1
1
1
This review may contain spoilers
Fun Concept, Executed Almost Perfectly
Look at that. Finally, a PondPhuwin series I actually enjoyed, specifically because of them and not any outside factors. More specifically, this is the best performance I've seen out of Pond in quite literally anything. Insane!
Let's Dive In.
With a genuinely unique concept and a strong ensemble cast balancing humor, heartbreak, and chaos, I ended up really enjoying this dramatized tale of a love-struck billionaire falling for his company’s mundane photographer. As most GMMTV formulas go, the first half is the strongest. The final 3-4 episodes are draggy, with Pond’s character, the theatrical and wildly dramatic Thee, doing most of the heavy lifting when it comes to comedy. Outside of that, it settles into something fairly routine.
This role feels tailor-made for Pond. Historically, I haven’t been a fan of his acting or line delivery, but this is the series where it finally clicks. That’s both a good and bad thing. Unless they continue casting him in over-the-top, dramatic roles, this may very well be the peak of his acting career. It’s still not perfect, but it’s a massive improvement over We Are, and especially Fish Upon the Sky.
Phuwin, on the other hand, was surprisingly underwhelming for me. I don’t think this is Pond’s overacting overshadowing him so much as Phuwin struggling to fully deliver. There's scenes where he's suppose to be crying, but not even a tear slips. Unless he's rolling his eyes at Thee's antics, or teasing his sister, his acting in this doesn't really work for me (Phuwin took his shirt off and I almost had a seizure, when did he become so perfectly fit, the literal definition of sleeper build).
The series itself is fun, fast, and sharp, with an excellent script and a budget that’s used wisely. It perfectly delivers Thee’s exaggerated quirks and warped perception of love, shaped by the soap operas he grew up watching. I'm still not completely sold on their romance (I know, sue me), one side obviously feels a lot more intensified than the other, but it's not distracting or irritable enough to bother me. I also don't think this show is primarily about the romance between Thee and Peach, which might sound insane (once again). Without Pond’s performance and Thee’s possessive, overprotective version of love, the series simply wouldn’t work.
William and Est absolutely stole the show for me. Even with limited screen time, their dynamic as Mok and Rome was the most compelling romance in the series, even when it wasn’t explicitly romantic. I love yearning. I love forbidden feelings. And I loved them. Rome being a less magnified, emotionally transparent version of Thee was a great parallel, while Mok’s stubbornness paired with subtle care made their interactions incredibly satisfying. Est’s ability to look shy and conflicted at exactly the right moments deserves special praise. I'm not even a giant Williamest fan, but their characters as Mok and Rome worked exceedingly well, where I wanted to see more of them than the leads at one point. A spin-off would be so fun, though I’m not holding my breath.
Aran and Tawan were probably the biggest tank in this. Their conflict is introduced early but barely explored until the very end, at which point I no longer cared. Because this is GMMTV, they’re handed a tidy, happy ending to what should’ve been the most raw and realistic storyline in the show. Aran should have moved on. Tawan’s jealousy disguised as love doesn’t justify the chaos he caused. And yet, suddenly, all is forgiven. Sigh. Perth, when will they hand you a role where you're not playing the stoic snippy partner? That said, I’m still very excited for Love You Teacher, where we may get to experience his range in a a way we haven't seen yet.
Can someone point me to the contract in which it's written that AJ and JJ are only allow to play the comedic best friend, usual in part with being chronically alone? Who do I have to beg to to let the chains off of them? Seriously, both these dudes are stellar performers, but GMMTV typecast them so commonly that I almost feel disrespected. Unless the twins like these quaint little roles, then proceed, I guess...
I did have a lot of fun during the final episode, though not because of the wedding where Peach apparently thought a sweater was appropriate attire. I loved how the series leaned into its reception outside the narrative, with cameos from other actors and even the CEO, which added a fun meta layer. I will be nitpicky and say it’s odd that Emi didn’t make a cameo at the end.
Ratings:
Story: 8.5/10: The strongest aspect of the series. It’s fun, ridiculous, and fully aware of what it is.
Acting: 8/10 - Pond is the standout, with Est close behind. Bonnie and Santa were also delightful. Even the smaller roles worked. Phuwin didn’t quite resonate for me here.
Music: 6/10 - Didn’t register much. I skipped Thee’s singing at the end, but I did enjoy the random musical number mid-series.
