dodoubleg1785

After reading the synopsis and even after watching the first episode, I was a little worried that this was going to be overly complicated and confusing to watch. But it didn't take long to get the gist of what was going on and I'm glad I stuck with it because it was a very good series. It had an interesting and different premise than anything I've seen to date and it kept my attention the entire way through. There was just enough angst to keep the viewer invested and it wasn't the same old tropes of misunderstandings and miscommunication.

One of the things that stood out to me was how clever the writing was. There was so much subtle symbolism; from the colors describing moods and the whole hourglass thing. I like when these kinds of hints and tidbits are woven throughout the journey and it shows a great attention to the little details in the storyline.

I would certainly recommend this series as it gave delivered a wide range of feels and thought provoking moments while still keeping to the standard BL formula.

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A lot of people are saying they were disappointed with this series. The only thing I'm disappointed in is the low rating and negativity surrounding it just because people were expecting something different. As its own series, Between Us was good. But because it is attached to such a fan favorite like Until We Meet Again, it is being held to the same standard and formula.

If you want another supernatural, fated mates sweet slow burn, this is not for you. If you want a closer to realistic drama that deals with PTSD and Survivor's Guilt but still full of heart and passionate characters, then please consider giving this a try.

But I beg of you, don't go into it planning to compare it to its parent story, It deserves its own recognition. I admit, when I started this series after reading all the bad reviews, I found I kept waiting for it to "get bad," if you know what I mean. Usually people are waiting for a show to get better but I had heard so much about disappointment that I had braced myself to feel the same but it never happened. The show was intriguing all the way through although I admit there were a couple of times I thought they probably could have shortened it by one or two episodes. Mainly because there was a lot of flash backs to the same scenes as characters recall and reflect on earlier conversations.

Aside from that, I found it to be a good show and I feel almost guilty going into it prepared to be disappointed. I feel like I owe the series another go 'round since I was watching with tinted pre-conceived notions.

A lot happened in the first few episodes and then it slowed down somewhat but it never got boring. I think because the main couple came out of the gate with such sexual tension and relations, people kind of expected it to stay that way. But it was during these more solemn moments where the characters get their biggest development and they are important moments.

If I WERE to compare the stories of the main couples from UWMA and Between Us, I liked that Win and Team were practically the polar opposite to Dean/Pharm's relationship where there was intimacy first then love rather than love first then intimacy. Dean was searching his whole life for his missing piece while Win wanted nothing to do with love and all the hard feelings that came with it. Pharm struggled with conditions that were beyond his control from a past life he somewhat recalls in dreams while Team struggles from Survivor's Guilt after a tragic accident from his own childhood.

I get that people think the MC relationship was inconsistent but I didn't see it that way. Win and Team understood lust, so they acted on it, then they had a very reasonable and expected internal meltdown when they started feeling more above the belt. Relationships begin and grow in many different ways and it's nice to see different situations portrayed.

While I don't really have any issues with any of the side characters (as they were entertaining in their own right) I think there were just too many of them. It was almost like every character introduced had to end up with someone and to keep track of that many relationships in one series is just overkill.

Overall, I really enjoyed this series and I will definitely watch it again, especially knowing that it wasn't going to be as bad as a lot of people were saying. I think it's unfortunate that the show gets a bad rep because of other's expectations.

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Wow..

Going into this series, I wasn't sure if I'd like it, knowing it was a medical drama and I never got into those.

That being said, this had my interest from start to finish and there were plenty of twists and turns along the way to keep it thrilling but not too much to make it dizzying.

The acting was fantastic and their timing and delivery in practically every line was spot on. Also, the actor who played Art is now my favorite "best friend." He was like that in TharnType and he plays a similar character here, which he does so well.

The story was unique, at least when it comes to BL. The only reason I didn't give it 10 was because there were just a handful of things I wish they had cleared up more thoroughly. I know a lot of people felt like the ending was unclear but for me, I thought it was perfect. Tin quoted their conversation, showing he actually did remember and they end it on a simple kiss.

