RoseQ

When the past is much more interesting that the present

I might be in the minority here, but I really didn’t enjoy the series that much. I did make it through the whole thing, yes, but it was far from being a favorite of mine. I have never been a huge fan of the whole reincarnation concept. The soulmates trope is one I do enjoy though.

Korn & Intouch: Their story is absolutely heartbreaking. Korn seems to be cold and distant, someone who doesn’t really connect with anyone. Which is probably due to his family background. Intouch, on the other hand, is very outgoing and sweet, he tries to befriend everyone around him. Including Korn. The two lived in the time when gay relationships were not accepted, and their family reactions do show that. The two planned to be in each other’s lives forever. And they achieved that in the only way they thought it was possible. I cried so much during the suicide scene. Korn took the lead, but Intouch crying over him and asking him why he did this to him is what broke me. Kao and Earth did incredibly! The cute moments were adorable, and their chemistry is amazing. But it was the heavy and emotional scenes that really made the two of them shine. They really showed so much through their eyes.

Dean & Pharm: I don’t know why, but I didn’t really like the pairing. Dean is either very cold towards everyone or too pushy. There were a few scenes in which his advances were not really appreciated or well paced, and it was obvious they made Pharm uncomfortable. Kudos to Pharm for speaking out about it at some point. I found Pharm too naïve and too childish most of the time. Yeah, it can be cute, but I think it was overdone. I just didn’t really think the two characters are well suited for each other. Dean is someone who can easily trample over Pharm who is too enamored to react. Ohm and Fluke did great in portraying the characters, it’s not them I don’t like, it’s the characters. I do think they had great potential chemistry wise, but I don’t think it was fully shown in the show. The end of their story was very rushed, especially considering the length of the series. I do think that Fluke really shined in the last episode, the emotions he showed were amazing.

The part that I found the messiest was the whole family situation. Dean and Pharm are the reincarnated versions of Korn and Intouch, but they kind of switch the families. So, Dean is born into Intouch’s family while Pharm is born into Korn’s family. I can understand the idea behind it – giving the two families a chance to change the past in the present – but the switch is something I don’t fully get. I think I would prefer if there was not family connection between the past and present lovers. Or if they were born into their original families. That would still give the families a chance to, in a way, undo the past.

To be honest, I really loved Korn and Intouch and I would really love a full series just about them. Even with the ending they had. I found their story much more interesting and intriguing than the story of Dean and Pharm. I don’t blame the actors, it’s the way the series was written and directed, I know that. I just really wasn’t feeling Dean and Pharm as a couple.

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Adorable, slow burn high school romance

While the plot might not seem anything special at the first glance, the execution was amazing! There is nothing that I don't like about it! The way Tinn and Gun's relationship developed was really adorable, it was a slow burn but definitely worth the time. It was a first relationship for both characters, so them taking their time to figure things out was nice, even if I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for them to kiss sooner. The chemistry between the actors was amazing, from the glances to the little touches. I swear I could see the sparks flying between Tinn and Gun.

I loved all of their friends, including our main wingman Thiw. The nods (and parallels) to Bad Buddy the Series were fun too, especially as it is one of my all time favourite series. The side couple(s) did steal the show for a bit, but TinnGun / GunTinn took it back quickly.

The OST was pure perfection! The songs really fit in well with the storyline. Including the MV they did for Just Being Friendly. It was written into the story very nicely as well.

Tinn & Gun: This really was a "one fell first, the other fell harder" kind of story. I found Tinn very endearing. It was fun to see him try to flirt with Gun quite early on, but not really knowing what he was doing or how to express his feelings. Tinn does seem a bit reserved at first, but once he gets close to someone he really tends to open up. His imagination is out of this world though, maybe he watched too many romantic series. Gun is wild and he is proud of that. He is a bit of a troublemaker who can’t really handle jealously. I mean the Romeo and Juliette scene was brilliant. The two of them really are super sodium – radium – potassium!

Sound & Win: Who doesn’t love a good enemies to lovers story? They started off on the wrong foot, but no matter how much they were fighting, I think we could all see the sparks between them. There are a lot of scenes where we can see there is something going on, but neither of them dares to cross the line. I think their confession is adorable. I like that they don’t completely change even when they start to date.

Thiw & Por: Now, we are never officially told that the two of them are together, but I think we can all tell there is something between them.

