I am agree with your comments also why people don't understand that Nueng almost outed Ben front of his father…
Chopper & Ben looks to be promising: They were friends back in the day, Chopper has a crush on Ben (& the reasons why are obvious - he's a hardworking student who's kind/nice to everyone who deserves it, he stands up for right, and he's charming), whilst Ben has his sights set on Nueng and since Nueng hates him now the love is easier to blossom between them. Not to forget that they are both equals in class and treat each other that way too.
As sweet as their talk was, Nueng sounds like having Palm as a bf is some sort of a novelty that he fancies to…
Hmm that could be true when they were around Maggie, but since they're in hiding and nobody knows where they are, I don't think it's very plausible. Unless she hypnotised Nueng into this abhorrent being.
& I hope it's not true. I don't want to see a return of 'villainous girl' in BL genre with woman bashing.
Haha, normally I keep my snarks to minimum and stick only to the facts, but honestly the last part of the episode infuriated me so much that I wanted to rant. Thanks for reading it though
As sweet as their talk was, Nueng sounds like having Palm as a bf is some sort of a novelty that he fancies to…
I really loved the first talk they had. But the the one in this episode was more of exposition than meaningful. They just off-handedly threw information in it.
Even Maggie had bonded with Palm on basis of expenses, income, and difficulties.
I don't know if Palm is supposed to be so blind as to not notice it even when pointed out by his biological mother, because the class difference isn't even like middle class to high class, it's more of a daily wage fisherman to a prince that can live his whole life in the same comfort or more without even working a single day in life since he will inherit a conglomerate with hotel chains and whatnot.
I am agree with your comments also why people don't understand that Nueng almost outed Ben front of his father…
They wrote Ben to call him 'brave'; they don't care. Nueng's non-existing positive qualities will be proclaimed by everyone in their dialogues. And yes, the series writer shouldn't be doing this, but then again seeing how much of mess it is, they shouldn't even have created this series.
He wants a boyfriend on the island only because he's jealous of that Chinese dude. I think that the script writers…
Oh my god! The "while" part was so fucked-up for me that I just forgot about that the sudden need for boyfriend was just because 'i want the same toy as him'. Good LORD.
(First I was gonna be lazy and just copy paste my almost incoherent short notes, but by the end I was overcome with annoyance because this show doesn't care, so it's a loong comment)
We'll start with positives about Nueng: 1. He's aware that he's a shitty person to be around.
Okay so moving on, ignoring the series trying to make 'fetch' happen ― showing us a classically cute bed fighting scene to make us forget how Palm should run away from Nueng. I mean they need to stop trying; personally, for me, it's not going to happen. No amount of proven cute tropes are going to make me forget how Nueng tramps on everyone around him.
I mean Palm kept calling him Mr. Nueng, like, where is the interruption, mock, or whatever from Nueng about it? He has wisecracks and tantrums for even smallest of things- re kiss- but he can't put his foot down for something he has been asking since the beginning, and what makes it more concerning is that Nueng supposedly likes him, or has a crush on him, WHY are you allowing someone you have a crush on you to treat you like his master or superior?? unless you are Nueng and are a narcissist.
ALSO not Nueng saying "while we are here, we are equal" whilst Palm calls him Mr. Nueng on his face. also also, you're just making your own bed that you slept, stop trying to feel as if you're helping Palm with some chores. ALSO, this whole scene, what are they trying to imply? that if they weren't here, Palm was supposed to be his butler too or something because "while we're here" on making a bED?? isn't being unpaid bodyguard enough for Pushover Palm?
forward to whole phone buying thing, I know Nueng thinks and unpromptedly proclaims all the time he's a fast learner or the smartest, but how does he not know that using anything other than cash is traceable? he remembers he's on the run does he not? or did running on the beach while his mother is possibly in critical condition made him forget that? He's gonna run her to death. Also, non-telephony music players exist, but okay writers.
