RoseQ

The title is fiting - it's a very impactful series

Viewer (reader) discretion is advised. The series with some very triggering topics which I will also mention in my review. Some such topics are rape, bullying, homophobia, violence, suicide. It has some pretty graphic scenes and it’s not for everyone.

For only having three parts, this is a very impactful series. Going into it, I knew what the story was going to be about, but I didn’t expect them to be this transparent about it. This is not a love story, far from it. It’s a story about a man who is obsessed with another and will go to any lengths to have him. The series addresses a lot of important topics and they do it quite well.

I honestly didn’t expect the rape scene to be so graphic, so violent. Not that it is a good thing, but sexual assault and non-consent are very common things we see in BL series. But they tend to romanticize both, make them gentle and with a lot of persuading. The Effect didn’t go that route. They made it violent, hurtful, traumatic. And that really had a big impact. The dialogue that accompanied the scenes were heartbreaking, especially considering that rapists who rape those that are close to them do see this as an act of love. It is not. It’s an act of violence, of needed control, of showing their dominance. And they point that out too, which is really important.

The trauma Shin went through because of Keng was portrayed very well. Not just his physical trauma through the bruises he carried on his body, but also his mental trauma. Shin’s bruises were in a way symbolic. They were a symbol of his pain, but it seemed like as they started to fade, people around him started to forget how traumatized he is. There is a scene in which Keng begs for forgiveness and offer money, and the fact that Shin’s parents agreed to that, shows that they didn’t understand his pain. I am so glad that Shin had friends who were there for him, who supported him through everything and who protected him when needed.

Social media is toxic, by now we all know that. However, that doesn’t mean that we are not impacted by what happens on social media, by what others say and post about us, even by what we post ourselves. And that is something that this series really pointed out. People always take sides, and they usually take the side of the more popular person. Be it the right side or not. Be it the truth or not. And the worst part is that once it is over, people tend to forget about what happened on social media. They treat it like it’s not reality simply because it happened online. The effects it has on a person are often times not acknowledged.

Homophobia is something that not only followed Shin and Keng at school, but also something that was coming from Keng’s parents who wanted him to protect their reputation. That’s a sad reality that many LGBTQ+ youth still face today. They either cannot be who they are due to fear of what will happen to them or because they are forced to conform to the norm of “normal behavior” that are set by the society.

Both main actors were absolutely brilliant when it came to portraying the emotions, no matter how good or bad those were. I felt their pain. They were on point with their gestures, facial expressions, body movements, even tone of voice. It was so raw, yet amazing.

I do think the story was very rushed. I wish there would be more time to develop the characters and their storylines. And to address some things a bit more in depth. To give Shin a chance to heal before our eyes. And I wish for the ending to be cleared. I am still unsure what exactly happened.

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A lot more mystery than romance

The premise of the series is not really my cup of tea but I decided to give it a go anyways as the trailer looked interesting. Sadly, the series didn’t really deliver. I put the majority of the blame for this on the script, editing and styling choices.

The script was not really well thought out. Most of the time, things were very slow moving and there was not nearly enough going on. There are a lot of things that also don’t have an actual explanation and / or proper conclusion. Or proper background information. Even just takin Mon as a lost soul into consideration – sometimes he can’t taste food or travel through walls and doors, and other times he can. It was a lot of inconsistency. Let’s not comment on what they did with the scene where the bad guy is caught. That was a disaster.

The editing cuts were sometimes done very strangely, so the jumps from one scene to another didn’t always look good. The flashbacks were okay, but I think the transitions between past and present should have been clearer. As for styling choices, the ghosts looked horrible and more like they have risen from the dead.

Mon & Thames: Mon does appear as a relatable character (which is more than I can say for a few others). He does appear kind of awkward, and I honestly don’t fully understand some of his decisions. Thames can seem quite arrogant at times, but we also see his more realistic and down-to-earth side when he is with his grandma. We do get some cute moments between the two, but their relationship just happens. There is not really any clarity on why they like each other. They just do. I also think that the two actors didn’t really have a good chemistry. There were times when they appeared really awkward with each other and I am not sure if this is due to the characters or the actors. I am loving Ping as Thames, I think he does well in the role, but Guitar’s portrayal of Mon does feel a bit flat at times.