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Rushed and feeling a bit forced

I didn’t really enjoy this one. I feel like it started okay, but it went downhill quickly. The plot is nothing special, we have a cold and feared boss falling for his cute and new employee. I liked how we got some insight into the past and what made the boss who he is today, but I also don’t think there is a reason for to be this aggressive with everyone. A lot of it was very unrealistic and I didn’t particularly like the kind of humor they went for. Also, what was up with the whole thing about Shun Yu being unattractive and working at a company known for good looks? That made no sense to me.

Xia Shan Zhou & Yao Shun Yu: Shan Zhou, the general manager, is know for being a difficult boss. He is dealing with past trauma and his mother’s expectations. Shun Yu is friendly, sweet and caring. He is also a bit naïve and tends to only see the good in those around him. I feel like their relationship was never properly developed. The general manger is suddenly acting all loving with Shun Yu, who is very reluctant to accept this. Them getting together felt forced, almost like Shun Yu didn’t have another option. Especially with how quickly Shan Zhou decided he wants him. And then didn’t really sit well with me. The two actors had good chemistry, but I don’t think translated that well due to how rushed things were.

I actually liked the little interview segments at the start of each episode. They were cute. I didn’t like how the start of the new episode often included a lot of the ending from the last. I found it a bit confusing at times as it was like jumping into the past, adding details to what we have already seen before continuing with the plot.

I did like the side characters. The other secretaries were a good addition to the story, especially Lisa. I liked how she spoke with Shun Yu and that she was someone he could trust.

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Kurosawa didn't need magic to read Adachi's mind

I was a bit unsure if I am even willing to bother with this series. Mostly because I often find the idea of virginity giving you some sort of magic (or making you pure) very off putting. It’s my opinion and probably the main reason I have put off watching it for so long. Thankfully, some edits made me intrigued and got me to give it a go.

Kurosawa & Adachi: Adachi might be one of the most relatable characters for introverts I have ever seen. He lacks confidence and tends to put himself down, he doesn’t stand up for himself and does everything to make others like him. He often worries about how others perceive him. Kurosawa is the it guy at the office. He seems confident, outgoing, friendly, and competent. But he also has a more vulnerable side that we get to see later one. I really liked that they added dimension to his character. I really liked their dynamics; Kurosawa was never too pushy when it came to pursuing Adachi and gave him space. He was also very good at reading Adachi and his reaction, and then adapting his behavior. And he wasn’t even the one with magic!

Tsuge & Minato: they were the side couple with a similar premise as the main one. Tsuge was also in possession of magic while Minato was unaware of that. Tsuge is both an introvert and a drama king, he sure knows how to exaggerate. Minato is adorable, very friendly, and quite outgoing. I wasn’t really enjoying this couple and I think it has a lot to do with me disliking Tsuge as a character. I don’t know what it is about him, but I found him annoying.

I genuinely liked all of the side characters. Rokkaku and Fujisaki were an absolute joy whenever they appeared on screen. Even Urabe, Adachi’s senior at work, was not nearly as bad as I thought at first. He really redeemed himself as the series progressed.

I like how they showed that having the magic is not always a good thing nor it’s something that you should rely on too much. It gave us a different perspective from what I expected. They also avoided a lot of cliches – from evil exes to pursuing a reluctant person.

The comedy aspect was nicely incorporated into the series. The visuals and locations were amazing too. I also really liked the intro and outro sequences.

The series might not be one of my favorites, but it was an enjoyable watch. This is a very subjective thing, so just because it was not something I absolutely loved, doesn’t mean it is not something others enjoyed a lot more.

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I can’t decide it I love it or hate it

The plot seemed interesting, and I admit that the trailer really drew me in. I was sure it was going to be an emotional rollercoaster, but my expectations for it were still high. I was, however, ready to drop it after the first episode. It just didn’t catch my attention and it felt like very little happened. Things do pick up a bit in the second episode, but it has a lot of ups and downs in terms of how interesting it is.

The switching between past and present got a bit confusing at times, it was hard to keep up with it in some episodes, especially when we were watching Ongsa and Suansoon each in a different time frame. I do think that we were left with quite a few plot holes in the end, especially those about the accident that occurred at the beginning and everything connected to it. Also, how the time travelling happened, was there any reason or a trigger for it (except the first one), how did they get back to their time, etc. was never fully addressed. It just was. Including both of their actions once they got “back” to the present. Why not do something about it instead of leaving it up to a chance, fate?

