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Big disappointment after first 2 seasons
As expected, the Chinese managed to destroy what started out as an absolutely superb historical Rom-Com. Season 3 lost ALL of its hilarity/humor and settled down into a depressing, angst-filled finale. The book officer shows up and tells her that she has to disappear for 'misfortune' to stop plaguing ML so she plays the noble idiot role, and we have to go through 3-4 episodes of him forgetting her and taking up with the former FL (the doctor). All I can say is that this interlude was thankfully short due to the short nature of the drama. To resolve this separation, the screenwriter has ML 'break the rules' by remembering her, and everything goes back to how it was prior to FL doing the noble idiot thing. Everybody remembers her again, and the doctor is no longer ML's love bug. Because ML broke the rules, book officer says that FL can now stay without having to confine herself to the cold palace...but no, in the final episode, she has to leave again because misfortune has still overtaken ML...even though the rules had supposedly been broken 5 episodes ago. What the heck?!Ok, I get it. You've got to get FL back to reality because she can't remain conked out forever in front of her computer. I knew there was always going to be a problem with her staying in her imaginary world, but by golly, couldn't you have come up with a better way to resolve it? Ok, you have ML show up at the end as a real person in the real world, she signs his book and he just walks away?! AND SHE LETS HIM!!!!????? You can't say 'hey, let's go get a cup of coffee' or something? What kind of ending it that? It's not like she knows his name and can go find him later. If they'd just had had them getting together in real life then I wouldn't have given this drama such a low rating.
Take my advice - watch the first two seasons and forget about this one (except for maybe the first 1-2 episodes when MC finally get together). End the drama in your mind after season 2 and don't bother letting the writer end it for you because the ending was completely and totally unsatisfying. It just leaves a bad taste in your mouth. They need a season 4 to fix this awful ending.
UPDATE! Good news - or at least I hope it is - I saw that there's a Season 4 on WeTv. Hopefully, it will mend this awful ending!
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The only errors here are the limitations of the budget and unwillingness to leave a college setting.
South Korea has been bombarding the 2022 marketplace with BL's. Like the Philippines last year, it seems everyone is starting to salivate over the dollars that can be made in the genre. However with the bombardment, we are getting a large serving of subpar, stilted, or simply archaic stories. Unbalanced acting, truly thin skimpy budgets, and forgettable series are starting to fill up the South Korean landscape. Soon, and honestly already beginning, BL (and LGBTQ+) audiences will have to separate the good, the bad, and the just plain ugly like you already must for Thai (or the aforementioned Philippines) for shows worth watching.Luckily, Semantic Error, is not litter upon this landscape, and is something filled with genuine attraction, development, and pulse. It delivers bona-fied episodes of 20 minutes or more making it feel like an actual show and not simply a chopped up movie. Yet unfortunately, it still scrapes the bottom of the budget barrel. But, like many lower budget endeavors with strong players at the helm, it uses its budget effectively and for the most part you will forgive (and even forget) the cost cutting finish. The cinematography is cool with realistic tones of winter pallets. The world feels honest and tangible. The characters come off as true people and not just dolls here to tell a saccharine love story. Thus, the strengths begin to far outweigh the shortcomings.
One of these shortcomings is the stale setting and even staler story. This is an enemies to lovers tale unabashedly and it is, of course, set in college (at least it is not another High School series). While, it tries to be more modern and fresh with the main cast being digital designers and computer programmers (Not ya know, the forever Thai Engineers and Doctors) it still succumbs to the cool kids versus nerd trope which gives us our set-up. Luckily, the story moves adeptly through this repeatedly tread ground and doesn't waste time or draw plot points out needlessly.
The characters, and the casting of those characters, are what make this series shine. Park Jae Chan as our main lead Chu Sang Woo is an endearingly stubborn rule stickler with compulsive "robotic" tendencies. While the show never mentions anything psychologically or developmentally, you get the feeling that Sang Woo may be on the spectrum, though severely highly functional. Park Jae Chan is shockingly worm and funny in this role, even while the story makes him an unforgiving, friendless, developer savant. He is unquestioningly attractive with some of the pout-iest lips you have ever come across, and a face that is strangely expressive, it is all in the eyes, while remaining very stoic. You will become attached to him and root for him easily.
