MaintainingMama

I really liked this episode. 1) I think in a backwards way, it's calling out schools for not providing funding evenly across clubs. Using the Science Club, which always underfunded, to be the one who receives it over the basketball club is genius. I may be reading too much into it, but in the US, underfunding literally everything is favor of sports is a huge problem here, so it just stuck out to me.
2) That they didn't have Ryu play basketball or even practice right after his cast was off. It always irks me when they have some who was injured badly, up and running the next day. Like ya'll be so for real.
3) That they finally got rid of Toss. Although, it would have nice to see him like have a bit of a redemption arc and get his act together for Q. And those two run for it to get away from gang life. I think Q liked Ryu as in PhiNong, not as in Faen, so when he shot Q, I liked to believe he was sad. Although, it could have been he was only in that relationship to keep Ryu and himself from getting killed. That part wasn't clear and I wish it was. Speaking of Q killing...that scene was equal part beautiful and ridiculous. The "injuries" were not the best...neither was the Q killing everybody scene. Like at least show him struggling to get untied and inching toward the gun, so I believe he had time to get the gun and kill everyone. Make me believe it maybe, just might of could happen. The beautiful part was Ryu saying sorry to Zen for getting him hurt. They both thought they were going to die and that moment was so tender even though it was full of thugs about to murder them.
4) Frank. I skipped his ummm...scene.... and not because I minded that he jerked off to pictures of Zen. Even though I have seen so many people saying it's stalkerish and weird, it's kind of normal to have sexual thoughts about someone you are crushing on....it's how you know you like them, right? (Unless you are Ace). I skipped it cause it felt out of place with the rest of his scenes. It was this weird only in that, it was unnecessary to to his plot line. We know he likes Zen. We don't need to see him jerk off to Zen to confirm it. I would rather the end of that scene where he was thinking back at all the looks between Ryu and Zen and worrying about losing his crush to another person, cause that is valid.
Also, I am living for Frank's role in this series. I said it yesterday, so I won't belabor the point, but his hair and make up and shirt less moments are doing something for me in this series.
5)Meen. His acting in this was great! Between the beat up by thugs scene and his good bye to Q, he had me feeling all the feels. Also, I did shirtless Meen as well, so those times were appreciated as well. 😂😂 I was also really, really grateful that at the end during another touching scene when he said, "let's take our relationship to the next level" they didn't do what I thought they were going to do. I was screaming at my screen that a NC scene now would ruin all those beautiful moments. This needs a hug. So when they just touched foreheads and breathed each other in, I was so relieved. 😂😂 It ended perfectly.
Overall, I am really liking this series and I look forward to the next one.

I have said it every episode, but who ever is styling Frank in this series deserves an award. His hair and make are perfection. Wardrobe is also top tier. All of it fits this role and this series, which isn't always the case with too many of these BLs, but especially the one's Frank has been in outside of his GMMTV work. I hope he get's more roles like this cause I have always said, the problem with his latest series was the writing and directing. He proved he was a good actor at GMMTV.
Now on to the rest of the show. Ryu and Atom fighting over Zen was funny. Although the bathing scene irritated me. He doesn't know Atom from Adam, why would he want to be bathed by him, Zen?!
I'm not sure what to make of the scene with Chogun and Jedi. I cannot determine if they are shipping them or making a display of someone being kind to Chogun, like he is a child. If it's shipping, then I am here for it, cause Autistic people need and deserve love too. If it's a weird display of kindness, then, No, shut that shit down now. As a mother of a child who is autistic, I was happy to see the inclusion of a character with Autism as well as the coaches treatment of Chogun, like the whole person he is. But now that everyone is accepting of Chogun, there has been some infantilizing going on with the group, where they are treating Chogun like he is a child who doesn't know anything outside of basketball. That is where they lose me. Yes, his hyper fixation is basketball, and therefore he is good at it, but he is again, a whole person, let's not reduce him to a stereotype.