"do you even have it?" you don't need to be THAT arrogant/superior Nueng, if someone who tolerates your humiliation and bends over backwards for you, you can be a little less condescending and believe them a little, or maybe just ask nicely?
not to forget "i don't want to depend on anyone" that's like your identifying character trait, stop joking ― You depend on your parents' wealth, you depend on Palm's protection. but okay let's say you wanna change now, "i want to buy this with my own money" "i'll find a way to earn money" okay cool, but when Palm ― who has been working almost all his life ― offers money to you ― who has most likely never worked for money ― then it's suddenly "do you even have it?". like you can work and earn money, but Palm doing the same isn't even fathomable. (Also, still it's "Mr. Nueng"). Also later, "feet hurt, i walked too much today" LMAO this boy is going to buy a phone.
On the other side, Ben calling Nueng brave... like where? brave in being a narcissist? Narcissist Nueng. haha. I mean the reason he stood up against your dad is the same reason for which he stormed out of the office, he doesn't care enough, they weren't his parents. The show keeps trying to make 'fetch' happen, it's not gonna happen ― we see Nueng enough to know he's none of these good things. He appears brave because he has a superiority complex, because he's a narcissist, and narcissists think themselves to be the best, so anything/anyone other than them is "meh", and nobody cares about "meh" and your dad & the principal was "meh" to him.
On the beach, where he was asked to take a video of proposal beforehand but wasn't ready enough or serious enough to be prepared to jump at the moment's notice and had to run towards the couple like a stranger in Disneyland who just happened to see someone getting on a knee, on that beach, Nueng asks "who will put up with me". I mean are you blind? Of course none other than Palm! Doesn't he put up enough for you to notice? Didn't you notice him while you were making eyes at him, simultaneously as you were 'non-meaningfully' kissing and flirting around with Ben on your 'non-dates' around the time when you were humiliating him before the party, at the party, after the party, oh and before your unimportant mother got shot and after that unimportant stranger character called mother got shot, at house, at school, at hotel, outside the hotel... didn't you notice him being a pushover putting up with you? He is a pushover bcz you know it's in his new name 'Pushover Palm' ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
also how did Palm find where the 'out of touch with reality of working-class Mr. Nueng' was? I mean, did he find him by mistake or can he smell him from far away? like since he's so deeply in love with Mr. Nueng's shitty behaviour that he can smell him from far-far-away. They are perfect for each other anyway ― Pushover Palm and Narcissist Nueng.
Small note, but they lounge around way too much to be working. the beach talks, the temple talks, plus how are you going to buy the phone, Mr. Newly Independent Nueng?
Other small note, for people who're in hiding for security purposes, they sure do love to shout out loud in public places.
3rd small note, Nueng is the perfect example of filthy rich people giving 'do good, be good, you're the owner of your own life etc' speeches while putting none of those words into action.
"Wu asked me to play piano" why did he? how does he know you can play piano, and moreover you are talented enough to play good piano? like it's his wedding, how can he even trust a stranger to play without any proof beforehand? ALso, "Ima play a new song nobody heard" why would you play a new song that not even the groom has heard? also why would you not sing that song to the groom prior? Isn't wedding a big thing to not be doing casual decisions? Also, the song during the vows and everything... Shouldn't there be silence? it's not even the characters' fault when it's just BAD writing.
AGAIN, WITH THE DRINKING, can't Mr. Nueng pretend to be a new person in this case too? like you're on the run, from people who want to take your life, whilst your money maker mom 'slipped in the bathroom and fell on a rubber bullet accidently', with Palm whom you love to humiliate, who has to take care of you, And your first thought in a party is: hmmm is this alcohol that i'm allergic to, which can make me die and for which i was taken to hospital, hmmm how much should I drink it? And Palm, who has to take care of you, stopping you from drinking poison is him ruining the fun for you. Yes, you're absolutely right, Mr. Nueng.
The show's bad writing shines through the conversation scene b/w Palm and his biological mom. So uninspiring. Also Palm walks drunk but doesn't appear drunk in any subsequent scenes.
