Beatrice

The show literally dedicates a scene to breaking down fandom terminology at the beginning of the show for the normies that may be unfamiliar with the online/twitter fan culture before selectively delving into the strengths and issues of the culture through the characters that represent them. Namwah is the main admin of the fan account Fruitylove that is dedicated to ghost shipping an entertainer named Copter and a barista influencer called Maipai. She rudely crashes into Gap as she's running and filming content at the same time, spilling his pink milk drink, a notable drink reference from some OG bl wave moments from the mid 2010s and blaming him before huffing away. Of course the two attend the same university, the same class, and gets stuck as group project partners, so she tricks him to do their project at a Maipai event. Namwah makes Gap hold a Maipai sign, which is considerate compared to all the other shipper signs that litter the crowd. The show does not discuss the ethics of forcing or focusing a ship at an individual artist's event or to them directly. Doubly so for Maipai who doesn't even directly work with Copter. Because of drama coincidence law, Gap happens to be Copter's friend and access to tickets for his events and Namwah is able to bribe Gap to help out with her fan activity by being the sister of a famous music producer brother with a studio that his band can practice in for free 24/7.

Nawah's co-admin and best friend Noon is also revealed to be the sasaeng account who has been terrorizing Maipai to the point that he moved in with Gap. The sasaeng character gets off way too light and what she lost was all contingent on her own volition to self punish. This does show that there is the thinnest line between being a fan and a sasaeng and not enough legal nor social recourse to protect the people being harmed. Nawah wants to be stay friends with Noon despite everything and Noon is the one who breaks it off and even gets a heroic moment using her scooter to drive Gap to the contest in time. It's unclear if she even apologized and taken down all her creep posts on her account, merely saying that FruityLove is not involved. She stalked and stole things from Maipai and also stalked Copter. She used information from her best friend and Gap to dox where Maipai is living. She deserves a criminal record. It feels like the dramas that feature fans in the storylines are too fearful of truly criticizing the most toxic parts of fandom, because they do recognize that the intensity of their attention near or past the point of mania is what they rely on for money. This is one thing that doesn't need to be subtle, the shows should make it clear exactly where the line is and show consequences, even if sadly real life doesn't have them yet.

Being a online fan account often develops organizational skills to do PR which Nawah is able to translate to help Gap's band Evening Sunday. She immediately starts to post shipping moments to get attention online. Even though Namwah family is in the industry, her skills are honed entirely through fandom activities. This is the power and passion of fans that companies and artists try to pander to, fear, and in some cases even be hindered by. Whether it's negative or positive depends on case by case. Shipping moments is more socially accepting version of homoerotic fan service that boybands has long since utilized to galvanize attention that began with gay panic humor derived games way back in the day. The lines and limits of which depends on the comfort of the artist and their ability and wish to set boundaries or not between the pressures of their companies, contracts, and fan expectations. Another aspect is that a lot of the times the actors do not need to do anything and the fans will selectively curate and edit moments into a storyline that will rationalize a secret romance they want to believe between the two artists they want to ship regardless if it's real or regardless if it would be forcefully outing them if it is real. Often fans will claim this is for fun, but there is often a sizable and vocal portion of the population where the so called fun devolves into a mania where they believe the storyline that they themselves created and expects the artists to validate it . The artists often have to balance the parasocial connection that keeps the fans involved in supporting them while they promote whichever project and brands as a pair or group, while also somehow navigating through the entitlement of fan expectations. The drama does not explore this, but does mention another aspect where the band is accused of only growing their popularity through shipping bait rather than actual musical ability and also the smallest mention of fans of each artist attacking the other.

The drama asks for understanding for Namwah's love for the relationship of two entertainment people who aren't dating, but don't do too good a job of giving a clear thesis aside from it just makes her happy. There is too much understanding for the sasaeng character. I do like how they they showed the rival fan site admin also seems to be in the medical field, administering medical aid with her fellow admins becoming a impromptu medic team immediately whenever it's needed. The kindness and willingness to help each other in the community of fandom is one of the positive sides. There's also the valorizing of seemingly straight presenting fanboys who are given a lot of clout for merely being a fan of a different gender presentation than the majority of the fan population which is extremely true to life. Namwah has her own trauma suppressed skills and abilities that led her to interact with Copter as she performs with Evening Sunday. Her growing romantic connection with Gap was nicely done as was the romantic connection between her producer brother Shogun with Evening Sunday drummer and Engineer major Maitoh who happen to have all the same specific tastes from music, to movies, and especially food combinations which are more hyper specific.

