dodoubleg1785

Gets more relevant with time..

It happened by pure coincidence but I came to this series in a time when the BL industry is being accused of romanticizing toxic relationships and I found Lovely Writer to be extremely relevant and thought provoking because of it.

Not to make this into a debate-review, but I feel like the show did a decent job of showing both sides of the spectrum. The big question seems to stem from "who is to blame for the way the industry does business?" and, while the show leans toward the corporate side as the main bad guys, it does a good job at showing how the fans demand things to be done and how the corporations have to deal with public outcry. The issue is, in order to give the fans what they want, the corporations need to sell lies and this show does a great job at showing how it is all connected and the lives that are effected on both sides of the argument.

With that heaviness aside, the show still managed to be fairly light and fluffy with lots of comedic moments. I loved how they essentially took the piss out of product placement nonsense while working their actual sponsors into the show.

The acting was really well done though I can't say anything stood out to me as outstanding. It was pretty typical, to be completely honest.

Some of the pacing seemed off at times but part of that I think was due to the writing being a bit all over the place in some parts, especially in the earlier part of the series. I think, for a long time, the writers were trying to figure out what to do with Aoey's character. Is he a bad guy or is he supposed to be part of a secondary couple with Mhok? For me, I felt like he didn't really do anything bad until he made the Instagram Live and, even that, I feel like he did it partially because it was what the industry wanted. He was like the devoted son of the Industry since he was the disgraced son in his home life. Either way, he always got the short end of the stick, just by doing what everyone else wanted from him, sacrificing his own happiness in the process. I would have preferred to see a happier ending for him, especially when the series practically made the viewer sympathize with him for 70% of the time.

I would highly recommend this series and I think it has a decent re-watch value. I can see how multiple views could bring to light more revelations and questions. Is there really a right answer with the amount of people and opinions involved?

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Love / hate relationship with this series

First and foremost, I am glad that I gave this series a watch even with all the negative reviews. Yes, I can see where people are coming from but there was enough to keep me intrigued and invested right up until the end.

Yong Je and Xing Si's relationship was just riddled with unlikable traits from the very beginning and I'm sorry to say but it never got any better for me. Even though the viewer is made to believe that all of the bad behaviour was in fact done "out of love and support," it was straight up ridiculous. And, despite insisting that he really did love Yong Je, I can't help but feel bad for Xing Si right up until the end. He was basically forced into this relationship and I never truly believed that, if he were allowed to make his own decisions without guilt, he would have kept family separate and found a new love. He was a great character who was given a sh*tty storyline.

The main couple, however, was the polar opposite. They were everything from start to finish. The actors played the roles really well and they were really the main reason I kept watching. Li Cheng's silliness had me laughing out loud more than once and there was a great balance of playfulness and sincerity to him. Teng Teng was simply amazing and it was hard to look anywhere else whenever he was on screen. Not just because of the eye candy, but he had great subtle nuances that added to every second of the scene. It's clear that the actors understood their roles and played them up effectively.

It was really hard to rate this because of the drastic contrasting feelings I had for the two main couples. That's the problem with shows that focus on more than one relationship... if one is really bad yet they get just as much screen time, it's hard to want to stick around for the other couple, even if they are pure gold. But on the other hand, their different situations created a balance within the show itself, which I guess was the main purpose. I just would have rather seen Xing Si get a better arc because he was great.

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Short and sweet..

As much as I can understand where all the discontented reviews are coming from, I think this series was fine overall. Was it the best? No. Was it the worst? No. It was just enough to make me want to watch another episode "just to see what happens."

It made me think that if a BL series mated with a Hallmark/Lifetime movie, this would be the offspring. Recycled plots/tropes and predictable while still managing to not resolve any major issues. There's tension from the get-go, a situation that forces them to see each other, growing closer, some minor issue and a half-assed attempt to push each other away, then a make-up and everyone apparently lives happily ever after.

Meanwhile, nothing actually gets fixed in the real issues. (The main one being Nawee's family and especially the history with the fathers.) (Also, it was a bad-ass move for Aiaoon to threaten Nawee's father and I had hoped it would turn into an interesting storyline with an aggressive Aiaoon, but then he just never followed through with it. In fact, the father is never seen again for the rest of the series and that entire issue that made Aiaoon pissed at the family from the very beginning has somehow vanished.)