The parts I wish they had explained better were more along the lines of Jinta's origin and why this was happening to Tin in the first place. The most I got was that the "powers that be" wanted to make him rediscover his humanity but then was that the main reason or was Jinta trying to ultimately expose the illegal dealings? And when did Sing and Gap become a couple? I mean, sure it was foreshadowed but then all of a sudden they were together in the last loop which actually started days before they were still bickering but not together. It made me question how many of the side characters were feeling the effects of the loop, especially when Gap was like, "You're covering for him again?" when, in actuality, it was the first time.

But other than those minor lingering question marks, I feel like the story moved along and worked well, especially with such a fantastic cast to support it. I would recommend this for sure, but with the head's up that it will be a bit heavy in places.

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Frustrating at first but...

... luckily, I read reviews that Vee redeems himself because the first few episodes were rough. It wasn't enough to make me want to drop it, even without the head's up, but it was frustrating as hell.

Thank goodness for Mark. I absolutely loved this character but then again, I'm a sucker for power bottoms. I thought he walked a fine line between "constantly getting the short end of the stick" and "I am independent, hear me roar," both of which I'm not a fan of. But he knew what he wanted and went after it most of the time and, when he finally admitted he wanted Vee, hot damn, that was some serious flirting/seducing.

They could have done more with the side characters instead of them all bumping into people in the bar at the end. Like, seriously, three couples did the exact same thing one right after another in the span of 5 minutes. Granted, this is the only instalment of the Love Mechanic franchise I've seen so far... perhaps they get more time in the others.

I'm kind of bummed with the direction they took Ploy. She had a promising strong story arc where she took a step back from both men and figured herself out. That's a really hard thing to do and it could have been left at that with no bad blood. But then I guess the writers needed more tension between Mark and Vee and they thought, "you know what we should do? Put Ploy back into the mix." Not like they hadn't already spent half the series with her as the main obstacle already. And then she turns into the victim while also forcing herself on Vee and the viewer doesn't know if they're supposed to sympathize with her or hate her.

Overall, though, it was a good watch. I could see rewatching bits and pieces but there was way too many misunderstandings to sit through the whole thing again.

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So much tension without being intense..

This was a nice short series; good for when the brain or heart needs a break after some of the heavier stuff out there in the BL world.

The story was unoriginal but that didn't take away from its charm. If anything, the realistic plot was very relatable. I feel like even younger people could take away from this as a "live while you can because you don't want to end up in a stagnant life" mantra.

The tension between the two leads was so palpable, it had me blowing out a contented breath when they finally kissed. The actors delivered all the emotions in a spectacular way; from Togawa's unbridled longing and the snap of his restraint to Nozue's surprised pleasure and confusion.

I could see myself watching this again when I need a lighter piece to cleanse the mental palate.

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Glad I watched it.

At first I wasn't going to watch this series after reading the synopsis and a few reviews but I'm really glad I gave it a chance.

The story was sad and tragic from the very beginning yet somehow managed to pull off a happy ending. It was the only series to date that actually brought me to tears and it wasn't because of any interactions between the couples but rather their interactions with their families. The goodbyes, the reunions, the revelations.. they were heartbreaking but necessary.

Starting with the lows, honestly, there wasn't a whole lot I didn't like. I remember reading one review that harped on the fact that Pharm cries in every episode and, while true, I didn't find it annoying or unnecessary. (I think the only thought I gave to it was wondering what the budget was for the eye-drops and tissues for this production and the crew.) Also, normally, I'm not a big fan of everything being connected as if it were one big coincidence; this person is related to this person who just happens to be related to this person and so on. Besides having to pause a few times to get the connections straight in my head, I think all the connections actually worked and made sense in this series, especially when you get to the ending episodes where both families come together to ensure Korn and In find their way to each other again. Fate just happened to decide to do it by way of family relations.

The part I really liked about the series was how everything that happens has purpose. I generally don't like a lot of filler, even if that filler is of the spicy nature. (This series lacked the spice but not the emotion so that was enough for me.)

Speaking of spice, this series is straight up "food porn" and I'm kind of upset that there isn't a cookbook out there with the recipes from throughout the series. That didn't effect my ratings, though.

