapped…

Still he’s pulling himself together, confronting Ren and somehow managing to avoid Gorya because he knows he can’t be trusted around her in this kind of state. He’s trying to flee the school once more, he’s about to explode, he can’t possibly talk it out in this state. But Gorya, again, is the only one brave enough to confront him, pushing him into that room, forcing him to deal with her. At this point he’s a raging beast trapped in a cage and she’s trapped with him. I’m not saying she did anything wrong, but this is a very dangerous situation she ended up in, willingly. She’s so confident that she’s able to calm him down, and in the end it’s the very reason why he’s able to control his impulse. Even though he’s given up on himself, she’s the only one that hasn’t fully yet.
Once he leaves the school, first thing he does is lock himself up. That’s what he wanted to do all along, put himself back into chains.

Also, I don’t think the show is glossing over his behavior. He acknowledges his faults and doesn’t make any excuses for it. Plus, Gorya still refuses to call herself his girlfriend by the end of the episode. They still have issues to resolve, he’s got a lot of hard work and healing to do, but he’s finally on the right track. And if you know how the story unfolds in coming episodes, he will definitely get to see the consequences of his and his family’s actions.
To me it’s very compelling storytelling.
Nonetheless everyone is entitled their own opinion and of course it will differ depending on your own experiences or trauma. That’s valid.

I just have to say, if he had wanted to hurt her, this would have all played out very differently. He was trying to find an exit point multiple times, but was denied it, it made me feel pity for him, because he’s so clearly hurting and so very trapped.

Yes! I loved their scenes and still want moooore! Also their whole aesthetic! They look like candy cotton and I want to eat them... Ha ha ha.
Plus, she sees the real him "fronting all cool". I'm sure they won't mess it up like, say the Japanese version, when she suddenly turns into a lovesick lemming...

MJ is the original shipper, best boy!

I've been wondering about that too... Her only redeeming quality is that she's ridiculously hot!
In the other versions her redemption was pretty last minute and didn't feel earned. So I'm hoping for a more meaningful arc here, which I'm sure they'll be able to pull off somehow. Thematically, they have to do it because that Paramaanantra family sure needs A LOT of healing!
I'd guess that Gorya will be the catalyst for her change too, somehow healing the mother/son split.

Love your character analysis here and agree with everything!

Just wanted to add Kaning! She is clearly a bit naive for going out with someone like Tesla, but she’s also smart, quite brave when dealing with Kavin and a very supportive friend. I think for once the Kavin character has found his match. I’m so glad they kicked off their romantic arc already! <3

Wow, yet another amazing episode! Every week they just exactly know what this story needs and deliver! Especially the characters, everyone is allowed to have flaws and is treated with empathy. 

But especially Thyme, they treat his character flaws with the gravity they deserve. This is what impulse control issues look like, this is emotional instability. And it’s a logical consequence of his upbringing and lack of emotional support. His mental health struggles aren’t just a plot device to create drama. He’s on a healing journey, learning how to love someone else, but it’s ultimately about self-love as well. Damn, he was so close to becoming irredeemable in that classroom… But thankfully, he realized who he’s really mad at, directing his fist towards his own head. 

And Gorya, I just love that they allow her to have flaws as well. She’s so strong-willed and kind, but a hothead as well and a bit aggressive, not some perfect bland cinnamon roll. She wants Thyme, and she’s not shamed for it. It’s not about who deserves her, but who she chooses.

And their heads… and their hands… Pretty please!!!

Me too! But I’m also preparing myself for pain… The more lovable they are, the harder it will hit once his mom strikes 😭 And it’s coming… I expect the worst of her.

Yes! It was such a weird choice because it made it seem like a comment on how ‘disgusting and embarrassing’ poor people supposedly are. Just awful.
And her family? Oh boy…

This, exactly! And if you add a redemption arc for the male lead, which this version heavily focuses on, it becomes a female power fantasy. She’s inspiring others to change, she’s able to tame the beast.
Another reason why women are drawn to these stories is that in real life abusive partners often only show their monstrous form once you’re already entangled with them. But with the beast it’s all out in the open, it’s a calculated risk.

You don’t sound creepy at all! I will slide into your DMs later 😅

Thank you so much for your sweet comment!!! This made my day <3
Creating an account just for this show, we have that in common! I’ve been lurking here for a while watching a lot of ongoing dramas but I never felt this need to engage before. It just shows how powerful this story is!

Oh, and I like your idea that she realizes that Thyme must be hurting too! Especially after everything she threw at him…

I know this whole scene, where she pricks her finger, has been discussed a lot already and I love all the interpretations out there! So I don‘t know if it adds anything to the discussion, but, when I first saw it, my mind went: Oh, her blood, her first period. This is her sexual awakening. Later, she even put the honey badger on her stomach as if she had menstrual cramps. It happens right after her heated fight with him, and the next time we see her, she goes to the cafeteria looking for him.
In fairy tales, pricking a finger and dropping blood often symbolizes menstrual blood and the transformation to womanhood. It’s a sign that childhood is almost done, which echoes Thyme’s “my teenage years are coming to an end” and explains the chilling score at the end. It can be scary to enter a new phase of your life and accept your desire for someone that prickly.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that a lot of people are commenting on how hot Thyme looked when he was angry. Their whole fight on the bridge is very heated and full of sexual tension. She gets physical with him, hitting him, instigating the violence. The writers even chose to change Tesla’s line to something overtly sexual, challenging Thyme for his mating partner. And as others have pointed out, she dresses very feminine for him, she decides to show her figure. She wants him to see her as a woman, but as her brother points out, she’s not confident about it yet and scared, that’s why she keeps creating this false drama with Thyme (the lying, the overreacting, not listening). She’s trying hard to avoid coming to terms with her feelings. Well, we know Thyme will explode next episode, giving her the perfect excuse to try out the “safe” option that Ren represents. But with him, she goes back to her genderless look!! It’s so good!
I just love this show, and I love that the creators care as much about this story as we do!