Park Seo Ham as our other main lead Jang Jae Young is a more stock bad-boy rebel artist designed character. The cool kid that gets all the girls, he is revered by everyone he meets and has swagger for days. Jan Jae is of course the bully of the pairing that ignites the back and forth of the enemies to lovers plot. Yet, Park Seo Ham does a great job at bringing a light-heartedness to this character and quickly, not to mention easily, makes our Jae Young cuddly, likable, and funny. Seo Ham is very much more of South Korean archetype beauty. Tall, pale, high cheek boned, strawberry shaped face, fit, and fashionable he is a literal check-marked boxes of perfect leading man design. Luckily, he never comes off arrogant (something that seems many times used as an actual attractive quality to my disdain). He is the one that starts to recognize his burgeoning feelings first and watching him move through his understanding of who and what he wants is quite a lot of fun indeed.
When the leads are with each other, playing off each other, and building the relationship on screen it is enrapturing. There is a current that runs between them and it intensifies throughout the story as their relationship grows. It is, perhaps, the strongest entry South Korea has given us since 2021's To My Star in the world of displaying a sense of true want and attraction between the leads. There is never a moment where the cast seems not to want to be here, or to hesitate and hold back from what they are portraying. Everyone really seems to have come here to give us a story of two guys falling for each other, and everyone seems both fully willing and happy to do so. This is undeniably refreshing to watch and fun to wade through. Butterflies will blossom in your belly as you watch these two spark with each other. As for the kissing, I dare say this entry maybe posses the strongest South Korean has to offer in the current BLs they are delivering. This isn't the cardboard empty uneasy to watch kisses you find in Color Rush or My Sweet Dear, nor is it a one and done affair tacked on at the very last moment like Were Your Eyes Linger or Light on Me. Again, like To My Star, the kissing happens very naturally and a multitude of times, though I will say Semantic Error brings a bit more heat and passion than the former.
This is a prime example of what can be given even if in a tired cliched setting and story. It is thoroughly enjoyably, highly re-watchable, well acted and yes even sexy making you honestly not really care that you've done this story to death, because for some reason, this time it feels fresh and new.
9 = A, 4 1/2-Stars. Strong in all aspects, Best of the Bunch and worth your time.
Now if South Korea would just take this as an example, plop it into a more original base story, get it fully funded like straight romances, and churned up to hour long 16 episode orders, then we could knock it up to perfection.
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WOW! That was all I was thinking for the last few episodes with my mouth hanging open. I feel like every few months I stumble upon an awesome Japanese mystery/thriller that reminds me why i love this genre so much!Story: Refreshing new twist to an old plot line-a female villain?! Its usually a crazy male who is playing cat-and-mouse with the police and takes an interest in the lead during the investigation. In Siren, its completely reversed-its BECAUSE of the interest the villain (Kara Tachibana) takes in Yuki that the cat-and-mouse game begins. And boy what a game it is! But don't take anything at face-value because the ending will leave you scratching your head and surprised at where all of the twists lead you!
Acting/Cast: Perfection! Let's be honest, without a good charismatic villain manipulating everything behind the scenes series in this genre would not be worth the watch. And Nanao as Kara Tachibana delivers crazy flawlessly (so much its scary!) I can't see any other actress pulling this role off as well as she did. As a matter of fact, there are other times and in flashbacks (which I won't speak of so as not to reveal any spoilers) when she is portrayed by another actress, but it falls short in comparison. And Matsuzaka Tori as Satomi was the perfect lead to play off of. Watching the two fight over Yuki for 9 episodes was a real chess match!
Music: Don't look for an OST that you can sing along to, but the instrumental build up to some of the more shocking moments were well-placed, and the comedic moments were cute and well timed.
Rewatch Value: A must. Especially the last few episodes when everything comes together and is being explained. I like to think of myself as a somewhat smart person, but I had to go back more than once to make sure I was following along without getting confused. Because the 'big reveal' at the end needs time to sink in and understand....And I'm still not quite sure I've got it all right!!