Edited afterthoughts:

Another review I had seen brought to attention the fact that the flashback scenes were hard to follow since it didn't give a date or time stamp for them. While I will say that would have been a nice added touch, I personally didn't think it was necessary. You can clearly tell at what point in their relationship the scene is from just by Korn and In's interactions and that in itself was impressive.

Also, speaking of the flashback scenes, in one of the first ones where you see Perth as In's friend, I couldn't help but think of the phrase "Go for the Oscar, Perth." Which basically means they didn't necessarily have to go that hard in their acting. I'm not saying it's the actor's fault, a lot of times it's the monologue they are given, but still, that just stood out to me for some reason. There were a couple of times, actually, where I feel like they didn't need to dial it all the way to 11, but it wasn't enough to effect the rating of the show either. Even the cookbook is still more important to me.

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Interesting story without unnecessary filler.

This show was really good in many ways, especially the storyline. I'd never watched one like this though I know there are a few out there that dabble in supernatural. This series, though short, used their time wisely. I felt like every scene had a purpose and there wasn't much unnecessary filler.

That being said, there are a few things left unanswered at the end. And, while it has a somewhat happy ending, it really isn't all that happy either. I don't want to give full-on spoilers, but basically nothing is really resolved and they leave as a "that's something we will have to worry about later" kind of thing.

I would rewatch maybe once or twice more to see if I could catch any foreshadowing, but that's pretty much it. Still worth a watch at least once, in my opinion.

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Why is this rated so low?

I swear, the day I figure out how to decipher what viewers want and where they get their ratings from will never come. Was this a 10 out of 10? No. But it was certainly better than a lot of the shows I've watched that are rated 8 or higher. You'd think I'd know by now not to let myself be influenced by reviews but I am just as guilty today as I was a year (and 70 series) ago.

So far, I have seen a handful of the HIStory series though admittedly not all of them. This one reminded me a lot of the last one, HIStory 4, at least with the main couple. They have a similar storyline where one guy enlists the help of the other to seemingly get with a girl but that is just what it looks like on the surface. In this series, there is so much more going on but unfortunately, the viewer doesn't realize it until the last 2 or 3 episodes. This, in my opinion, is both a good and bad storyline choice which I will try to explain without too many spoilers.

On the one hand, without knowing the full depth of the situation, the story seems shallow for a good portion of the series and, especially for people watching week to week, it can seem boring. Binge watching this is the best way to go to keep engaged and, I promise, it will make sense later on. I guess in that respect, it's a good way to ensure that the show gets a re-watch from the same viewers because now knowing what happens in the end, I want to watch from the beginning while keeping it in mind and seeing everyone's actions under a different lens.

I don't want to pick at other people's reviews, but part of me feels like I need to defend this series because it really was a lot better than many people are painting to be. One complaint I noticed quite often was saying Johnny came off as childish. I didn't see him as such, at least not childish in a negative sense but more in the way that he is an innocent, carefree and overall positive person. But he also has moments of showing an opportunistic and cunning side. Not only is he completely out of his element (and time) but he is used to being a loner save for his grandmother. So of course he's going to be awkward and hesitant when interacting with others, especially when it's more intimate and serious.

Another complaint which I can kind of agree with is the whole "is the time travel element really necessary?" At times, I'd say it added to the show as time travel gives both the "fish out of water" vibe as well as the uncertainty of how long Johnny will be in 2022. He doesn't know what brought him there so at any point, he could vanish just as easily. Not only does it add tension but it creates the underlying idea of cherishing every moment and appreciating the small things. Nothing should be taken for granted, no matter how small, especially time. But the story had so much other stuff going on that I feel like it could have been left out. The whole thing with the department store and espionage was interesting enough that I don't feel like they needed to add time travel to the mix.

To go along with those lines, the time travel part is never really explained either. Why did he time travel in the first place? What was Fude actually trying to do that had him accidentally bring Johnny to 2022? Was he just trying to save him from flat out dying in an accident? Fude in general is never really explained or makes much sense however I do have to say the many faces of Fude are absolutely hilarious.

