I absolutely adore this cute series. Takara is so "cool/deadpan" in his outward facade, but on the inside he is over the moon in love with Amagi. He thinks he's too forward, while Amagi thinks that he's pushing him away. Those two clueless love birds are lucky that they have their own love advisor to help them through their situation. I have been fascinated by Katori from the first episode. His glances, observations, and encouragement have been so wonderful to watch.
The Japanese have been releasing amazing BLs this year!!
Santa and Earth have been amazing in this series. Cake finally realizing that he wants to spend the rest of his time in Thailand with Eiw, and not his girlfriend. Eiw not wanting to be the cause of Cake's issues, but pleased to know that he does want to spend time with him. I understood Hin's issues, because Cake should want to spend time with her, but she couldn't force or make him do it. Along with him bringing up the topic of breaking up. She realized that he wanted to break up. He didn't want to be in their relationship anymore. I'm glad that she understood it, and didn't become unhinged, like what sadly usually happens in these Thai BLs. As for poor Peak and Hom. I can see both sides of their situation. He IS too young. He will grow, and change during that timeframe. As she will grow, and change. Maybe they will meet again, when it's the right time for them both.
This series was just an utter mess. I wish that these Thai BL production companies would stop using the same horrible background sounds in their productions. Added to my Worst Thai BL list for 2022.
This was a very interesting premise showing the falsehood of "reality" tv shows. When Keita asked, "What's so interesting about this kind of show? Though I am watching it ever week!" made me laugh out loud.
I hope that Ririnia does find her inner strength, so she doesn't have to find a sense of wholeness, by being in a romantic relationship with anyone else.
I also loved that all 4 of the actors in this series, have starred in BLs. It shows that these actors (well, the ones in Japan), are able to be cast in anything, due to their skill set, and not only just because they appeal to only BL viewers.
Wow, this is a masterpiece. I've never said that about any BL, but I feel it so strongly here. This is so mature,…
What I find refreshing about the series, is that Wang gets to say what's on his mind, his hopes, his goals for his future life, especially when he's battling it out with his Mom. He's not concerned about "saving face" or what he "owes" his Mom, his Dad, or society.
I understand that in conservative societies, children (even when they are of adult age) have to honor, and respect their parents, families, and elders. Even when it goes against what these of adult age children want to do with their own lives.
I'm a middle-aged viewer, I can understand Wang's need to want to know more about Siam, his frustration with his Mom, his compassion for In, and his love for all three of them. Wimol, and Im are trapped in the tragedy of what happened in the past with Siam. They each use him, as a painful memory, that keeps them from moving on in their lives. In and Wimol have said this to Wang, and it hurts him to see them wallowing in this pain, when they shouldn't be. It's frustrating for me, when Wimol, refuses to see that her need to create this false fantasy world, that she tries to hide her misery, and wants Wang to feed into, is harmful to him.
Hmm....I really hope that all of the actors associated with this series are able to get cast in other projects in the future, that actually have talented people in charge of the script, directors who know exactly what they have in mind, for how they want to interpret what's in the script, and producers that will not treat their lead actors as bait to draw in viewers.
Found the end to be very sad as I somehow hopped that Eiji and Makio would somehow reconcile. But it seemed obvious…
I think that Mieko is fine with knowing that Eiji isn't in love with her. They do love one another, but it's not romantic, or sexual desire. She's never really been attracted towards men at all. I feel that she's actually asexual/aromantic, to be honest with you. She just wants to know that she has a partner, that will help her with the upbringing of their child, and not abandon them. She can see that Eiji isn't at all ready to move on from loving Makio. Hopefully, whenever he does find someone else, she'll give him the space, and support for him to finally allow himself to pursue that relationship.
My question is, did he start this charade before or after he found out he was betrayed?
I think he started gaslighting all of them after he found out about their betrayal of him. Bew thought that he had a real "partner" (onscreen and offscreen) in Gus, had a real "Mom" in Toon, his manager, and a real "Sis" in Pla.