The most horrific moment of the show other than it whitewashing the creepy sasaeng character is the Namwah's make over portion is the stylists snapping her prescription glasses in half. The frames and lenses may possibly be more affordable to replace in Thailand, but I need all stories to be more respectful to these medical devices, especially when the characters actually need them to see. They somehow already have Namwha's contact lens prescription available even though it doesn't seem like she's ever had them before and she's able to instantly wear and hopefully remove them with no issue. I like that Gap has already been long crushing on her way before she did the no glasses makeover. Her heartbreak over Gap having lied to get close to her and utilize her connection to her brother to elevate his band was easier to get over than her best friend betraying her was good too.

The standout romantic storyline is Maito and Shogun. I really like that Maito is seen also working on his engineering school projects alongside working on his band duties. He's always the way showing up to practice and taking all of his responsibilities seriously regardless of his developing crush on Shogun. In return, it's values that Shogun shares and appreciates in Maito. Shogun picking up the guitar to play a song and Maitoh instantly matching with the drums because they both enjoy progressive metal, which great taste, was a great intro to the pair. Maitoh is able to communicate with Shogun on behalf of the band and even help him understand his sister some more. Maitoh is the instrumental catalyst in helping Shogun to open his mind in terms of the band, his sister, and especially in romance. Shogun for his part stands up to the homophobic music equipment shop owner who looks down on Maitoh who had a crush on him when they were younger, claiming Maitoh learned the drums to get close to him. Shogun immediately announces he's going to change merchants and only asks if it was true if the reasons Maitoh learned drums was because of a guy, which of course not, Maitoh loves music which makes Shogun proud and declares Maitoh his "beloved student" in Mandarin. Shogun isn't aware at how his specific attentiveness towards Maito comes off to Maitoh nor to himself. Offering his headphones while performing a nausea alleviating wrist massage and gently holding Maitoh's wrists after Maitoh feeling some pain from practicing so much can be ambiguous, but standing shirtless and out of nowhere offering Maitoh to touch the scar on his chest is definitely some mixed messages.

It is understandable that Shogun initially tells Maitoh that he likes him as a brother because sexuality is a spectrum and he hasn't experienced that same sex attraction until he met Maitoh also sometimes the way you see people may remain platonic until suddenly they express interest in you and the way you feel changes. It's nice that Shogun has a conversation with his studio staff about how if there is someone who is everything you are looking for, but just one tiny thing, would you let that chance go and to not make it complicated because out of the billions of people on earth, is it that easy to find the one? The man has a silly haircut, but he also has sensible advice. I really liked that Maitoh sets a boundary with Shogun to put some distance between their interactions in order for Maitoh to get over him and when Shogun was watching Green take care of Maitoh that it isn't angry jealousy, but heartbreak and yearning that it isn't him. It was wild that Maitoh closed his eyes when Green was trying to kiss him, basically allowing it when Green was sabotaged by his own ship supporter Maitee, Maitoh's little bro. Maitoh was so heartbroken that he was almost willing to rebound with Green who has always tried his best to adjust to his preferences and take care of him if Shogun didn't come to his senses and showed up to win Maitoh heart back. Maitoh's parents instantly clock Shogun's food preferences match Maitoh. Maitoh being the best, directly confronts Shogun why he's there suddenly acting like he likes him after bro zoning him and doesn't say anything direct, just hugs him. Shogun does go for a kiss, but interrupted by Green who does force a kiss on Maitoh, which is not cool, but at least they make things clear between each other finally. It's so cute how Shogun snuck some bracelet making material from his sister and made a good luck keychain for Maitoh. It's a testament to real friendship that Green is able to witness the happy scene and be genuinely happy for Maitoh's happiness. Their romance gets the beach sunset conclusion with a funny moment where Shogun asks Maitoh in Manderin "Let's be together" and Maitoh's is confused asking if he's insulting him, before Shogun clarifies it means "please be my boyfriend", and they finally get to kiss. This being a private moment is better than Gap doing a whole friends and family proposal style to asking Namwah to be his girlfriend, but the girl enjoys dramatic romantic actions fanfiction style so Gap is doing right by his audience of Namwah. Maitoh already using his boyfriend powers to hold back Shogun from that paternalistic impulse to throtle pull Gap away from kissing his sister even though he was in on the confession party.