I do feel like I enjoyed the secondary couple's storyline more than I did the secondary couple in HIStory 4. Both couples in this series worked well and I liked how they were intertwined. While one of the main "plot twists" was pretty predictable, I was pleasantly surprised that a more minor plot twist completely took me by surprise and I have to give credit where credit is due. (Looking at you, Sam.)

Overall, I really think this was a good series. It's a shame that anything under the HIStory umbrella is destined to be compared to each other. Because as its own story, this was great. I would definitely watch it again and I'd probably come back to edit this afterwards with some additional thoughts.

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Very well done all around.

I thoroughly enjoyed this series and everything about it: the story, the acting, the pacing, the directing. It all came together really well to create another great series to add to the growing Korean BL lineup.

The series begins with an insight to where the story is headed then we go back in time to tell the story of how we ended up there. By the time we catch up, there's still more story to come (including one of the best plot twists I've seen).

This series could have really benefitted from a couple more episodes, just because the story was that good and it deserved more ironing out. That's my main issue with KBL series; they are always so short. Sometimes it's good when the story is less involved and doesn't need all the extra filler. But when they are working with a more complex theme or multiple storylines intertwined, they really deserve a bit more time to have it come together better.

I think this series did a decent job with tying together all the loose ends though just a tiny more explanation or conclusion in some areas could have made this series perfect.

This could have been a 10 from me if they didn't use my most HATED trope ever.. The "I don't love you" excuse for breaking up instead of being honest about what was going on in their heads. I can't remember which series I wrote it in but one of the reviews I did for a series that used that, I said that there's no coming back from a claim like that and it's just as true here. Thank goodness the very next scene is someone stepping in and the couple clears the air and reconciles not even two minutes later so the unnecessary angst didn't linger.

The only other complaints I have for this series is that I wish the "side couple" (if you could call them that) didn't really end up together although they were back to being friends. But the senior kind of allowed his internal homophobia to win which is really unfortunate. It would be great to see a side story or even spin off series that explores their relationship more as I still think they had (have?) a lot of potential.

I wish there was a little more resolution with the father though I get that there were time constraints to fit in the main storyline. They needed to have a serious conversation. The dad get's told off once and he's suddenly a changed man? I highly doubt it. But I just took it to mean it would be a work in progress and that they would eventually come to an understanding, even if we don't see it.

Speaking of things we don't see... I love when a plot twist comes completely out of left field and I don't see it coming while it still fits in seamlessly with the story. I could see people saying there were too many coincidences but I think it was pretty poetic when the truths came to light. (I'm trying really hard not to give it away so I'll stop talking about it now.)

But yeah, I definitely recommend this series. It was full of heart, great storytelling and had a mixture of funny and serious moments that blended well together. The music was a nice change of pace too, giving a fresh spin on a classic formula.

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A cute, light and feel-good series.

I came to this series not long after watching Cherry Magic (Thai version) and I feel like there is a similar vibe here that I quite enjoyed in both series. It had a Japanese series vibe to it with some of the inner monologue and looking into the camera and a hint of over-the-top moments. This was a nice light show that was interesting and not your run-of-the mill University drama that follow the same cookie cutter storyline.

First things first, I'm sad that people bash the series because they compare it to others that Off and Gun have done together. It's really unfortunate because the series itself delivered on what its clear intention was: comedic and full of heart with the characters not only working to improve themselves but also lifting up those around them, whether they were their partners or friends. There was so much going on with different relationship dynamics that I can't imagine how anyone could say the series was boring. Before I knew it, I was on episode 12 simply because I wanted to see what happens next. It wasn't heavy or needed a lot of processing, making it an easy watch to breeze right through.

In that respect, I feel like the acting was fine, considering the overall tone of the series. There was a good mix of seasoned actors along with newbies and I feel like they all fell into place quite well with each other. It was clear who was who out of the experienced and the inexperienced but I like that they could come together in such a series. The actor for Dy was a prime example of this seeing as he had most of his scenes directly against actors like Gun and Neo. While it was clear he was new, I feel like he held his own opposite them well enough. The character of Metha was probably my favorite. He was goofy most of the time but had sage words of wisdom when it mattered, giving a glimpse of much more beneath the surface. His dynamic with each character was slightly different yet 100% still unmistakenly HIM. I also like that he didn't end up with a partner in the end, nor was he looking for one throughout the series. I feel like the writers here understood that each supporting role doesn't need to be paired up. I wish more series would realize this.

