This is probably my favourite drama out this year. The story has depth, substance and meaning, the characters are written well, layered and nuanced, this show knows the direction it's going in and moves in a good steady pace, and everything flows so well overall. JimmySea is wonderful for this series. The quality of the production is also excellent. Music is also excellent, OST is good but I also just love the quality of the background music.
Wow. I'm so impressed and I haven't seen a drama this year THIS well done.
No cringe here whatsoever. Cute funny moments but nothing that I would call super cringey.
Highly recommend if someone reading is on the fence about watching.
It's not fair. I like these actors and I liked how they were in Cute Pie (TutorYim) but omg, I can't go another minute watching. I tried. Maybe I need a lot more patience to withstand the cringe, overacting and constant frustration I feel toward these characters than I presently have.
This also isn't a criticism against the actors -- I do think it's more plot and how the characters were written that's turning me off.
And I totally understand that even if it's not my cup of tea, it's probably someone else's. No shade if you love it. But I can't do it anymore lol.
It feels like this series suffers from too many lazy tropes and too much vague storytelling (like it doesn't know what it wants to say and so it hovers over vague ideas without going anywhere). Tropes can be okay but they become tired and boring when the storytelling isn't very creative or clear or they're used instead of character development or plot expansion.
It makes it seem like the writers didn't know what to write so they're like "let's throw this in" without any sort of intention around it deepening the audience's awareness of the character or a relationship, furthering the plotline or depicting a character's meaningful growth (not just surface).
Like the sponge bath thing β what could be more interesting is an element of trauma where Ping's character has some issue with being touched or cared for and it sets him off. That's just a random example because the source material (web comic) could have more character background, traits and quirks I'm unaware of that could be worked with to use a trope effectively and with creativity to help these characters understand each other better and give the audience a deeper look into Ping's character in this example.
I still don't get the sense that Guy has had any significant character growth. It feels like he's trying to cling to a life raft (aka a person who can distract him from his own inner turmoil, insecurity and confusion). Tew has a lot of complicated stuff it seems β I think he's definitely got a past with Kenji because Kenji's obsession seems unnatural. Tbh, I have to wonder how emotionally available Tew actually is as a result. Wahl is just Wahl. Can't take him seriously at all.
So far I'm finding this show okay but OffGun is one of my favourite pairings so I'll pretty much finish watching bc of them lol. Cringe is almost always a turn off for me in a series but again, OffGun existing on screen makes it bearable.
Not your traditional BL by any stretch so don't go in expecting the usual fare but was a beautiful storyline with a lot of nuance. I enjoyed it and cried but felt hopeful at the end.
I wonder if Phai maybe have some powerful political family background or something but that makes me wanna look…
I was thinking along similar lines to you. I feel like she can pull strings, she isn't just sassy cool and keeping Muffin's brattiness under control lol. The gaming friends are awesome. Also excited for the next ep!
Feels very rushed to me. I get that this is only 8 episodes but it feels like they need more time to stretch out…
Yes I agree, there needed to be more development and at least a pause. I think when someone like Guy decides to do something he prolly needs a bit more time to fully catch himself up to his decision. He doesn't strike me as someone who is impulsive about his feelings and just jumps to the next person.
I like the production value here. I like the subtitles (they aren't all over the place like Ai Long Nhai). I like MeenPing. I like that the story has some cohesion and isn't trying to be more complex for no reason. I like the genre. I like that this isn't boring at all. I like that despite having some angst, it doesn't leave me depressed like some other BL dramas do - there's a lightness and some resolution to things in each episode.
What I didn't love...
This ep had some problems for sure, way too fast paced. Guy went from 0 to 60 in 1 episode with his relationship with Tew -- like you could feel the affection but it was bizarre how quick he dropped Wahl. Usually when you say you're ready to do something, the rest of you has to catch up a bit and it takes a little bit more time than what Guy took -- I get the feeling from Guy, he's slow to process things and let them go so it's really a character thing that feels off.
Makes sense Wahl is confused about his feelings after Guy told him he's with Tew, it's pretty obvious he had some interest in Guy even tho he was a jerk.
Agree with others about the makeup. Yikes! Lol and poor Kenji's hair. We weep for his 80s and 90s crimped hairstyle.
What I'm looking forward to:
I'm actually very curious about that business card from Phai. Like maybe she's someone important or will have some kind of pull or could make a difference in the actual storyline we're seeing play out here (idk I was wondering if she was a lawyer or something like that).
Wow. I'm so impressed and I haven't seen a drama this year THIS well done.
No cringe here whatsoever. Cute funny moments but nothing that I would call super cringey.
Highly recommend if someone reading is on the fence about watching.
This also isn't a criticism against the actors -- I do think it's more plot and how the characters were written that's turning me off.
And I totally understand that even if it's not my cup of tea, it's probably someone else's. No shade if you love it. But I can't do it anymore lol.
It feels like this series suffers from too many lazy tropes and too much vague storytelling (like it doesn't know what it wants to say and so it hovers over vague ideas without going anywhere). Tropes can be okay but they become tired and boring when the storytelling isn't very creative or clear or they're used instead of character development or plot expansion.
It makes it seem like the writers didn't know what to write so they're like "let's throw this in" without any sort of intention around it deepening the audience's awareness of the character or a relationship, furthering the plotline or depicting a character's meaningful growth (not just surface).
Like the sponge bath thing β what could be more interesting is an element of trauma where Ping's character has some issue with being touched or cared for and it sets him off. That's just a random example because the source material (web comic) could have more character background, traits and quirks I'm unaware of that could be worked with to use a trope effectively and with creativity to help these characters understand each other better and give the audience a deeper look into Ping's character in this example.
I still don't get the sense that Guy has had any significant character growth. It feels like he's trying to cling to a life raft (aka a person who can distract him from his own inner turmoil, insecurity and confusion). Tew has a lot of complicated stuff it seems β I think he's definitely got a past with Kenji because Kenji's obsession seems unnatural. Tbh, I have to wonder how emotionally available Tew actually is as a result. Wahl is just Wahl. Can't take him seriously at all.
I like the production value here. I like the subtitles (they aren't all over the place like Ai Long Nhai). I like MeenPing. I like that the story has some cohesion and isn't trying to be more complex for no reason. I like the genre. I like that this isn't boring at all. I like that despite having some angst, it doesn't leave me depressed like some other BL dramas do - there's a lightness and some resolution to things in each episode.
What I didn't love...
This ep had some problems for sure, way too fast paced. Guy went from 0 to 60 in 1 episode with his relationship with Tew -- like you could feel the affection but it was bizarre how quick he dropped Wahl. Usually when you say you're ready to do something, the rest of you has to catch up a bit and it takes a little bit more time than what Guy took -- I get the feeling from Guy, he's slow to process things and let them go so it's really a character thing that feels off.
Makes sense Wahl is confused about his feelings after Guy told him he's with Tew, it's pretty obvious he had some interest in Guy even tho he was a jerk.
Agree with others about the makeup. Yikes! Lol and poor Kenji's hair. We weep for his 80s and 90s crimped hairstyle.
What I'm looking forward to:
I'm actually very curious about that business card from Phai. Like maybe she's someone important or will have some kind of pull or could make a difference in the actual storyline we're seeing play out here (idk I was wondering if she was a lawyer or something like that).