There were certainly cringeworthy moments.. looking at you, Accidental-Kisses. However! When they finally mean to lock lips, they do so with full-on intent and purpose, which was enough to make me forget about the 2 ridiculous ones. If you're like me and the awkward kissing in BL grates on your nerves, then you'll like this change of pace. Especially when the acters are older than university age, I like seeing Man-love rather than Boy-love, if you know what I mean.

Bottom line, if you go into it knowing the story will be a stretch and the tropes are going to be ever-present, you can still enjoy the show for what it is. Short series with short episodes. Cute AF. Sharp-dressed men.

And Sichol needs his own story.

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Did I watch this franchise correctly?

First and foremost, I have yet to watch the sequel (2 Moons: The Ambassador) so I do not know what happens there yet.

But so far, from what I understand, because of studio politics and such, there will be a completely new cast for the next installment. When I read reviews about a new cast, I thought people were referring to the change from the 2017 version of 2 Moons verses the 2019 version 2 Moons 2. Now, I realize there will be a third completely different cast playing the main characters, as if relearning who is who once was not enough.

Also, when I started watching this version, I thought it was going to be the exact same thing and I was wondering why on earth did they redo it when the first one was fine as it is? Then I realized that it was more like a recap as the 12 episodes of 2 Moons is actually only 4 episodes of 2Moons 2 with the rest of the series being a continuation.

I think both were worth the watch and both have actors I prefer in the role over their counterpart. It's a confusing situation and now I question if I was supposed to watch it in order it was released. At least this wasn't as bad as when they start making prequels, spin-offs and "sister series."

I quite enjoyed the series as a whole, even if it wasn't mindblowing. So many school tropes and unnecessary misunderstandings but it's to be expected. One thing I didn't really understand was why they were playing up the villain theme music for Park every time he showed up and why the characters were treating him as such BEFORE he actually did anything bad. He was a boy with a crush but he essentially backed off when Pha finally claimed Yo. And then Yo flat out uses Park to make Pha jealous then ditches him at the movie theater. Now, I'm not saying Park taking revenge was justified as revenge so rarely is. But seriously, Yo made a dick move and a petty one at that which essentially created a villain. This trope of playing mind games in a relationship is so overused and really is childish.

I very well may change my tune after watching the next instalment and, hopefully, they will be older and wiser next time around. Though, according to other reviews I've already seen for it, I'm not holding my breath.

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Practically perfect.. however...

There is so much to love about this series that it's hard to pick which aspect was at the top. But for me, the overall production was superbly executed; everything from the story to the acting to the camera work and direction. (Special shout-out to the fight scene in the casino and, more specifically, the panning shot going up and down the stairs.)

It truly was a rollercoaster ride of emotions - sometimes so quick, in fact, that I felt like I may get resulting whiplash. Within the span of 10 minutes, there could be a moment of laughter, tugging at heartstrings and on the verge of tears in suspense, but it still all worked well and somehow managed to flow all the same.

I like how every character has their strengths and their flaws. No one is perfect and they all make mistakes, but you still root for them despite their shortcomings. They are all simply human, trying to make the most out of the hands they were dealt either from birth or somewhere along the way.

While I would love to see more, I feel like the story could end here, at least as far as the relationships go. The only relationships I'd be curious about is Kim and then how the boys handle being reunited with their mom. However, it kind of broke my heart that the mom looked almost uncomfortable and afraid of them as they hugged her in the ending scene. They just want to love her but they are essentially strangers to her and that's devastating... I don't know if I could sit through more scenes like that. And yet I thought it was beautifully executed all the same to show the reality of the situation and that being reunited is not going to be all hearts and rainbows.

Overall, the series was the best I've watched to date in the BL genre, hands down. There is definitely rewatch value in it, especially knowing what the ending is. I'm looking forward to searching for hints from the beginning since I know there were "lightbulb" moments for sure.


