Reviews

A Quiet Beginning to Kano and Ookami’s What-If World

Episode 1 immediately sets the tone: quiet, a little melancholic, and deeply character-driven. We meet Akihito Kano a year after shifting from engineering to sales, and honestly? He’s the definition of someone who’s good at his job but absolutely terrible at being visible. He has the skills, the brains, the work ethic — but zero confidence in speaking up. And the show doesn’t exaggerate it; it portrays that kind of workplace loneliness in a painfully realistic way. You can feel how isolating it is for him to exist in a room full of coworkers yet still feel like he’s on the outside looking in.The tension with Seiji Ookami is introduced beautifully. They’re not enemies, but they’re definitely not what they used to be. Once close peers, now separated by an unspoken incident and Kano’s lingering insecurity. The writing does a great job showing that admiration and resentment can coexist. Kano looks at Ookami like he’s the sun — warm, bright, unreachable — and that gap between them is the emotional hook of this episode.The shrine scene is where everything shifts.After a draining day dealing with client problems, Akihito stumbling into the shrine feels like a metaphor for how lost he is — physically, emotionally, mentally. The mirror that shows your “ideal self” is such a simple fantasy device, yet it works because Akihito’s wish is so human:He doesn’t want fame, success, or power. He just wants to stand beside Ookami — not beneath him, not behind him — but as an equal.That’s what makes the magic hit harder.The fog, the blackout, and then… “Kano!”Ookami is the one who wakes Kano up after he faints at the shrine, and he looks genuinely worried. From there, everything feels different — this Ookami isn’t the one he usually knows. His eyes, his gestures, his attitude, even the way he carries Kano…This ending twist is executed so delicately. It’s not loud or dramatic. It’s intimate. Confusing. Tender in a way that immediately makes you ask:Is this a dream? A parallel world? His subconscious? Or something supernatural?The episode closes not with answers, but with emotional mystery — the best kind. Overall, Episode 1 is a strong opener — soft fantasy layered with workplace loneliness and unresolved tension. It’s slow, but intentionally slow, building a fragile emotional atmosphere that sets up the central question of the story: What happens when the version of someone you wished for finally appears — and they treat you like you’ve always wanted?A beautiful, tender start to a story about longing, regret, and the ache of wanting to be someone better.

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One Stars

as much as i dislike Jom this ep was well done. it was so sad & lovely how he chose how to say goodbye to all the people that came into his life. it was very touching & sad. even though i still don't get why he is disappearing, unless he is dead & somehow instead of only his soul time-jumping into the past maybe possessing someone, his soul also manifested into flesh & bone & now for-whatever-reason it's time for him to move on. hope it gets explained in the next few eps & isn't left a mystery that never gets solved. ********************************************************************************************************************also was wondering how Fongkaew never got pregnant, as Robert never left her alone. but am also wondering did Robert never "touch" Ueangphueng?!? then i kinda get his hungering for a new wife, that he didn't have to treat with kid gloves & even though it doesn't justify anything, it explains why he acted like a ravenous animal with both his wives. ***************************btw Khamsaen assuming Fongkaew was untouched, when she was married to someone is ridiculous - that normal, that someone marries someone else & threats her like his sister?!? maybe if she was a 'beard' - but Robert wanted Fongkaew from the sec he saw her, the other older dude that helped him hatch up the plan of burning her parents place was to get their land, but Robert wanted Fongkaew. so i don't get Khamsaen thought process... thank f*ck he came around by the end.

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well the big revel was shocking - i was sure…

well the big revel was shocking - i was sure Jom was gonna exposé his relationship with Yai, or maybe confess his love anything but throwing a powder keg that would blow open the whole Robert, Bussabong's father, Fongkaew issue up & in everyone's faces. that was one hell of a way to stop the engagement. it for sure shamed Luang Thep Nititham into realizing that his greed for power almost destroyed both his children's lives. what i loved was how Khunying Khaekhai didn't shame him until they were all alone. she is a good wife. she could've blown up around everyone, but she supported him until it was only the 2 of them to make her point & tell him he not gonna rule with an iron fist anymore. smart woman. ******************************************& as much as i am enjoying this, i can only do so if i just ignore the romance - cause Jom hasn't grown on me & i like Yai, but the romance just isn't for me. ************************************************************************************************************as an ep back we saw that a woman was divorced, am wondering if that is the route both Fongkaew & Ueangphueng r gonna take (even though it wasn't discussed in this ep) just Ueangphueng's situation got complicated given am sure she is pregnant. but given her parents r rich & powerful - that will help keep Robert away. *********************************************************with Fongkaew i have a feeling she lied to Khamsaen, she cause of her statues - can she divorce Robert? & either way i think cause of what Khamsaen's mother told her, she might keep away from him. *******************************************************regarding Jom - he isn't dead time jumped into the past - so why his image disappearing?!? weird -

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idk what Jom was planning at the end, but…

idk what Jom was planning at the end, but everyone conniving so whatever. also Luang Thep Nititham has trained his family wel l- no matter how they truly feel, he says jump & they ask how high. no matter how bad his decisions for them turned out, not one has come to confront him with the reality of his self-centered, hard handed "rulings". idk for whom i feel sorrier; Yai, Ueangphueng or Bussabong. they have little to no say in how they want to live their lives. this such a sad reality & no i didn't forget Jom - i just don't feel sad for him. *********************************************************************************************on the other hand Fongkaew has surprised me in this ep, she is too good to be true. when she saw Ueangphueng with Mei she realized that Ueangphueng wasn't any different from her & that made her come to make peace. she even helped Mei & tried to save Ming & the other guy that was supposed to guard Mei. all while she is trying to find evidence showing Robert was behind the arson, that took her father's life & forced her into this hell / marriage. one would think she had enough on her plate, to care for others that didn't show her the bare minimum of kindness, when she came into that house & yet she still went out of her way to help them. kinda impressed.

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Trying to find a home

Things aren’t going well for Blood River. They tried another clinic in Tianqi but it did not make much of an impression. We are given some of Prince Langya’s history. He falls in love with one from Situ clan and she brought him to meet her father. She learned the sword he carried was a legendary blade used by the imperial line. She is firm about wanting nothing to do with the court and after a lengthy test period she offers him a chance if he can stay in the martial world for a year. He readily agrees but it is not said why he didn’t keep his vow to her. It is just clear both are rather miserable. He does get her to agree to his request upon his death. Blood River was supposed to have a meal with the prince at a restaurant of his choosing yet he didn’t show. After a considerable wait the Blood River group plans to leave. Tang Lianyue is not going to let them leave without removing the puppet poison from his master. When things get heated, Changhe gets out he’ll palm and the Prince counters it. They offer him a deal but we are not told yet how that panned out. First Prince has found a ghost blade to join his ghost doc. Changhe is getting tired of trying to make deals with people as corrupt as the hirers of blood river blades. I am curious if the medicine king is making any progress on night crow’s puppet poison.

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