Reviews

I love food-related dramas, so I was really eager to see this one. Initially, it reminded me of Happy Home. Alas. it fell behind quickly. Happy Home developed wonderful characters but mainly the complex and well planned plot line carried them through 51 engaging episodes, and I was sorry to see it end. Although Wok of Love stated strong and had excellent actors bringing interesting characters, the writing was scattered and indifferent, Plot lines came and left - at one point, I wondered if they had forgotten that Jang Hyuk was even in the drama. To say that he was under-used is an understatement - they took one of the best actors in K-drama and treated him like an afterthought. He's the only reason I stayed with it to the end. Overall, this was a waste of talent and a waste of my time after the first few episodes - they even forgot to cook very much.

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its bollocks, save yourself and do not watch it

i only started this because i was a fan of mew's music before i watched it, i already liked one of the songs from the soundtrack i i gave the show a shot. i wish i hadn't. i wish i hadn't have wasted all my time on this, i wish i could go back to a time where i hadn't subjected myself to it.

first tharn's character, he awful representation for gay people. he is disgusting, horrible and creepy. he starts out the series as a predator, forcing himself into type's personal space multiple time and assaulting him more than once. the hickies he give's type are treated as a "haha funny revenge on the homophobe" moment, not what it actually was, assaulting someone while they were asleep. the blowjob in the shower again, type showed no form of consent and yet again was not treated like the blatant SA it was. not to mention the multiple times he kisses type while he's asleep. tharn's multiple assaults on type are never treated as such and are never even mentioned again. tharn triggers type and while type is having a panic attack and rejecting any form of touch or contact, tharn just pulls him closer into him ???? yeah cause that's exactly what you do when you trigger a flashback to someones trauma. this isn't necessarily a him problem but san his ex is equally a disgusting person. during the later episodes in thier "sweeter" moments it was just so hard to ignore how a SA was the catalyst for this relationship to start and took most of the "sweetness" out of it. even after they get together tharn is still awful, when they fight rather than acting like the adult he's meant to be he sulks, cries and fucks off until he makes type come crawling back.

type is anything but an angel himself, as a gay person i would not touch a guy like type with a 10 foot barge pole. at least he sort of had his reasons for being so vile but type in the middle of the show is honestly so insufferable, when they are in that "are we dating , are we not? we just fuck sometimes" stage he is so possessive and weird despite not even being in a relationship tharn. i cannot see how being in relationship with someone like type would ever be in any way fulfilling and enjoyable enough to stay in it for a week, never mind get married to him. even taking his violent homophobia out of it (which is one of his only, if not THE only defining trait he had for so much of the early series) type just seems like a dick and an awful person. he is extremely hard to root for and absolutely does not deserve his two closest friends, No and Champ. every time type had any sort of character growth and i got hopeful, by the end of the episode im left disappointed. i got annoyed by his character so fast, it was just so unnecessary how he acted most of the time to people.

their relationship is baseline abusive and has been since it started. type hits, kicks and punches tharn multiple times and tharn forces himself onto type making him uncomfortable and makes absolutely no attempt to rectify his behaviour when he finds out about type's past. neither of them apologise for these things and their relationship seems to be a chore and a pain to be in. their relationship is so inconsistent, theyre hot or cold, together or at eachother's throats punching and kicking eachother. it's not an enjoyable relationship to watch play out.

the writing is just so bad omg. type's trauma is only ever brought up to be convenient for plot. when he and tharn end up together it just seems go away at the click of a finger ???? CSA isn't something that goes away just like that, it's serious and usually effects people way way into their adult life and subsequently their relationships in the future. if the writers would've just cared about making the plot seem any sort of realistic and coherent instead of just trying to throw in sex scenes whenever they could, type could've been a good character with a good character arc but no. that's just too much effort. it's left in the dust when it can't be used to further how much tharn and type have sex. one of the only parts where i could see hints of something good was when type was contemplating how to help tar, other than that it was such an awful way to add a storyline that serious in the show. lots of the dialogue felt juvenile and cringy. they have never heard of smooth transitions between plots. it seems like those movies adapted from wattpad fanfiction. their relationship felt so forced, even though i watched it happen. it didn't feel realistic like thats how two people like them would actually act, a high strung open gay and a violent homophobe.

