Niniane

HEAVY trigger warnings. I am not ok.

I know, I know, I should have read up on this drama and maybe watched a trailer. But I'm not used to doing that and my watch recommendation is the tag "LGBTQ"and/or "Gay Male Lead" as these usually lead me to a BL drama. This is not that. I repeat, it is NOT a BL. at least, not one where there's actual love involved (not counting the brief hand holding by the two friend characters in the forelast scene.

I don't really understand the theme or message of this drama. Is it to warn against cyber bullying? The dangers of sharing and shaming on social media? If so, this could have been portrayed much clearer. The drama now focuses on the SA-event and the aftermath for Shin and Keng, rather than that.

The final scene (again: What is the POINT??) leaves room for a follow-up. IF that were to happen, I need a strong Shin who has overcome the events, a Keng who is in prison or at least very much in the gutter where he will have to remain until his final breath and a real love story as a redemption arc. But maybe we should just leave it alone. This was traumatising enough.

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Good "in-between-BL's" watch

Binged in 1 evening. Not because it was that entertaining, but because I had nothing better to do. And that's the perfect time to watch this BL drama. There's not much substance, there's not much story, there's nothing iconic. It's just nice.

What I liked:
The developing romances are sweet and steady. Some might say slow and boring, but I prefer steady. Again, nothing extreme except for the odd butterfly.
Some of the plotlines are cringey because overused tropes, Some scenes are unnecessary and unnecessarily long. There's a skip button for that. Just FF to the next romantic stare, tease or little kiss and you'll be fine. I loved the sweetness in the couples. And the fun they had together. Thats always so overlooked. Couples should have fun and frolic as much as possible. They are newly in love after all.

What I didn't like:
I have no idea when or why the shirts came off. Surely not just for sleeping? But no hints to anything else happening. Weird. Decide to have a love scene and passion or decide to not have that. This innuendo (if you can even call it that) is stupid. The ex showing up and then no room for communication or explanation just a storm-off while there was not even anything really happening? Stupid. Giving the Record Boss the time of day after his toxic behavior? Stupid. Giving us a return scene of 1 minute? Stupid.

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Feel-good sports science romance

There are a lot of college bl series, but not a lot centering around the sports science faculty and more specifically the sports players of this faculty. We see Basketball players and Track team members, practicing their sports. 3 different romances evolve and grow as the members go through their college years. Fah and Torn have known each other for their whole life, and realize they have more than friendship. Saen has had a thing for Ai and decides to pursue him until Ai falls for him. Vee has a crush on his sisters boyfriend Dome, and they figure out what to do with these feelings.

I liked the original take of the story, the diversity in characters and relationships and the fact that some real issues and drama has to be dealt with. There is also a good amount of chemistry.

I didn't like the erratic pacing, the bad kisses and the rushed although nice ending.

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This is a new favourite!!

I honestly didn't expect to like this drama so much. I had not seen many spoilers and my TikTok was not really buzzing when it aired, so I was expecting something average. Boy was I wrong. I LOVE THE HELL OUT OF IT.

The mildly scifi theme, multiverse, is just the basis for the epic love story of Puen, a rising actor and Talay, a movie colorist. They make a switch upon there untimely death, and find themselves in the body of another person in a similar but different universe. While navigating their way in the life of the person who's body they now occupy, they meet and discover they're in the same boat. Deciding to be friends and trying to find a way back to their own universe they gradually fall for each other.

The way the falling in love and the shift from friends to lovers is brought forward is award-worthy. The first actual kiss doesn't happen until ep. 8, but the anticipation and build up to the kiss and later the confession(s) is on butterfly level 3000! This is all done is such a non-explicit way, it is just beautiful. There is NO verbal sexual innuendo, but the tension is there and then some. The non-verbal is extremely well executed.

Once the first kiss, and especially the confession and discovery that they actually are each-others way home has happened, more and more kisses follow. But not the let's stare at each other and act like fishes kind of kisses. Real, deep and lovers' kisses these are.

When they finally return home, new troubles ensue due to their live having been taken over by someone else. They need to fix what was messed up and find each other again in more than one way.

What I loved: almost everything. The acting, the story development, the original theme, the fantastic side characters, the cameo's (Tay! Mix!), the music, the scenery, even the product placement was weaved into the actual story, so it wasn't too distracting or annoying.
What i disliked: Some scenes seemed to be cut off at an illogical point. But that's just me nitpicking :P.

I would love to see the story of Tess and Pakorn (Tun) on the other side/in the other universe. We got a glimpse of the meek Pakorn and the asshole Tess, but there's more to this story. Maybe we will get to see Ohm and Nanon in a spin off drama. For now, this one shoots to the top 5 of my 2022 winners. I you have not watched it: do it NOW!

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Great potential, meagre execution

Just 3 eps is just not enough for any love story, and that goes for this one as well. I was also quite apprehensive about the high schooler with a Uni student, and I was (partly) right. Although the actors have great chemistry together, the way Nuea seems to almost groom Praram is kinda cringy. He reels it in a little later on, but its damage done.