Ongsa & Suansoon: the two of them are soulmates, destined to meet and all that. I actually quite like both as characters, they seemed to be different enough yet similar to make them appear as a perfect couple. They are both loyal and willing to do a lot for those they love. But Ongsa appears to be friendlier and more open, while Suansoon seems to be more reserved and a bit cold. But that is understandable. I think all four actors that played the present and past couple did great. As problematic as I found the relationship development showed between the young Ongsa and older Suansoon, I think they had the best chemistry as a couple. It might be because they were the pairing we followed most closely, but I really loved their chemistry.

I liked the side characters, a lot. But again, I feel like there are quite a few plot holes around them. The biggest one being why does Suansoon acts like he has never met Ongsa’s friends when they have dated for ten years. It doesn’t really make sense.

While I understand the need to show a lot of the scenes multiple times – from different perspectives, with different outcomes, as memories, as flashbacks – I did find it excessive. At one point, it seemed like I have been watching the same few scenes over and over again. Maybe if it was in a smaller capacity, I wouldn’t be bothered with it, because it does make sense in relation to the plot. But it was too much.

As were all the crying scenes. I know, I know, it’s a very emotions heavy series and it was set as such from the start. But the tears are something that could have been cut a bit short. There are probably enough crying scenes to run for the length of a whole episode.

The ending was what it was. I’m not going to spoil it. It wasn’t really what I was hoping for, but it was what I was expecting.

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Charn and Tinn are two sides of the same coin

It was intense. I think the series only having 8 episodes helped to keep us on our toes throughout. There was always something going on that required our attention. I liked that; it made tuning in each week for a new episode enjoyable.

The plot was interesting. There was some mystery, murder / accident investigation, corruption and action. Most of the characters were multi-dimensional which made them appear more realistic and human, no matter how much we want to hate some of them. The plot made sense, the events logically corresponded to one another, each action had a logical reaction. Even if motives of the characters were questionable.

Tinn & Charn: the two are different sides of the same coin. Tinn is the more idealistic version, the one who never lost faith in justice, in good in the people. Charn’s loss turned him into this heartless version of himself, he doesn’t believe that justice is possible by following the law. He wants power, something that he can use to protect himself from going through what he went again. Neither of them had it easy, but they chose two different paths in how to deal with it. Charn knows that while his way is effective, it’s not one that would allow Tinn to keep his head up if he had done the same. Charn has a way of making you want to hate him, but at the same time you want to give him a hug and never let go. I love the duality of his character, his ruthless side in contrast with his cute side when he is with Tinn. Tinn might appear soft and gentle at first, but he shows his fiercer and more possessive side as well. Both Film and Jam did an amazing job with playing the two characters. Their chemistry was amazing!

Methee & Thaenthai: They were a couple I didn’t know I needed, but I absolutely adored. Thee is Tai’s bodyguard and has been around him since the two were children. He loves Tai, that is clear from the start. And his pain whenever Tai gets hurt is something we can feel through the screen. Thee does his best to take care of Tai. Tai might seem like a rich troublemaker, but there is a lot more to him. Whenever he is with Thee, he shows this vulnerable and almost childlike side of himself that I started to enjoy. He is not nearly as wild or as problematic as one would expect. Pearl and See both did really well in their roles. I think they both showed a lot through their eyes and facial expressions.

As for other characters, I think Tinn’s grandma is amazing! I love how open and supportive she is. Rose and Maya are amazing too, I love how the two kind of adopted Charn as part of their little family once he lost his mother. Rose also isn’t afraid to put him into his place when needed. Charn’s ex is on a whole different level of crazy. I can see why he and Charn were together in the past, but the man is still obsessed! When it comes to the senator Thatthep… ugh, just burn him or something.

There were some parts that I think were overdramatic for no reason, but it didn’t bother me too much. The senator did come across as a bit cartoon-y at times, which made it hard for me to take him seriously at those parts.

The ending was what we needed. The OST was nice, I enjoyed the cinematography and the overall aesthetic of the series as well.

