Yuna

Was this the most mind-blowing thing to be put to page? Fuck no. But I can tell you right now this sure had more going on then We Are the series and that focused on four couples and while this focused on two (while the next two will be out in part 2).

It was honestly to my own detriment that Pond's first work that I watched was 180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us. This man is a phenomenal actor, and I knew I would watch him in any BL from that moment forward. So when I found out he was gonna be in this, I immediately jumped on board.

HOWEVER. And I mean this however in the nicest way possible -- the execution of HillTer's story totally killed it. There was something there, there honestly was. We had such great potential for angst, yearning, tension (emotional and sexual), and yet, it all fell flat. It wasn't the actors fault, but the way their story was written. It was so damn confusing, from start to end. Ter and Hill were a thing before, they knew each other before, HAD A WHOLE PAST!! And despite all that, none of that translated well to their university life where their story began again. If they just kept it at, "yes, they had a crushes on each other, but nothing happened," then everything would have been fine. But they kissed. They were almost about to have sex. THEY WERE CAUGHT HALF NAKED MAKING OUT!! Now please, I implore you to watch their story WITHOUT watching any of their flashback scenes. Trust me, not a single one of you would be able to convince me you actually think they did any of that. And I thought I just being dumb, so I legit went back and rewatched, but nope, don't make sense. So I went and watched the uncut version to see if I missed something. AND GOD, YES. There are so many bits missing that added to their past, but it still didn't make sense.

Like the whole "does Hill like Christ thing." Ummm?? You two made out? Hill called you his?? And that's Ter's entire inner conflict?? And not only that, but also that Hill might like that Mind girl?? So after Easter finds out Hill doesn't Mind, he processed to think Hill might like his sister? Bro. Come on.

And then the tearjerkering moment of them splitting apart. When did that happen?? I honestly tried to piece that part into the timeline but it made no sense. Because it couldn't have been before, since Hill's gramps didn't know about them, but it couldn't have been after either cuz Ter's dad didn't let them see each other. Did Hill sneak in? If so, how, when, where????

And it's these two pieces that don't fit into the puzzle that make this whole back story fall short. Don't get me started into the whole repetitiveness of the "will Ter finally agree to be Hill's boyfriend" thing. They act like a married couple, know they like each other, but being boyfriends is where we need to take a step back and think things through? It was so stupid. They actually has such great potential, but they fumbled the bag so hard it's not even funny.

But JohanNorth on the other hand... These two made the show. They WERE the show.

I remember when 2moons was coming out back when I was in high school. I remember waiting every week impatiently just so I could watch an episode. And I fell in love with Bas. He was my absolute favourite. And when I found out he wasn't going to be in the second season of 2moons I was devastated. Then I didn't hear about him or see him in any other BL shows and by then I sorta fell out of my BL phase for a while. So when I was coming back to watching BL there were many actors I wanted to back on my screen, and he was still one of them. So imagine my surprise when I see the trailer of this on my feed and I see Bas on my screen after so many years? I screamed. I think I did and I'm no ashamed to admit it. There are only two BL series that made me read the source material (novel), and that was 2moons and this one, JohanNorth's story. Bas has that much power.

Now that I've sung my admirations for this man, let's get on with this. Bas ABSOLUTELY killed it as North.

If there is one word to describe Johan and North, it's patience. Because that is what these two are. Patient.

There love story wasn't dramatic, it wasn't showstopping or phenomenal, but it didn't have to be. It was emotional, sweet, funny. It was patient. It was real. These two showed us that love can wait for someone. Johan waited years for North, and North waited for the right person. And Maxky and Bas showed us how chemistry and acting can bring these characters to life and make everyone fall for them more than the actual couple. They embodied the characters, they were the Johan and North. I honestly couldn't even tell you what it is about their love story that made me rewatched all their eps like five times already, but it was just the way they were *it* for each other. North was the chaos to Johan's calm. The dorkiness to Johan's stress. Johan doesn't talk much around North, and North understands, loves him regardless. He's always working and studying, always tired and exhausted, and North doesn't mind, he'll just stay by his side to support him. When North said he was a sabai-sabai guy, you could see it. He didn't stress, went about life his own way, if he loved someone then he loved with all his heart, didn't care about rumours or other people's opinion. He was kind, hilarious, strong-minded. He's just honest, wore his heart on his sleeve. And to see Johan's three-year unrequited love be fulfilled by someone like that just made me so happy.

