ShortCircuit

I'm halfway through the first episode and it hits me... Xu Kai looks like a smol Xiao Zhan. OMG I have a type. But seriously, with that fringe, he does look a lot like XZ LOL. How come I didn't notice before? :D

So yeah, I was going to watch this anyway (because Xu Kai) but now I'm 100% committed. I hope he keeps the hairstyle, too :D (and I like his interactions with his mom LOL).

I read somewhere (might've been MDL) that the author stopped updating because she was either writing the script for BU, or heavily involved in writing it (as a collaborator). So it isn't that there's not enough story, but that it needs to merge with the UWMA timeline and make sense, and if there's any time after UWMA's plot ended, there'll be more plot added to BU, too.

Also, UWMA ended just before the pandemic, so not much filming took place afterwards, so the past 3 years mean nothing in terms of having the opportunity to plot/write it (I guess they didn't know either when to start working on it, given what happened). AFAIK, writing a script and writing a novel are two completely different things... So we get lots of side stories in order not to get too fed up with UWMA revisited AND the FWB part of WinTeam's story.

Though I don't mind FWB scenes each episode :D. Or just Win looking at the (double) sun, Luke Skywalker-style, LOL, I don't care, as long as he's on the screen :D

Listen, the first time, even when horny as hell - or particularly then - there needs to be a bit of trust in whoever is proposing to do it with you. Win asked, and Team followed (the first, and the second time.) He was left alone to decide before going after Win.

Then the first time, Win asks again and again, exactly because they don't know each other and what follows would be a one-night-stand. And Team trusts AND wants him enough to say yes again and again.

Imagine if it were one of the three of idiots - A, B or C - asking. (They'd also be horny and a bit buzzed.) I can't see Team saying yes to either of them. Or basically none of the other guys who were there, available and at least in part, willing (I mean, this is Thailand, but there aren't really all that many gay or bi people there).

So, the chances that Team would say no to any rando offering are quite high, actually. He said yes to a guy he likes enough to follow inside a room to have his first sexual experience with. Give him a break, he's 18. Hormones speak, but in this case, they didn't drown eveything else out.

The kiss by the poolside - Win led with his tongue, LOL. If I were Team... I wouldn't have made it inside in time :D

And that's why he asked for like, five times before going any further. And in this episode, Team had all the time in the world to follow or not.

Last week there were lots of people saying the asking took too long, and wasn't needed. Your question shows exactly why the asking needed to happen for that long and that in the end, it's still Team's choice, each time.

PS. Win is three years older than Team, it's not like he's experienced beyond belief and Team is a meek lamb led to the slaughter. And well. The trope IS love at first sight for Win.

Less UWMA, that's good, more Manow and Phruek, well, at least they're kind of new to the story, Tul and Waan, okay...

They tried to film it like UWMA was, with akward pauses and silences - because it fit Pharm's manner and character. Also Dean's. They were forever being either shy or reserved for minutes at a time, LOL. This doesn't work as well with WinTeam, but I guess since they're rewinding parts of UWMA, they're still trying to blend them together.

WinTeam rock - despite keeping it way more above the waist than I'd expected, they really have great chemistry. The intimate scenes are the best ones, though small-talk, everyday WinTeam are also good. I really really hope they don't introduce much more drama in between them than Team's nightmares and fear of drowning, because not every relationship needs huge problems to overcome. And Team's problems are kind of huge already anyway.

The music keeps being off - I don't really like it. I hope they get something, at least a new theme, in it, so that it becomes its own part.

A, B and C are really complete idiots - seriously, how come there are always some "students" who seem (or are portrayed) as) complete idiots, and yet we're supposed to believe they got into university by being that stupid? ITSAY must've spoiled me, and then Not/Me completed the erasure of idiot students... Dammit. My standards have been raised...

So, are they going to end each episode like that?

... Because I could get used to it LOL.

That was cute :)

I took it that it was more functional than sentimental, though, so I guess I'll just have to wait and see what they actually meant. Including that tiny bit right in the middle of the discussion about how they identify friends, enemies and just acquaintances was kind of telling.

