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This review may contain spoilers
Would watch in the Next World and the Next
Please give this series a chance. I was almost put off by the other reviews and comments on this page but I'm glad I decided to give it a chance and decide for myself.
A lot of reviews/comments said that it was too confusing until about episode 8. Honestly, was I confused most of the time? Heck yeah! But I feel like that was kind of the point, no? Even Cirrus himself was confused about it. I've personally never met anyone in my day to day life that understands the ins and outs of parallel worlds/dimensions, so I doubt anyone would understand this series from episode one.
I felt that the confusion was purposeful. Sure, this is a romantic bl series buts it's also a suspenseful series that kept me on my toes. I've watched enough bl series where the same old misunderstanding happens in ep11 and then they get back together in time for the finale and thats all the excitement we get. This series actually kept me hooked until the end. I honestly didn't understand the parallel worlds plot (and whether it was even true at some points) until near the end of the series, but thats what kept me watching! Wanting to find out. I wouldn't have kept watching if they explained everything to me right from ep1. That wouldn't make any sense.
Don't get me wrong. I can see why the confusing plot may put people off, I just also witnessed it's merits for myself and think people should give the series a chance.
Acting/Production:
- I enjoyed the use of lighting and 'filters' to show flashbacks and different dimensions. Also the use of brighter orange/yellow lighting for Phu and darker bluer lighting for Cir in some scenes really highlighted the message that Phukan is Cirrus' only light in the dimensions.
- Boss' acting has really improved since 'Love in the Air'. The way he portrayed the different versions of Cir was very interesting to watch and he made them distinctive without overdoing it.
- I was also impressed by how they actually made Phu and Cir look younger in high school with their haircuts. Normally you get a flashback and they look exactly the same age just in a school uniform. So this was well done.
The dimensions/no dimensions argument plotline:
- The use of the scar on the main Cir was very clever to help distinguish between him and the next Cir but did make it confusing when Phu found out Cir was lying about being from another dimension. I mean sure, technically he was lying because he wasn't from the other dimension, but he had seen glimpses of another dimension. And Phu had noticed the new Cir had no scar and when the main one came back he noticed the scar was back so he must have realised at some point during his days of balling his eyes out that something was odd, no?
- I guess the irony is that they had the main falling out because Cir lied about being from a parallel world. When technically he didn't lie, he just doesn't remember he's visited a parallel dimension and a parallel version of himself because the experience portrays itself as a dream. Although I must say I did enjoy the use of dreams of previous dimensions to push each iteration of Cir towards Phu.
Finally, I suppose it wouldn't be Mame without some weird random toxicity included. Let's be honest, the stalker thing was weird. Regardless of his reasons and whether Phu forgives him or not, Cir still stalked him for yearsssssss. Which is just plain creepy.
Also #FreeOzone??? Poor guy
TLDR:
I think the confusion about parallel worlds was the whole point. The mum's unhinged, free Ozone, the second couple was cute, and the production of the series was very well executed.
A lot of reviews/comments said that it was too confusing until about episode 8. Honestly, was I confused most of the time? Heck yeah! But I feel like that was kind of the point, no? Even Cirrus himself was confused about it. I've personally never met anyone in my day to day life that understands the ins and outs of parallel worlds/dimensions, so I doubt anyone would understand this series from episode one.
I felt that the confusion was purposeful. Sure, this is a romantic bl series buts it's also a suspenseful series that kept me on my toes. I've watched enough bl series where the same old misunderstanding happens in ep11 and then they get back together in time for the finale and thats all the excitement we get. This series actually kept me hooked until the end. I honestly didn't understand the parallel worlds plot (and whether it was even true at some points) until near the end of the series, but thats what kept me watching! Wanting to find out. I wouldn't have kept watching if they explained everything to me right from ep1. That wouldn't make any sense.
Don't get me wrong. I can see why the confusing plot may put people off, I just also witnessed it's merits for myself and think people should give the series a chance.
Acting/Production:
- I enjoyed the use of lighting and 'filters' to show flashbacks and different dimensions. Also the use of brighter orange/yellow lighting for Phu and darker bluer lighting for Cir in some scenes really highlighted the message that Phukan is Cirrus' only light in the dimensions.
- Boss' acting has really improved since 'Love in the Air'. The way he portrayed the different versions of Cir was very interesting to watch and he made them distinctive without overdoing it.
- I was also impressed by how they actually made Phu and Cir look younger in high school with their haircuts. Normally you get a flashback and they look exactly the same age just in a school uniform. So this was well done.
The dimensions/no dimensions argument plotline:
- The use of the scar on the main Cir was very clever to help distinguish between him and the next Cir but did make it confusing when Phu found out Cir was lying about being from another dimension. I mean sure, technically he was lying because he wasn't from the other dimension, but he had seen glimpses of another dimension. And Phu had noticed the new Cir had no scar and when the main one came back he noticed the scar was back so he must have realised at some point during his days of balling his eyes out that something was odd, no?
- I guess the irony is that they had the main falling out because Cir lied about being from a parallel world. When technically he didn't lie, he just doesn't remember he's visited a parallel dimension and a parallel version of himself because the experience portrays itself as a dream. Although I must say I did enjoy the use of dreams of previous dimensions to push each iteration of Cir towards Phu.
Finally, I suppose it wouldn't be Mame without some weird random toxicity included. Let's be honest, the stalker thing was weird. Regardless of his reasons and whether Phu forgives him or not, Cir still stalked him for yearsssssss. Which is just plain creepy.
Also #FreeOzone??? Poor guy
TLDR:
I think the confusion about parallel worlds was the whole point. The mum's unhinged, free Ozone, the second couple was cute, and the production of the series was very well executed.
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