The side characters were fun, I guess. I really liked Bua, she was a good friend and manager to both boys. The other two actors were a bit of a mess, I didn’t really like either of them. And the guardian spirit did very little guarding, but that’s fine. Mon’s work friend was an easy way out in the end, and I didn’t find his character persuasive.

A lot of focus was on the mystery part of the plot while the romantic aspect of it was not done well. It was lacking. I did enjoy most of the mystery stuff though, but there were a few situations that didn’t necessarily make a lot of sense or were just done in a weird manner that didn’t really fit the narrative or the characters.

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A lot of it was quite confusing and unclear

The story continues from where we left off in the special episode. Kind of. Some time passed, but the story progresses in a logical way from the past to the present. I’d label this one as a second chance romance; the parts that were centered around the relationship of Zhou Shu Yi and Gao Shi De were probably the better written parts of the plot. I found the rest of the plot quite weak and very confusing.

Gao Shi De & Zhou Shu Yi: I was a bit annoyed by the choices they made and actions they took that lead to them being where they are in the beginning of the series. I do feel like most of their problems could have easily been solved with some communication, especially on Gao Shi De’s part. He kept so many secrets that I still don’t understand why he decided not to share them with his boyfriend and that led to more misunderstandings. I really like Zhou Shu Yi’s response when he learns the truth. It also shows how serious he was about them being together. I do feel we get to see a more mature side to both of them at times, which was a nice detail as we have moved from college life to working life. Their chemistry is still amazing though.

Shi Zhe Yu & Liu Bing Wei: the two have been kind of hinted at in the first season, but due to how limited their screen time was, I wasn’t really sure if they are a thing or not. They are confirmed couple in the second season, and while they don’t get much screen time, I found them adorable.

Pei Shou Yi & Yu Zhen Xuan: I want to like the pairing, but I don’t. I understand that Pai Shou Yi has a disorder (I don’t think the translation is right, I couldn’t find anything under that online) that makes him cold, uncaring. And Yu Zhen Xuan has several different issues himself. They have been separated for over 12 years and while one wants the other, the other doesn’t really care about anything or anyone. Their scenes were painful to watch sometimes, and not in a good way. I also feel like their story ended up being very confusing as we got some glimpses into their relationship, but not nearly enough information to understand everything that has happened between the two.

The ”villain” who separated the star crossed lovers was not hard to figure. I was suspicious about them since their appearance in the first season. I was sure there was going to be something there. But I also found this person extremely childish and not acting their age at all.

The series ended with a lot of things either not addressed or not getting a proper conclusion. Which is a shame. I might be in minority here, but I think S1 was better than S2.

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It's like a teaser for the second season

I don’t fully understand what exactly is going on in Gao She De’s life in America, but it seems like he has his hands full. I feel like we get a lot of different hints as to what might be going on for him to stay there for much longer than planned. But we don’t get any definite answers. It’s almost like a teaser for the second season of the series with a few glances into the lives of Zhou Shu Yi and Gao Shi De during their separation. I am a bit disappointed by the fact that a simple misunderstanding and lack of communication seem to be the main conflict both for the special and as a set up for season 2.

It's very confusing though and not a lot of it makes sense. It was definitely not was I expected from the special episode. What happened to special episodes being sweet? And cute?

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Can Payu and Prapai really be considered green flags?

I actually quite liked the series. I think the locations and production value are great, the OSTs are beautiful and catchy. The actors did an amazing job portraying their characters and the chemistry between all of them was amazing.

We actually follow two almost separate stories that feel like spin offs of one another. I think we would all benefit from two separate series with an extra episode or two each, because things felt quite rushed at times. There often wasn’t a clear logic in the way scenes followed one another either. And quite a few plot holes or plot choices that make absolutely no sense. What do you mean Rain was afraid of telling Sky that he likes a guy? Sky literally helped him plan how to win over the guy!