***EDIT***

After watching the series a second time, I feel like there is even more rewatch value in this series. During the first watch, I'm constantly confused with all the deceit and trying to guess who is actually good or bad. But, as I've said above, everyone is flawed in their own ways yet it's how they deal with it that makes the viewer either root for them or jeer them.

My main gripe with it is the whole storyline with Porsche's parents essentially being thrown in in the penultimate episode. That didn't really give viewers much time to grasp what the heck was going on and I still wonder who was telling the truth with all the different scenarios that were presented. And man, the way the mother was uncomfortable while Chay and Porsche tried to make her remember them still bugs me the second time around.

I did have to up my rating though because it's still a great series and I will keep it in rotation for favorite series.

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Ideology: A new foe has appeared. Challenger approaches.

The only reason I labeled this as "dropped" was because I'd read spoilers of the ending and, therefore, refuse to watch it happen. I stopped at episode three which was enough for me, personally.

The story, while good and important, seemed slow and forced in some areas. What I liked about this series is the way they approached the discussion of equal rights. They actually had it formed as a question to challenge the ideology that anything outside of hetero relationships or identities is wrong. So far, a lot of BLs I've seen just bring it up as it pertains to the main characters in a "we can't get married until we have equal rights." I found that this method stood out more because then it's not just relevant to these fictional characters' future but moreso the future of society as a whole.

That being said, with this series, even though it's short, I found myself pausing a lot which is usually a sure sign of being distracted by something else instead of being engrossed in the show. It may very well be because I knew the ending already, I don't honestly know.

But the show did tackle some important issues and there were moments where I truly felt for the characters.

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Near perfection.

I went into this series not knowing anything about it and I'm so glad I did. This was a beautiful story made even more so by the actor's performances. One the surface, the plot doesn't seem all that original but rest assured, no one had done it like this before. (Or if they have, I've yet to come across it.)

The only thing holding this back from being a 10 from me is the unresolved confusion either the brother/cousin... did he love Sean? Did he hate him? Did he resent him? Did he want to help him be free of the family? I honestly don't know what his motive was or what the point of him was.

I'm also kind of on the fence about the secondary couple.. I mean, they were cute at times but it felt forced without much time to really develop. Also, the whole thing about needing "liquid courage" might make sense for teenagers and university students but seriously, these guys are too old for that. But I guess it was part of Xin Jia's charm of being naive and essentially a lost puppy.

There aren't enough words to describe how brilliant Jin Yun's performance as Shao Peng was. He showed so much emotion and inner turmoil without needing to speak or use inflection in tone. It was heartbreaking when he finally lost the last bit of his resolve and it was powerful when he found his own strength and allowed love to find him for who he was.

If a series could immerse me so deep to have me shedding a tear, then that is a true testament to the storytelling, acting and delivery of such powerful emotions to justify rating the series high in my book. I already can not wait to rewatch it sometime in the near future.

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They played with my heartstrings along with their guitars.

This was such a roller coaster of a series with how it would bring the viewer up and down and all around. There was such a tragic undertone throughout (which was beautifully done) while they still managed to make me laugh at some of their antics. And then the last two episodes had me bawling my eyes out with how bittersweet it was.

I will start off by saying if you simply want a story about a washed up singer falling in love with his new music composer, this isn't for you. While this series does have that, it does not focus on their relationship under a magnifying glass of scrutiny. The viewer isn't expected to analyze what every action means as far as their feelings for each other. Actually, there's not a lot of guesswork at all in their relationship since the show is very straightforward with that aspect. (You mean they actually communicate and there are no plot points centered around misunderstandings and assumptions?! Is it even a BL, then?)

While the main leads get equal attention, I will say it feels like the show is mostly centered around Neil and his grieving process for his brother. He has not moved on from his brother's death and only the threat of losing the last thing he had of his brother (their music) kicked his ass into gear to do something about it. That snowballed into him finally finding the encouragement to move on and live his life instead of just existing.

With Sea, we get a little glimpse into his background - absent parents, growing up alone and clinging to the idol who was likely the only person to show him any interest in his young life. His lifeline in Magnet was yanked away with the crash and affected him deeply, which is what they finally bond over.