The beginning episodes were great, I got all the hype and hurried up to catch up. I said it last week, this show was too long. And in my opinion, it would have been fine to have these extra episodes if they dealt with anything. For instance, Chain and Pun. I LOVED their last scene together and their kisses, but after the amazing scene, it would have been great to see them talk about why it's taken Chain so long to say anything about his feelings. It would have been great to hear from Pun what HE has been feeling all this time. If he hadn't initiated the second kiss, it would have felt still one sided. It just would have felt like a more complete story and that these last couple of episodes were for a reason and not just filler.
Another thing they could have addressed in these last two episodes, was Phum's dad. They never addressed why his dad sent him away. They never showed his dad apologizing for doing something that effected Phum so much. That last scene would have been way more heartwarming if before it, they had had a big conversation and cleared the air and the dinner was the first time they were all together after that happened. Phum trying to open to his dad after not speaking to him for so long with out anything being rectified, again, left the story line feel incomplete.
This show at first felt like it would be a bit different from the usual GMMTV fluff, so I think that is why, in the end, so many of us are disappointed in the finale. Don't get me wrong, I love a good fluffy story. And this show could have kept some of the fluff. But it would have been even better if it had leaned a bit more into the fact that these were people who were getting ready to be full grown ups and getting ready to be in the adult world, realizing what they had worked so hard for in college. This show would have benefitted from a more mature stance, including the NC scenes, that just were too juvenile for people who would have been in their early 20s. Accept for Tan and Fang. They did very well. I hope they get their own series.
All and all, this was a typical GMMTV series, so it was good. But it could have been so much better, especially since it had all the time to make a perfect show.

This was a nice little series to breeze through to fill in the gap when nothing is on. Will I watch it again, probably no, but it was funny and not too cringe. It definitely had it's moments of cringe, but it wasn't so bad as to not be able to continue, like Love Syndrome. Every one did a good job acting wise. I rooted for all the couple. Zen and Run were too cute, kind of wish they a bit more screen time to develop their relationship better.
I will say that the parts I did not like was 1) the first to NC scenes with Patrick and Poom were nonconsensual. First time, Poom was stumbling drunk, not really there up until they started kissing. I don't normally get too fussed about people having sex when they have had a few and are tipsy, like alot of reviewers here. But I draw the line at "so drunk, someone has to help me walk". If you are unable to make your brain tell your legs to hold your body up and walk on your own, then you are not in the mental state to make an informed decision to have sex. The second time, Patrick did "something" to Poom while he was asleep! And they could have showed him starting to mess around with Poom while asleep (honestly I don't even like that, but a couple of pecks...maybe) and then Poom wakes up to consent, but they never show him conscience of what Patrick was doing. Why!? There is nothing hot or sexy about that. Just no! I need ALL BL to cease and desist all non consent NC scenes, unless it involves BDSM consensual non consent play. It just shouldn't be shown otherwise.
2) The fact that they didn't give the "fat one", a love interest. Another thing I am tired of is the "fat one" being the butt of the joke. Like, everyone is with someone except him, why? Like, it even would have been okay through most of the series, cause being the only single one was kind of funny. But then at the end, like when he ridiculously get's crowned governor (I thought he was supposed to be a teenager?!), they could have at least have him make eyes with someone from the village and that person reciprocate. Like come one!
3) Lastly, the ending. I'll be honest. I skipped through alot of the last episode, cause it was ridiculous to have the "teenagers" train for a day to fight a criminal and his mob as well as a General and his army, and succeed. I just couldn't. And I honestly did not care about that story line. I honestly skipped alot of the cops, Joe and Nicky, until they started making eyes at each other. I like Bonus as an actor, so I sort of paid attention during his scenes. And the actor who plays Joe look so much like Both from BothNewyear, that I kept wondering if it was him. But I knew Both's hair isn't this long and this actor's hair wasn't a wig.
What mostly bothered me about the ending though, was why did they all become humans? Doesn't that mean that they leave their parents behind and will never see them again? Why not just keep living as vampires in the human world? Why couldn't Patrick either share the recipe for the wine, or just make sure everyone had a bottle at home, so that they could drink it when needed. It just didn't make sense.
That being said, it was and okay series and I don't feel like my time was wasted watching it.
Other than that though and honestly mostly the ZenRun storyline, and the friendship between the 4 "teenagers"

Completely agree about that. It would be amazing if they used their older "pillars" to continue to do more mature content. I would also like to personally see more femme characters. Outside of Green, who was the butt of the joke, Cher/Fluke is the only femme character that I remember.