Payu & Rain: where to even start? Payu seems to be a bit cold, but very confident and independent. He knows what he wants and goes for it. Rain is… annoying. I don’t know how else to describe him, but he is supposed to be this innocent and overly dumb character. There were a lot of scenes in which I just felt annoyed by him. But at the same, he felt very relatable. When his car breaks down in front of the bar and he is unsure how to react. Every new driver has probably felt that way at one point. Boss and Noeul have great chemistry, there is no denying that. Their NC scenes were done incredibly well and I think that them being comfortable with each other off screen really translated well into the series.

Prapai & Sky: Prapai is sweet, rich and caring. He seems to be less cold than Payu and tends to make his intentions clear early on. Sky is my spirit animal. I absolutely love his character. The sass, the constant snacking, the sarcasm and just generally being done with everyone. He has a horrible past which means he doesn’t really open easily though. Fort and Peat also have an amazing chemistry, they really did great in their NC scenes as well. With their first night together being a mess, I really appreciated how important consent was between the two going forward. Sky always either initiated things or gave consent clearly.

This is based on a MAME novel, so I should have known better than to hope everything will be great and that we will finally get some real green flag characters. Here’s the thing, I don’t mind red flag characters if that is shown clearly. Go be toxic, just be honest about it. We were gaslighted into thinking that both Payu and Prapai are walking green flags when the reality is far from that. From manipulation, stalking, sex coercion and non-consent, forced coming outs… and I could keep going. But most of these were very well hidden in the plot, so they can be easily missed or shown as something romantic. Which is also problematic.

I really want to take a moment to talk about Gun, Sky’s ex. I’m not going to go into what has happened with him as I don’t want to spoil anything, but I was so impressed with Dunk’s acting. It is very hard to make us hate a character as much as he made us hate Gun. And sure, Gun is the villain in the story, but if the villains are not well thought through or portrayed right, I don’t really care much about them. But Gun? I loathed him.

All of the side characters were a lot of fun actually. I really liked Sky’s and Rain’s university friend group. They were a lot of fun, and I was living for Sig doing his best to annoy poor Som. Payu’s boss in the office was interesting too and I really liked their relationship. Don’t even get me started on Chai, Pakin’s right hand man. There was just something about him that demanded attention when he appeared on screen.

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“Being gay is not like Covid-19. It’s not infectious.” – Nam, Chon’s mother

I tried to like the series, I really did, but it fell flat for me. There were things and characters that I absolutely loved and think were done incredibly well, but there are also plenty of problems that came with that.

The plot is simple and is something that has been done plenty of times before. Which is why it needs to be done well to be good. The start was good, but I think it went downhill very quickly. I did have a lot of problems with the pacing of the plot. It was very slow at first, but it felt super rushed towards the end.

They tried to include a comedic aspect in the series, but I feel like it often fell flat. Often they exaggerated in scenes to make them funny, but I didn’t find them funny. A lot of Ton’s jealousy scenes didn’t really translate well through the screen either.

Tonhon & Chonlatee: I found Chon adorable at first. He appeared quite clueless at times, but he showed that there is a lot more to him. He knew exactly what was going on around him but decided to play dumb a lot of the times. But his actions in the later episodes really made my blood boil. It just didn’t sit well with me. Ton is not a very lovable character. At least I didn’t really like him most of the time. He made a lot of homophobic remarks, and while I know it stems from his upbringing it is not an excuse for his behavior. He can also be incredibly pushy to the point of everyone around him being uncomfortable with it. I can’t decide if he is as dense as he portrays himself or if he is just so deep in denial in regard to what is going on around him. Pod and Khao are both great actors, I have seen them in other things and I know they are capable of doing much better, I just don’t think that the plot truly gave them the chance to showcase all of their talents.