Overall: Highly recommended to ANYONE! Its got the romance, thriller, mystery, action and so much more.
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Not a show you regret watching, but…
You can also just watch a compilation of the best scenes on youtube and get a similar experience. Honestly speaking, I watched it for the enjoyment of flirting between Juns, and not the actual plot.That’s honestly what the show has to offer - really enjoyable moments with great chemistry. It’s such an unrealistic fanfic scenario with unrealistic casting, but you can still enjoy it, because Choi Jun just delivers with each and every pick up line and obvious flirting.
I don’t really have much to say about the plot, because it does not really exist. Rookie interns doing their rookie work unrealistically well, while one of them gets into a situationship with the team leader. Nothing makes sense, but no one watches it with their brain sharp and focused.
The acting was decent. During the romance scenes the cast did great, some more daily life moments felt awkward.
Overall, I really liked the first two episodes, but later I just needed more than just great chemistry during some scenes to truly keep my interest.
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Boyhood takes you on a nostalgic trip to the 1980s, unraveling the lives of students at an agricultural high school in Chungcheong Province. Jang Byung Tae, a small and seemingly powerless kid, decides to change his luck by switching to Buyeo Agricultural High School. The top-notch cast, led by Jang Byung Tae, delivers performances that hit you right in the feels. The drama unfolds with unexpected turns, and a pivotal incident becomes a game-changer for our protagonist. For me, Boyhood is like a comfy blanket, weaving a narrative that feels familiar and comforting. The cast's stellar performances and engaging cameos add depth to the storyline. While I might have imagined a different ending, the finale, albeit a tad rushed, was still well-executed and made sense. Boyhood is a heartwarming journey that resonates with anyone who appreciates relatable stories and a bit of '80s flair.
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Only the love between parents and children is for separation.
This 20-episode drama took me by the neck and gave me a ride on the emotional rollercoaster. the synopsis confused me so much that it actually made me want to watch this and it was such a treat though I went into it with no expectations at all since there's not much drama about time travel that did it right or somewhat logical at least this one even with little knowledge about time traveling theory it would still make sense.okay so with the vital part of the drama (for me) Qi shuo, that character was the super glue of the drama, I would not trade Liu yitong to any other actor he made Qi shuo the lovable character that made me love the whole drama. He was a son, the one that would cross the mountains, sea, and time and space for his mother and liu yitong managed to portray that for us. Like what they say in the drama 'All love in this world is for gathering, Only the love between parents and children is for separation.' he loves his mother so much that he was willing to sacrifice himself just to make sure that her mother would live differently from the current time that she was in.
Qi yue and Lu xiao, are really destined to be together, or at least now the odds of favor are on their side. knowing the little tidbits of their 2031 selves, Lu xiao took care to Qi shuo and Qi yue with probably some limitations but Qi shuo gave them the push and the reason to take care of each other in the near future (also betting my fortune that 2031 Qi shuo prolly saw Lu xiao as a father figure in his life)
this will sound and feel weird but the trio did really have the chemistry of a family (yes even with being adults), you can perfectly picture them as that harmonic family. the amount of chemistry they have are so adorable.
The sacrifices, feeling of belonging, a family they will call their own, finding and reaching a dream, and realizing a probably 'childish' wish. The drama delivered that all even with just 20 episodes.
is this the best drama? tbh it's all base on personal taste but this one is worth giving a peek.
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Hwang Jin Yi herself (excellently portrayed by Ha Ji Won) is a legend and a difficult character to center a drama around because she's so enigmatic. The show handles this by making her almost otherworldly, the epitome of beauty, grace, and intelligence whose passion for dance eclipses everything else in her life. However (or perhaps because of this), there was too much of a focus on the supporting characters - love interests especially - and how they were affected by Hwang Jin Yi, often putting her on the sidelines. As the series progressed and she became more guarded, the emotional weight of the story shifted to them as well. Instead of Hwang Jin Yi being the subject of the drama, she was the object.