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Never let me go... I don't think I ever will

I knew it was going to be heavy since I saw the trailer. The storyline didn’t seem anything special – rich boy needs a bodyguard, the job is given to a poor boy who knows how to fight, they fall in love, bunch of problems follow them. But I am a sucker for cliches, so I am not complaining about it. I do feel like there are certain things regarding the storyline that don’t make much sense or seem extremely unrealistic, but the way the relationship between Nueng and Palm develops seems fairly realistic. There was a lot of questioning what they even are, is a relationship between them even possible, trying to not develop feelings for one another and being unsure about their feelings. We need to keep in mind that the characters are 18, so all of that felt very natural.

During the series, we do get to see both make some very questionable decisions. And while they seem like very typical plot twists (which they are), they also make sense, especially after what the boys went through. I feel like they are both very mature and kind of childish at times, it’s an interesting combination that I once again blame on their age. I like Nueng’s personality because it was not your typical rich boy persona, he was actually quite brave when needed and did stand up for those he cares about. His characther growth is amazing! Palm confused me for a very long time with his constant “Mr. Nueng” even when their relationship developed, but I feel like the reason for that is his father and how he tried to make Palm know his “place” in the rich people’s world. He hates being dependent on others as well, and that shows through quite a few of his actions as well.

We do get a side couple – Nueng’s cousin, Chopper, and Ben. I don’t really know how to feel about the two, I love the chemistry between the actors who portray them, but the characters are kind of annoying me. Being an emphatic person sucks, because I also understand why the two act the way they do or why they did something. In the first few episodes, my heart hurt for Chopper because being second best for someone who is your whole world sucks. His relationship with his father is also very difficult as the two have very different expectations and goals for the future. As for Ben, I want to hate him, I really do, for what he did, but I can’t because I can understand his fear that lead his actions. It doesn’t really excuse it, but it makes it make sense.

One question though - what happened to other bodyguards? Like no matter what is happening, most of the time Palm and his dad are the only bodyguards shown doing something to protect Nueng and his mom. I understand that the two are in charge of Nueng and Tanya, but it’s still kind of weird.

The ending was expected, but I am glad it ended the way it did. I think we could all tell who will come through at the end after a few episodes. It does feel too simple though, realistically things couldn’t be done like that so easily. I know some people might be a bit annoyed by it, but it was the comfort I needed. I really enjoyed the OST as well. I felt like it fit the storyline extremely well.

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… a storm of good, bad and nostalgia

The series has everything that life brings – the good, the bad, the ugly and the fluffy moments. I really like how they incorporate so many different emotions and events into one consistent story, with a start and an end.

Kazuma & Ren: the two have history together. I wasn’t really sure what to expect from their backstory, but I definitely got more than that. The two of them have had feelings for each other for a very long time. To me, Kazuma seemed like a mess – he is mature but a bit childish, smart and insightful but also kind of dense and impulsive. I don’t necessarily think this is bad, just a bit confusing as I never knew what to expect from him in any given situation. Ren is also a mess, but in a different sense. He has been through a lot and his guilt is something that has been eating him alive. Even if his guilt is misplaced. He appears anxious and seems like he finds it hard to make friends and open to people but is fairly good at masking it. A lot of Ren’s actions might be confusing to some viewers, but knowing his story, it makes a lot of sense why he reacts and acts the way he does. The two might start in a weird place when they meet again, but as the episodes pass, we cannot deny them caring about each other strongly. And not just in a sexual or just a friendly way.

I am going to be honest and say that I didn’t fully believe the actors when they tried to show emotions. Some of the crying scenes were more about it looking aesthetic than they were about making it look like the person was actually crying. The chemistry between the two characters was not the best either. I am not sure if this is due to the way the characters were written or due to the way actors acted it out.

Some side characters did leave me confused as to what actually was their role. One such character is Yagami, Ren’s friend. I feel like there is a lot about him that is left unclear. Same with Hide. As for the boys’ parents… they can get lost. That’s all I have to say on the topic.

I think the production value was not the best at times. There are a few scenes that were both shot and edited in a weird manner. The number of flashbacks we get is a bit ridiculous. I don’t mind the few flashbacks to the past, so we can learn what happened with the boys. But then we get flashbacks to things we have just seen like 5 min ago or in the last episode. Which was unnecessary. And I think that made the series choppy. So instead of focusing on the story’s progression, we are focused on flashbacks and repeating what just happened.