Anyone who has ever lost a close loved one could relate to the pain and suffering and feeling of being lost without direction that Neil is going through. He was a big child who had his brother looking out for him and then he wakes up one day to find his brother is gone. Even for someone who hasn't experienced it, the way Charles portrayed it was gut-wrenching. He seriously acted his tush off for this role and I think it paid off.

The story was so well thought out and it progressed in a way that made sense. Yes, this meant it was a slow burn and yes it meant their romantic relationship was sometimes put on the back burner to simmer, but I feel like that made their coming together that much more satisfying. They each had obstacles to overcome and, while they were supportive of each other, they didn't rely on the other to fix their problems for them. They worked on themselves to improve and it was so refreshing to watch.

I like that there wasn't an abundance of side characters and that everyone who was introduced had a purpose. There was no real villain which was nice as the characters had enough inner demons to face without needing an external force to add to it.

If I had to say one thing that I wish were done differently, I wish they had more music (either as Magnet or as Neil and Sea) to play throughout the series. They kept playing the same 4 or 5 songs over and over and, while I get why they did it, it made things seem repetitive, even if they weren't. If you pay attention, you'll see there are storyline progressions with each time the play the same song, but to a casual watcher, it may be lost on them. Plus, I just really enjoyed the music so of course I wish there was more of it.

This was a very mature series without all the unnecessary NC filler. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy NC content and am a sucker for smut, but I feel like if they went any more detailed than they did, it would kill the vibe of the series and, honestly, it was perfect as it was.

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Better than reviews led me to believe.

Apparently, if you watch the trailer then you will be disappointed because it hints at a more serious storyline than what the series actually ended up being. I, personally did not watch the trailer therefore I had zero expectations going into the series which I would personally recommend is the way to go. Because from a lot of the reviews, it makes it sound like this series was horrible which it certainly wasn't. I found it to be an interesting and engaging watch overall, if not a little juvenile in places (but that's to be expected in a high school setting.)

I think initially, they were aiming for a similar vibe to Never Let Me Go with the danger element and such since Perth and Chimon's role in that series was very popular. But when you put the setting in a high school with really only a debt collector as the main threat, that's not exactly a thrilling plot. I found more "danger" in regards to Kang's heart where Sailom was concerned. Their relationship was worth sticking around for while the side couples were a bit hit and miss sometimes.

At the start of the series, I was already close to dropping it because of the juvenile bullying. But the way Sailom stood up and fought back in his own way without involving others was very refreshing. He knew he was superior and wouldn't allow Kang to treat him lower than he deserved. This made for some great bickering and build-up of tension between them that had the victim on the offensive more often than not.

The side couple of Guy and Nawa was entertaining as well though when the main couple is already an enemies to lovers trope, it kind of becomes redundant in the secondary couple. They played it well enough, but it was just lost in the background most of the time. Which is a shame because they had a decent storyline going as well.

I really wish there was more between Saifah and Name, especially since it was more like a reunion of friends. There were hints of a potential romance but nothing concrete the whole series which left me guessing right up until the last scene they have together in the jail. But by then, it's like "I need more!!" and we just don't get it. Not only with their storyline but with the actors Papang and Pepper... these two seriously need a series together where they are the leads because they totally have the chops for it. I hate that they are typecast as the older siblings or school mentors because they are closer to 30yrs old instead of all the actors in their late teens/early 20s. I would love to see a more mature series with these two. (Doesn't have to be mature as in NSFW but just a story that is about adults "adulting" and not about kids being immature.)

Speaking of NSFW, I kind of wish they just left that part out of this series, and that's coming from someone who lives for the smut. While Perth and Chimon had good chemistry with the bickering and even with the flirting, their actual physical chemistry wasn't great. It looked almost uncomfortable. I would rather it be implied than shown at just 40% effectiveness.

With all that said, I did find it to be a good watch overall and I would recommend it. There were quite a few funny moments that had me cackling and there were some heartfelt moments that pulled at the feels.

And, yeah, someone give Papang and Pepper their own series.

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It gets better...

This is the first lakorn I've seen so I knew going into it that it would be different from anything I've ever seen before. I also knew that the romance aspect was not going to be a big part of the story.

