g_june

Light and fun show with a hidden message.

I have to say: I review this show having read the novel before, so I'm sorry if I compare the two things a lot. I just can't help it.
The Middleman's Love could have been either a full-comedy show or something really deep and emotional. If you read the novel, Jade is such a goofy character, but he has some insecurities that eat him alive and give deepness to his persona. The novel is basically a journey through an average person's mind, someone who couldn't just believe to have something good. It's a topic we all relate to, I guess.
What the producer did here is taking the novel and exaggerate the comedic part, trying to have a more entertaining show, with what they had. Maybe a budget matter, or maybe it's just a choice of the production team, but they went all-in toward the comedic genre.
I personally don't like this choice since I loved the book so much, but I still think this is a great show. The main flaw is visible since episode 1: Jade's behavior appears just immature for a 28-year-old man, it exceeds goofiness. Does it make The Middleman's Love a bad show? I don't think so. It's light, fun, and something you want to watch after a long and tiring day at work. The romance is there, both the main actors did a magistral job portraying their characters. Even if we can't see much of Jade's most intimate secrets, we can see how affected he is by people's thoughts and words, and how much he tries to keep himself safe from being hurt furthermore by love. As soon as you hit episode 5, you understand how that smiley mask... is just a mask. And I do admire the production team for this kind of message.

The biggest flaw is the little screen time of the side-couple. We don't even get to understand what is going on between them. It makes me mad how they left their story hanging for everyone, but those who can watch the uncut version.

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Not good, get you to stay just for the romance - not for the plot (what plot?)

This might be the hardest review to write.
I know loads of people already discussed this on twitter with the director himself, but I can't shake off the feeling this show is all based on the fetishization of the actors. It's fine if the s*x is in line with the plot, but here, for the first episodes at least, there is more nc scenes than plot. And it's a pity, 'cause the plot had HUGE potential.
If you overlook the stalking, and the forced kiss (Style forced kisses on Fadel, ep 2), or the forced sex (Fadel has sex with Style in order to get Style leaving him alone), the plot is different - it's so different I can almost overlook the plotholes. So many things did not make sense: like Style accepting to work with Kant, nor getting mad at Kant who basically set him up with a hitman. The dynamic between Style and Kant makes ZERO sense.
What keeps you hooked - again, if you don't take this show seriously - it's the couples. Fadel and Style are so sweet I found myself cheering for them even if everything else it's going downhill. As much as I love First Khao, I cannot find myself enjoying KantBison - Kant urging Bison to date ruined the chemistry, to me. Also there are things that don't make much sense with the plot about how the two of them act. For example, Bison talking all about kwordinig Kant's ex in front of Kant himself - just makes no sense at all.

I'm sorry, again, 'cause I love ALL the actors involved in this mess. I just wish they had a better script.

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Perfection doesn't exist, but The Sign could be the drama of the year

It's been a while since the last time I binged watched a BL drama, The Sign got me hooked to the point I was walking to school watching it.
The plot is intriguing and the fantasy element is well-mixed with the real-life plot, resulting in a stunning BL where finally you have more to watch than skin (but I have to admit: what a STUNNING cast!). I feel like Bl dramas these days plays a lot with the Nc scenes and it bores me to death when this happen. To those who enjoy this kind of stuff, you won't be disappointed by the tension and the hottness of the nc scenes. Those who, like me, don't really like the obsession with Nc scenes, you won't be disappointed either since it's all so loving and well acted that it looks WAY MORE than just a streamy scene.
This topic leads to another key point of the show: the leads actor are just crazy good. Their chemistry is out of this world. Phaya's actor did a crazy good job potraing the character: I could feel his panic, his love, his worry. Just crazy. Less convincing, to me, has been Tharn's actor - maybe it was the character, but his acting was a lil bit stiff often wearing the same face. But that sharp mask just melts during the love scenes - sometimes in his eyes there ware so many fellings I cried.
The rest of the cast did an amazing job too: I loved Yai's character and the playfullness between Kheem and his "Baby". The supporting actors contribute with fun backstories, loads of affection and deepness to the storyline. I just love them so much.

If I have to find a flaws, I'd talk about the lack of evolution for the Doctor's character. His decision in the last episode was rushed and too kind of him for what we had seen in the previous episodes. I wished they solved the issues differently, or just gave him more space to grow. Kudos to the actor, though, he's AMAZING.

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