The series puts a lot of importance on nostalgia, on the feelings we / they had when younger. And I think that really shinned through nicely. Even the colors used were there to evoke those feelings in us.

The series started on a high, but the ending was mediocre. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great either. And I don’t mean the story of Kazuma and Ren.

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So bad that it was good

The premise of the series is interesting. Do I think the execution was great? No, it lacked in many aspects… but there was still something about it that made me enjoy it. Strange, I know.

Kamol & Kim: Let’s be honest, Kamol is a bit of a disappointment for a criminal. But I can forgive him for that. The idea that he can’t find a partner is a bit far-fetched, but it’s a way to start the story. Kim is heartbroken and wants a rebound, which he finds in his one night with Kamol. Only Kamol is not really ready to give him up. To be honest, their first NC scene was a disaster, from start to finish. It’s like the writers and directors went into this with zero knowledge about BDSM. They just went with whatever popped into their head. Kamol was a bit forceful when it comes to Kim moving in with him, but at the same time, he was completely wrapped around Kim’s little finger. I found that kind of adorable. Kim really did whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted and however he wanted it. And poor Kamol just had to deal with the aftermath. I really like how Kim never hesitated in going against Kamol. It really showed how secure and safe he felt with him, he knew Kamol wouldn’t hurt him. There was some fear at first, but it didn’t really last for long. I love the chemistry the two actors have off screen, sadly I don’t think they were given the chance to really show it on screen as well. If anything, they mostly appeared very awkward with each other.

I did like the side couples as well. Day and Itt were adorable together (I did change my mind about them after watching Love Syndrome III). The bodyguards were an unexpected surprise that I did not mind. The possibility of a relationship between Khom and Baiboon was only hinted at, I believe that was done due to their age gap and the fact Baiboon is still quite young. The series doesn’t state his age, but I am guessing he is in his late teens. Which is a bit concerning, to be honest.

The number of ex-lovers that tried to meddle with the relationship between Kamol and Kim is ridiculous. It was a bit annoying how that seemed to be a mayor plot driver. Some jealousy can be nice, but it can also quickly be overdone. I really wanted to hate certain exes, but they ended up redeeming themselves.

There are certain aspects related to the cinematography that were done very poorly. Some of the transitions were weird and didn’t really make much sense. The NC scenes were poorly coordinated, many other scenes came across as very un-realistic. From the way characters moved, talked… I don’t know how much of this is on the cast and how much on the direction part of the story.

I do think that my expectations for a mafia love story were quite high after watching KinnPorsche. Unforgotten Night sadly didn’t really deliver. But sometimes things are so bad that it actually makes them good.

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I dreaded the ending from the start

The plot seemed interesting, especially because Kiew ends up being thrown into the lives of his friends and their children. He must navigate between two generations, while adapting to all the changes that happened since 1995. It had potential to be quite messy, but that was not really the route they took. Don’t get me wrong, there are situations that were not handled well, but it wasn’t as terrible as it could be.

Generally speaking, I liked the series. I do think that they really did a good job at making Kiew act like he came from the past (not knowing how to use cellphones and being amazed by technology, etc.). I was a lot less impressed by his view on LGBTQ+ community. His comments and reactions were hard to swallow at times, but it is also something that gets addressed as problematic in the series, so that is something I liked.

The characters mostly seemed realistic. I like both friend groups, and poor Kiew having to navigate between the two. The dynamics of each group were nice, but they did seem like a copy paste of one another. I think it wasn’t as obvious, as we didn’t really get a good feel for how the “old” group was when they were younger, but we only get to saw their mature versions interact. I do like how the older version of Kiew’s friend group do look similar to their younger versions. That was a good casting choice.

Kiew & Bamee: I really like the chemistry of Cooper and March, not that I expected anything less from the two. Both of them have done great with emotional scenes, and they portrayed a lot through their eyes as well. Kiew and Bamee have an enemies to lovers story going on, and I was really enjoying their bickering at the beginning. I think Kiew struggling with his feelings was more obvious than Bamee, but the latter was not as indifferent as he wanted to appear.