Completely agree about that. It would be amazing if they used their older "pillars" to continue to do more mature content. I would also like to personally see more femme characters. Outside of Green, who was the butt of the joke, Cher/Fluke is the only femme character that I remember.

I agree, it would have been nice if it was less kitschy and more grounded in reality. And I definitely agree it would have been amazing if they had focused more on Yak's mental health issues, his Dad abandoning him and then showing up again, sick, Dee's PTSD after the accident with his family, and even Dee's struggle to find love being a busy doctor. I don't know if GMMTV will ever do something like that. Even Cherry Magic, which was set in the adult world, was a bit hammy.
After watching Aof's Last Twilight, GMMTV may be close to delivering something mature and fully formed. But they aren't there yet.

I actually like this show and most of this episode. Here me out. I am with everyone on who ever is styling Banky. And I don't think it's himself. While I get he wants to show off the purse that Mos gave him, I'm over it. Put it down, leave it in the car, but stop carrying it every where. I'm not sure who decided Banky's look for the whole series, but I can't even claim it's feminine. Banky does femme very well. It's more like old rich lady.
Mos looks great and I love his acting in this. I love how soft he is for Lin. It's not aggressive and in your face. It's caring and gentle and there should be a space for that in BL.
I liked the dance scene juxtaposed to the NC scene. I think this show is beautifully filmed. While I didn't like way too long ending pose, I loved the way the smiled at each other through out that scene. I loved how through their eyes/gazes, you could tell they were in love. Not every actor can convey that in a scene, so I really liked that. I think it helps to set up what looks like a "The Sign"-esque past lives plot line.
I am also digging the second BL couple. I'm looking forward to more from them.
I don't know about the GL couple. Like I said last week, Prim is sooo pretty that really all they need to do is hold the camera over there for a few seconds and then go on with the other stories. Other than that, I don't really like her character. I get she is supposed to be cold at first and then will warm up to the intern. But she needs to hurry and show some warmth to literally anyone, so we, the audience, can see she isn't just mean. I also wish Pim was taking the internship more seriously. Instead of trying to get into Prim's good graces, I wish she would instead be busting her ass, kind of like Lin, and that is why Prim notices her. Pim bringing her coffee instead of leaving her alone, like she asked annoyed me. So once again in the GL storyline, there is potential, but it seems they keep building these unlikable characters, so I am not rooting for them and I end up skipping.

Finally, I have been avoiding saying it, because I wanted to see if I would change my mind, but I am not a complete fan of the OST. I actually LOVED Big Dragon's theme song. And for some reason, the English in that song did not bother me as much as it does in the Pink Sea song. Some parts are great. But it's too much "bad" English, done, I think, to please international fans. But I think this song would be so much nicer in almost all Thai.

Otherwise, unlike alot of the comments, I think this was a great episode and I really like this series. I do wish MosBank have a ton of potential and it would be really cool to see what they could do under a director like New or Aof or Nucchi.

I don't think it's Bank's fault. Bank does fem really well every where else but here. I'm not sure what his stylist is thinking on this series, but I am not a fan.

I think GMMTV does do stories like what you are describing, just not this story. This is mean to be fluffy. I rolled my eyes soooo hard at Yak and Dee standing there having a full conversation while an entire "stadium" full of people watched them talk and then kiss. It was utterly ridiculous and I loved it. The show you describing is closer to Not Me or currently We Are. I haven't started The Trainee but maybe that will be closer to what you are looking for. I agree, it would be great to see exactly the show you are describing. And sometimes we get it. But most of the audience that pays the bills wants all the fluff and unrealistic scenes like bonding over community service and random car trouble.
I definitely agree the weird Ter with Taem is a GIANT nope for me. I don't really want a redemption arc for him. I honestly hope he wins the scholarship and just goes away. I feel like they haven't handled ANY of Taem's scenes right. Like Taem in the beginning was clearly uninterested in Yak and maybe interested in the Student Council dude. Then she seemed to kind of be bummed that Yak was with Dee. And even though it looked like it was supposed to be a "she didn't get her crush, but here comes someone better" scene with her and Ter, she was clearly uninterested. Just weird.