not only is constant shitty handling of SA a problem but they decide to go the extra mile and add incest !!!! oh joy !!!!! i would like to hope i don't need to elaborate on the whole tum and tar front other than it being oh so disgusting.

lhong is a god awful antagonist, his whole story just unnecessary ???? it's pretty obvious to see he likes tharn from the start but that doesn't justify him hiring people to rape a highschooler and try to kill someone and then they were like "oh he has trauma as well so it's okay" this show just paints an awful picture of trauma victims and addresses it in such an awful way that i have to laugh bc if i don't i'll cry.

it is so obviously marketed to your stereotypical bl fan, a cis straight women. it's full of sex and all the glaring issues are just glossed over or ignored by fans. it could be better if they'd have not watered all these serious topics down into piss. in what world does a CSA survivor get over it in a few days because he had sex with his creepy roommate a few times, these aren't things that just disappear with the power of love, these are things that take people years and years to heal from with professional help, not some random ass gay musician.

this show incorporates absolutely everything bad in bl and just takes it to another level. at no point do i find myself wishing i was in a relationship like tharn and type, i find myself thankful im not. i left so many episodes feeling icky and just wrong, like "what the fuck am i watching". so much of it is just disgusting and highlights everything bad in bl. it has absolutely no rewatch value i wish i could just leave that blank

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I'm not sure what made me decide to watch this, or continue watching. I will say that the show had an odd appeal in spite of it's flaws. Part of it is a mature romance, but most of it is a light thriller revolving around a gifted paralegal who is good at getting to the bottom of a case... I guess it's pretty obvious that that is the lady with the suitcase.

Choi Ji Woo is great as Cha Geum Joo, and I admit I have never seen her in a drama before. She was likable early on, and I liked that she was a savvy lead, not a doormat. Her acting isn't perfect however, and there are more dramatic moments where she seems to try to play cute to the camera, which didn't really work for me. Luckily for her she was cast with two attractive and talented leads. Joo Jin Mo
as Ham Bok Geo "Hamburger" is grown and sexy, and a great match for her. I loved their flirty moments, and chemistry, especially in the beginning, although I kept wishing they would take things up a notch. He is an absolute charmer, and he charmed me in this role, though he's another actor I've never seen before.
Then there is Lee Joon as Ma Suk Woo, who was cute perfection. He was honestly my favorite character of them all, and I think the best actor. He managed to seem innocent, yet not naive. I loved watching his chemistry with Geum Joo when they worked together, though I admit she seemed waaaaaaaaaaaay too old for him. The love triangle between these three is pretty hilarious, even if it's a little unrealistic, they pull it off well. This was the highlight of the show for me.

The rest of the show is a messy melodrama revolving around a scandal I had a hard time following, and a mystery that didn't really grab my interest, but there is a villain that is really creepy, who I wish had a better storyline and more screen time. I still managed to enjoy the court scenes, which featured a great supporting cast, even if it was pretty obvious how things would go.

Then there's Jeon Hye Bin as Park Hye Joo (who I will forever think of as Oh Hae Young) who plays the main character's complicated sister. She is really good at playing a low key b!tch, but she honestly didn't have the acting chops to pull off such a complicated role. Her acting was so bad at times she seemed to be making fun of the role. There was just not enough depth, and I think that's this show's biggest problem. The character also had a few transformations that made no sense, especially at the end, but that could have maybe been fixed with better acting too, i think.

The show is pretty light hearted even though it deals with some very heavy themes, which I think worked against it. People treated things like going to jail, sex trafficking, being a fugitive, and even murder so lightly that I could barely take it seriously. The later episodes also focus so much on the melodrama that the show lost much of it's appeal. Still I liked watching the story unfold for some reason, and never thought about dropping it. The ending could have also been a lot better, but since the story wasn't a strong point, I'm not sure if it would have made much difference to my overall thoughts on the drama.

Overall, a pretty good cast made this show decent, and enjoyable. Like most shows it loses much of it's charm in the final episodes, but the cast made me want to stick with it. I doubt I'd watch it again, but I will miss some of the characters. I doubt this show will be high on anyone's favorite list, but I'm glad i checked it out. The fact that there are no other reviews seems so weird since I've seen much worse dramas with tons of reviews! I'd say it's the perfect "In the meantime" drama for those with nothing on their queue, and wiling to give it a chance.

