lilili

I created an episode playlist since GMMTV has failed on that for some reason: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfOfbDVSQAtPofdKm_SxozVZzwUpAqo5I

Real talk: Thyme scared the fucking shit out of me at the start of the episode and I wasn't sure I could continue being on the ship after that but somehow the director made it happen. I am seriously impressed with everything in this episode, the writing, the acting (shut up with Bright can't act, he killed it in this episode), the symbolism, all of it.

The Korean celebrities have to be so careful. One tiny misstep could end their careers. That's why you almost never know people are in relationships until the surprise wedding or baby announcement.

He tweeted about the significance of the honey badger stuffed animal and Ren's sketchbook. He's so damned smart and thoughtful, I'm just knocked out that he paid such careful attention to every detail of the production. And he paid respect to the audience of young women by trusting they would understand the symbolism threaded through every scene. I'm swooning over it.

Not just that, because we have a loving family for Gorya you also a) understand what gave her the strength to stand up to Thyme and b) understand why Thyme was so touched when he experienced a warm family dinner for the first time. It all just makes more sense and emotionally hits harder.

If you're on Twitter I strongly suggest you follow the director because he's been talking about creative decisions on the production and it's absolutely incredible how thought out every detail is.

https://twitter.com/parbdee/status/1489155009300549632?t=EDtlgPSKPlVYC8nga9GRLg&s=19

Did he really say that? Wow what an astute comment.

People are talking about them on social. Remember when Thyme made his public declaration that they were dating and the red card was rescinded, the evil trio immediately hopped on their phones and people were photographing/videoing them. So not the F4 or Gorya but everyone around them.

PS tho I agree with everything you said about Gorya and Ren and why that makes them more sympathetic. It's very real adolescent behavior.

I feel like everyone is behaving like real teenagers would. The confusion, the mixed signals, the overstepping, even the lying. It's all deeply relatable. And of course Gorya is confused, Ren saved her from sexual assault but Thyme is strong enough to stand up to anything she throws at him so even though she's kind of scared she's also drawn to him. It's all so good.

For me where Bright shines is in the comedy scenes (I was screaming in the scenes asking Ren for clothing advice and the zoo with the ice cream and stuffed animal) and in the quiet moments like the family dinner where he's mostly reacting to the people around him and also when he and Gorya talk outside the gate. He goes wrong in the big emotional moments. But mostly he's working really well for me in this role because you have to get the audience on his side despite the terrible things he does at the beginning and Bright is succeeding at that. I'm 100% on Thyme's side and that's saying a lot because I hate the ML in other versions of the story.

I also sympathize with Ren but remember they have social media and group chat so he must've had some understanding of what was going on with Thyme and Gorya while he was away. His behavior is pretty selfish too, understandable but honestly the lack of regard for his best friend's feelings is just crappy.

I also see people say Gorya was being mean to Thyme during their fight on the bridge but she literally had flashbacks to the ep. 1 bullying. She has every reason to still mistrust Thyme even after their romantic moment in the storage room. It was indirectly his fault she got hurt by Hana. She's clearly attracted to him but she's hesitant and a bit scared and that makes sense at this point! Thyme has more work to do.

Two people I know (one of them is one of my podcast partners) haaaaaated Korean BoF with a burning passion but they are both enjoying F4T. One of them even said Thank you Thailand for what you've done.

So there's a lot of complex reasons why women engage with regressive, problematic narratives. This story holds real power because it's kind of a myth that deals with women's sexuality in the face of a violent and potentially life threatening patriarchy. How do women come to terms emotionally and psychologically with the fact that the men they desire are also the mostly likely people to assault and kill them?

I would not assume that women are uncritically swallowing this narrative. I think a lot of women approach this story with ambivalence and are not simply swooning over the cute boys. There's an emotional weight to the story that exists beyond the ridiculous elements like the OTT clothes and makjang plot.

Women who are living in situations where they have little agency and control over their lives might find this narrative empowering in some ways because it's a way for them to own and exercise their sexual desire even in the context of a patriarchy they can never hope to escape.

Is this a healthy story? No but it's reflecting the harsh realities around women's intimate relationships. Transitioning from a girl to a woman involves pain and danger and literally blood. There are endless myths around this, but two examples: Red Riding Hood (the red symbolizing menstruation, the journey through the woods symbolizing the journey to womanhood, the wolf symbolizing potentially annihilating sexual desire) and Beauty and the Beast (can you love this creature even though he's the biggest threat to your existence?)

What's been powerful for me about the Thai version is that the makers ***understand the story they are telling *** and are approaching it thoughtfully and with respect for the audience of young women. They can't deproblematize the story because the problematic elements are literally the heart of the narrative and if you take them out it's not the same story anymore (hello Meteor Garden 2018). But they can call out the problematic elements within the context of the narrative, they can make the characters more complex, they can add things like the honey badger that are commenting on the very dark and scary themes that thread the story. It's so impressive.

I love this whole comment and are you on Twitter or any other platform? Because I will follow you. ETA: I reread and thought it sounded a tad creepy as if I'd stalk you and all I really mean is if you're dropping opinions elsewhere I'd like to read because you're on point! 😅

Hahaha I already saw that and the timing of Hana drugging Thyme with the narrative about cobra venom took. me. out.

The director of F4T posted on Twitter about the significance of the honey badger and Gorya's pinprick and he even translated it into English for foreign viewers, bless him. It's pretty deep! https://twitter.com/daebakpodcast1/status/1488218964652036096

The director tweeted that Thyme is a Gemini and Gorya is a Virgo which would fit with what you're saying about personalities.

Team Thyme, I'm > 30 and I think you're on to something with the age thing from what I've seen.

FWIW, this is the only version where I'm wholeheartedly team Male Lead. I had second lead syndrome so bad with the Korean version it's not even funny. I did love Jerry Yan's performance in MG 2001 but he was so violent I couldn't really ship him with the FL.

It won't be until the last week of Feb because we're having trouble getting everyone's schedule together. But we'll be about halfway through the show at that point so we'll have lots to talk about!