Back in hotel, Nueng just casually drops info that his mom is in coma. UM first of all, how did he know? second of all, when did he know, did he know before he frolicked on the beach the first time, or did he know during he was frolicking around town, I mean why should he care anyway, he's gonna frolic on his mother's grave if he can. Also, Nueng stop pretending to care, we observe your actions scene by scene, your're not even hiding your tears in bathrooms or whilst sleeping. For someone we are following everywhere, we know you don't care enough.
The Bangiest Bangmost Banger happens at the end of the episode. Nueng lives upto his Narcissist title: "While we're on the island can you be my boyfriend?" such a horrible thing to ask someone. So, the worth of being a boyfriend is limited to the island only? how selfish you can be? How disposable and an object of a person you can consider something to ask someone to do that? I know sex work, stripping, hiring boyfriend/girlfriend is a thing, but THEY GET PAID. Palm is legit your servant who doesn't get paid anyway, who IS ABSOLUTELY and VISIBLY crushing on you, and you ask him, "while we're on this island", even his feelings are reciprocated on a 'transaction' where he gets nothing but conditional love in trade of his devotion and love, ready to be discarded when they're not on the island. I don't know how else to say this, but this is what emotional manipulation and emotional abuse is. This is what love-bombing is. The good seems so good that you forget all the bad.
Also, the 'meaningful kiss' controversy guy says, "kiss me again from true feelings" LIKE YOU DIDNT JUST ASK HIM "WHILE WE'RE ON THE ISLAND" you want true feelings but with 'while we're on the island'??? Also if it is 'while we're on the island' does the kiss remain 'meaningful'? Also if it is 'while we're on the island' for Palm, he still has to give to a 'true feelings' kiss? Do you hear yourself or is it just another Narcissist thing? that is taking advantage of others to get what you want and having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others? (I never thought I'd do this but here we go - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20366662 )
And he suddenly wants a boyfriend, why? Because why-does-the-foreign-couple-has-a-toy-that-I-don't-have.
Not to forget the power dynamic.
pssst, was Palm drunk then or nah? (I mean there's an implied hookup with sober Nueng at the end)
P.S. - Witnessing all this behaviour of Nueng has me sure that the reason he was bullied with the intensity that he was in school is less due to the allegations on his father but more due to the fact that Nueng is not a nice person to be around. He must have no friends beforehand; his superiority complex had all his classmates dislike him as he must have been treating people horribly. No way he had friends, or he would have people supporting him in class. And all of them took the first chance they could get to bully Nueng. And those who don't bully him, they simply don't care seeing a bad person being bullied. Chopper is his cousin, and Ben has a crush on him, it makes people blind; So, they both don't count.
___ The reason I'm being over harsh is that the series has clearly signalled that Nueng is not going to be redeemed in areas that I care about. So ranting is all I've got as I was so excited for this series back in late 2022. The series has heavy topics but with poor execution on actors, writers, and director's part ___
is the last part of ep 7 sped up? their fingers, faces, mouths, the whole bodies move noticeably faster... trying to fit a long scene into limited time, is that it?
I feel bad for all the older actors, they have the skill but have to work in shows with bad actors as main protagonists just because that's what the people want: good looking cute boys doing cute things together.
Is the actor playing Palm not a good actor? just started ep7 and first i was under impression that maybe this non-chalace, stoic, and repressed expressions were intentional to fit the character, but now as more and more it goes on, it has started bothering me a little.
Wow, the first multiple paragraph post I've seen where I agree on EVERY single point.Also the first time in my…
Honestly, Maggie was so kind and considerate towards Palm, I was like Palm YOU BETTER! Also it didn't help that she came across so mature and practical too! Like if you're gonna have a protagonist such as Nueng, then it's almost self-sabotage to have a character such as Maggie, because the people who'll watch the series for more than 'two-cute-boys-kissing' will definitely root for 'what could have been in' presence of 'what is' as the protagonist's flaws will become more glaring.