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My Two Bits:

Awwww.... it's so comfortable so cozy.... such a warm and homey place
Everything you watch is so Everyday...
nothing extraordinary or fancy or miraculous
And yet it's finding the warmth and comfort among those:
Everyday moments Everyday tingling in your heart Everyday tiny struggles
that makes these 2 hours so perfectly pretty

Maybe I'll dream something cozy tonight

The rest is just your personal preference after you've invested in at least Half an hour of your life.

1 from those Cozy Bits.... Are all Bartender Unnis so helpful ????????

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I was honestly really looking forward to this season because of Miura Haruma, but I just didn't really fall in love with most of the characters as I did in season 1 and season 2.. (especially season 1)

It's really great seeing Gokusen coming back with another season because of its successfulness.. it really was. But seeing the same storyline again for the 3rd time really bored me. Also, I didn't feel the closeness between Yankumi and the 3-D class as in season 1. I just wished there was a plot twist or a new storyline.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE Yankumi's strong personality and physical strengths.. but I'm tired of seeing her students getting beat up and has to need her help every single episode. I wish that the writers made up something a bit new... like her students try to not get into fights more often or fight back for themselves.

If ONLY I liked the characters here a bit better, I would've given this a 7. But I just didn't really any of the students. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE Miura Haruma, but I seriously dislike his character here. I love Jun's and Kame's characters in seasons 1 and 2 the best. They care about their friends the MOST, and actually have a lot of times that they were calm... unlike many others.

Overall, if you're a fan of this series like I am, you should continue finishing it off... but it might get a bit boring at times. I definitely enjoyed seasons 1 and 2 better ;)

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AMAZING

As if I wasn't excited for Part 2 enough, Nadao decides to surprise us all on 520 with this stunning short film. I don't really know what else to say. Stop reading this and watch it NOW. You will thank me. :) But MDL requires at least 500 characters... so, just trust me that everything in this short film is perfect... it makes me want to immediately watch part 1 again or better yet, teleport right now to Phuket old town. Once the pandemic ends, the Phuket government should definitely use this film in an advertising campaign! It almost seems it was sponsored by them.

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DOMG

The story line of this drama is very captivating and addictive always making me anticipate the next episode to come out,. Aside the low production value, the drama was really interesting and I would love to watch it again, I just hope that they could make a season 2 quickly. This drama isn't done yet. I hope to see from more of these actors, although in only familiar with two of them i.e. Zhan Yu as 'Qin Chen' and Zong Feng Yan as 'Zhao Gao the emperor of Xuan', I really liked the other actors in the dramas. I hope for more from Dominator of Martial Gods as well as it's cast cause their story isn't done yet.

Overall, leaving the production quality aside, this is one of the most interesting Wuxia dramas I've watched this year and ive watched almost all that has come out.

So I recommend this for anyone who wants to watch a good drama with a good storyline just hope un don't mind the production value or quality.

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Had Potential to be Greater

This movie was a decent watch but seemed to only scratch the surface of what could have been a really great love story. The casting choice was good. The acting was strong and kept me engaged and the plot setup was interesting but I found trouble connecting with the story. I felt as if the details of this story was missing. There were a lot of time jumps, reminiscing and bits of situations being presented but not much was being shown about their relationship except for some of the ugly moments. We didn’t see much of the build up or connection being built between the two so it left a lot to be desired. I did enjoy the literary references as it attempted to provide a deeper connection with their love story.

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far better than the original...

While the original dragged on for ever this version is very compact. The "Ai" and "Rak" characters were played very similar while the "Kaishin" and "Mut" characters are quite different. The japanese version is less fluff and more animalic in the first half. The story plays out in the same fashion with the difference that the GL "to be" couple is far less abnoxious.

Now that MDL changed the episodes there are two special episodes after that but MDL could not be bothered to add them in the index yet. I felt the finale was a bit disappointing even with an happy end for all. The acting was far superior to the original series, the chemistry was there and they did not hold back in the NC-scenes either. Production quality was also high but less polished to the original series, so imho it felt more "natural".

Overall I prefer this compact version compared to the thai version which felt boring most of the time. So, if you didn't like the original version, chances are high, that you will be more comfortable with this version.