I was disappointed in the last episode. This story, that was full of crazy twists and turns, all of a sudden, has the fairy tail cliched happy ending!? No! I wanted Joe to walk through the door intending to leave Ming behind but when he goes through the door he is back on the bike, in his old body, before he goes over the cliff. The spirit guide man said if he walked through the door he wouldn't be anyone's stand in again. But by going back to Ming, he still was a Stand In, if for no one else, the New Joe! If they had had him go through the door, and be back on the bike, being given a chance to change his fate around, that would have been a more fitting ending to such a wild ride of a show. Then he could have jumped off the bike and ran away, still hooked up. As he ran away, it would have snapped off, showing the shotty work of the stunt team. The foreign director would be seen loosing his shit at the crew as Joe runs off the set and back to his old life.
It pissed me off that all of those people contributed to Joe's first and second death's and none of them were made responsible.
The director who black balled Joe, got to come back and just feel sad he never go to work with Joe, although, it was his fault he didn't. Wutt, who did nothing to help Joe find non dangerous work so that Joe didn't have to go do the international stunt and die. Tong, THAT BASTARD! He lost nothing. Debts paid, wife back, life still his and a chance to either build back up his acting career or work for his rich father in law. He got to apologize...for ruining Joe's life multiple times. And last but not least Tong! He needed to have suffered more. Maybe in the above scenario, he still rides the bike and falls, but makes it out alive, but in a coma. This time his body is recovered but he is placed next to New Joe. When he wakes up, he meets New Joe's mom and becomes friends with her. Then, he can do all of the things the showed happen with New Joe's mom.
I will say, the final moment being Ming and Joe doing it and Joe sneezing being the last thing we hear was an ending I enjoyed. But I needed a more chaotic ending and I'm sad I didn't get it.

All that being said, this was still one of my favorites from 2024 and will definitely be on the rewatch list.

Why is always the delulu people who think they have to defend their favorite actor like they care what you or I think. I have watched most of Phuwin's roles. I have also paid attention to the GMMTV boys and their "kissing" each other off screen. Phuwin spends more time shipping everyone else than actually joining in with the shenanigans. Much like Gemini. Let's say you are right and it's just the way he kisses. You know who used to suck at kissing on screen and now they don't. Off, Dunk, New, Krist. I'm excluding their pairs because these were the boys who kissed exactly like Phuwin, like they didn't want the lips to actually be involved in the kiss. Every last one of these actors improved over time. Phuwin has not. I'm not the only one who complained about his kisses. So don't call me crazy because you don't like that someone doesn't share the same opinion as you. I read and see many a review that I disagree with, but never would I comment calling someone crazy. It's perfectly okay to keep scrolling and not comment. Or if you feel you must say something, please do so respectfully. I would never dream of being as nasty to strangers on the internet as you were. I wonder if you would say this to my or anyone else's face?

I did not see him becoming a basketball player either, so I was surprised when he stepped out. And it is weird that he never mentioned he was a basketball player too. But I'm kind of airing on the, he doesn't want to be playing basketball, so he didn't mention it. If he is the bad guy, I'm going to be upset. He is too hot in this series!😂😂😂