That being said, even going in armed and ready, the first half of the series absolutely DRAGGED for me. Not because there wasn't anything going on but because it was the same thing over and over and over again. I honestly ended up skipping most of the scenes with the second wife and her maid because every single time was "how do I get my son to succeed Tian?" And whenever the wives were arguing it was just supper catty to me. Then, as sweet as Lady Phin was, her voice sometimes just got on my nerves because she sounded like she was whining, even when she wasn't.

There's a lot of questionable actions going on which, I normally don't pay too much attention to because not much can phase me. But when Li started trying to send Mat to seduce her own son then drugged him and Phin to make them sleep together, thinking "if he has sex with a woman, he'll stop being gay," that was seriously messed up. And I almost felt queasy when they were sitting down to dinner with the mushroom dinner although I suppose that was the point so kudos to the writer for that one, I guess? I suppose the bad characters had to do some pretty nasty things in order for their redemption to be that much more satisfying and so they kind of accomplished that too. But it could have been done in maybe half the time. Especially since EVERY conversation was overheard by someone else. It should have moved the story along faster but it didn't during the first 80% of the series where it was a constant plot point. Honestly, for as big of a mansion as they were living in, there was ZERO privacy and apparently everyone was just happening by at the right moment.

Now, the second half was getting better as Tian started standing up for himself and flat out saying "I don't want to take over the family business and hide what I am anymore." Nevermind that no one except is brother listened to him but as we see him get more and more frustrated, the viewers are just waiting for the explosion to happen.

Speaking of the brother, I think the best part of this show was Tian and Yang's relationship. When they were on screen together, it was always phenomenal from start to finish. I really can't say enough good things about them and really, Tongtong's performance as Yang was probably the best throughout the entire series. Apparently, being a lakorn means there's bound to be some overacting which I definitely agree with. Especially Jan and her maid.. they were distractingly overdoing it which was also part of the reason I skipped their scenes.

The last couple of episodes really hit hard in an unexpected way for me. With how ridiculous the series started out, it really ended strong with some major feels and declarations. Some of the speeches could have been edited a bit shorter, especially Li's while she's there surrounded by everyone and she addresses each one individually. But still. I found myself tearing up a few times, especially toward the end.

Overall, I would say it was a worthwhile watch though I don't really see much re-watch value in it for me personally. Maybe if there was a Tian, Yang and Jiu cut, I'd watch that over and over. But this was a long series with a lot of repetitiveness that brought me really close to dropping it. But if you decide to start this, I'd suggest to stick with it because it gets better as it goes.

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A drama without the drama

This series was such a breath of fresh air. It was a nice break from the overly dramatic, ridiculous storylines filled with miscommunication, jealousy and misunderstandings. There were no vindictive ex's, no love rivals doing underhanded actions to gain favor and no unnecessary filler to drag along in order to make the series longer. Every plot point had a purpose and were interesting to the extent that I almost forgot what happened in the beginning of the series since it was so interesting.

And, finally, a workplace drama that actually had emphasis on the actual job and work they were doing. Pretty much 80% of the series storylines had something to do with their work and it still made sense and was captivating enough to hold my attention. They didn't overly explain or dumb things down for the viewer but gave enough so that anyone who isn't into marketing could follow along.

The side characters were interesting in the way they were very realistic in their emotions and actions. Every office worker has dealt with the busybodies, the inappropriate jokesters and the quiet yes-men who just want to survive another day in the workplace. The friends were fun yet supportive and loyal and honestly, Zorzo as Ae had me laughing so much throughout the series. I also enjoyed seeing Bruce as Chot and thought he played the character well. Sometimes I find the "ladyboys" played a little too over the top but he had a nice balance and it was actually fun to see him opposite Up in a kind of role swap from their roles in Lovely Writer.