Update: Because MDL does not have an entry for the special episodes I like to mention them here. They are much more finale then ep 10 imho. Which rounds up the series nicely.

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YES! 10 i'am not being over reacted maybe many of you will dis-agree of me well i think i have a good explanation about this.

If you don't know yet? .. It is the first Asian drama in Philippines that gained so much popularity because of this TV drama started the so-called "Asianovela craze" and also aheeemm ... haha this is the first drama i watch :) well that's why i love asianovela and that time i also collect posters,text,stickers even glow in the dark of each of character of this drama i can imagined wahaha (i'm not that old) :D well i proudly to say that in that time this is the highest rate among all the other asianovela in Philippines and i watch this many times because it's refitted several times in my country :) also this series is the first live-action television adaptation of the manga, followed by its sequel Meteor Garden II and Japanese Hana Yori Dango, its sequel Hana Yori Dango Returns and South Korean Boys Over Flowers.

So if you haven't watch this yet??? and if you will watch this without comparing to other version or manga i think you will like METEOR GARDEN. Can't Help Falling in You is one of the song in this series and i really like it, i think cast is also contribute a good acting coz if they don't why people like it? Also please guys before you watch this remind your self that this drama made in 2001. That's why if you will compare the quality!? darling, obviously it will not as good as the two other dramas but about the story i believed that as much as many people like it hopefully you will like it also :)

That's why i rated this 10 i expect it's reasonable!

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Stunning pictures, not thought out story...

"The Secret of Us" is a japanese youtube channel, but only doing chinese BL content. That is one their several short series but a very weak one. While the landscapes are really stunning, the story left so much to be desired. It begins fine - a hurt stranger is found by an to be aspiring veterian - but how they fell in love is not really explained. There is a red flag scene in a tent and then it's like they are together.

In the following episodes it's revealed the stranger had his goal to reach the veterian because his dog saved him from a wolf pack. But when you listen to the story, it does not make much sense, because he mentioned there were other people saving him, so they would have rendered first aid, right? And just because he did not tell him first, they break up and the stranger returns home.

The finale is the most confusing. First it's a time jump and second he wants to search for the stranger but gets a call that mr. stranger should have an operation otherwise his life is in danger and then he appears on a horse. WTF?

This is one of the weakest series from them and I have no clue why they thought the story made any sense. They had six episodes to tell a story, but most of it was filler and not needed and it ends. While it's nice he's back, will he die now? Or what was the reason for him coming back? I can't figure it out and I don't care. The actors tried their best, they delivered a decent performance but I did not feel their attraction to each other. The only good thing about this series are the stunning landscapes which is special because most dramas play out in a big city most of the time. Also the rest of the production quality was top notch wasted on such a script. Handsome actors don't make a story. So my quite high rating is only because of the production quality, because the script is really bad.

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Not the best drama out there, but still enjoyable. There were funny, cute, and also tense moments and I don't feel like I wasted my time here. Actually, I pretty much enjoyed the whole drama, and always was waiting each week for new episodes.

But this wasn't a perfect drama, that's for sure. If we look closer to some aspects we'll realize that this drama lacked in so many things.
I think the directing and the writing was mediocre (specially in the last episode which was terrible in my opinion XD) There were many illogical scenes and also some holes in the plot. Writers didn't approach the crime-mystery genre as they should have. They created a great villian but also the dumbest heroes -Except from Yeom Mi, Moo Gak and Cho Rim- (sometimes)
Well, I must give them some credit tho, because the romantic comedy part was good and well done, in my opinion. So props for that!

The acting was good too. I have no complains, Shin Se Kyung did a good job, I liked her a lot in this. I think comedy is perfect for her. As for me, she isn't blacklisted anymore -not that I have a black list or something like that actually hahaha- But let's say she wasn't my favorite actress.
And of course I have to talk about Nam Gong min's great acting. I think this drama is worth watching because of his character. He played it so well. I think he should stick to these kind of characters from now on. And overall the acting of everyone was good, nothing outstanding, nothing unwatchable, just good.

About the music, well... it was ok. I liked almost all the songs and also the instrumentals.

Then, should you watch it?

Well guys, it depends on what you want and expect from this. Don't expect great quality in directing or writing or a crime thriller or something like that because you will be disappointed.
You can expect cute and romantic moments, also funny scenes and an average show. Nothing much.
What I mean is that this show is technically bad, but it's entertaining so it works. At least for me.