What he found out, was that they ALL (even Gus), thought he was this easy to manipulate, gullible, stupid, and naive "boy", that they could use, in order to get what they wanted from him. Toon told him, that he had to play the "game", in order to have a successful career in BL, or he might end up back selling papaya salads again in his home town. Pla basically said to him, and Gus, that they had to check their hesitations about what they do in the BL industry, because "No Risk. No Fame." The excuse that Gus gave to Bew, on why he also participated in gaslighting him (falsely making believe that he "fell for him" the first time), was because Pla told him to, and then he found out, that Toon knew about it, the entire time.
It was no surprise to me, that Bew was going to go "Scorch The Ground" on them all. I just think that it's brilliant, that he used his facade to fool them.
Found the end to be very sad as I somehow hopped that Eiji and Makio would somehow reconcile. But it seemed obvious…
No, those two were never going to get back together. Eiji made a choice, when he chose not to tell Makio about having sex again with Mieko, so that he could provide the child that his father wanted. Eiji wasn't honest, to himself or Makio about his own desire to have a child. Hadn't they all made an agreement, that they would only try to get pregnant that one time?
Mieko, and Eiji betrayed him, and that's something, most folks, even when you absolutely love them, can never get over.
Makio reaches out to Mieko, so that he can finally see her and Eiji's child. That's the last thing that he had to do, so that he could truly move on.
I 100% agree with your thoughts. I also noticed that a bit part of why their relationship fall apart was because…
I haven't read the manga, but it makes sense as to why Makio was so resistant in letting Asato know more about him. It takes time to heal from heartbreak. It also takes time to trust people again. Makio was always the "happy go lucky" guy, but he was hurt, by the two most important people in his life, at that time.
Wow. This drama is in the same category as "Life: Senjou no Bokura" and Thailand's brilliant LGBTQ+ drama "180 Degree Longitude" Showing how the sense of filial responsibility, duty, and pressure, can influence you to make the wrong choice, in how you live your life.
As much as Eiji succumbed to the pressure from his Dad, in choosing a "normal life", with a wife, and daughter (his Dad didn't get the grandson he wanted), he's still in love with Makio. He knows it, and Mieko certainly knows it. That's why they never really tried to find out where Makio was after he left them, after all that time. They started a family, and life as a couple together. They couldn't let the guilt of their betrayal of him, cause them to not move forward in their lives together. Mieko kept saying that she couldn't imagine her life, without Eiji, and Makio being together, but all 3 of them should have established boundaries, between their relationship as a couple, and her place in their lives, as their friend. I'm glad that Asato was the one, that got Makio to finally reach out to those to, in order for him to let go of his feelings of guilt, resentment, and pain over the end of their bond. He did that for a reason: He wants Makio to be able to truly let him into his life, beyond the FWB role he's been placed in.
Same. The pacing could have been much better if they worked with 12 episodes. Or, they could add flashbacks from…
Yes!! These actors are able to display exactly what those characters were feeling, in their lives, without the need for a flashback.
We didn't need to see a flashback of the night that In got the late in the night phone call, announcing Siam's death. We were able to see that In, sadly has that moment burnt into his memory, by how Nike portrayed that scene.
1 
The Japanese have been releasing amazing BLs this year!!
Santa and Earth have been amazing in this series. Cake finally realizing that he wants to spend the rest of his time in Thailand with Eiw, and not his girlfriend. Eiw not wanting to be the cause of Cake's issues, but pleased to know that he does want to spend time with him. I understood Hin's issues, because Cake should want to spend time with her, but she couldn't force or make him do it. Along with him bringing up the topic of breaking up. She realized that he wanted to break up. He didn't want to be in their relationship anymore. I'm glad that she understood it, and didn't become unhinged, like what sadly usually happens in these Thai BLs. As for poor Peak and Hom. I can see both sides of their situation. He IS too young. He will grow, and change during that timeframe. As she will grow, and change. Maybe they will meet again, when it's the right time for them both.