As far as the romance goes, it is a very slow burn but a sweet one. The hesitations on both Jeng and Pat's sides were completely justified and the satisfaction we get when they finally come together is made all the more sweeter because of it. This was a good example of a love triangle done right and I actually really liked how Put's character was handled. He was not mean or made out to be a villain but rather a man who realized he messed up and lost the love of his life because of his mistakes. He truly wanted Pat to be happy so he ultimately steps away when he realizes there's nothing more he could do to regain Pat's love. The side couple, while confusing at times, was frustrating in the good way that makes you root for them even more. Unfortunately, that story is left open though it feels like it was intentional for either a second season or a spin off featuring their story.

As of the time I write this, I have no idea if there are plans for a second season but I feel like it could go either way. There were a few loose ends that could be resolved better in a season 2 (mostly the second couple and Jeng's father) but I also feel like, as far as the main couple is concerned, they have a satisfying ending and don't need anything drawn out for the sake of views.

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A nice watch for a single sitting

The thing I like most about these short series is that you can binge it all in one go without feeling like you wasted a whole day of actual productivity. This series, while nothing phenomenal or ground-breaking, was an enjoyable watch.

On the surface, the storyline might seem a bit ridiculous where an established chef has to compete to prove he deserves to stay head chef at a well known and successful restaurant. But as you continue watching, you'll see that the competition is merely a coverup and excuse that Laura, his equal-share business partner, is using in order to replace him without flat out firing him.

Basically, she wants to change things up with a new menu whereas Do Gun wants to keep things status quo. Since Laura doesn't do the cooking herself, the only way she can get what she wants is to replace Do Gun. We see this in the way she wants Jung Woo to frustrate Do Gun and either drive him to quit or drive him to compete. But even then, she has rigged the competition so that Jung Woo would win anyway so either way, Do Gun is gone. In that respect, I think the storyline had more depth than first glance, especially for a short, 2hr total series.

Unfortunately, this didn't really help in making the romance make sense. The cute-chemistry was there as well as the bickering chemistry but not so much the romantic-chemistry, if that makes sense. I enjoyed watching the friends in the kitchen interacting with both chefs and found myself laughing along at some of their moments.

All in all, I could see myself watching this again for a light, doesn't-need-a-lot-of-attention viewing if I feel like seeing a couple of cute guys with some funny side characters.

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Pleasant surprise

There isn't a whole lot to say about this show except that it turned out to be a lot better than I was expecting. Lately, I've been getting more and more tired of school-life shows because I feel like once you've seen a couple, you've seen them all. But this show had some good reviews so I tried it out and I was so glad I did.

It was very entertaining from start to finish and it even had a taste of after school life which I greatly appreciated. With three main couples, I was afraid that it might be a bit overkill but I found myself invested in each story and was happy to see each situation was very different so it wasn't just the same thing over and over, just with different characters.

Personally, I thought each conflict was executed well and, while they used my least favorite trope of all (claiming "I don't love you" for the benefit of their partner) I can overlook it because it gave me enough other stuff. And, really, it was kinda used effectively here, unlike in other shows where it just creates more unnecessary drama. At least here, it meant Mek goes to Australia where he wouldn't have otherwise. But I like to think they could have had a discussion instead and stayed together, doing the long-distance thing for a couple of years without having to break his heart in the process. But I guess that's BL drama for you.

All in all, it was a great series and I would watch it again for fun.

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A collection of some really fun extras to beloved series

Unlike the first Our Sky series, I had made sure to watch all of the parent stories for this one in preparation for when it came out. Some, I watched a while ago so I'm glad each new story began with a recap to refresh my memory.

As a whole, I really enjoyed the series though some of the stories I liked way better than others. It's really impossible to rate the whole series as one thing with all the different casts and storylines going on so that's why I broke it down by series.

Episodes 1-2 (Never Let Me Go)
I liked the time travel aspect and how it felt like a true side story; taking these characters that we know and love and giving them a short "side quest" - if you will - that has a beginning, conflict, resolution and ending. It was well-paced for just a 2 episode storyline. It definitely felt lighter than the original series though that's to be expected with a format like this. There really isn't time to create a lasting, in-depth problem for them to overcome which I personally liked. Honestly, these two had gone through enough in their main story that they deserved a break and something a little more lighthearted.