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Not Just Good, But One of the Best

If you are looking for:
- a simple but heartfelt romance with emotional depth
- charming leads with excellent chemistry
- polished execution and pleasing aesthetics
- intimate scenes that feel both sensual and emotionally grounded
then this series may be for you!

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Things I like
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(1) The Creative Direction
This series has many strengths: pleasing visuals, an endearing cast, a consistent musical identity, and, of course, a main couple with undeniable chemistry. TeeTee Wanpichit is especially charming as Duang, bringing so much warmth and energy to the role that it becomes easy to stay invested from start to finish. Por Suppakarn also gives Qin a strong presence, making him compelling even in his quieter and more guarded moments.

But if I had to give one special shoutout, it would go to director Nathawat Piyanonpong. A series like this may look simple on paper, but making a straightforward love story feel this engaging requires both vision and execution. The emotional beats land, the romantic progression feels natural, and the series never loses its charm. Without strong direction, a plot like this could have easily felt ordinary. Instead, it feels assured, intentional, and consistently enjoyable.

(2) Qin’s Growth
For a while, I found myself wondering why the series was titled Duang With You. By the final episode, the answer becomes very clear. The title is not just about Duang being physically by Qin’s side, but about how deeply Duang changes Qin’s emotional world.

This works especially well because of the contrast with similar moments in the earlier episodes. By the finale, Qin’s happiness feels open, genuine, and closely tied to Duang’s presence. He is no longer the cold, guarded person who chose distance and emotional restraint. Instead, he becomes someone capable of vulnerability, honesty, and mutual love. Por Suppakarn does an excellent job portraying this growth, especially in the crying scenes, because Qin is not simply written as a cold male lead. He is a character shaped by pain and a difficult past, and that gives the role much more depth when he finally allows himself to feel and receive love.

(3) The Intimacy
For a series that feels this heartwarming and straightforward, I honestly expected the intimate scenes to be fairly basic or brief. That was clearly not the case. The scenes here are thoughtfully choreographed and shot, and what makes them even stronger is that they are not there just for visual appeal. They carry emotional weight too.

What I especially appreciated is how the intimacy feels tied to the characters and their relationship. These scenes are sensual, but they also feel tender, vulnerable, and believable for two young people who are fully opening themselves to one another. Because of that, they come across as meaningful rather than merely decorative, which makes them all the more effective.

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Things I wish were different
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(1) More Depth for Qin’s Parents
It is honestly hard for me to pick major complaints about this series, but if I had to nitpick, this would probably be my biggest one. Qin’s parents felt like the weakest part of the storytelling for me. With their limited screen time, both characters came across as too similar, and because they almost always appeared together and mirrored each other’s reactions, they ended up feeling less like two distinct people and more like a single narrative force.

Because Qin’s trauma is such an important part of his character, I wish the series had spent a little more time exploring the parents’ perspectives in a more layered way. In the end, much of the emotional weight of that storyline was carried by the two main actors rather than by the writing around the parents themselves. Even the maid, bless her, left a stronger impression in the early childhood scenes.

(2) The OST
The music in this series suits the tone well, so this is not really a complaint about quality as much as variety. I just wish the OST had been a little more experimental at times. Since Qin is a jazz student, and since the series gave us that lovely music showcase scene where Por Suppakarn sang jazz so well, I found myself hoping the soundtrack would lean further into that side of his character.

Because of that setup, I was expecting a bit more jazz influence, or at least more genre variation across the series. Instead, the overall musical style stayed fairly consistent throughout, aside from a few scenes. It still worked, but I think the soundtrack could have added even more personality if it had taken a few more risks.

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Best scenes
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1. Post-basketball match (Episode 6)
For me, this is one of the standout scenes of the entire series, and also the moment where TeeTee Wanpichit truly shines as an actor. Within a relatively short span of time, he is asked to carry multiple emotional shifts, and he does so very well. We see the affectionate and devoted Duang that the audience has already grown attached to, but this scene adds so much more on top of that: concern, frustration, hurt, helplessness, and finally relief.