Everyone is over here suspecting Atom, and I don't get that vibe from him. I think he is a kid whose family life is less than ideal at best and probably abusive, at minimum, verbally. I think he has a regular smegular crush on Zen, and has pursued a friendship with probably a wish for more, but I don't get the feeling he is going to do something underhanded and weird to get it. I think he would be fine with just friends. The thing with the grandma, I think he just needs a place to go where he isn't either all alone for days at a time OR getting yelled at and pressured. I think Zen and his family are becoming Atom's safe space, much like they were for Ryu.
Ping's quiet tear was well done. As well as the fear when they almost got caught by the police. He is caught between wanting to help his friend/teammate/crush but also not really being about that life. Poor boy!
I actually liked the basketball games. It helps that they are know what they are doing, to make it look as realistic as possible. I will say I have zero interest in the supposed side ship. I'm way more interested in the love triangle, and I usually hate a love triangle. It probably helps that Frank's everything is working in this series. He should only ever let whoever is in charge of hair and makeup for this show do his from now on. And keep up the good work with the muscles! 😂😂
I'm going to get some push back for this, but I find this series way more interesting that We Are. And I liked We Are (it's suffering from being too long but it was good at the beginning). But the story lines are a bit more engaging in this series. This show definitely deserves a higher rating.

One thing this series has done, is highlight how HOT Frank is! Phewwee! He has always been just cute to me. And Love Syndrome and the wig of doom ruined his image to me. This has kindly helped and healed all things!
I hate the ENTIRE team for letting Chogun and Jedi get beat up/harassed and not doing one thing to help them, including getting help. They all just stood there doing nothing. Useless! And why didn't girlie call the police while she ran to get the security guard. In this day and age, we all always have our cellphones on us. But she didn't bring it when she randomly went out in the middle of the night?!
All the falling was kind of stupid, but their hands being tied together kind of let those ridiculous multiple cliched falls make a little bit of sense.
Finally, Zen was the problem in this episode. I get that his feelings were hurt after the almost shower kiss and then Ryu leaving suddenly, but in the here and now, when they have so much riding on their being a team, I need him to grow up. Like keep it off the court but then hash it out after practice. I liked that he stood his ground and maintained his privacy from Ryu. But he picked every fight they had on court and made all the mistakes.
I'm not sure how Ryu is going to escape the gang life. It will be interesting to see if they can come up with a plausible way.

I really liked this drama when it started. I liked the friendship and the build up to each relationship. But honestly, this is too long a series with out much substance. I think if they had added the back story of what was going on with Phum's dad or why Chain has never confessed to Pun, it might still be interesting at this point. But the whole going to a temple and goofing off, the first time making love and then the SECOND Kratong event. Like what are we doing story wise? Literally nothing happened. I didn't even like the love scenes. I'm not calling them NC scenes as they were too tame. I wish they had done a better job of demonstrating that Toey was ready to take that step. This moment could have been amazing, if, for once, they had Toey drop the baby voice, and be overwhelmed with his need to be with Q. If Q had asked Toey, after the first kiss, did he want to find somewhere private to continue. Then we would hear from Toey that he even knew he was going to that bedroom. He just seemed so hesitant and unsure and that isn't what one should feel going into what I presumed was his first time.
Phum and Peem's love scene was super formulaic. This was a scene written by someone who has the old school BL playbook. First you kiss, then one takes off his shirt, then you kiss again, then the other takes off his shirt, kiss some more, but do not put your pelvis' or torsos any where near each other. Top, you clasp one hand and say I love you...kiss again as we pan away cause the rest is up to the audiences imagination. Sigh, I honestly would have been fine with zero love scenes in a story like this. Both felt so forced, like it's the end of the series, quick we have 2 episodes left and they haven't done it, through that in! The only good thing that came out of that scene was WinnySatang's kissing improved. Pond and Phuwin, not so much, but WinnySatang did okay, at least for the kissing part. I still didn't believe either character was so in love they wanted to make love.
Normally, I'm sad a series only has one more episode left, but honestly, at this point I'm relieved. I'm a fan of series, at least a Thai series, only being 13 episodes long. They still haven't mastered the art of lengthily storytelling, so lets leave it for now.

I say it every series they are in. I could excuse it in Fish Upon a Sky, because they were new to each other. But now, no excuses can be found. Pond has become a better kisser, Phuwin is still stuck in the "I can't believe I have to kiss another guy to be an actor" mind set.