Nonetheless, although the show had a tendency to be over-dramatic towards the end, it has great commentary on art (painting, music, and dance) and the life of gisaengs. If you are interested in these, then this is the perfect drama for you.
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Did I accidentally switch to Chinese Disney Channel? Lmaooo what even was this cheesy one-dimensional mess of a show? Cliches GALORE, it was like a paint-by-numbers teen rom-com- The female lead disguised as a nerd (glasses, freckles, hair, clothes, she’s covered it all)
- The guy is the most handsome guy in school (apparently), they even call him ‘your highness’. To top it all off, he is an idol singer too
- The 3 popular mean girls
- The 2 dumb minions of the ‘bully’
- Is this even university, it feels more like high school
Lol is this what all web dramas are like?
But god it bugged me so much she just kept her nerd look? Like, why? Because her bf didn't like her attracting attention??? Bro you are an IDOL SINGER
Anyways, I could not stand this drama. I had to push myself SO hard to watch it. The 20 minute episodes felt like an hour.
But the biggest WTF in this trash (spoiler!!!!)
was the ‘mean girl’ turned straight up psychotic and tried to kill herself because the boy she had a crush on found a girlfriend????? She literally FORCED him to be with her (and marry her??? within 2 days??) otherwise she would commit suicide. What the actual f*ck.
Then she finds love with the pink haired gay guy??? What even WAS this show
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My two cents on peoples interpretations
As with all art - films and so on, people will interpret this series in their own way. As we are humans we pull from our own closest experiences and empathy to understand the characters on screen. I feel this is why there are such hard black and white lines with the like or dislike of this series.I feel both characters were portrayed amazingly by each actor ( I was very excited to see Jae Bum from Choco-Milk in a dark dramatic series and am really really looking forward to what else Wooyoung will do ). Many people say the story line wasn't clear, or the whole series is confusing. I don't agree, you just have to pay attention, they are telling you everything you need to know. Because I want everyone to love this series I will spell it out for you haha. Or more so..this “review” will be "what was their relationship at the beginning" and Yoondae in general, since most people seem to dislike him the most. Get ready for a whole character analysis baby.
It was clear from their "first interaction" that SooHyuks mom was marrying YoonDaes father, who is abusive (aka- for a time they were step brothers - this is why he calls Soohyuk "hyung" at the beginning. He explicitly says so in the scene. The direction of shots that portrays the abuse Yoondae goes through is beautifully done, from the scene where Soohyuk sees the bruise on his neck, to the band aid seen with the cut and soon to be black eye. I prefer and LOVE when shows don't spell everything out in complete dialogue, because that is not realistic. The scene of Yoondaes father at his school saying to just drop out, the fear that Yoondae portrays as he's backed into a corner, waiting for the other shoe to drop. The emotional and physical abuse that Yoondae experiences and still does is clearly shown- there wasn't a need to show a literal scene of the abuse.
So although he "got away" by moving out and couch hopping, abuse like that does not leave you. Like Yoondae shows, you are lost, not knowing the next step to take since it was always decided for you. Yoondaes habit of lying is clearly driven from this, since even if it's pity that is given to him, at least it is some sort of love and attention. This in turn makes him want to test his boundaries in a twisted way, pushing people to their limits somehow makes sense to him. He wants someone to care and to fight for him, but everyone just leaves. His inherent loneliness is clearly shown with his constant hang outs with his friends, not wanting to leave his friends job because he wants to wait for him. His friend even says "you know that's weird" and Yoondae agrees and clearly knows he has attachment issues. Although it is not said or portrayed, the LACK of Yoondaes mother tells us all we need to know. She is either dead or long gone from their family, this most likely is a reason for his attachment and abandonment issues. She is neither spoken of or seen in things such as photos etc. This all circles around to why, as they say in the series, Soohyuk has become Yoondaes "home".