It had a very realistic feel to it where, yes, I could see people thinking it too mundane to be made into a series but I think these kind of series are nice to see every so often to show that any life could be important and worth being invested in, no matter their circumstances. And, again, it was different enough from the standard University setting to make it stand out. I would say it's a great series to watch after a darker series (I watched this right after Payboyy soooooooooo... yeah..) to clear out the haze and fog that sometimes those heavy series leave behind. And being a fan of Gun, I like to see his range of acting, knowing he can do the serious roles as well as comedy and heartfelt slice of life. Same with Neo.. it was nice seeing him like this after watching him as Boston in OF.

I would recommend this for anyone needing a series to feel good about and smile along with. (Also, prepare to walk away hungry because those dishes they make are stunning.) Take it for what it is and what it was meant to be. It's best enjoyed as it's own thing and not in comparison to other works by different writers, directors, crew, etc.

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Much better than I thought it would be

The reviews for this series made me put it on the back burner for a long time which is unfortunate because this was a good series in my opinion.

While I understand and can appreciate that it's not everyone's cup of tea, I don't think it deserves such negativity. Is the story groundbreakingly original? No. Is the acting stellar? Not really. Is it entertaining? One-thousand percent yes.

Story-wise, we've seen this a million times before: childhood friends where one harbors a secret crush on the other and they part ways only to meet again as young adults. Through a series of obstacles, they finally reveal their deepest feelings for each other and overcome all adversaries together.

Acting-wise, while it wasn't the best, I did very much enjoy the main cast's performances, especially where the comedy was concerned. Mike, Toptap and Khao all had fantastic facial expressions, especially when reacting to something someone else had said or done. Ton's parents and Amp were a bit over the top though I guess that was mainly done to emphasize their role as a hurdle in the main couple's relationship. Thankfully, they didn't have all that much screentime overall. Also, while I absolutely LOVE Jan, I wasn't a huge fan of her character here as I found her a bit annoying at times though still lovable in that way you love a good friend but can only take them in small doses.

Na was probably my favorite character after Ai and Nai as a couple. When he's first introduced, it seems like he will be yet another scheming bad guy who tried to get Chon but he ends up being the most selfless and best of friends to Chon and the group. (Side note: I watched this after watching Only Friends and it was super weird to see Neo like this after playing such a character as Boston but it was also a reminder at how talented Neo actually is.)

Speaking of comparing to other series, I'd seen Mama Gogo which had a lot of these actors in it and found it to have a similar form of hilarity to the characters. Especially Mike, Toptap and Pod and their interactions with each other. I also found it hilarious that when they went to the bar in the second episode and there was a dance competition, 3 out of the 4 of them will go on to play strippers and yet the 4th one is the one who dances and wins the competition. Then at the end, Mike and Toptap do a body roll and I'm like "Aaaaand there it is!"

Anyway, getting off topic..

Overall, this was a highly enjoyable watch and I would encourage more people to watch it, especially for the many laughs that I got out of it.

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Best before: the last couple of episodes

Upon re-watch of this series, I feel like I either didn't pay enough attention the first time around or blocked certain things from my memory. I remember liking it a lot (which I still do) but now I notice so many flaws that I just didn't give enough mind to at the time.

The beginning of this series had so much going for it: interesting and unique plot, good acting, two main couples that I found equally intriguing and was invested in. There were legit reasons for Tai to be against the soul mate idea and the inquisitiveness of Lomfon had everyone asking the question about "destiny's choice vs our choice" based more on science. Everything felt natural and organic, as much as a supernatural theme could be.

There was even good communication between Tai and Phat from early on about their reservations and feelings that didn't take away from the relationship but instead added depth to it.