From my POV, Minato was maybe a bit tired of being on his toes all the time - he maybe has a strong streak of self-doubt and was never certain about Tsumugi's real feelings for him. So he let her go and now he's waiting / not waiting to see if she'd come back or leave for good, now that Sou is in the picture again. Kind of like, love and let go and if they come back to you, they really love you too?

Nana's response definitely is the complete opposite, more like - if I can't have you, NO ONE CAN! (with a vengeance). Now she's planted doubts in Sou and Tsumugi's respective minds... even if they do end up together, it'll take a serious fight or some depression episode to bring those words back. You can't do that to someone you KNOW is depressive (he has NO friends, WTH! That, despite being a good-looking, cute, shy, intelligent guy who just happens to be deaf. ) Is she setting him up for another break up with Tsumugi, or if that doesn't work but he still finds another girl, will Nana get between them again? That's really, really low.

Now I wonder if, that first try to get him friends aside, did she ever try again in those three years they've known each other, or just grew complacent about his dependency on her (re: the JSL and emotional needs). That's not healthy...

I hope they solve this in a decent manner and it doesn't lead to more hurtful episodes.

It's freaking one-sided, don't go brazenly into other people's relationship!! Especially since she KNOWS Sou doesn't have any friends. He just met his old friends that he missed a whole lot, there's no need to go and place guilt on him for breaking up Minato and Tsumugi just by existing in their lives again, WTF, that's not a normal response!! She's in love with him, okay, he's a lovable character, but that intrusive and abrasive attitude would definitely push ME away if I were him, so what would Nana gain by it? She's deaf, not stupid, WTH. And the whole re-gifting thing, WHAT THE EFF!!!! That was really, really mean and uncalled for, it's not Tsumugi's fault and actually, it's nobody's fault. She taught Sou because she wanted to, what, is he not allowed to show anyone else interest ever again?!

Sou also came a bit grayish, FINALLY, in this ep. He's not really a shining knight with pushing away everyone in his life, from family to friends and lovers AND new friends who happen to be hearing impaired. Did anyone ever get this kid a psychologist to work through the trauma of becoming permanently deaf after a life of hearing?! He's been using Nana as a lifeline, knowingly, and now he met his old friends again, he's drawn to them more - is he trying to recapture the carefree teen years? But he was kind of an introvert before, anyway (what with the music separating him from everyone, all the time, and not having many really close friends anyway.) It just might be he's a naturally cold person towards people he's not directly involved with. And sadly, Nana got friend-zoned hard.

I HATED it when they did the whole emotions/dislikes/functions separation - because when the JSL teacher asked Tsumugi what was it about Sou, she said "he's teaching me words", NOOO! I wish he'd have asked about Minato, too, so at least we get a heads-up.

I get where she's coming from, but man, does Nana suck right now.

I am not sure I got all the details, as it suddenly went from creepy mysterious killer to full-blown conspiracy, and I also am not that sure I actually like that.

I mean, what's KJH's angle in this? If he's in it, who would try so hard to kill him? After all, if KTR didn't pull him out of the car, he'd be toast. The whole thing that had him move to this town - is there a chance he's someone's "sweeper" come to this police station to do exactly that - get rid of all competition for some major shadow money-mover?!

And KTR did check if he was "Friend" when he had him calling from the hospital during his discussion with the killer. Unless there's yet another accomplice.

Why are all these old guys so affected when one of them is doing evil stuff? If they were friends since forever, and at least three of them are police officers, they'd KNOW the fourth is a bad guy, and have to make some decisions. KTR acts like Mr. Cheon is a bosom friend who yet needs another chance - he's a freaking drug maker/dealer!! Off with his head! And Chief Seo's head too - off with it!! Why would KTR CARE, if he still has some decency in him?!

KTR's daughter is quite strange - why isn't she in therapy, if she's so affected by seeing her dad shoot someone? I had the impression there's more to just the abduction, but if it's just that, it wouldn't really underline why KTR let his family go. Where's the mother, BTW? Where's the husband, too?!

I hope the final eps of this season make some more sense. I am all for mystery and switches, but I need them to be cleared up in the end in a satisfactory manner. Here's hoping.

I couldn't make out his face, was that KJH?!