Plawan & Mudaeng: a pairing I didn’t know I needed, but they make so much sense. I am not happy with how fast Plawan seemed to move on from his crush on Bamee (especially to his brother), but that is also something that is in a way brought up. So, kudos for that. I really love the way the two interact, they are very lovey-dovey with one another and super cute. I found Plawan kind of childish and Mudaeng can be quite mischievous at times, but I think they match each other well.

There are things that don’t really make sense to me, plot wise. Especially towards the end when Kiew is trying his best to return to his time. Wouldn’t it be a lot less painful for those involved to do things differently? If you have to leave, people not remembering you would be best. Because remembering you would mean missing you. And missing you would be painful.

I do think the makeup was not really done well in a few scenes. And the camera panning in or out was done in a strange way. I don’t really know how to explain it, but it didn’t feel right. I do like the OST though.

One thing I have dreaded since the start, was the ending. No matter how I look at it, no matter how it ends, it knew it won’t be a happy ending. Kiew will either not go back, meaning he won’t be able to fix what he wants to fix. Or he will go back, breaking both his and Bamee’s heart in the process. Either way, it didn’t look good (I do know how it actually ends; I’m just not saying anything). I do not really like how it ended though. It did ended up being creepy, and not romantic as they were probably going for.

So there is one more thing… I might be reading too much into it, but the way Kiew talked about Art (Bamee’s dad) made me think that he might have had a crush on him. It is possible that he wasn’t fully aware of it or that he was in complete denial. For whatever reason, I found it really uncomfortable how he would always compare Bamee to Art (e.g. both not liking taking pills). It made me think that in a way, he transferred the feelings he had for Art onto Bamee, and with gay relationships being more accepted in the modern world, he was only then able to show his feelings. But who were they actually for? Bamee? Or Art? It might be just a silly theory of mine, but it’s been bugging me since the start.

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Magic mirror? Or no magic mirror?

I was ready to absolutely hate Pond. I didn’t like the way the character was introduced, he appeared arrogant and very out of touch with reality. And while the later stuck through the series, I realized that I mistook his confidence for arrogance. He was quite sweet and caring, not only to those close to him but also others. A big part of the series is spent on him doing his best to make Mawin happy.

I don’t really know what to think about Mawin, his story is not exactly thought through. It might be just two episodes, but it needed more background and a strong basis to make it all believable. What exactly does he have? Why can’t he hang out with his friends? Why doesn’t he keep in contact with them in a different way? I just don’t think the plot around him held any water.

The mirror was kind of an interesting addition to the story. I guess it was a good connecting factor between Pond and Pawin. I just wish it actually had the power we were led to believe it does. With how things are, it didn't really serve any real purpose.

I also have a little bit of a problem with the cast. I did think Pond looked much older than 29 and with Mawin looking quite young, it was a bit of a strange choice. Looking at the cast, I realized that the actor playing Pond is actually 44 years old. Which I don’t think was the best choice. I guess it would also explain that the chemistry between the two might have been better than with some other couples, but it wasn’t exactly great either.

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The ending was perfect, anything else would be wrong

It was fairly light and humorous drama, nothing too heavy. And that made it a perfect binge drama. The plot was simple, but they made it believable. It had a nice flow and things didn’t seem forced. There are a few things that I think it could have been done without or could have been done differently, but it wasn’t anything major.

Go Sa Ri does seem quite superficial, with not much depth. I did find her slightly annoying at times, but I can also understand where she is coming from. I do wish she was clearer with the guys around her, it felt like she was stirring them all along while she was unable to make any solid decision. I am glad that this is at least cleared up to some point at the end.

Pi Jung Won is in love with his best friend, but she doesn’t see that. In a way, he is more reserved and not willing to share his feelings, because he knows it might ruin his relationship with Sa Ri. I like how he was never pushy with his feelings, how he never used Sa Ri hurting him as an excuse to try and control who she does or doesn’t date.

Jeon Woo Sang who Sa Ri divorced is also back in hopes of a second chance. With all his clinginess and creepiness, he has a soft heart. He wanted Sa Ri back and was willing to do a lot to make that true, but he never went as low as to hurt her. I’m not excusing his stalkerish behavior, but I don’t think he was ever malicious.

Yeon Ha Rim might be young, but he is not dumb. I actually really liked his character. He never hid who he was, didn’t pretend to be someone else. Sure, he joked with Sa Ri about his age at first, but I don’t think that should be taken seriously. His age does show in the way he interacts with Sa Ri, it’s almost like he idolizes the idea of love.