Ai & Nai: The two of them are sweet together. However, considering that the two are together and are obviously attracted to men, I found their friendship with Ton annoying. Not only were they enabling Ton to keep festering his homophobic views, but they also often went along with his comments and made such comments themselves as well. The fact they went as far to get a fake girlfriend to fool Ton is absurd. Mike and Toptap have always been one of my favorite side pairings in GMMTV series, the two have (had) great chemistry together, I just once again feel like they were not given a proper chance to show it in the series.

Miriam was nice, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of her. I felt like her character was unnecessary. I do admit that Jan did an amazing job, don’t get me wrong, I just didn’t see the point in having Miriam be part of the story. Pang was a good friend to Chon, I really liked it.

The fact that we got the typical evil ex-girlfriend plot was a bit annoying, I do admit that. But I can see what Amp and Ton were together. They are very similar in many different aspects. From their homophobic views to their “main character” energy. It also makes sense why didn’t work out. What Nueng did and tried to do is never properly addressed and that pisses me off. And that Amp was the one that orchestrated the whole thing and gets off with no consequences as well… why, just why?

Out of everyone, Chon’s mom was my favorite character. She is very supportive of her son; she knows everything about it. She is not quick to judge others and she really raised Chon the right way. But she is also not afraid to call people out when they do something wrong. It doesn’t matter who it is, if what they did is wrong, she points it out. Her telling Ton’s father that being gay is not like covid-19, it’s not infectious, is probably my favorite quote in the whole series.

I liked the production value, the OST and the filming locations were beautiful. I just think they wasted a lot of potential. The series could be great, it had a really solid cast and a basic plot that could have been done much better.

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I liked the parallels between Shima's past and present

I didn’t read the manga that the movie is based on before watching it. Which might have affected my perception of the movie, making my opinion differ from the opinions of people who have read the original first.

The plot is quite simple, but there is nothing wrong with that. It’s an office romance between two very different men, who both suffer from past trauma and / or heartbreak. Their pasts do differ, but that doesn’t mean that the pain of either one is lesser.

Togawa & Shima: Togawa seems to have an addictive personality, in the sense that he tends to get hooked on things. Drinking, smoking, and later Shima. It is not necessarily portrayed that way, but it is a conclusion that it could lead to. Shima is quite introverted, he doesn’t do well in workplace social interactions because of his past, his previous job. He is also someone who tends to put everyone before himself and tries to do what he thinks is best for others, even if it means hurting himself. The two do start on the wrong foot, but Togawa quickly proves himself as a good person, even if Shima’s first impression of him was not the best.

My favorite part of the movie is how it draws parallels between Shima’s old relationship and his relationship with Togawa. There are plenty of similarities between the two and Shima even points out how he apparently tends to repeat his mistakes. It really showed how similar situations can be handled differently.

There are a few scenes that are a bit problematic, especially considering that Togawa is Shima’s boss. I know that what he said was meant as joke, but I don’t think Shima knew him well enough to know that. Which is why it did feel like he was using his position to pressure him. But it was not a reoccurring situation which I am grateful for.

The movie lacked chemistry, at least from my point of view. I am not sure if this is due to the personality of Shima, or due to the lack of chemistry between the actors. It’s also almost 10 years old, which probably also plays a role in this.

The cinematography was beautiful, but a lot of scenes were very dark, so it was hard to see. Or they were shot from far away. That is something that I didn’t really enjoy.

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There is nothing better than love to make you feel young again

It really was a joy to watch this series! I think it was very realistically done too. I think we all at some point in our lives reach the stage where we feel lost. We either don’t know how to continue, if we are on the right path, or we might feel like we are too old to do something new, something exciting. Having someone there to help you through that is great, so seeing how Togawa helped Nozue through his crisis was really sweet to watch.