Episodes 3-4 (Star In My Mind)
While Joong is very VERY nice to look at, these episodes were a bit of a disappointment for me. There was absolutely nothing new brought to the story. Not only that, but it was literally the same thing that happened in the main series with the group of them going to Prince's resort and the main couple being all cute together. There's nothing wrong with that, per say but if these are meant to be additional add-ons to the main story, at least do something different. I felt like I was rewatching the original series or was suffering from deja-vu. There are so many other couples in the GMMTV lineup that I would have rather seen have a continuation or even mini-story of. And, honestly, I don't really believe in their chemistry. Plus their delivery of lines is really distracting to me where it felt like they were just reading off the script instead of "acting" the script.

Episodes 5-6 (The Eclipse)
This was enjoyable and, even though the story wasn't all that original (the main lead being upset because he thinks his boyfriend forgot an important date) I liked how they executed it here. I especially liked when the characters were daydreaming and putting themselves into other classic movie roles which was a nice twist. It made for some funny moments, which was nice to see with these characters, especially when their parent series was more on the serious side of things.

Episodes 7-8 (Vice Versa)
These episodes had a lot going on as far as cramming 2 storylines into 2 episodes. The first half was a good peek into the future after we left off from the series. It was an honest portrayal of the struggles of a couple keeping things fresh and making time for one another after being in the workforce grind. Then the second half had the addition of the arrival of this unknown child on their doorstep. Personally, I thought it was an interesting idea, especially when thinking about the original series with Talay and Puen never truly knowing what Tun and Tess did while occupying their bodies while they were in the alternate universe. There were some really funny moments combined with some deep heartfelt ones that made it an enjoyable watch overall.

Episodes 9-10 (My School President)
While this was the exact same story as the original series, it was made completely different with the role swaps of all the actors. They even switched the mothers which I thought was hilarious. While some may consider it "lazy writing," I thought it was an interesting way to showcase the actors and how they can pull off the opposite roles from what they were originally cast. It also gave Gemini a chance to show his singing chops by playing the front man of the band instead of Fourth. The music video at the end was a funny and clever nod to some other popular BL series (He's Coming to Me, Bad Buddy, Tale of a Thousand Stars). The friends really made this for me as it was funny to see all the swapping there and their interactions together and not just between the couples.

Episodes 11-12 (Boss and a Babe)
At first I thought this was going to be another role swap kind of deal but it wasn't. Well, it was, but not like the episodes for MSP. In this case, it was within the context of the show and it was more of a "walk a mile in my shoes and then tell me it's easy" kind of thing. And it made sense within the story instead of being a completely out there concept. The only thing I wish they had addressed was how name-calling and insults are unacceptable, no matter how much stress a boss is under. And they never even brought up the fact that someone flat out quit because of his unreasonable attitude. But at least he redeems himself at the end... sort of. He says he'll be more mindful though we don't really see it.

Episodes 13-16 (Bad Buddy, Tale of a Thousand Stars)
I'm reminded of how impressive these leading actors are. There's no "reciting lines and waiting for the next one" feel like there are in so many BLs. These guys truly feed off each other and give little nuances in response that make for some funny and more in-depth connections. Ohm and Nannon, while they don't have much romantic chemistry in my opinion, they have off the charts bickering and playful chemistry which is just as, if not more, entertaining. In episode 13, we are brought back to the time where Pat and Pran first "break up" and have to pretend to hate each other while dating in secret. I know a lot of people were upset with this as the original series ended with the families beginning to tolerate each other and the two boys being able to be open about their relationship. It's understandable that people now want to see these two dating for real in the open but honestly, for me, their best moments were the bickering and the flirting while having to hide their feelings from everyone else. That extra sense of taboo added a different type of thrill to the whole thing and it was highly entertaining.
Throw in the crossover with Earth and Mix in ToaTS and watch the amusing chaos unfold. The initial tie-in was interesting enough and I liked how they showed all of the characters interacting with each other. Having Tian and Chief watching Pat and Pran acting as them in the play was a bit of a surreal moment but I thought there was so much depth to it where perhaps they see something new by watching it happen to someone else.
And then we get a glimpse of a "fish out of water" reversal with Chief running loose in Bangkok which made for a fun montage. Then, their ending had me crying right along with them as it was a beautiful conclusion, wrapped up in a neat, lovely bow. Honestly, I'm sad it's over but I wouldn't have wanted it to end any other way.