Ki Sun Jae is the CEO of the company Sa Ri works for. I actually found him very adorable. He didn’t really give off scarry director vibes most of the time but was very sweet (even if slightly reluctant). He was trying to be obvious about his feelings while simultaneously trying to keep his distance, his cold persona that everyone knows.

I absolutely loved Doo Mu Ri and Ye Soo Won. The two might be dramatic and extra, but they were great friends to Sa Ri (and even Pi Jung Won). They were supportive and were always there when Sa Ri needed them. They didn’t let her hide when things got tough, but instead offered support. Sa Ri’s work collegoues were a mess. Some were fun or were able to redeem themselves, while others were just not likeable. Sadly, that is often the truth of a workspace.

The acting in general was okay, but it did feel flat sometimes. I am not generally a fan of the over-the-top scenes, but I didn’t find them bothersome.

I also really liked the ending. I think it was perfect the way it was. I know a lot of people might not find that ending satisfactory, but it carries an important message, one that has been pushed forward quite a few times during the drama. If you paid attention, of course.

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Adorable story about crushes, love, and heartbreak

I loved how sweet and fluffy the whole thing was. It’s kind of a coming-of-age series, following a story of a young hopeful who faces an unrequited crush(es), heartbreak, love, failure and success. So pretty much everything one would imagine someone of that age going through.

The plot was interesting, the cinematography was beautiful, the OST was catchy… It had a lot of positives and I enjoyed watching it. There were a few plot holes in the end, they were not addressed or rounded out in a clear manner in the end. I wish we would have gotten a more solid closure on those, instead of them just disappearing with no explanation of how they were actually dealt with. As well as the fact that certain things didn’t necessary make sense (even if they were crystal clear) just to push conflict into the story.

Im Han Tae & Han Ba Ram: the two are so adorable together! I found their relationship development sweet; it didn’t feel rushed. We follow Ba Ram as he navigates through his crush, heartbreak and falling in love with his best friend. It shows that he is wary of saying out loud that he likes men or that he likes his friend, which is understandable after his first experience. Han Tae is like an overgrown puppy. He absolutely adores Ba Ram and is doing everything he can to be around him. He is loyal and protective. I do think they make a cute couple. And while the chemistry between the actors were good, I was annoyed by the fact that their kiss was… well not a kiss, but just lips pressed together. At least the dream kiss was better.

The other two members of the band were amazing! I loved how supportive they were of their friends. And I am still convinced that the two knew there was something more brewing between Han Tae and Ba Ram but decided not to say anything and let the two come clean on their time and terms. Which was nice of them.

As for Sangin, Ba Ram’s guitar teacher and unrequited crush, I don’t think he deserves the attention. I do wish the plotline relating to him would have gotten a better conclusion. Not just relationship wise, but everything else that was included.

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The plot was a bad kind of messy

I had really high hopes for this drama, but it ended up being one big letdown. I think the plot where a celebrity falls for their fan is something that has a lot of potential. Why? Because it plays into the fan culture. Let’s be real, a lot of fans fantasize about meeting their celebrity crushes who will fall in love with them, and they will get to live their happily ever after. So, a plot with that premise can be a big success if it’s done right. Which this one wasn’t.

I really wish there would have been some major changes when it comes to the script. There was so much unnecessary and silly drama, situations that made no sense, characters who had no real purpose… It’s like they threw together a bunch of ideas and scenes and just went with it.

The two managers and whatever they were fighting about was unnecessary. I think it would have been better if more focus was given to the second couple or even to the main couple. Instead, we got scenes where the two were acting like little children. How they expected us to believe that they could manage actors when neither of the two could act like an adult, is beyond me. I am also not happy that trans character was once again made into both the villain and wanna-be comedic relief. It's more than time to leave that kind of portrayal of trans people in the past.

I was mildly invested into the lakorn Achi was filming, but I feel like I have seen the same scene every time they showed a snippet of it. It could have been incorporated better, and the scenes could have been either more diverse or shorter. There are also a lot of scenes in general that don’t make the most sense, like the way Punn confessed to Ashi or the way Mingmueang acted when he visited the doctor at the hospital. I mean, who does that?