Nozue & Togawa: Nozue is 10 years older and seems to be stuck in a cycle of sleeping and working with nothing much else happening. Togawa is younger, but he also has a much better work life balance. Which he learned from Nozue who offered him many good advice in the past. I really liked how much influence Nozue actually had on Togawa as a mentor and a boss. That truly showed what a good person he is and just how much he cares for others. But it also showed that Togawa had very good opinion about him from early on. The two really are a good fit for one another. Togawa is mature, so it doesn’t seem like Nozue is actually that much older than him. And he is also very good at making Nozue relax and feel younger, not so stuck in his life. After all, there is nothing that makes a person feel younger than love. Plus, their chemistry was good too. Their reactions to different situations seemed very realistic which made the whole thing even more enjoyable for me.

There was no unecessary drama, which I liked. The two are adults, so I was glad we avoided all the drama that we often get.

I absolutely loved their little food dates. I know how hard it can be to go try something new on your own, how nerve wracking it can be if you don’t know how or what to order. So having someone else there, even if they don’t know what they are doing, is a lot of fun.

All in all, I really enjoyed the series. The side characters were really fun as well. The other office workers that worked under Nozue were fun, I really liked Nakamura. And then Kirishima as both friend and possibly HR person really had a great relationship with Nozue.

It was a bit short; I would love to see more. The end scene jump was a bit rushed, but it didn’t really bother me too much.

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Would you like to start dating now? Yes / No.

I found the series absolutely adorable! The cinematography was beautifully done and was really well thought through. The office setting, Shin Ki Tae’s apartment and his house plants, the school, the restaurant… it really fit altogether so nicely.

The plot might seem quite simple, but it was well developed. I really liked the fact that we actually see everyone at the office working instead of the work aspect being just hinted at like in many other series. Sunny is probably my favorite character (beside the main characters). She is a woman of few words, but she notices everything and shows support silently. Boss Theo was an interesting character. He might be the boss in paper, but in reality, everyone is just bossing the poor man around. Especially Shin Ki Tae and Sunny. Jamie is a cutie too, she brings light into the office for sure.

Shin Ki Tae & Lee Wan: The two of them are so cute together! I really like how they kept up with little intimacies once the two became boyfriends. It really made it feel like the two are in love. Lee Wan can be quite awkward and tends to run away from his problems, he has an artistic and romantic soul. Shin Ki Tae seems to mostly do better in social interactions, but he also suffers from separation anxiety due to the past. And we can really feel his anxiety in some scenes. The two actors did an amazing job showing emotions, and they had great chemistry.

The little high school game inserts featuring Shin Ki Tae and Lee Wan at the end of the episodes were so sweet! I really enjoyed them, especially because they followed the premise of the dating sim game they were developing.

My only complaint is that I wish it would be longer! It went by so fast. I just want more of it.

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Angsty, but in a good way

The main plot idea is the same as in the shorter version of the series, but I think that it was much better executed. Why? Because we were given time for relationships to develop nicely, we were given the necessary backstories and side stories to fully understand what happened, how it happened and why it happened.

Vee & Mark: Their one night stand still doesn’t sit well with me, but I expected that is not something that will change from the mini series to this one as it was a major plot point. However, I am really glad that they showed that Mark was not okay with what happened in more detail. The scene in which he is scrubbing his body clean really shows that. It might not have been addressed out loud, but it was at least hinted at. I think the series really showed us how much Vee struggled with his feelings and between what is wrong and right in his mind when it comes to him double timing Mark and Ploy. He loved Ploy and having her is something that he got used to, it became normal for him. So, when Mark crashed into his life, it threw him off. It also showed how he felt unworthy of both of them. Could he have handled it better? Yes. Did I expect him to? No. One thing that really upset me was Vee’s complete lack of respect and trust in Mark. This was shown on multiple occasions, and it made me want to shake some sense into him. To be honest, Mark did intentionally hurt Vee, but I think Vee’s words have cut deeper. Especially because Mark was already doubting himself and his relationship with Vee.

If there is one thing this series really delivered, it was rejections. There are a few major rejection scenes done throughout the series and they were all done perfectly. There is no false hope given, and the characters are very assertive about it. And honest. And while Bar rejecting Mark does come across as a bit harsh, it was what Mark needed. He was too hung up on the idea of dating Bar that a simple no wasn’t going to cut it.