What makes this scene so strong is how naturally those emotions build into one another. It never feels exaggerated, and that is why it hits so hard. By the time Qin apologizes and begins to reciprocate Duang’s feelings more clearly, the emotional payoff feels fully earned. This is also the point where the relationship starts to move beyond one-sided affection and into something more mutual and balanced. For that reason, this scene is not only emotionally effective, but also one of the most important turning points in the series.

2. Bye bye teddy bear (Episode 8)
These young actors can really act. The tears of relief that Duang sheds after Qin chooses him are the kind of moment that stays with you. It is tender, heartbreaking, and impactful all at once. For me, this is one of those scenes that will still be remembered long after the series ends.

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Takeaways
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The base formula that this series follows is not exactly unique. In fact, there have already been many series built on similar settings and storylines. What makes Duang With You special is the execution and the passion that can be felt throughout all 12 episodes. The two leads are incredibly charming and do a wonderful job embodying the characters from the source material.

The ironic part is that the original novel is called Not The Best, But Still Good, and yet this adaptation may well be one of the best series in the genre so far.

I wish nothing but continued success for the actors, the director, and the entire team behind this series. Everyone involved clearly brought a great deal of effort and heart into this work, and I hope that passion opens the door to even more success and opportunities in the future. I truly look forward to seeing more great things from them.

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How to Ruin Something in 3 episodes

I wrote this as a way to empty myself rather than anything else. Everyone’s taste and perspective is different so I have never made an effort to convince someone to like or not like anything. And I also debated a lot on whether to post it or not. But since I already wrote it, what the heck… This is a description of how a perfect 9.5 rating peddled itself into a 7.
Now I’m going to be honest, I feel some unexplainable attachment to N’Bright. Sort of maternal. I don’t know why, maybe because he’s the same age as my baby sister and my protectiveness for her is transferred, maybe because I can sense some vulnerability behind his aloofness? I don’t know, let’s leave that to the therapists to untangle that web. But the point I wanted to make before I went down the path of self-analysis and discovery is, my biased feelings also flowed down to the character which meant I tend to gloss over some issues either with the show or the actor. Don’t say I wasn't upfront about it.

Where to start; the actors?
N'Bright - Besides his good looks they say he brings all he's got to the set. I do like his acting. Although admittedly when I first saw the cast interview before the series aired, my first impression was, this is not going to be challenging for this guy. Character and his own personality seem to be too similar.
I found his strength to be when he is playing the seemingly cold, detached, flirty, cute, shameless parts of his character. His biggest weakness would be sad scenes. He squints. Basically, that’s it. I found that in scenes where I should have been more inclined to empathize with his character instead I felt disconnected. These are the scenes specially where Win has outshined him.
N'Win – I don’t even know where to start about our breakout star. It is hard to imagine that this is his first role. I guess some things just come natural to some people. When he is playing the mash up of legally blonde and clueless, I kept thinking, “this guy would make a damn good villain”. That is a testament to his ability in convincing me that he is a talent that should not be underestimated. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t have areas to work on but for a first run, he hit it out of the park.

The Plot

If you’re looking for a series to tackle serious issues, with intricate plots and multi-faceted characters you won’t find it here. This was a very straightforward simple unoriginal plot. What I like about the series was that particular fact. It never tried to be more than what it was; which is the equivalent of a chick-flick. It is a simple story of two people falling in love. It wasn’t a question of will-they-won’t-they but rather WHEN will-they. The trill was watching the chase and the fluff unfold until the expected happy ending arrives.
Whatever minor faults could be forgiven as long as it delivered what I needed; which was an uncomplicated entertaining love story.
Tine’s oblivion to his fake boyfriends real flirting, and Sarawat’s one step advance one step retreat was what excited me, asking will Tine realize in this episode or the next episode that his fake boyfriend is actually in love with him.
The choppy editing and some of the directing mishaps can quickly be dismissed. Why spend over analyzing something simple that wasn’t trying to be more than what it is, I told myself.
When people pointed out the scene with Sarawat getting beat up was unnecessary, I said no they are trying to show Tine who only saw Sarawat’s popularity, that there was another side to his life. A not so pretty side that Tine was oblivious to. For some who don’t believe boys would punch someone because their girlfriend liked their IG, I’d like to counter with my own experience with stupid, where in college I had a close friend who’s boyfriend regularly gets into a fist fight with any man who made eye contact with his girlfriend (no I’m not exaggerating, going to clubs or bars was definitely a stressful situation when my friend and her boyfriend joined us) But I digressed again, I was trying to say that I can come up with any explanation or excuse for a scene that may come off less than perfect.

