Beatrice

I'm so glad that the math camp story has it's own page, because the quality is night and day compared to the other story of the anthology that has so far aired. Though the acting of the leads is still greenish, they have lots of room to grow, the writing, direction, and overall production is sharp, producing a very competant, sweet story of friendship and self discovery on the cusp of adulthood in 4 episodes. The humor isn't too exaggerated and overall it's so much better than other full series that just drag on and on.

The math camp itself is already full of kids that are probably on some level of neurodivergent, but Mawin is the most neurodivergent of them all. It's social awkwardness despite wanting to connect with people is so relatable while his genius ability to process math as fast or faster than a computer isn't He's also a really keen observer and solid advice giver. It was unfair of anybody except for Err who he got emotionally and physically involved with to be mad at Mawin because they're they ones who sought out a rando stranger to ask solutions from, it's not Mawin's fault it's him. He didn't even charge any money.

Err is also gifted and is studious towards math, but he's full of self doubt and his loving funny bestie Benz interprets the fortune in the most extreme way and Err just roles with it. I love that Mawin's letter confirms that the fortune just meant for Err to make some friends and not to make him fall in love. It's so such a lovely twist for Mawin that Benz somehow interprets the most general advice into sending Err his way. Err is good at socializing and speaks up for his friends. I love that his friend Mhee from middle school and also at the math camp is also the same way and also gets the math kids to realize what they did wrong against Mawin.

It's lovely the kids reveal they aren't bad people, but it's only because there are other kids brave enough to call them out and correct their their behavior that they made out of fear. This is such a healthy lesson for people of all ages to learn, but especially young adults who are still learning to navigate the world. The way each one of them apologizes to Mawin who has to deliver their laundry as punishment for skipping out on class is heartwarming. Mawin skipping out on the the final exam was handled well. Err misunderstands it concurrently with finding out he was the fortune teller and tragically they don't spend the remaining senior year together while Mawin returns to ostracization. All because Mawin's letter was in the book the ramen coaster course book that Err didn't need to use anymore.

The dramatic irony of Mawin realizing that most everyone just had communication issues and that's what was keeping him and Err apart. I really do like that Mawin gets to have likes and wants and his own set of friends. He didn't want to go overseas, but he wants to learn English to make international calls to Boston, Massachusetts where his boyfriend will be. Good for him for completing his wish of not only making friends, but the bonus gift of getting a boyfriend too. The kissing is the classic awkward stilted jpeg, but the characters are babies and the actors are very young so at least they have reasons. I do appreciate framing them in wide shots.