The mom who left him and dont even remember his face
Yes I'm talking about her. 1. When i wrote "mom" i didn't mean mom as in status but mom as in relation (biological mother) 2. It's been 16+ years since she probably saw him. It is difficult to remember a face for that long. Also, Palm was a baby/toddler back then, faces change. 3. Let's assume the worst about her that she is a horrible person. With that assumption would you have liked for her to stay with Palm, horrible as she is, as a horrible mother? Would would have liked Palm to have a mother who didn't want him to stay and build resentment against him leading upto her physically and mentally abusing Palm? Would you have liked Palm to have trauma because of that? And this is me assuming the worst of his mother. For me, a non-existent mother is better than an abusive one. 4. She is the emergency safe place to live for Palm according to his father. So he must trust her enough to do that. Which means the separation probably wasn't messy. 5. She was informed of it by his father prior, months or years before without any specific date. And since she provided Palm and his friend shelter, that means the respect between her and her ex-husband must be mutual. 6. She gives advice to Palm as a wise adult to a teenager. People can be nice to you without having a relationship with you.
Sometimes things are more nuanced than knee-jerk reactions. Adults often make highly mature decisions. Trying to shove people into hetero-normative lifestyles is as much futile as it is dangerous.
She might have not wanted children, she might not have wanted to be a mother, she might have not loved her husband, she might have wanted to pursue her dreams, we don't know. In both the worst case scenario and the best case scenario, Palm is better without his biological mother as his mother in his life.
I can't believe they have me rooting for the straights!
I meant as in the way you're so optimistic, makes me feel as if it's your first time watching a series like this. Cuz most often they have a pattern of toxic behaviour followed by love-bombing.
& I hope it's not true. I don't want to see a return of 'villainous girl' in BL genre with woman bashing.
Even Maggie had bonded with Palm on basis of expenses, income, and difficulties.
I don't know if Palm is supposed to be so blind as to not notice it even when pointed out by his biological mother, because the class difference isn't even like middle class to high class, it's more of a daily wage fisherman to a prince that can live his whole life in the same comfort or more without even working a single day in life since he will inherit a conglomerate with hotel chains and whatnot.
References: https://kisskh.at/715897-never-let-me-go#comment-12223333
and https://kisskh.at/715897-never-let-me-go#comment-12260351
(First I was gonna be lazy and just copy paste my almost incoherent short notes, but by the end I was overcome with annoyance because this show doesn't care, so it's a loong comment)
We'll start with positives about Nueng:
1. He's aware that he's a shitty person to be around.
Okay so moving on, ignoring the series trying to make 'fetch' happen ― showing us a classically cute bed fighting scene to make us forget how Palm should run away from Nueng. I mean they need to stop trying; personally, for me, it's not going to happen. No amount of proven cute tropes are going to make me forget how Nueng tramps on everyone around him.
I mean Palm kept calling him Mr. Nueng, like, where is the interruption, mock, or whatever from Nueng about it? He has wisecracks and tantrums for even smallest of things- re kiss- but he can't put his foot down for something he has been asking since the beginning, and what makes it more concerning is that Nueng supposedly likes him, or has a crush on him, WHY are you allowing someone you have a crush on you to treat you like his master or superior?? unless you are Nueng and are a narcissist.
ALSO not Nueng saying "while we are here, we are equal" whilst Palm calls him Mr. Nueng on his face. also also, you're just making your own bed that you slept, stop trying to feel as if you're helping Palm with some chores. ALSO, this whole scene, what are they trying to imply? that if they weren't here, Palm was supposed to be his butler too or something because "while we're here" on making a bED?? isn't being unpaid bodyguard enough for Pushover Palm?
forward to whole phone buying thing, I know Nueng thinks and unpromptedly proclaims all the time he's a fast learner or the smartest, but how does he not know that using anything other than cash is traceable? he remembers he's on the run does he not? or did running on the beach while his mother is possibly in critical condition made him forget that? He's gonna run her to death. Also, non-telephony music players exist, but okay writers.