Soohyuk out of his own free will and kindness saw Yoondae for who he was and what he was going through. Yoondae didn't need to lie or tell him anything because Soohyuk understood. Unprompted love and care when he said to sleep in his room so Yoondaes dad won't hit him. Even Yoondae is confused by his kindness, but they show how he starts to understand that they are both similar and "not like their parents' '. He finally had someone who cared, loved and wanted him to be okay. Yoondae has friends of course but they never seem to grasp the complete toll Yoondaes father had on him. Don't get me wrong they understand and have done a lot for him but they never actively tried to help him in high school ( they're kids of course ) but Soohyuk did, I think that's why the impact of it was so great to him. Never mind the obvious attraction he has for Soohyuk *cough the bandaid scene cough*.
Some people may think his advances / attraction ( in the present timeline ) was out of left field or a way to manipulate Soohyuk to let him stay since Soohyuk clearly stated he likes men. I again do not agree. I think it was clearly shown in the past timeline that Yoondae was not interested in girls. His avoidance, annoyance and sabotage of the "double dates" his friend was making him go to was your first hint. The subtle things such as choosing to wear Soohyuks shoes even though they were falling apart. His upset and anger he had when Soohyuk "ran away" in the past timeline. The shock and longing he shows when he first sees him again. It's all there. But he had a girlfriend? Yes, a girlfriend who let him live in her house "after the first date because he was handsome" as his friend stated. Obviously this was a means to the end, and not any sort of attraction or love. ( not cool but it is what it is, haven't you grasped that Yoondae has issues lmao ) Even with Yoondaes track record, I don't believe him kissing Soohyuk was a way to manipulate him into letting him stay. I think it was his love for Soohyuk and his abandonment issues. He even says he doesn't want to leave because he doesn't want to say goodbye.
Yoondaes character invokes pity and frustration, "just get a job" you think- "just stop saying bullshit and say how you feel" you think. You want him to succeed, you want him to do better because he has had a hard life. But yet, he doesn't. instead he drinks every night and sleeps all day and does it again. Why? Because he thinks he deserves it, after all the hardships he's been through, his subconscious thinks, ah I deserve a break - just for a bit. I'm sad so I'll drink, I'm lonely so I'll go out. He does not think in future tense and that is his biggest current problem. Even other people understand, that's why it's not said to him at all in the series to "get a job" . His girlfriend literally was working overtime and he was just at home playing video games. When she spoke to Soohyuk about their break up you can hear the pity and emotion in her voice, as Soohyuk pointed out, she didn't even want to talk bad about him.
Yoondae is a slow drain, because he is a good person but over time he sort of...sucks the life out of you by his stagnate state. They didn't portray how long he was living with the girlfriend ( therefore how long he has been out of his fathers house ) but it doesn't seem like it was very long so I can't really blame him. Bro needs therapy, but no one is really telling him what he needs to do, they are just placating him. Even with the emotional scene with his friend where he, with tears in his eyes, asks his friend "what do I do" his friend just sits in silence. I think that's why Yoondae starts to get more and more desperate about Soohyuk leaving him, to some peoples disbelief, I think Yoondae knows his flaws. He knows Soohyuk will soon find out he inadvertently lied about his dad being dead, he knows that the "only reason" Soohyuk asked him to live with him was because he had “no one else” ( although that doesn’t appear to be the only reason in reality ). He knows that Soohyuk will “run away” and when he does, and stops sleeping at home Yoondaes abandonment issues kick into gear in full force. The scene where he lies about inviting friends over, breaking a window and cutting his hand is such an obvious display of his issues, the fact that he knows he uses pity and emotional manipulation to get love and affection. But what really breaks your heart is that he says “just kidding” in the most heartbreaking way because Yoondae KNOWS Soohyuk knows he’s lying anyways. But then he says “but i'm not lying about the broken window” as a last ditch effort because Yoondae doesn’t know any other way..(again therapy plz) Soohyuk then hangs up because again, he knows this is how Yoondae works. Thats why it is so gut wrenching when they go out to dinner and have the “home” conversation. Because even the audience felt the hope, we felt what Yoondae felt. Then for Soohyuk to “deny” him, it hurt really bad. But, yet you are happy that Soonhyuk knows his worth and knows that Yoondae needs to get himself together before they can move forward. Soonhyuk didnt deny his feelings or his want, but finally someone is telling him that he needs more time - they both do.