And don't even get me started with the way North's eyes would instantly soften when he looked at Johan. Once boy realised he was in love, he was all in. Those were the eyes of love. The fact that North is a carefree guy but genuinely couldn't function without Johan around him? Yeah, you could tell this boy was just as in love with Johan as Johan is with him. These two were so intense for each other in the best way possible, and I loved it every single second of it.

And the way Johan just grabs North's neck when kissing. I have an obsession. I think I rewatched the café kiss scene an unhealthy amount of time. Johan is so hot man, words can't even capture it. They may have toned down his red-flagness from the novel, and he might not be fully green, but if North doesn't care, then why should I? These two were made for each other, and when North cried after hearing about Johan's three-years of pining, I cried as well. I did not expect them to become my comfort couple, but they did. And their reasons for loving each other were simple that I loved it even more. Johan because North didn't see rich people as stuck up assholes when everyone saw Johan like that, and North because Johan took care of him when North is always taking care of everyone else. They're just adorable man and I really hope we get to see more of them in Part 2 because this will probably be the last time we see Maxky and Bas together.

I'm all for actors changing partners, because some of my favourite BLs are the ones with pairing I never expected to see together on my screen, but THESE TWO NEED MORE SHOWS TOGETHER. PLEASE!! I BEG! MY LIFE IS THEIRS IF THEY MAKE THIS HAPPEN!! *sighs* I guess I will stick to writing fics about them instead to fill in the emptiness in my heart now that this has ended...

This would have defo been rated higher if it was just JohanNorth. It's still funny to me that the producers didn't think they'd be so popular and had to calm the fans by releasing this ep. Makes me wonder what they were gonna do with the extra content. Just bin it?

Special mentions:

1. TigerNao were fucking hilarious. They were just that crackhead couple for me. I really wish we see their relationship develop more in the next part.

2. The friendship groups. My god I loved the friendship groups to death. My favourite parts about ensemble group series are the friendships. The way Johan and Hill became unrequited love besties and Arthit and Fah just watching them. The doctor gang were so fucking funny. And Arthit 100% stole the show. I need more of him and can't wait for his story and chaoticness. I just love how supportive they are off each other. And the way Ter was the captain of the JohanNorth ship was amazing. He was the fandom. And Hill always there with a proud but "guys, pls stop" look killed me every time. And Johan Arthit friendship. We needed more of this. These two were so fucking hilarious man. The way they were always insulting each other but so ready to gang up on Hill was the highlight of any episode. And the Ter, Phoon, North and Dao combo. Powerful. We NEED to have a scene with all four couples on the last ep of Part 2. I'm rioting if that doesn't happen.

3. FahPhoon. These two need to stop being so depressed around each other and get their shit together. Can't wait for their story.

4. Editing. I know this is New so this isn't anything new, but damn man, the editing/pacing of this could really use some work. I already talked about the writing and editing issues with HillTer, but some of the sound effects need work. And that one JohanNorth kiss when North was sick, I can't be the only one that thought that editing there was weird af.

5. The family meetings. I loved them, but you could tell we were just moving from one scene to another. It was just this family, then cut to this family. Oh, now this one, then this one. Bro, Ter and Hill's whole family need one ep itself cuz there was so much to unpack there, not 15 minutes. And Johan's whole fam... we only knew about his grandma, and know his mum enrolled him into the medical course without asking him so he needed to do it while his dad only wanted him to take over the business. Maybe it was just me letting my imagination run free, but lovey-dovey fam was not what I was expecting. And yes, I read the novel, but we didn't meet the dad there so ig my opinion still stands. Idk, that was just weird, but I probs did that to myself. I loved North's mum tho. She da best! The way she kept outing North to Johan was my absolute favourite, and kept telling him to scold North was amazing lmao.

Anywhoooo, I can't believe we have come to an end of this journey already. I'm going to miss this cast, and I'm going to be devastated now that I don't have JohanNorth on my screen every week. They became my comfort couple so quickly it's not even funny. Now all I have is ThamePo and YothaGun to keep me sane.

Once again, was this show-stopping? No. There are so many other better series out there with better pacing, plot, writing and editing. But this was cute, it was fun, and the chemistry between Maxky and Bas was to die for. Reviews are not gonna help you decide whether to watch this, you need to watch it yourself and decide. If you don't like HillTer, then skip through them to get a overall feel of the show and character dynamics until you reach JohanNorth. If you don't vibe with them either, then that's totally fine as well. This show isn't for every one, and that's okay!