The Problem

Then episode 10 happened. The first couple of minutes showed us what we have been waiting for. Finally! Tine realized his feelings and accepted Sarawat and they are now a couple. So, what comes next? Of course, the honeymoon phase! Where we are going to witness firsthand these two people we have been cheering on for 9 episodes, go on a date. We are going to see Sarawat who shamelessly flirted his way into Tine heart, is as a boyfriend. We are going to see how awkward, shy Tine is with his first boyfriend and watch him fall deeply in love ugh so romantic hu… NO! That’s not what happened. What we got was a fast transition from “we’re boyfriends” to “we are cohabitating” in a matter of 15 minutes. If it was just the cohabitation, I wouldn’t be so bitter. What they went into is from flirting and making eyes at each other to bromance territory. I mean they were one chest bump away from turning into two white frat boys “dude”! In a matter of 15 minutes the spark that had carried us for 9 episodes started fizzling out in front of my eyes. Man and Boss should ask for refund on that bouquet of condoms. But I moved on, I declared it the weakest episode, which was bound to come along in any series.
Episode 11 busted in with the Halloween special. I mean to this day I still can’t tell you what the thought process was that went into writing and approving that episode. The only saving grace was the last 6 minutes where we finally got to see from Sarawat’s perspective on what it was like for him when he met Tine again in ep 1. That part was cute and in perfect theme to the beginning of the series. I feel like N’Bright did his best work there. Now another milestone for this episode was Tine said “I like you too” out loud for us to hear. Now I’m no director or writer but shouldn’t this be an opportune moment to get in a kiss? Mind you, I’m not asking for tongue or exchange of saliva (I feel like I have to keep pointing out this part for some to understand) but a simple peck. Would it have killed them if Sarawat and Tine had leaned on each other or gave a back hug while they were stargazing?
But hey, let’s not get hung up on the missed opportunity here when episode 12 brought on a new bucket of mess. Ep 12 was a cast call for all clichés. You name it, it had it. Here, because of this series, I had to eat my words once again. Around ep 5/6, here on MDL I praised this series for not having negative female portrayals. One commenter pointed out that it still had “Sarawat’s fans”. I said I don’t consider them as normal females, at least we don’t have an ex or something trying to raise havoc. I guess this is why they say you shouldn’t put something out into the universe?

Why what was supposed to be a simple Hallmark drama has devolved into c-drama world with its melodrama is beyond me. Well as you’d expect, the last ep could not save the descend into the bottom with the regurgitated plots, cliched love triangle, last minute drama.
In our very last episode we got a strong montage and a character I barely recognized. I have theories, hear me out… when Sarawat broke his leg and they took him for his x-ray follow up, by any chance do you think the hospital messed up and gave him a lobotomy? Or, in the Halloween ep, did he maybe get body swapped? Guys I have over a decade worth of knowledge in this area from watching Supernatural. It could happen. And this is the only explanation that I can come up with to explain the unexplainable character personality shift. People expect you to accept that Mr. Sarawat expo, Mr. cop-a-feel even when beaten to a pulp, now gives strong shoulder hugs and high fives. Mr. I'll kiss you till you drop now gives head pats. The Sarawat, who crawled to Tine with a broken leg and wouldn’t leave his side just because Tine fainted now sees his boyfriend puking and being taken to a hospital but instead goes home for a good night sleep and a change of fresh cloth before going to see him? I mean WT actual F! To top it off, Sarwat 2.0 didn’t even say “I’m sorry” or make any effort to win Tine back or anything remotely sane but instead sang a song that he barely even finished. Man and Type showed more warmth with that hug than our main couple, who technically had just made up. To be fair, Man and Type showed more warmth than our duo in the last 3 episodes.

I have a lot more to say but I fear the only thing to be gained would be carpal tunnel. I will forever treasure you, Gunsmile and Toptap. Episodes 1-9 will be remembered fondly, especially since as far as I'm concerned this series ended after the first 15 minutes of episode 10. I loved, loved everything about the music. Thank you for that.

And at last, I will dedicate a verse from one of my favorite song to it:

“it could have been love, but it’s over now;
It could have been good, but we lost it somehow”

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