I really like Vee’s friend group. Yiwaa is a star, the boys definitely know who is in charge. She runs the show, but it is not overdone to the point of it being annoying. She is the kind of friend that can keep a secret but will also forever tease you for it. Nuea is a sweetheart, he cares about everyone more than he does about himself. He is also very mature. Bar can be a bit of an idiot at times, but he is head over heels for his boyfriend Kan. Kan is another favorite of mine. He’s a cutie with a soft heart. And he knows how to keep a secret too.

It was an improvement from the short series. Yin and War have an amazing chemistry and I really love seeing the two together. I think we can agree that War is an absolute cutie!

The series is full of angst and drama. Which is probably not for everyone. But I actually quite enjoyed the series. Even if I wanted to shake some sense in pretty much everyone at one point or the other. It addressed some issues relating to homophobia and social class differences, which were all very well incorporated into the story.  

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Bad start but good ending

The second instalment of En of Love franchise. My main complaint for this one is that it was too short to really give the story a chance to fully develop and for us to really understand the characters.

Vee & Mark: Their start was messy. I am not a fan of the whole one night stand idea where one of the individuals is too drunk to function. That doesn’t sit well with me in general. Vee two-timing Ploy and Mark while not really being able to make up his mind wasn’t really showing him in a good light either. I can understand his struggle, especially seeing that he has been with Ploy for a while, but cheating is never the answer. I do think that Yin and War had amazing chemistry, and they really showed that with their characters.

I did think this one was much better than the first series. Maybe I was simply too creeped out by Gun to fully enjoy it. Either way, I really like how the plot continues from where TOSSARA ended.

P.s. I think a lot of my original issues have been dealt with in the longer version of the series

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Puen and Talay in their domestic bliss era

Puen and Talay are in their domestic, family bliss era. And I’m here for it. Even before the kid showed up, I was enjoying them just being all sweet and adorable together. I feel like we often see the couple get together and that’s the end. Seeing them living together, working, doing things around the house, etc. seems so mundane but also so real. And Talay making each day special was so cute! I really liked the little clips from those days.

I really like how the two recognized that they did have a problem. One that was in a way tearing them apart, even if slowly. Having them actively work on solving that was something I really appreciated.

Jigsaw is adorable! I like how they just accepted him and didn’t turn Jigsaw showing up into a reason for a fight between Puen and Talay. The two of them being ready to take the responsibility in case either Pakorn or Tess is Jigsaw’s father was really sweet. There was panic, but they were ready to take on the task. And Puen acting cute and like a child while calling Talay papa? Another absolutely adorable scene!

I couldn’t keep the smile off my face for pretty much the whole time. Honestly, I could watch a full 12 episodes of them just being a family, and I probably wouldn’t get bored of it. It offers a lot of comfort, even if it’s just fluff. Sometimes we need just the fluff.

The truth about Jigsaw was not something I expected. And I must admit I am not really happy about it. It involved a lot of lies and that is never a good thing. This is also what is brought my rating down a bit.

Jimmy and Sea have great chemistry. And seeing Jimmy put his whole arm around Sea when their characters kissed is something I have been obsessed since watching the main series. The OST is beautiful as well. The locations too. Their house seems familiar, but I can’t really figure out where I have seen it before.

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Techno being the only (kind of) sane person in this mess of a series

I don’t even know where to start. I kept seeing people talk about TharnType being one of the must-see BL series, so I decided to give it a go. It definitely had some good moments, but it also had quite a few bad ones.

But let’s start with the good. I think both Mew and Gulf are amazing actors and have done an amazing job playing their characters. I really loved the way the two of them acted out certain more emotional scenes. We can all agree that the two actors have an amazing chemistry. I do find it hard to imagine Mew as university freshman, but it wasn’t really something I was too bothered by. Also, the ice kiss. I’m just going to leave it at that. The OST was amazing as well, I really enjoyed Mew’s voice. It’s very soothing.