"do you even have it?" you don't need to be THAT arrogant/superior Nueng, if someone who tolerates your humiliation and bends over backwards for you, you can be a little less condescending and believe them a little, or maybe just ask nicely?
not to forget "i don't want to depend on anyone" that's like your identifying character trait, stop joking ― You depend on your parents' wealth, you depend on Palm's protection. but okay let's say you wanna change now, "i want to buy this with my own money" "i'll find a way to earn money" okay cool, but when Palm ― who has been working almost all his life ― offers money to you ― who has most likely never worked for money ― then it's suddenly "do you even have it?". like you can work and earn money, but Palm doing the same isn't even fathomable. (Also, still it's "Mr. Nueng"). Also later, "feet hurt, i walked too much today" LMAO this boy is going to buy a phone.
On the other side, Ben calling Nueng brave... like where? brave in being a narcissist? Narcissist Nueng. haha. I mean the reason he stood up against your dad is the same reason for which he stormed out of the office, he doesn't care enough, they weren't his parents. The show keeps trying to make 'fetch' happen, it's not gonna happen ― we see Nueng enough to know he's none of these good things. He appears brave because he has a superiority complex, because he's a narcissist, and narcissists think themselves to be the best, so anything/anyone other than them is "meh", and nobody cares about "meh" and your dad & the principal was "meh" to him.
On the beach, where he was asked to take a video of proposal beforehand but wasn't ready enough or serious enough to be prepared to jump at the moment's notice and had to run towards the couple like a stranger in Disneyland who just happened to see someone getting on a knee, on that beach, Nueng asks "who will put up with me". I mean are you blind? Of course none other than Palm! Doesn't he put up enough for you to notice? Didn't you notice him while you were making eyes at him, simultaneously as you were 'non-meaningfully' kissing and flirting around with Ben on your 'non-dates' around the time when you were humiliating him before the party, at the party, after the party, oh and before your unimportant mother got shot and after that unimportant stranger character called mother got shot, at house, at school, at hotel, outside the hotel... didn't you notice him being a pushover putting up with you? He is a pushover bcz you know it's in his new name 'Pushover Palm' ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
also how did Palm find where the 'out of touch with reality of working-class Mr. Nueng' was? I mean, did he find him by mistake or can he smell him from far away? like since he's so deeply in love with Mr. Nueng's shitty behaviour that he can smell him from far-far-away. They are perfect for each other anyway ― Pushover Palm and Narcissist Nueng.
Small note, but they lounge around way too much to be working. the beach talks, the temple talks, plus how are you going to buy the phone, Mr. Newly Independent Nueng?
Other small note, for people who're in hiding for security purposes, they sure do love to shout out loud in public places.
3rd small note, Nueng is the perfect example of filthy rich people giving 'do good, be good, you're the owner of your own life etc' speeches while putting none of those words into action.
"Wu asked me to play piano" why did he? how does he know you can play piano, and moreover you are talented enough to play good piano? like it's his wedding, how can he even trust a stranger to play without any proof beforehand? ALso, "Ima play a new song nobody heard" why would you play a new song that not even the groom has heard? also why would you not sing that song to the groom prior? Isn't wedding a big thing to not be doing casual decisions? Also, the song during the vows and everything... Shouldn't there be silence? it's not even the characters' fault when it's just BAD writing.
AGAIN, WITH THE DRINKING, can't Mr. Nueng pretend to be a new person in this case too? like you're on the run, from people who want to take your life, whilst your money maker mom 'slipped in the bathroom and fell on a rubber bullet accidently', with Palm whom you love to humiliate, who has to take care of you, And your first thought in a party is: hmmm is this alcohol that i'm allergic to, which can make me die and for which i was taken to hospital, hmmm how much should I drink it? And Palm, who has to take care of you, stopping you from drinking poison is him ruining the fun for you. Yes, you're absolutely right, Mr. Nueng.
The show's bad writing shines through the conversation scene b/w Palm and his biological mom. So uninspiring. Also Palm walks drunk but doesn't appear drunk in any subsequent scenes.
Back in hotel, Nueng just casually drops info that his mom is in coma. UM first of all, how did he know? second of all, when did he know, did he know before he frolicked on the beach the first time, or did he know during he was frolicking around town, I mean why should he care anyway, he's gonna frolic on his mother's grave if he can. Also, Nueng stop pretending to care, we observe your actions scene by scene, your're not even hiding your tears in bathrooms or whilst sleeping. For someone we are following everywhere, we know you don't care enough.