Recommendation Value: 9/10 - Go for it. This is a fun series, you'll laugh a lot, and you get to see Phuwin shirtless (although not enough). This is an easy recommendation, especially for anyone getting into BL.
Let's Dive In.
With a genuinely unique concept and a strong ensemble cast balancing humor, heartbreak, and chaos, I ended up really enjoying this dramatized tale of a love-struck billionaire falling for his company’s mundane photographer. As most GMMTV formulas go, the first half is the strongest. The final 3-4 episodes are draggy, with Pond’s character, the theatrical and wildly dramatic Thee, doing most of the heavy lifting when it comes to comedy. Outside of that, it settles into something fairly routine.
This role feels tailor-made for Pond. Historically, I haven’t been a fan of his acting or line delivery, but this is the series where it finally clicks. That’s both a good and bad thing. Unless they continue casting him in over-the-top, dramatic roles, this may very well be the peak of his acting career. It’s still not perfect, but it’s a massive improvement over We Are, and especially Fish Upon the Sky.
Phuwin, on the other hand, was surprisingly underwhelming for me. I don’t think this is Pond’s overacting overshadowing him so much as Phuwin struggling to fully deliver. There's scenes where he's suppose to be crying, but not even a tear slips. Unless he's rolling his eyes at Thee's antics, or teasing his sister, his acting in this doesn't really work for me (Phuwin took his shirt off and I almost had a seizure, when did he become so perfectly fit, the literal definition of sleeper build).
The series itself is fun, fast, and sharp, with an excellent script and a budget that’s used wisely. It perfectly delivers Thee’s exaggerated quirks and warped perception of love, shaped by the soap operas he grew up watching. I'm still not completely sold on their romance (I know, sue me), one side obviously feels a lot more intensified than the other, but it's not distracting or irritable enough to bother me. I also don't think this show is primarily about the romance between Thee and Peach, which might sound insane (once again). Without Pond’s performance and Thee’s possessive, overprotective version of love, the series simply wouldn’t work.
William and Est absolutely stole the show for me. Even with limited screen time, their dynamic as Mok and Rome was the most compelling romance in the series, even when it wasn’t explicitly romantic. I love yearning. I love forbidden feelings. And I loved them. Rome being a less magnified, emotionally transparent version of Thee was a great parallel, while Mok’s stubbornness paired with subtle care made their interactions incredibly satisfying. Est’s ability to look shy and conflicted at exactly the right moments deserves special praise. I'm not even a giant Williamest fan, but their characters as Mok and Rome worked exceedingly well, where I wanted to see more of them than the leads at one point. A spin-off would be so fun, though I’m not holding my breath.
Aran and Tawan were probably the biggest tank in this. Their conflict is introduced early but barely explored until the very end, at which point I no longer cared. Because this is GMMTV, they’re handed a tidy, happy ending to what should’ve been the most raw and realistic storyline in the show. Aran should have moved on. Tawan’s jealousy disguised as love doesn’t justify the chaos he caused. And yet, suddenly, all is forgiven. Sigh. Perth, when will they hand you a role where you're not playing the stoic snippy partner? That said, I’m still very excited for Love You Teacher, where we may get to experience his range in a a way we haven't seen yet.
Can someone point me to the contract in which it's written that AJ and JJ are only allow to play the comedic best friend, usual in part with being chronically alone? Who do I have to beg to to let the chains off of them? Seriously, both these dudes are stellar performers, but GMMTV typecast them so commonly that I almost feel disrespected. Unless the twins like these quaint little roles, then proceed, I guess...
I did have a lot of fun during the final episode, though not because of the wedding where Peach apparently thought a sweater was appropriate attire. I loved how the series leaned into its reception outside the narrative, with cameos from other actors and even the CEO, which added a fun meta layer. I will be nitpicky and say it’s odd that Emi didn’t make a cameo at the end.
Ratings:
Story: 8.5/10: The strongest aspect of the series. It’s fun, ridiculous, and fully aware of what it is.
Acting: 8/10 - Pond is the standout, with Est close behind. Bonnie and Santa were also delightful. Even the smaller roles worked. Phuwin didn’t quite resonate for me here.
Music: 6/10 - Didn’t register much. I skipped Thee’s singing at the end, but I did enjoy the random musical number mid-series.
Recommendation Value: 9/10 - Go for it. This is a fun series, you'll laugh a lot, and you get to see Phuwin shirtless (although not enough). This is an easy recommendation, especially for anyone getting into BL.
Was this review helpful to you?
