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When I tell you I had to PAUSE multiple times to process what I was watching—LIKE, HELLO??? Is this a BL series or an acting school dropout project?? Because BABES, I AM FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE TRYING TO FINISH THIS. But you know me, I’m a loyal hoe. So, I sat through all 12 + 1 special episodes, and now I have THOUGHTS. So, I hit play on episode one, and IMMEDIATELY, I knew something was wrong. Like, girl. WHAT IS UP WITH ELISE’S FACE? James (who plays Elise) is out here looking like the sun is in his eyes 24/7. No, seriously, bestie. James (who plays Elise) is trying SO HARD to give us “sharp, intimidating CEO” but ended up looking like he just walked out of the eye doctor’s office after getting his pupils dilated. THE CONSTANT FROWN. THE EMPTY STARE. BABE, ARE YOU GOOD??? I KNOW THE LIGHTS ARE BRIGHT, BUT DAMN.

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1. Plot

Bestie. I’m not even joking. NOTHING HAPPENS. Now listen. I love me some messy drama, but this plot? It was cooked with NO seasoning, NO oil, and left to burn in a microwave. Like, yes, things technically happen, but not in a way that makes SENSE. These two are just giving each other the most mild push-and-pull energy, but we don’t even know why. THERE IS NO BACKSTORY. THERE IS NO REAL CONFLICT. JUST VIBES. BAD VIBES. So we got Elise, a mean CEO and Patt, his good secretary, who been working for Elise for five years but never once questioned his life choices??? WHY IS HE EVEN STAYING? IS HE SECRETLY IN LOVE? IS IT JUST A PAYCHECK? GIVE ME SOMETHING, BITCH. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, I’M LOST. From the very first episode, they’re giving push and pull energy, but instead of being spicy, it’s just confusing. Like, do they hate each other? Do they like each other? Did they accidentally sign a lifelong work contract and now they’re stuck? No one knows because the series refuses to give us a backstory.

AND THEN. THENNNNNNN.

THE RANDOM SEX SCENE IN EP 2. Bestie, I almost THREW my laptop across the room. BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? It was a DAYDREAM SEQUENCE. AND GUESS WHAT ELSE? They don’t even tell us WHOSE DAYDREAM IT WAS. Like, was it Elise? Patt? The audience? BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, I AM HALLUCINATING TOO.

And then, of course, we get all the 2013 BL TROPES:

- Jealous CEO but won’t admit he likes his secretary? (yawn) ✅
- Messy love triangle for DRAMA? (double yawn)✅
- Somebody faints and the other one takes care of him? (BFFR, IT’S 2025, FIND A NEW TROPE) ✅
- Possessive ex-lover trying to ruin everything? (SNOOZEFEST)✅

The drama is SO forced. Elise gets jealous whenever Patt talks to someone else, but instead of COMMUNICATING like an adult human being, he just stares in agony like he’s in a shampoo commercial. And THEN, the ultimate 2013 wattpad drama moment arrives: Elise sees Patt with his third-party love interest, gets mad, and goes "fine, I’ll fuck someone else then." Sir, that is a grown man, not a lost puppy. GET A GRIP.

BABE. NEXT!!!

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2. Characters & Acting

Now, bestie. Bestie. I have been NICE so far. But I NEED to talk about James.

- Elise (James) – WHO CASTED THIS MAN??? WHO LOOKED AT JAMES AND SAID, “YES, HE’S OUR LEAD”?????? I swear he’s reading his lines off a teleprompter. His face does not move. He’s supposed to be this dominant, brooding, sexy CEO, but he looks like a freshman drama student trying way too hard. The few times he tries to smile or look smug, I just start laughing. And don’t even get me STARTED on the scene where he FAINTS. BRO. IT WAS GIVING Sims 4 low-energy animation. IT’S PAINFUL. Every scene, he looks like he’s either about to sneeze or like he’s holding in a fart. THE LACK OF EMOTION. THE AWKWARD LINE DELIVERY. THE WAY HE STANDS THERE DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN CRUCIAL SCENES.

I kid you not, bestie—there is a scene where he walks in on his ex cheating, and HE JUST STANDS THERE. NO REACTION. NO ANGER. JUST… VIBING. LIKE, HELLO???? DO SOMETHING. THROW A GLASS. SCREAM. LEAVE. I’M BEGGING. There is hesitation in his moves and he seems being calculative in the next steps that he wants to take. Maybe because he is scared of getting hurt in the action scene by the stunt man or whatever but tbh, i am hating this guy even more LOL.

- Patt (Kad) – Ok, at least he’s trying. His acting is okay-ish, but there are moments where he looks like he’s internally screaming because Elise is giving him NOTHING to work with. Like, how do you act with someone who looks like they’re a walking mannequin?

- Run (Fam) – Babe. You need to control your EYES. The way he overacts with his facial expressions had me fighting for my life. Like, we get it, you’re the sneaky side character, but why are you looking so guilty before you even do anything?

Fei Long (Nick) – The only one who understood the assignment. He ate up every scene and left no crumbs. The villains in this series have better acting than the leads. That should tell you everything.

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3. Steam/Sex Scenes

…sigh.

GURL, I NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

So, first sex scene? Awkward as FUCK. I EXPECTED DESPERATION. NEED. RAW, ANIMALISTIC LONGING. But instead? I got two dudes who looked like they were doing community service for each other. IT GAVE NOTHING. AND THEN. THIS MAN—ELISE HAD THE AUDACITY. TO TREAT PATT LIKE A STRANGER RIGHT AFTER BECAUSE HE HAD A DREAM ABOUT HIS EX.

EXCUSE ME?????

SIR. YOU JUST PUT YOUR DICK IN THIS MAN, AND NOW YOU’RE ACTING LIKE YOU DON’T KNOW HIM?????? CALL THE POLICE.

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4. OST

It’s… fine?

Nothing special. Nothing memorable. Like, if you played it for me right now, I wouldn’t even recognize it.

NEXT.

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5. Overall

I am gonna be so honest. This series felt like a job. I was CLOCKING IN every episode, just PRAYING something interesting would happen. The pacing? SLOW. The character development? NON-EXISTENT. The acting? DEAR GOD.

BUT.

Would I finish it? Yes. Because at this point, I have invested too much time, and I NEED TO SEE IF IT GETS WORSE.

Would I rewatch it? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Final score? 5/10.

And that’s me being GENEROUS.