Then we get to episodes 10-12 and it all went south. All of a sudden we have Phat being unreasonable and uncharacteristically pushy while Tai couldn't have been more obscure and vague with his words. No wonder Phat got suddenly insecure. I could understand if they showed this side of him throughout the series but, even after his breakup with Nara, he was always this confident if not reserved guy. But then this came out of no where and makes him almost completely unlikable in the process.

At the very least, with the way Tai's character did a 180 turn, they showed how stupid he was being when they showed a side-by-side of his actions mirroring what his mother did when she left. He even used that as fuel to get his tush in gear to go after Phat. That was the only time the flashbacks were actually useful.

That being another odd thing I didn't remember... the use of flashbacks and re-playing of the same scenes. They weren't necessary and it just made me think the director or editors thought the audience were dumb and needed weekly refreshers. I mean, yes, I forgot details after a couple of years but when this was airing, it was week to week.. give the viewers some credit. I also figured they just needed to fill time so they put replays in.

After all that, I still really like this series and I would still recommend it. I don't know where you can find the uncut version anymore but the cut version is fine too. Not as NC-17 but their good chemistry is evident throughout so it's okay without those extended scenes.

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People are too literal

Nothing about the series was amazing or groundbreaking. The acting was okay and the storyline was somewhat unique but not overly new. It follows a very basic BL formula, complete with eye candy, mediocre kissing and an ex plot thrown in as a "oh, by the way, this happened" afterthought.

But was it a decent watch? Yeah, actually. I think it deserves more than 5.8 (as it sits currently on the overall rating.)

It seems like everyone's big gripe with it is the lack of cats since cat is right in the title. Really? That's what we're going to go by? And also, the language difference *was* actually addressed... like, a lot. They didn't just have Mew speak Thai and everyone else speaking Korean without mentioning it, as other cross-country series have done.

Also, I wish there were more reviews that gave a head's up about the dog having to be euthanized. Yes, it made sense in the storyline why it needed to happen and it was a peak growing point for Mew's character. But as an animal lover, knowing it was going to happen would have been nice to be able to prepare myself.

There was also a good point to be made about illegal breeding and buying puppies from puppy mills/farms. Seriously, don't do it. It's horrific.

While I would have thought there'd be more dogs at a dog cafe, I understand it's probably not a common thing to have trained dogs in show-biz, especially on a low budget, which this seemed to be. In that regard, I can forgive a few things and not let it take away from the overall idea of the plot.

I thought the length of the series fit really well as I'm not sure if I'd have rated this as high as I have with a longer series. I could see them either putting in ridiculous side plots or unnecessary filler with anything longer and that would definitely change my view on the quality of the production. I think they did just fine with what they had and thought the progression felt pretty natural, overall.

I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a quick, no-brain-required watch. Again, it's not spectacular but I'm glad I gave it a try, despite the low rating and all the hate in the comments. I came across this as I was in-between longer, more intense series and figured I needed a quick palate cleanser. I would say it was mission accomplished and I can now move on to the next more involved series.

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Desperately needed some polishing up

This series was hard to watch because there were times it was engaging and interesting, showing promise of a decent series. And then the next moment, there's something happens that is so incredibly random that make me think I missed something or that they were trying to make it suddenly exciting all too quickly without context or preamble. Many things were done without reason or, really, we don't get a reason right away or even in the near future.. more like an afterthought like "Oh, that's why this person acted this way" kind of thing. And these questionable actions are done by people we are later supposed to root for to be happy? I don't really buy it.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Let's first talk about the couple of Him and Nail. It started off interesting and looks like a random hookup from a night of clubbing after a broken heart. Then we get a glimpse of Him having an ulterior reason for chasing Nail other than initial interest and lust. Nail was a great character in my opinion... shy at times but super flirty and hella sexy when he turn on the sass. That in itself would have been a good enough storyline for these two as they worked things out. Him would find himself falling in love again and realize it had nothing to do with the fact Nail resembled Blue and Him was not trying to replace his dead lover with a replica model. Nail would move on from his broken heart and find a new love in an unexpected place.

And then they added all the rest of the characters and intertwining storylines and shtuff hit the fan.