There is a weird scene where Nuea is just sitting at his computer in his room not speaking but typing stuff that is not being conveyed to the viewer. Did they forget the sound or captions on this part?

The story ends with Prarams 19th birthday, and felt more like the beginning of the story rather than the end. Although it wa never boring, I can't help but wonder what the purpoe of this separate story was if not as a warm up to a larger series? That we are still not getting, by the way.

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A gem from Japan

I really enjoyed this BL. Japanese dramas always hit different and not always to my taste, and I have never been able to put my finger on why, but this one is a very good watch.

The acting is really good, and I liked the story of the slow burn and fear of rejection and stepping out of your comfort zone. Although not explicitly homophobic, the fact that you feel different than what you think society expects from you can be scary and lead you to do or not do things (hmm cryptic, huh). I would have liked a more conscious decision towards being who you are, but i will definitely take what I got here. Butterflies to the max and o these guys are both adorable!

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Taiwanese BL hit different

I don't know what makes Taiwanese BL series so good. Almost without exception they are original, captivating, touching and cute. As with this one. It grabbed me from the start and did not let go until the last ep. One explanation is the acting. All characters do a fantastic job. Another could be the utterly blinding visuals of the actors. Or maybe it's the down to earth take on lgbtq issues... Whatever is the reason, this BL is amazing. I cried so hard when Fu Ligong broke it off... And I cried even more when I realized why he did it. The wedding was the cutest thing and Yukis hair should have its own series.

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One of the OG (the sequel)

On my vintage BL-binge, this title (and the prequel, which I reviewed at the same time) can't be omitted. It's OffGun's first appearance as couple and they blow everyone else from the screen immediately.

The natural chemistry, the charisma and deliverance of both these guys is amazing. The other actors pale by comparison. Only Sing (as Din) can keep up with these two.

The main couple (that gave the series its title) are Porsche and Emma. Porsche is a good guy, maybe a little too good, and Emma is a standard college girl: sweet and innocent. Emmas family and Porsches club bring them together for the wrong reasons and these reasons come back to bite them in the ass and drive them apart (S2). Their friends Pick and Rome (OffGun) try to get them back together and form a bond of their own. However, Pick is an a**hole who is in rock-hard denial that he could be falling for a boy and so he treats Rome like sh*t. It takes am elaborate scheme from yet another boy to open his eyes and make him open up (S2).

Although I was quite fed up with Pick's horrible behavior, the interactions between him and Rome and his utter helplessness in dealing with all these feels he is feeling made me empathize as well. I was shouting at Rome to blow up at Pick already! But Rome keeps to his calm and introverted self. The only time his cheeky and lively personality comes out is when he is alone with either Emma or Pick (when pick is not picking on him).

This BL is an oldie for todays standards, but it is surprisingly not-cringy. There are many moments that hit me right in the feels and I could not help smiling at the end (of S2).

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One of the OG

On my vintage BL-binge, this title (and the sequel, which I will review at the same time) can't be omitted. It's OffGun's first appearance as couple and they blow everyone else from the screen immediately.

The natural chemistry, the charisma and deliverance of both these guys is amazing. The other actors pale by comparison. Only Sing (as Din) can keep up with these two.

The main couple (that gave the series its title) are Porsche and Emma. Porsche is a good guy, maybe a little too good, and Emma is a standard college girl: sweet and innocent. Emmas family and Porsches club bring them together for the wrong reasons and these reasons come back to bite them in the ass and drive them apart (S2). Their friends Pick and Rome (OffGun) try to get them back together and form a bond of their own. However, Pick is an a**hole who is in rock-hard denial that he could be falling for a boy and so he treats Rome like sh*t. It takes am elaborate scheme from yet another boy to open his eyes and make him open up (S2).

Although I was quite fed up with Pick's horrible behavior, the interactions between him and Rome and his utter helplessness in dealing with all these feels he is feeling made me empathize as well. I was shouting at Rome to blow up at Pick already! But Rome keeps to his calm and introverted self. The only time his cheeky and lively personality comes out is when he is alone with either Emma or Pick (when pick is not picking on him).

This BL is an oldie for todays standards, but it is surprisingly not-cringy. There are many moments that hit me right in the feels and I could not help smiling at the end (of S2).

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Boring & Confusing

Most boring BL I ever watched. Started off quite well, with nice scenes full of chemistry, but it all died halfway into the drama. Besides being boring, there seem to be pieces missing from the narrative. We are left guessing to backstories which were probably left on the editing floor. This got progressively worse and then we are suddenly projected 5 years into the future without any foreshadowing whatsoever, And there's a kid as well that we are supposed to understand is the sister's child... I mean come on! don't make all the drama about us trying to understand the drama! And WHY after 5 years does Milk still not want to kiss his bf? WHY does he make such a face even when being proposed to? Glad it's over. Please do better!