Now, why would Soonhyuk put up with this? Well, that's how he is, he already deals with type of person with his parents, he’s caring and extremely empathetic, he loves too much - gives too much and it has broken him down. His dad specifically…there are a scary amount of similarities with Yoondae and Soonhyuks father, the over drinking, the borrowing money, the spinning the wheels in one place. The series shows us that explicitly. So when Soonhyuk finally sticks up for himself to his father - I think a lightbulb clicks then that even though Yoondae is not exactly like his father, the place Yoondae is in is too similar and if he keeps placating him like he is, he will never go anywhere or get better. I think this was the major decision on Soonhyuks part. Unlike his father, where he stood up for himself because he reached a breaking point - realizing how hard the dynamic was on him and that there truly was no hope of his father changing. I believe with Yoondae, he knows there's hope, like they said “they aren't their parents” he has hope that Yoondae will be better, and he will be there to love him when he’s reached that point.
I could do a whole analysis on Soonhyuk but I believe my “review” is already too long lmao. I just wanted to shine some light on Yoondaes character as I think a lot of people may have misunderstood him, just like some of the characters in the show did. Really interesting seeing that.
Overall, I think it is a beautifully shot and realistic series, watch it <3
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Probably what I loved the most about this film is that nothing really extraordinary happens, nothing extremely dramatic, unexpected or overwhelming; the film is not trying to capture your attention by doing anything movie- hollywood- like with the story (if you know what I mean)... What I'm trying to say is that this is just real life, to be more accurate the life of only one person displayed on the screen and is not a crazy, exciting, or amazing life. Yoon's life is nothing else but ordinary and (in my case) very relatable.
The plot is simple, the focus is not romance and the center of the story is Yoon and his thoughts. Even the way the movie was filmed was simple, it felt like there was someone just holding a camera and filming Yoon daily, not an entire production team living inside of Yoon's apartment. In spite of that it never felt mediocre or low budget, no, not at all.
I think the acting was really good, the actor who played Yoon succeed at portraying this typical young man that struggles to balance work, and life.
I will probably rewatch this soon, this is the kind of films that I like the most, Easy to watch but still really good, with great quality,and with a script that feels like reading a book; that's why I gave this a perfect rate.
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The only real complaint I have with this drama is the music got a bit repetive, but otherwise I loved this drama through and through. This is a must watch drama and I highly recommend it.
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The actors/actresses all did a WONDERFUL job and the actor who played the main radio host was perfect for his character. I loved the cinematography and the many scenes where you viewed above the city during day and night were gorgeous. I really enjoyed the music composed for this film and every track fit each scene wonderfully.
The film does really well with showing you the struggles and personalities of all the characters involved and was more realistic with outcome. It's less of a rom-com that feeds you an unoriginal fairy tale romance and more of a modern day take on the ups & downs of the relationships you experience in life.
It was funny.
It was lovely.
It was quirky.
It was heartbreaking.
And it shows you that sometimes things work out, while other times they don't.
I wasn't bored once.
(Also, Yang Yang is adoooraaaable)
GOOD MOVIE!
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1Wasted Potential
This series had almost every ingredient that it needed to become a hit: a unique, intriguing premise, handsome actors, sweet romance, great OSTs, and beautiful cinematography. I am still in disbelief that the production team messed up the recipe so badly that what should have been one of the best BLs of 2022 turned into a dull, plotless product placement fest. It is beyond my comprehension how other reviewers are so generous. I started this series with no expectations, aware of all the criticism that it was getting, and it still managed to disappoint me. Let me tell you why.1. Plot, or rather the lack of such.
As you will know from the summary, the story revolves around newbie colorist Talay and famous actor Puen, who are transported to a parallel universe and into the bodies of Tess, the heir of an entertainment corporation, and Tun, or Pakorn, a wannabe scriptwriter, who meanwhile are sent to Talay and Puen's universe. Overcoming their differences in personality, the two boys team up to help each other navigate their new lives and find their way back to their world.