I'm going to stress this a bit - they're basically complete strangers at this point. At least one of them is very close to being a minor (he's first year, I don't know how much over 18 he'd be in Thailand), he's pretty naive (as witnessed by Win before), Win is in a position of authority over him (vice-cap of the swimming club, a senior, with more experience, including sexual one, and he's the one who organised this trip, along with Dean, so he's responsible for everything having to do with the juniors). Win also knows what the juniors have been doing (why Team is aroused and thinking with his hormones), and that he's been drinking.

I mean, Win is doing EVERYTHING he can to make sure it's consensual.

Yeah, Team walked inside on his own legs, and is half-way aware of what's probably going to happen - but Win is also making sure that there are plenty of times Team can change his mind before anything happens at all.

Later on, when they'll be closer - lovers or FWB - and know each other better, there won't be a need for repeatedly asking for consent. But this first time, when they both see it as an one night stand basically, the repeated consent has to be asked.

PS My alarm is on my phone. I hit snooze every 5 minutes til it's too late to snooze it more. I wish I could, LOL, I'm a nightbird and hate waking up in the morning. He might've been snoozing it too :D

The rating was there before yesterday, long before it aired. I guess it was rated based on those really short bits they published last year in order to make people not forget about this.

If it's good, the rating will go up. There's time. And after all, if you enjoy it, what does the rating matter, right? :D

Not really. Though it's going to spoil a lot of UWMA if you decide to watch it later. (It looks like they're doing a recap of that along with the BU story).

LOL, they met (officially) like ten minutes ago, and Team has had a few drinks, do you mean it would be totally okay for Win to just move in for the kill without making sure things are consensual?! I mean, Thai TV is rife with "forceful" love (read: technically rape), I am beyond happy they actually DID take the time to show this is NOT that kind of "love".

I know they're not filming an educational spoof here, but teens will look at this and some of them will learn that it's okay to say no if you're not into it, or that you SHOULD agree to anything BEFORE it's happening, no matter the circumstances.

PS I've been setting the alarm for half an hour before I absolutely have to get up because I take forever to wake up. The joy of postponing if for 5 more minutes cannot be stressed enough. And yes, there were times I've slept through. It happens.

Wow, this was better than I expected. (Even with the too many UWMA bits that are just revisiting the plot). The bits that were new were pretty awesome - I love how they fleshed out Win's background without giving out too much yet. I hope there's going to be more along that path.

Is it me or did they actually get better on the acting part? Prem / Team especially, he really impressed me in that last scene (you know which one). Yay for Thai BL, they finally remembered eroticism doesn't always need skinship only. Boun / Win is also great, though there's something different about his hair, can't put my finger on it. Maybe he changed dyes, LOL. He also gets extremely expressive eye acting scenes, which were kind of missing in UWMA (where he used to get that seductive, sultry look and that was about it.) I love that side of him. I hope they get a deep, meaningful story.

But I won't lie, I'll be happy even if they decide to do a full 12-eps sultry romance and that's all there is. (I know it'll be more, but I won't care if it isn't).

The awkward brother's body, controlled by the psycho doc's mind / soul. So technically... XZQ? Though the existing XZQ was also present as a kid, so he was doubling his involvement, so to speak.

From a legal point of view, none of the victims had any recourse (not even the real life victims). Before 2007, if I'm not mistaken, even murder had a 15-year statute of limitations, that was extended to 25 years until 2015, when it was abolished. Abuse, rape, torture, etc - all would have had fallen under the statute of even shorter limitations if they were not solved in time.

The military dictatorship was slowly removed and only in the 1997 election cycle did SK become an actual democratic country. The real life abuse happened at the Brothers Home Welfare Center which closed in 1987, and nobody was convicted on any charges related to kidnapping, torture, abuse, rape or murder - just embezzlement, and it wasn't a heavy punishment either. Even after, the kids who aged out of the system or were released when it was closed never gained the public's help. They were shamed, mocked, rejected throughout their lives. There are articles on the net, it's a hard read.

The point is - real life sucks, and Western policing doesn't always apply elsewhere in the world.

The drama tried to portray some of it, but failed when showing it as a human-side failure when it was a whole system's failure. The kids weren't helped, they were basically slaves. if a working system of checks and balances had been in place, they might have hoped for help... but there was no such system. I wish the drama would have made that the whole point of the story instead of the gory beginning and nonsense twists, but they just... didn't.