It is official, I am skipping the GL story line. I had high hopes, cause I liked the GL story line in Wedding Plan. But the second Vivi ordered Mook to bring her food in the middle of the girl's job, I was done. Like I get the supposed tactic, but I am not a fan. If only it would have been a plot line of Vivi pursing/wooing Mook, but Mook being stuck on the fact that Vivi doesn't like girls, she misses all the clues and high jinx ensue, then it would been great. But who wants someone who is constantly ordering you around, and disturbing you at work?! It doesn't help that Mook is whiny and non assertive. It's a no for me.
That being said, I wish they would use the GL story line time to give us back story on Rak. Cause that was what was missing from this episode. After the epic reading that Rak gave Prin, when he retreated to his room, before Mut came in, a flash back to at least explain either who Prin is, if she isn't his sister (I'm guessing step sister) OR what is the deal with the Aunt we know nothing about and why is it bad to turn out like her. Then, when Mut walked in and Rak wasn't having any of it, it would have made better sense.
Side Note, I need Peat to work with Gun Atp, BillkinPP, Cooheart, Fluke Natouch, to name a few, and learn how to cry. Cause during my favorite scene in LITA (when Prapai was confronting Sky with the journal) as well as the scene with the omelet, he is supposed to be crying but not single tear makes it down his face. In both cases, it ruins the impact of the scene.
Other than the GL and Peat's inability to cry, I liked the episode. I hope we get more back story next week about Rak, cause other wise I fear this story is going get boring fast.

I actually love that they got to show their range after Big Dragon. People often forget that they are both very new to the BL world and come from a smaller production company. I guarantee that if this had just been done under GMMTV with the exact same everything, this would be much better received. Case in point, We Are.

I get why everyone is so done with the friend group, but the way Lin kept mentioning his dad, I think there is some back story as to why they are so overprotective. And I think it's nice that after their friend suddenly passed out, they were concerned. As for the recording people making out, I'm not a fan. But as much as I dislike it, in this day and age, not everyone believes someone, even close friends, when they are told their partner is cheating. And as far as the friends assumed, that was their bestie's guy who he had been talking to. They also knew that their friend is unpracticed in relationships and did not want him to get hurt from someone he was already starting to have big feeling for. I get it. Still not a fan, but I get it. I'm a bigger fan of direct conversations. But for the interest of an over the top BL, well, okay, I get it.
Speaking of over the top, that fight scene was hilarious to me! It was meant to be ridiculous and it delivered.
I like this show. Is it the best acting, nope! And did I get a bit bored during this episode in some parts, yep. I'll admit the dialog could be so much better to move the story along. But I like MosBank's chemistry. I even like the second BL's story line. Yo being so salty with Sam is cute now that we know he likes Sam. I'm not sure about the Prim/Pim story line, only because they have given us virtually nothing with them. But I will say that Anda is GORGEOUS, and even though, so far I don't like her character, Prim, it's always nice when they put her on the screen.
Speaking of, I think we get it next week, but I am here for more shirtless Mos. My goodness! Honestly, the styling for Mos in this whole series has been a service to us one and all. That burgundy suit in the first meeting was chef's kiss.
As I said, I like this show so far. I'll admit it's faults, but I have seen waaayyy worst. What I like most about it is that in alot of ways, this is just the MosBank show. Alot of their moments in this episode were so MosBank coded.
The ONLY thing I disliked was Bank not closing his eyes when Mos/Sun kissed him. I know that he is suppose to be this virginal unexperienced young man, but come on! I'm sure he has watched enough romantic movies and series to know that when people kiss, it's weird to keep your eyes open. That moment would have been okay, if at first he kept his eyes open, but then slowly closed them as he started to really enjoy his first kiss. Then a slow withdrawal from Sun's side and Lin keeping his eyes closed would have made that scene so much better. I'll admit Lin stealing another kiss was cute and helped bring it back.
Anyway, excited to see what next week has in store. Hopefully we get much more back story on the flower, Naga thingy.