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Heartbreaking Masterpiece

I'm here to raise the overall score of this drama. A 6.8 overall is absolutely criminal! This is a masterpiece. Plain and simple.

First off, the story itself. Yes, love triangles are messy. But they happen, and the way it's portrayed here is beautiful, respectful and real. I did NOT care for the ending and I will be traumatized forever, but we all survived MODC, and that was even worse, so I'll take this one even though I screamed UNFAIR! at the screen all through the final scene. The rest of the story is beautiful. Everything feels so genuine and real. The flirting, the loving, the waiting, the anticipation and the desillusion. The mix of Thai, Thenglish and Taiwan Mandarin takes a bit of getting used to, but enhances the story. This is how these holiday romances go, and I love that they chose not to have them all speak fluent Thai bc that would have been so unrealistic.

Second, the Scenery. There has never been a Thai drama that did not want to make me pack my bags and hop on the next plane to Phuket, Bangkok or Chiang Mai. But now I'm angry I was not born rich so I could see these amazing views for myself tomorrow. The village, the mountains, the cave, the museums, the restaurants. They were all filmed in a way that makes you feel nostalgic to places you´ve never been.

Third, the music. A good score makes any drama better. In this case the songs accompanying the scenes have been chosen perfectly. I have the OST on repeat, it´s so beautiful.

Last, the acting. Apart from the actress playing Somo (what the helly), the acting was on point. The right mood tones, looks and gestures.

Overall I was very impressed with this drama. Very different from the usual BL drama's we get from Thailand (not that there's anything wrong with those). I would love to see more of these atmospherical drama's that suck you into their mood and let you feel like you are actually there. But, I get it. The ending. The last episode that ruined it all. We ignored the very clear foreshadowing and did not see this coming. How could we? And however much I hate to admit it and think about it, there was no other logical way for the conclusion of this story. And even though it's tragic, tragedy is also part of life.

For the budget and resources the makers had (it is a solo indie production), this is an absolute masterpiece.

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Chemistry makes up for sloppy storytelling

Watched while airing.

Seeing the overall rating and other reviews, I think I should maybe re-watch and see what I missed that was so bad? Yes, the story is just above average,. Yes, the "lie" is stretched until the last ep. Yes, the side characters or side-stories are not the best. But in my opinion, this is perfectly made up by the two main leads.

Ryan and Frame have never acted together before, but they seem like a wel-seasoned BL-couple. The dislike in the beginning is already full of chemistry, and this does not go away once they actually get together. All scenes they have together are flawless and I was having butterfly-overdose and that is actually what is most important for me in BL. I wnat that flutter, that melting, these looks.

The only thing I definitely hated about the show was the theme-song. Not to insult anyone, but the singer sounds like she's 80 years old. Did someone owe someone else a favor by letting her sing this otherwise perfectly good song? Well, nevermind. It did not affect my experience that much, just a slight annoyance. I will definitely re-watch this show at some point to re-live this awesome chemistry.

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Cute. That's it.

This is a typical formula series. Main CP is m/f and 2 others m/m. We have a group of friends (a band), there's a goofy character (who must be based off of Tong's character in KinnPorsche, he even looks like him) a capable responsible one, a closeted gay and an out gay, a doesntknowhelikesmen one and a villain. It's mostly a straight forward simple story, but quite well put together without obvious plot holes. Great scenery, some surprisingly funny scenes and a bit of emotional dialogue makes for a good watch. One big flaw, however, only 1 of the cp have good chemistry and all kisses are hugs. Or shot at an awkward angle. That's a big nope. So, overall cute, but nothing more.

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Game changer for the BL genre

This series... Where do I begin? It's so far the best BL series ever. It's nearly flawless in story telling, visuals, music and acting.

This series had a rough start. It changed cast, production houses and more before it started filming. This could have been a blessing in disguise, however, since there was now a much longer prep time. This was used by the actors to get acquainted with their characters and each other before actual filming. And it shows. The total immersion into the characters and the story is impressive. Paired with the utterly stunning visuals, both in the actors as in the lighting, camera work and sets, makes for a game changing BL series.

It's mature in all aspects. The love scenes are somewhat explicit, but visually so, so attractive. Even the BDSM scenes look beautiful. There's a deep understanding on how to display emotions with just visuals and it brings it to such a high level.

The casting is on point, the actors obviously have a deep respect for their characters and their own stories. I have watched a lot of bts footage (thank you BOC) which also makes that abundantly clear.

Was there anything I didn't like? Well, yes. For example, there are only 14 episodes. I could've watched a 140 like this. No, all kidding aside, Time/Tee needed so much more screentime. They were there, we know they must have a story to tell, but they never got the chance to tell it.

Some story lines are not fully cleared up, but that doesn't take away from the whole.

I'm not a re-watcher. Once seen, I review and leave it. This is one of few I will re-watch. This I will re-watch until blue in the face. In fact I'm starting right now and I won't stop until they release S2. Better get on it, BOC!

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