This review may contain spoilers
This show needed a doctor – a script and acting miracle worker
To stay concise I’ll go with bullet points.
- The plot is so basic, that it’s almost primitive; it’s relying on most rudimentary premises and is entirely forgettable.
- The script is weak, unimaginative and underdeveloped. It seems more like a first draft than a completed work – with shallow characterization, bunch of clichés (like pursuing a long time secret crush, one-night-stand turning into love, main characters randomly meeting in childhood and reuniting years later etc.) as well as hackneyed setting and plot elements.
- Production value is relatively low, though one should note that the show was not shot entirely in one location (namely the university campus and buildings); attempts were made to diversify the locations, which worked and brought a welcome change of surroundings.
- With (apparently) six main characters forming (apparently) three main couples and a bunch of side/supporting characters there should be ample of content for 10, 12 or even more episodes – but that’s not the case. There’s a very visible lack of content (or decent filling replacing actual content), only parts of which can be explained by what’s in the show and the rest remaining a production mystery. First of all: there are actually only four main characters – Knight, Mild, Per and Kan – forming two main couples. Tum and Klah have far less screen time and their plotline is so diluted, that there’s barely anything in it. Secondly, it’s not much different with the main characters – their storylines are so generic and so little happens in them, that with proper writing, editing and pacing they would (combined) fill 4-5 episodes of a normal show.
- The pacing is horrible, with not just scenes or episodes, but the whole series dragging mercilessly and needlessly. Every other scene seems to be deliberately stretched, prolonged by unnatural pauses, meaningless glances, characters seemingly waiting for something to happen etc. It’s one of those shows which can be watched on 2x speed without risk of missing anything important.
- What really killed the show for me were the performances. Not a single actor graced the screen during this series – and by "actor" I mean someone with either proper education, skill, talent or a mix thereof, someone who can actually act and not just show up in front of a camera. Instead of actors – who are still pretty rare in Thai BLs – we got a crew of amateurs; well-intended, but ill-equipped to perform even those uncomplicated roles they got. Pak, for whom I have a soft spot since his appearance in "The Eclipse", gave a cringe-inducing performance, equaled by that of Gun, Top and Guy. Arm came of as infantile and being memorable only because of the trout lips he makes (though there was a couple of scenes in which he felt genuine – properly using some of his charm); Lee’s performance – while not giving me second-hand embarrassment – felt half-hearted and bland. Mon was the only cast member who gave a watchable performance.
I wouldn’t watch a single minute of that show again even if was paid for that.
- The plot is so basic, that it’s almost primitive; it’s relying on most rudimentary premises and is entirely forgettable.
- The script is weak, unimaginative and underdeveloped. It seems more like a first draft than a completed work – with shallow characterization, bunch of clichés (like pursuing a long time secret crush, one-night-stand turning into love, main characters randomly meeting in childhood and reuniting years later etc.) as well as hackneyed setting and plot elements.
- Production value is relatively low, though one should note that the show was not shot entirely in one location (namely the university campus and buildings); attempts were made to diversify the locations, which worked and brought a welcome change of surroundings.
- With (apparently) six main characters forming (apparently) three main couples and a bunch of side/supporting characters there should be ample of content for 10, 12 or even more episodes – but that’s not the case. There’s a very visible lack of content (or decent filling replacing actual content), only parts of which can be explained by what’s in the show and the rest remaining a production mystery. First of all: there are actually only four main characters – Knight, Mild, Per and Kan – forming two main couples. Tum and Klah have far less screen time and their plotline is so diluted, that there’s barely anything in it. Secondly, it’s not much different with the main characters – their storylines are so generic and so little happens in them, that with proper writing, editing and pacing they would (combined) fill 4-5 episodes of a normal show.
- The pacing is horrible, with not just scenes or episodes, but the whole series dragging mercilessly and needlessly. Every other scene seems to be deliberately stretched, prolonged by unnatural pauses, meaningless glances, characters seemingly waiting for something to happen etc. It’s one of those shows which can be watched on 2x speed without risk of missing anything important.
- What really killed the show for me were the performances. Not a single actor graced the screen during this series – and by "actor" I mean someone with either proper education, skill, talent or a mix thereof, someone who can actually act and not just show up in front of a camera. Instead of actors – who are still pretty rare in Thai BLs – we got a crew of amateurs; well-intended, but ill-equipped to perform even those uncomplicated roles they got. Pak, for whom I have a soft spot since his appearance in "The Eclipse", gave a cringe-inducing performance, equaled by that of Gun, Top and Guy. Arm came of as infantile and being memorable only because of the trout lips he makes (though there was a couple of scenes in which he felt genuine – properly using some of his charm); Lee’s performance – while not giving me second-hand embarrassment – felt half-hearted and bland. Mon was the only cast member who gave a watchable performance.
I wouldn’t watch a single minute of that show again even if was paid for that.
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