I really do like this format of additional situations with already established characters and I certainly hope GMMTV continues to do it going forward.

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No expectations is the way to go.

It should be a general rule that one should not go into watching a series with expectations. Having a preconceived idea about what should happen takes away from what actually happens and more often than not leads to disappointment.

I think this may be the case for most of the negative reviews this series is getting. That and the fact that when we see the same pairings over and over, we get into the mindset that these characters should be playing a certain role in every project they do. I think some people forget that these are actors and they can be anything and anyone the script calls for them to be.

Unfortunately, I think this is what hurt this series the most. Sure, it just finished and there's still a lot of watching to be done, but I'm concerned the bad reviews will turn people away before they even give it a chance to make their own opinions. In my opinion, it was a decent watch though it certainly wasn't anything to write home about. And, while I can't see myself watching it again, I may look up some scenes occasionally.

Regarding the main actors and their roles.. I get it. I know this is based off a novel but it really feels like a manhwa or manga. It's got the "everyone chasing after one of the lead characters," an older uke with an innocent, puppy-like seme, not much dialogue between the couples... etc. And the second couple was practically non-existent except for their NC scenes. I even remember thinking at one point, "why doesn't the doctor have many lines? Are they not confident in his acting and only using him for eye-candy?"

In this respect, I though Ja actually portrayed the character well, actually. I may prefer him in a more serious, mature role but that doesn't mean he didn't capture the essence here. It was almost believable that he was younger and more immature than First's character. First, on the other hand, in the attempt to seem older and more put together, seemed to be mostly expressionless throughout 80% of the series. I think he just has way too much passion and charisma to try to pull off that aloof, in control older-man vibe. I appreciated the attempt because I like it more than the whiny brat he was in TharnType 2 and the start of Don't Say No, but it still felt a bit flat and 1-dimentional to me for the most part.

Early on in the first few episodes, I was about ready to drop the series on account of the supporting female cast.. the actress doing the series with Ashi and the 2 managers were driving me nuts but, thankfully they don't get all that much screen time as the story between Punn and Ashi progressed. The managers just get enough to actually further along the plot which was nice after a while. Even Worra became amusing after a while with her over-the-top performance in the lakorn within the series. I wonder how many times the real actress, Noon, had the crew cracking up with her antics and found myself looking to the other actors to see if they crack any smiles.

Ming was a very good character. He is the best wingman and "daddy" to Ashi and Punn. His scenes with the doctor were nice to watch too, being that they were always banging. But hey, it was hot and well done. It was hard to get invested in the doctor as a character since they didn't develop their relationship much or even develop him as a singular character until they gave him a half-assed backstory in the second to last episode. The writers/director put more emphasis on and effort into explaining how Title became such an a-hole than they did with showcasing the doctor and why we should care about him as a supporting character.

Speaking of Title, he was your standard, cookie-cutter villain where he is so in love with the main character that he will do horrible things in order to get his crush to notice him. It's a trope I'll never understand because what good guy "hero" is going to be like "wow, look at how awful that guy is.. he must really love me. I want to be with that guy." And then you have Title doing the whole "well, if he won't love me then he can't love anyone" thing. Like, he flat out says it, not just hints at the mentality with his actions.

Them going to Japan was a nice change of scenery as I don't think I've seen any Thai BL use this storyline yet. Usually if a character goes abroad somewhere, we don't usually see them in that country. Off the top of my head, I really only remember Kirin briefly being in Korea in Cutie Pie and Shi De being in the US in We Best Love. The scenery and architecture in the Japan portion of the show was stunning, especially with the snow. It was mainly because they were filming a period piece but it provided some great visuals and of course the use of hot springs.

The pacing felt a little weird since Punn and Ashi's story at times felt dragged out while Ming and the doctor could have used so much more. It made the whole thing feel unbalanced though I was still invested enough to watch to the end and feel entertained all along the way. Again, it's not the best series but it was an enjoyable watch for what it was.

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