The friend group was… interesting. The two roommates were a lot of fun, Khlui being the noisy neighbor that we all have was an absolute joy. Even if he was a bit clueless. And pairing him with wanna-be-idol Seo was a combination I didn’t know I needed. Champ and his food obsession were a bit overdone at moments, but I think he was a nice addition to the group.

Now, let’s talk Techno. I truly believe that he was the only (kind of) sane person in this whole mess of a series. Sure, he sucks at keeping secrets and did make some questionable decisions, but most of the time, he was the one making sure things didn’t go from bad to worse. I know he was often used as this comic relief character, which is a bit disappointing, as I believe they could have done much more with him.

Thorn and Tanya (Tharn’s siblings) were absolutely amazing as well. And I feel like the relationship shown between them is very realistic. I have siblings, trust me. I just wish that Thorn would be a little less supportive of Tharn and his toxic relationship with Type. I still have a lot of questions about San. I don’t think a punch in the face would be enough for me to forgive if he did that to my brother.

Now, a warning. When I talk about characters, I am talking about characters. It has nothing to do with the actors who played them. I know they are not the ones that come up with the story, they simply act what they are told to act. So, keep that in mind. I know I will ruffle a lot of feathers with my opinions on the characters below.

Tum & Tar – just why? I get that Tum has a crush on Tar, that’s an issue I just don’t feel like getting into. Let’s just say that stepsibling relationships are not something I usually enjoy when the two characters pretty much grew up together. But with the number of problems and symptoms Tar was showing, I can’t believe that Tum didn’t try to find out more earlier. I think we can all agree that Tar’s story is heartbreaking, and I am not trying to put any blame on him. Could he do things differently later in the series? Yes. Do I understand why he didn’t? Yes. He is a victim of an incredibly violent crime, and fear of something like that either happening again or becoming a public knowledge has a lot of power.

Llhong – why is he not in jail? I think that after he dropped the glass, we all knew he was madly in love with Tharn. I was surprised just how awful he actually is, but his feelings were not a surprise. And while on the topic of Llhong, let me just add that giving him a special episode to make us feel bad for him was the worst possible decision they could have made. He does not deserve a redemption arc. The end! Kudos to the actor though, he did an amazing job when it came to switching the emotions shown.

Tharn & Type: say what you want, but they deserve each other. And I don’t mean that in a good way. Type has his own problems from before, which does to some extent explain his homophobic behavior and thinking. He did cross certain limits though. But what I found to be maybe even worse was his abusive and manipulative behavior towards Tharn once they got together. The jealousy was overdone, and the fact that he punched Tharn, multiple times? Red flag after a red flag. To be honest, Tharn is full of red flags as well. He was too pushy, especially knowing that Type is not okay with gay men. Adding to that, he sexually assaulted Type, multiple times. And yes, him kissing him without his consent, trying to get him off when he caught him, and going down on him in the bathroom were all non-consensual. Also, their first time – I don’t get the thought process behind it, I really don’t.

I think the timeline of the story is all over the place as well. The way the characters deal with problems is a mess on a whole other level. There is very little to no actual character development. The writers included a ton of serious issues – from sexual assaults and trauma related to it, mental illnesses, homophobia… yet none of them were handled in an appropriate manner. They were done in a very ignorant and offensive way.

I’d probably give it an even lower rating, but the acting and the OST are saving it.

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Short, cute and sweet

Tutor and Yim are absolutely adorable! I do really like Tutor and Yim together, I think they have amazing chemistry. I feel like these one-minute videos are way too short though! I want more. I need more. It’s ridiculous how excited I am when we get a new little episode. The story is cute, but I do feel a bit lost from time to time as it is a bit choppy at times due to the shortness of each episode.

I am a bit unsure on how to rate it though. I never watched a TikTok series before and is hard to compare it to regular series. The story is sweet, but I feel like there is so much we are missing. The dialog was kept to a minimum. Yet it makes sense as this is a shorts series. I have no complaints about the actors, the music fits nicely. It’s super cute and because it’s so short it’s easy to rewatch – either the whole series or just certain parts (e.g. episode 9).