The Bangiest Bangmost Banger happens at the end of the episode. Nueng lives upto his Narcissist title:
"While we're on the island can you be my boyfriend?"
such a horrible thing to ask someone. So, the worth of being a boyfriend is limited to the island only? how selfish you can be? How disposable and an object of a person you can consider something to ask someone to do that? I know sex work, stripping, hiring boyfriend/girlfriend is a thing, but THEY GET PAID. Palm is legit your servant who doesn't get paid anyway, who IS ABSOLUTELY and VISIBLY crushing on you, and you ask him, "while we're on this island", even his feelings are reciprocated on a 'transaction' where he gets nothing but conditional love in trade of his devotion and love, ready to be discarded when they're not on the island. I don't know how else to say this, but this is what emotional manipulation and emotional abuse is. This is what love-bombing is. The good seems so good that you forget all the bad.
Also, the 'meaningful kiss' controversy guy says, "kiss me again from true feelings" LIKE YOU DIDNT JUST ASK HIM "WHILE WE'RE ON THE ISLAND" you want true feelings but with 'while we're on the island'??? Also if it is 'while we're on the island' does the kiss remain 'meaningful'? Also if it is 'while we're on the island' for Palm, he still has to give to a 'true feelings' kiss? Do you hear yourself or is it just another Narcissist thing? that is taking advantage of others to get what you want and having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others? (I never thought I'd do this but here we go - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20366662 )
And he suddenly wants a boyfriend, why? Because why-does-the-foreign-couple-has-a-toy-that-I-don't-have.
Not to forget the power dynamic.
pssst, was Palm drunk then or nah? (I mean there's an implied hookup with sober Nueng at the end)
P.S. - Witnessing all this behaviour of Nueng has me sure that the reason he was bullied with the intensity that he was in school is less due to the allegations on his father but more due to the fact that Nueng is not a nice person to be around. He must have no friends beforehand; his superiority complex had all his classmates dislike him as he must have been treating people horribly. No way he had friends, or he would have people supporting him in class. And all of them took the first chance they could get to bully Nueng. And those who don't bully him, they simply don't care seeing a bad person being bullied. Chopper is his cousin, and Ben has a crush on him, it makes people blind; So, they both don't count.
___ The reason I'm being over harsh is that the series has clearly signalled that Nueng is not going to be redeemed in areas that I care about. So ranting is all I've got as I was so excited for this series back in late 2022. The series has heavy topics but with poor execution on actors, writers, and director's part ___
1. When i wrote "mom" i didn't mean mom as in status but mom as in relation (biological mother)
2. It's been 16+ years since she probably saw him. It is difficult to remember a face for that long. Also, Palm was a baby/toddler back then, faces change.
3. Let's assume the worst about her that she is a horrible person. With that assumption would you have liked for her to stay with Palm, horrible as she is, as a horrible mother? Would would have liked Palm to have a mother who didn't want him to stay and build resentment against him leading upto her physically and mentally abusing Palm? Would you have liked Palm to have trauma because of that? And this is me assuming the worst of his mother. For me, a non-existent mother is better than an abusive one.
4. She is the emergency safe place to live for Palm according to his father. So he must trust her enough to do that. Which means the separation probably wasn't messy.
5. She was informed of it by his father prior, months or years before without any specific date. And since she provided Palm and his friend shelter, that means the respect between her and her ex-husband must be mutual.
6. She gives advice to Palm as a wise adult to a teenager. People can be nice to you without having a relationship with you.
Sometimes things are more nuanced than knee-jerk reactions. Adults often make highly mature decisions. Trying to shove people into hetero-normative lifestyles is as much futile as it is dangerous.
She might have not wanted children, she might not have wanted to be a mother, she might have not loved her husband, she might have wanted to pursue her dreams, we don't know. In both the worst case scenario and the best case scenario, Palm is better without his biological mother as his mother in his life.