peachypitch

Personally, Episode 2 was the weakest out of 5 episodes so far (altho still very much enjoyable for me). I would suggest for you to continue until Episode 3 where there is more balance between comedy and heartfelt element, before you decide whether to continue or drop this series.
I think if by episode 3 or maybe 4 you still cannot get the campiness of the series, I say MAT may not be for you. The rest of the series is pretty unhinged, but that's what makes it very refreshing for most people.

To answer your question simply, MAT genuinely deserves the 8.8 rating based on the 4 episodes so far.

Just like straight series, I don't see why BL series must always have "strong/dark/serious plot" to be considered good. Think of classic series like Friends or How I Met Your Mother. They are comedy series which became so many people's comfort or go-to series. For all its simplicity and on-point comedic cues, they bring joy to many people.

And MAT so far is shaping to be just that, not just for international BL enjoyers, but literally Thai general public with how viral the Khun Thee parody trend is going right now. As a RomCom (which they are marketed as since the very beginning), MAT brings some fresh ideas with lakorn parodies, cringey formal but hilarious lines delivered excellently by Pond, out-of-the-box comedy ideas, cross-series references, etc. And they are all well-balanced with the more mellow side of the story and surprisingly profound social commentaries.
Yes, the story plot is trope-y, but I hope you understand that what makes MAT sensational is that they LIVE by the trope galores, bring them in full force and is never apologetic nor pretend to be anything but.

Now coming onto cinematography, actually MAT has strong and beautiful shots. All the scenes were taken beautifully, especially the more dramatic ones like the rain dance scene and musical part. The little comedic elements such as bodyguards cycling in the background are also smart and showed that every single take was prepared thoroughly.
Storytelling wise, I have to say very few transitions did feel like they are not very smooth, but hence why I didn't say it's a rating 10 series, right?

Overall, MAT deserves the high rating, I say if they are consistent with the quality until the end, rating 9 is not so far stretched. If you don't get it, it's okay. Like for me, Revenged Love was boring and cinematography was standard, but if a lot of people like it, I'm happy for all the enjoyers
You don't have to get and agree with every single thing in this world.

This is really the most unhinged series I've watched in the last 5 years (or probably more), in the best way possible... I thot I saw everything and they cannot surprise me anymore, until they started singing...

I am someone who cannot withstand overly cringey drama as well, but I survive and even enjoy Me And Thee. I think Thee cringey-ness so far didn't feel very fake or unnaturally made just for laugh, but it stems from obliviousness due to lonely childhood, stark different financial status, and too much lakorn influence. In real life we sometimes really encounter these kind of people.

Of course like many people here hav said, this series might not be for everyone, but it is definitely worth to give a shot. If it turns out to be too much, you can always drop it, and that's okay

Episode 3 was crazy good. In one episode I managed to cackle like mad and tear up at the ending scene.

This is probably P'X's best work so far, I don't know what magic he used in MAT, but damn it works so well

Saying that no one makes BL romcom better than GMMTV doesn't mean GMMTV doesn't make bad ones. They did, and totally agree with your examples.
It's just that when GMMTV has the right production team, casts, and resources, they can make the most iconic romcom BL. In the last 5-6 years we got plenty good BL series outside of GMMTV, but I don't think we have one with romcom as its core/backbone of the story (ITSAY, KP, and Khemjira for example have serious plot and storytelling). As BL industry grows bigger and bigger, it's good to see more varieties in genre. So many have a preconceived notion that good BL = serious/dramatic BL, when I think lighthearted romcom BL can do wonders too.

Anw, Me And Thee started of strong, and hope that they hold it until the end.

Did we watch the same PondPhuwin filmography...? 😅 I think all their BL series have different themes and trope...

FUTS - slapstick romance, secret one-sided love
NLMG - Melodrama/hurt & comfort, surviving tragedy but eventual happy ending
WA - slice of life & friendship, enemies-to-lovers
M&T - RomCom, mafia with family issue, mutual interest

I love PondPhuwin, but I have to agree with your opinion on Phuwin's acting. He always has this signature frowns with squinted eyes which feels unnatural, even to his latest role as Diesel in Taste.

Which brings question mark becos he started off as a much better actor between him and Pond during FUTS days. Pond in FUTS I would rate 2/10, while Phuwin in FUTS was 6/10.

But 5 years later, Phuwin in Taste is still around 6.5-7/10, while Pond in Leap Day is 8-8.5/10.

I'm rly curious to see how they will fare M&T. I won't count We Are becos of that sh*tty director who made pretty much everyone looked weird and unnatural with glaring edits....

I went from "how they're going to spread the story into 12 episodes", to "how they're going to wrap everything in 7 episodes".

There are so many things and clues going on, but in a good way so far... I'm very pleasantly surprised that the scriptwriter & production team chose to elevate the complexity of the story. Really praying they don't put in too many plotholes and can wrap every end tightly.

Damn Dew and Pond impressed me so much. Especially at the cemetary, and when Day overheard Ozone narrating to the social worker how Day has always taken good care of him. They did amazing.

Overall Ep 4 was a much faster pace of an episode compared to last week. We got introduced to this mystery man, our leads finding out suspicious facts about Dr. Wiwat, and confusion over Leap Day effect pattern.
I love how they did multiple approach in the storytelling, sometimes comedic, sometimes thrilling, sometimes mellow. Also, background sound effect was so well done to give more nuance to every scene. I have no complain this week.

Wait, actually I have... I need Ep 5 like right now...... please

Replying to your point on Night being a jerk, he really did grate on our nerve right? If I can slap him.
But then Day said that it was actually Ozone's fault for crossing the road even tho it was red light for pedestrian I think? Hence he was annoyed that it caused Dream to get hurt. Night has always been the one with more repressed anger between the two in facing his predicament, so him being a jerk and didn't care for others is actually not that out of character imo.

Now I actually agree with your opinion that Gun's portrayal feels a bit all over the place. He's still good and no one can portray Ozone better at this point, but this episode especially makes me feel some dissonance in how I should perceive Ozone as a character.

Now about the PPW... if this is the level of Pond's acting that we can get outside the ship and half-heartedly produced BL series, I sadly have to agree. Pond is really a scene-stealer here. Almost every emotion he portrayed is so on-point., I honestly think he is a more natural actor than Phuwin (who tends to scrunch his face so much). Curious to see how he performed until the end of this series.

3 episodes in, this series has been consistently GREAT (aside from the weird fire CGI, but minor issue)

The pacing of third episode is slower compared to the first two, but it provided important pieces: resolution and commitment between Night and Dream past the accident, Day having a vision of what transpired during the mass shooting, and the PROFESSOR!! Gave me chill.
Also, I now have an inkling of what will happen in the next episodes, the group trying to uncover the mistery surrounding their birth. I was worried of how they will expand this into 12 episodes at first. Just hoping they continue this quality and suspense, keeping us on the edge of our seat every week!