The side couple was okay enough but again suffered from being in the middle of everything else going on around them and interlaced storylines. Pie was a former lover of Him's cousin, who he simultaneously had beef with though we really never know why.

Actually, it seemed like everyone had it out for Him, who was also grieving the loss of his lover. Te wanted to destroy his life just because Him and Blue had relationship issues? Their dry spell was the least of what Blue was going through but Te acted as if Him was the sole reason behind it. Seems to me like Blue had no actual friends or family he could talk to and didn't try to seek help. So Te's solution is to hurt both Nail and Him. And then we're supposed to believe he feels bad about it and moved on to this random Peach guy who shows up out of nowhere? (If you're dizzy reading this, trust me, watching it unfold will not be any easier.)

The best friends at the school probably made the most sense throughout the whole thing. And, I know a lot of people say the "mean girls group" was so unnecessary and ridiculous - which is kinda true - but I will say this... I really like that they weren't actually "mean girls." I like that the show depicted that the popular pretty girl clique could still be supportive and root for their friends. They were ready to fight the pretty boys because Nail was hurting and I can't help but give major props and respect for that. Sure, they were kinda OTT and unnecessary but they weren't the typical villain type a lot of these roles are. Even the one friend ended up with one of them which is usually unheard of unless it's something like Hana Yori Dango.

So would I recommend this series? I mean... I never say "don't watch this" but this one really was rough. Instead of suggesting to steer clear, I'll just say keep what I've said above in mind and be prepared for not everything to make sense. There's some decent NC scenes, if that helps. And Nail being a subtle sassy queen is amazing.

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Such great acting from the main cast

After seeing a lot of the different adaptations of the F4/Boys Over Flowers story over the years, I couldn't help watching this while comparing them to the others. This version held its own and I think it captured the key points without putting too much filler into it while simultaneously including some side stories that I don't recall being in any of the other versions. (It's been a long time since I watched the older versions so maybe they were there and I don't remember them.)

Right off the bat, I really liked Bright's portrayal of Thyme. (All of the F4 guys were phenomenal but Bright in particular.) I thought the series did a good job at showing Thyme's personal growth and change over the course of the episodes, especially showcasing just how far he had come when he reverted back to his old self after losing his memory. Bright did a great job showing the many complicated sides to Thyme and how different he acted around different people.

Kavin and MJ reminded me so much of their Taiwanese counterparts in the 2001 Meteor Garden adaptation. Like, at times, I felt like I was literally watching Vanness Wu and Ken Chu. They even had the same basic look which, yeah, it makes sense since it's the same character. But it was just so bang on that I could immediately tell who was who when the series started.

I was kind of hoping they would have gone further into Kavin and Kaning's relationship (I guess I'm so used to series having multiple couples now) but I understand why it was left the way it was since that's how it was in the original manga. Their story was kind of left open ended.

For a series that I knew what was going to happen and what it was about, I wasn't prepared to be so invested or emotional about it. Especially the rage I felt over the bullying. The series is literally based around bullying but it's still so frustrating to watch which I guess means they did a great job at showing it. I did like how they included the bit about them going to all their victims and apologizing and, even though it was like a montage with narration over it, you can still see how the victims could finally let go of it, even if it doesn't fix what happened. Sometimes, that's all they need.

This was also a better showcase of how kids mimic their parents' behavior and the effects it can have on their life early if they don't recognize it themselves and change before it's too late. Thyme was on a fast track to being as cold and heartless as his mother and, while he wanted to please her, he didn't take a moment to step back and realize she had zero love around her and that was how he'd end up in the end. On the other side of the spectrum, you have Gorya who has basically nothing but love and yet she's happy and has healthy relationships with her close friends and her family. From one extreme to the next, they needed to find a middle ground which came at the end of a long and bumpy road.

I don't know if I could watch this again, seeing how frustrating the overall plot is. But I did enjoy it and I think it's a great addition to the Boys Over Flowers catalog. I would recommend it but just keep in mind, it's not for the faint of heart or if you want a light and fluffy romance. The characters are flawed and sometimes have to learn the hard way from their mistakes. But it makes the ending that much more satisfying, in my opinion.

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