Sounds great. Except that this is what the story should have been about, not what it is actually about. After episode two, it strays far away from the plotline and does not come near it until episode ten. For eight episodes, the viewers are treated to a mundane, cliché college story about a group of guys trying to make it as scriptwriters in the movie industry. I felt like I was watching a badly written remake of Theory of Love – which is probably precisely what it is – and in each next episode, I skipped more scenes than in the previous one because I was bored by the predictability of it all.
Furthermore, the unimaginative scriptwriters of this series have decided to rely on annoying, overused tropes, such as love triangles and female characters' coming between the main couple, to spice things up, while the main characters are, illogically, left to live ordinary lives. This makes no sense. To lose your whole life and be forced to live someone else's is stressful, even scary, but after the initial confusion, Talay and Puen seem to have forgotten that they have family, friends, and careers back home. In episode one, Talay was shown with a tight-knit group of friends to whom he was clearly attached. Not once throughout the episodes does he mention that he misses them or his family. Puen is similarly indifferent. It is true that the reason for his being so is explained, but this revelation comes much later than it should have – as does any other substantial information abut him as a character – and this makes him difficult to sympathize with through the bulk of the series.
Worst of all, there was a timeskip of one year that was introduced out of nowhere. What did the characters do for a whole year? We do not know. The story just continues, as if five, not 365, days have passed since the characters' last interaction.
2. Flawed pacing and endless product placements.
The more useless a scene is to the story, the more it drags. Too many scenes are included only for comedy. In the initial episodes, I, surprisingly, laughed many times – I usually do not buy the humor in BL series – but then the fun fizzled out, and the humor became forced.
Product placements – do not even get me started on them. At first, they were not as glaring as I feared they would be, but by episode seven they had become intolerable and were spoiling the mood of almost every scene that had the potential of being meaningful. Shame on the production team for prioritizing commercials over everything else.
3. Romance, or rather bromance.
On one hand, I am impressed by how healthy the dynamic between the two leads is. I forgot the specific instances, but I was surprised by their dialogue several times because instead of the cliché replies that I was expecting came kind, mature replies. Talay and Puen are both willing to express their thoughts and feelings and work on finding the best solution, which is essential in a healthy relationship. They also have moments of tenderness that made my heart flutter.
On the other hand, most of the time, they act more like friends who care for each other than as young men who are in love with each other. Their interactions are sweet and intimate until they have to kiss or initiate any other physical contact that is not a hug. Then they become forced and awkward. They did not manage to convince me that they are actually crushing on each other.
They also do not act like they have already known each other for a whole year. Their friendship, while genuine, seems like it has not moved past its initial stages – which is understandable, considering Puen's illogical decision to not reveal his indentity to Talay. I understand why he might have not wanted Talay to know in the beginning. However, by episode five, it had already become clear that they had grown really close and were not afraid of opening up to each other. Puen was ready to tell Talay who he is a long time ago. The production team wanted to have an illogical twist in episode ten, though, and this twist could happen only if Puen did not tell Talay, so they did not let the character do what would be natural for him to do.
4. Acting.
Jimmy is not as bad as some viewers complain that he is. Compared to Bad Buddy, in which he did not deliver a good performance, he has improved. There is even something charismatic about him, and his gentle, slightly hoarse voice is pleasant to listen to. However, neither he nor Sea handle negative emotions and intense scenes well. Their acting becomes lackluster. They should both work on their facial expressions.
Edit: Episodes eleven and twelve were a notable exception. Although they had inconsistencies and unnecessary drama, they were breath-takingly romantic. The emotional scenes had depth because Jimmy and Sea's acting suddenly improved a lot. I do not know what caused this improvement, but kudos to them. If they had been on that level throughout the other episodes, this series might have been a success. They, and the ending, which awakened the hopeless romantic in me, made me raise my rating.
Overall, the production team of this series bit off more than they could chew. Vice Versa would have been much better received by the viewers if it was just a sweet college romance with a body-swap trope, without the alternate-universe plot. It would have also been great if all the time that was wasted on unfunny comedy, unnecessary conversations, and product placements was used to show how Tess and Tun are doing in Talay and Puen's bodies.
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