My story rating is not very high, but considering the nature of the series, I think it’s fair. I am definitely not a fan of this kind of series format, I feel a ton of stuff gets left out and we just get an occasional glimpse into what is happening, but we are not really getting the full story. It was cute and sweet, but that’s pretty much all I can say about it.

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Win makes Team feel safe

The storyline is… I don’t really know how to describe it without giving away too much, but I really enjoyed it. It’s a slow burn romance that starts as a one-night stand. I had an approximate idea of how the story will progress as I have watched Until We Meet Again before, but I didn’t really know or expected anything relating to Team’s and Win’s stories. We were not given any clues to it in UWMA, so it was really kind of heartbreaking to see, especially Team’s story.

I think the best place to start is the “ABC gang” as Win calls them. I think the three of them are so funny and a complete chaotic mess when put together. They had me laughing pretty much every time all of them were put together.

We do get to see quite a few side couples, and I felt like they were kind of taking up too much screentime away from WinTeam. But at the same time, I absolutely loved WanTul and BeePrince. I am kind of meh on DeanPharm, but seeing I didn’t really like them in their own series… PrukManaow were a bit too much for me too.

Wan & Tul: They are probably my favorite side couple. I love a good age gap romance (even though they are only a few years apart), as well as hidden identity story. I could really feel Tul’s pain when he realized he is in love with Wan, yet he cannot reveal himself without losing Wan. I think that the two had great chemistry. As for Wan, all I can say is that it’s always the quiet ones that surprise us the most.

Bee & Prince: I think they were cute. They were both unsure and they took their time exploring the possibilities. I really liked how they portrayed the struggles of being gay in the world of acting – we don’t often hear about the struggles and everything a person needs to sacrifice or hide to stay in the spotlight. Fans do tend to ship actors together, but reality is often not nearly as idealistic.

Dean & Pharm: I find Pharm annoying. I don’t even know how else to put it or why I feel that way. Dean is a bit more tolerable, but having seen him in UWMA, I am not his biggest fan. This does not mean that the actors didn’t do a great playing out the characters.

Pruk & Manaow: I get it, she is into the theater and all that. But the over reacting made it kind of hard to really enjoy her character. Pruk seems to be very down to earth and a calm person. I do think the two of them match really well, even if they can be a bit too much at times.

Win & Team: finally the main couple. I think the chemistry that the two actors have is amazing, that’s not something that can be denied. I really loved them in UMWA, so seeing them have their own series was really exciting. Their relationship takes time to develop. Win is a middle child and I really like how that is played into the series. The order siblings are born in can really impact their personalities. And while Win has the oldest sibling energy, his fears mostly go back to him being the middle child. It seems that his way of showing his love for someone is through taking care of them. Team is someone who needs a lot of support. I did find him a bit too silly at times though (e.g. the coffee ordering). He is battling his inner demons and he finds it hard to open to others. I am not sure that Pharm and Manaow even know his story. A lot of Team’s emotions and actions are due to his guilt that dates back to his childhood. Forgiving yourself is often the hardest thing to do.

I like how the main conflict between Win and Team was not jealousy or a third person. I think they could have communicated things in a better way and earlier, but with both of them being the way they are, it also made a lot of sense due to their personalities. They were showing they care about the other through their acts, but failed to say so out loud.

I think that both Boun and Prem did an amazing job when it came to portraying emotions. They really know how to make you feel what their characters are feeling. The series explores some very difficult topics and the two of them were on point every time it came to playing those scenes out.

And I cannot skip the topic of consent. It is something that I often comment on when it comes to different series. I think it’s important for the BL industry to move from romanticizing non consent. And Between Us really put consent into the center of the show. Win is in a position of authority, and he recognizes that. I believe that is why he wanted Team to show full understanding of what is about to happen and to fully consent to it. Team had the chance to refuse him, multiple times, with no consequences to his spot in the club. Win never intended to use his power to force Team into anything. And I really liked that. From first episode to the last, if there was any intimacy, consent was always clearly given.

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