Punn & Ashi: Punn was extremely childish and immature. It could have been adorable, but it was overdone, and it became annoying quickly. His obsession with Ashi was slightly creepy at times, especially once the two of them got together. And it made me wonder if he is actually in love with Ashi as a person, or if he loves the idea of Ashi. And I feel like that is something that later episodes made a bit more apparent, even if I don’t think that was what they were going for. Ashi seems to be a bit cold at times, someone who doesn’t let people close easily, and after seeing those around it, it makes sense why. I think Ashi was a lot more mature, but he was also hiding what he truly felt. Neither of the two was good at communicating, go figure. I felt like there was very little to no chemistry between the two actors, and I don’t know if this is due to the way the characters were or something else. Because I know Ja and First had great chemistry in their other works. I think they did fairly okay in their roles, they were different from their other roles (which is great), but I feel like they didn’t really show everything they are capable of.

Mingmueang & Namning: did they even have a plot? I feel like they had one actual conversation, the rest was them hooking up. I have very mixed feelings about Mingmueang. I know he tried to help Punn and whatnot, but the whole daddy thing was strange. How he went around getting the doctor to sleep with him for the second time was wrong on many different levels. What happened to consent? Namning is a character we don’t really know much about, except that he is a doctor and likes having one-night stands. And the extra possible love interest thrown into the mix was unnecessary, I think it only made things weird. The two actors did okay, but I think the roles they were given were not really well thought through.

I liked Punn’s family. They were supportive of Punn. His mom had some great advice for him on multiple occasions. And as much as Pai enjoyed annoying Punn, he always had his back. That’s how siblings tend to be, especially if they are close in age.

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Showing the toxic sides of the industry

If there is one thing that made me really love this series, it was the critical approach to the BL industry and toxic fans. I never fully understood the whole idea of (especially) BL actors not dating or at least not being allowed to talk about it. A lot of them are in either their late teens or their twenties, the time when most people get to date and explore their options. But they can’t, because some fans cannot differentiate between fiction and reality, between characters and actors. The amount of hate an actor’s partner would get… I feel bad for them just thinking about it.

And that is something that was really shown well, especially towards the end of the series. We got to see so many different comments from many different fans. The sad part? Many of them are pretty similar to the comments we get to see online in reality.

The series didn’t shy away from showing some of the bad sides of the behind the scenes either. From the homophobic remarks in castings, to constant pressure for more NC scenes (even if they don’t fit the story), the romanticization of non-consent… There was a lot of digs to what we see in many other BLs.

Now, for the story. I really like how it was paced, I think it went great with the overall plot and everything that they included in the story. I am not a big fan of the whole childhood friends and how that was played into the story. I really disliked the secrets that were related to that.

Nubsib & Gene: Gene is so relatable, awkward, and adorable. But he is also someone who speaks up when is uncomfortable or when he needs to do things he doesn’t like. Does he still do them? Usually yes, because he is a people pleaser, but he makes it clear he doesn’t like it. Nubsib seems to be a bit more relaxed, but also very mature at the same time. I really liked how they never pressured one another to come out or do things that they were not okay with. They had some rough patches in their relationship, some of which could have been resolved quicker with some good communication. Both Kao and Up did an excellent job portraying the two characters, their emotions and the love the two had for one another. I really like how Nubsib seemed to light up whenever he got to talk to Gene. I think that was a really nice and well thought detail.

Aoey: He’s a character you want to hate, but at the same time, you find it hard to do so. He made a lot of poor choices and did a lot of bad things, yet he was hurting too. A lot. I don’t want to excuse his behavior nor his actions, but I can understand why he did things the way he did. Bruce did amazingly. Some of the scenes were so difficult to watch, yet he really shined in them.

I really liked Hin, Tum and Tiffy as well. They were really fun characters to have around, and while I wasn’t as interested in their stories as I was in the story of Nubsib and Gene, I still liked them. Hin and Tum really showed themselves as great friends to the two main characters, even if they were both kind of employed by them, as a manager and as an editor.

I think there are certain things that were left kind of open. I guess one could say that we saw how Aoey ended, but at the same time, I feel like that is not enough of a conclusion. I also think it would be nice to see how the public reacted to how it all ended. Another thing that I found a bit annoying was the amount of flashbacks to the events that happened earlier in the series. There were quite a few of them in the last few parts of the series.

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