I hope that Ririnia does find her inner strength, so she doesn't have to find a sense of wholeness, by being in a romantic relationship with anyone else.
I also loved that all 4 of the actors in this series, have starred in BLs. It shows that these actors (well, the ones in Japan), are able to be cast in anything, due to their skill set, and not only just because they appeal to only BL viewers.
I understand that in conservative societies, children (even when they are of adult age) have to honor, and respect their parents, families, and elders. Even when it goes against what these of adult age children want to do with their own lives.
I'm a middle-aged viewer, I can understand Wang's need to want to know more about Siam, his frustration with his Mom, his compassion for In, and his love for all three of them. Wimol, and Im are trapped in the tragedy of what happened in the past with Siam. They each use him, as a painful memory, that keeps them from moving on in their lives. In and Wimol have said this to Wang, and it hurts him to see them wallowing in this pain, when they shouldn't be. It's frustrating for me, when Wimol, refuses to see that her need to create this false fantasy world, that she tries to hide her misery, and wants Wang to feed into, is harmful to him.
Very true.
Bew thought that he had a real "partner" (onscreen and offscreen) in Gus, had a real "Mom" in Toon, his manager, and a real "Sis" in Pla.
What he found out, was that they ALL (even Gus), thought he was this easy to manipulate, gullible, stupid, and naive "boy", that they could use, in order to get what they wanted from him. Toon told him, that he had to play the "game", in order to have a successful career in BL, or he might end up back selling papaya salads again in his home town. Pla basically said to him, and Gus, that they had to check their hesitations about what they do in the BL industry, because "No Risk. No Fame." The excuse that Gus gave to Bew, on why he also participated in gaslighting him (falsely making believe that he "fell for him" the first time), was because Pla told him to, and then he found out, that Toon knew about it, the entire time.
It was no surprise to me, that Bew was going to go "Scorch The Ground" on them all. I just think that it's brilliant, that he used his facade to fool them.
Absolutely Brilliant.
Eiji made a choice, when he chose not to tell Makio about having sex again with Mieko, so that he could provide the child that his father wanted. Eiji wasn't honest, to himself or Makio about his own desire to have a child. Hadn't they all made an agreement, that they would only try to get pregnant that one time?
Mieko, and Eiji betrayed him, and that's something, most folks, even when you absolutely love them, can never get over.
Makio reaches out to Mieko, so that he can finally see her and Eiji's child. That's the last thing that he had to do, so that he could truly move on.
They all underestimated Bew big time. Took his kindness for weakness. Hot damn!!
Korn has done an excellent job in the role of Bew. His co-stars have also been fabulous in their portrayals of Toon, Pla, and easily manipulated Gus.
Showing how the sense of filial responsibility, duty, and pressure, can influence you to make the wrong choice, in how you live your life.
As much as Eiji succumbed to the pressure from his Dad, in choosing a "normal life", with a wife, and daughter (his Dad didn't get the grandson he wanted), he's still in love with Makio. He knows it, and Mieko certainly knows it. That's why they never really tried to find out where Makio was after he left them, after all that time. They started a family, and life as a couple together. They couldn't let the guilt of their betrayal of him, cause them to not move forward in their lives together. Mieko kept saying that she couldn't imagine her life, without Eiji, and Makio being together, but all 3 of them should have established boundaries, between their relationship as a couple, and her place in their lives, as their friend. I'm glad that Asato was the one, that got Makio to finally reach out to those to, in order for him to let go of his feelings of guilt, resentment, and pain over the end of their bond. He did that for a reason: He wants Makio to be able to truly let him into his life, beyond the FWB role he's been placed in.
We didn't need to see a flashback of the night that In got the late in the night phone call, announcing Siam's death. We were able to see that In, sadly has that moment burnt into his memory, by how Nike portrayed that scene.