Highly Informative, Liberal, and Entertaining.
Intro:
I am someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy genres like: romcoms, drama, etc. I mostly watch thriller and crime series. I'd say that my standards and expectations when it comes to content I watch is quite high. I can, at times, be quite a biased critic, as I tend to enjoy content that aren't unaware of social issues. I do love social commentaries that intentionally include social issues in order to show its faults and impacts. I tend to shy away from content with characters that act in stereotypical ways and where characters are excused or applauded for their certain insensitive/ bigoted actions.
Story - 10/10
What I loved about the drama is how informative it was. I loved that sex and intimacy was displayed in very raw and refreshing ways. The use of anatomically accurate words for reproductive and pleasurable body parts was so refreshing to see, as Asian content rarely touches on these topics without censorship. There were many different forms and types of sexual relationships touched on the show. The show touched on the importance and the unfairness faced by menstruating people: the providence of free pads/tampons and the pain of menstrual cramps etc. Other social issues presented in the drama were: Transphobia, Homophobia, Fatphobia, Sexism, Misogyny, discrimination against diverse sexual needs like BDSM, Abortion, Unhealthy Parenting, Responsibilities, Dating Abuse, Consent, Use of Protection during Intercourse, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Trauma, etc. I personally felt that the topics spoken about in the series were done very well. It didn't seem inappropriate or insensitive, rather it was represented in a motivational manner.
All the leading characters were very different to each other but they also shared similarities which allowed them to be friends. The highlight of the show was the character arc of the protagonist Alex (acted by New). He was always a decent person but his choices and mistakes made him grow up to be a person he didn't expect to be. I loved that they showed how the MC's actions impacted others around him, whether those actions were intentional or not. The FL who's life was adversely affected by the MC was shown with so much complexity and sympathy. The MC's mistakes and actions were never completely or solely the MC's fault. His friends and those around him are equally responsible. The "MC's mistakes" were the lack of actions rather than the presence of faulty actions. Even though he was never to solely blame, he never held his ground and never stood for what he believed in. His growth were he stops avoiding and starts fighting was amazing.
The MC was actually the hero and the MVP of the series. He shined the most and left the biggest impression and had the largest impact on me. By the end of the drama, I came to the conclusion that the world needs more people like him. His second chance really did allow him to be better himself and get to know the people around him on deeper levels. he took that opportunity given to him and made the most of it.
The pacing of the episodes were good. Nothing felt too fast or too slow. The time travel didn't feel messy. Although there were some plot-holes and unrealistic odd developments; they were never memorable. I have to add that as much as I love the story there were parts where I felt it could have been better and parts where I felt that at times the message that needed to be delivered wasn't the best out of the options available.
Acting & Cast - 9.5/10
As always the acting was done wonderfully. New really suited his role well, he perfectly brought his character to life. I was very impressed by Fluke's and Thor's chemistry. The pair stole the show every time they were on screen. I'm continuously impressed by Sing Harit's versatile acting. He had a tough character to play in my opinion but he truly nailed it. I was so attracted to Silvy's aura and presences. She felt powerful even without speaking or moving. I've felt that Joong tends to always act in similar roles. He's often the guy who’s shy but also straightforward, the guy that seems stoic by is actually a romantic, and the soft spoken guy with clear boundaries. But he really does eat up those roles every time. He's got a talent for making the viewer feel like he's in love with them whenever he establishes direct eye contact with the camera. He wasn't a prominent character but oh he definitely stole everyone's hearts in that brief period. New was just the best choice to play Alex. He simply exudes Alex energy. He's always been a great actor, even still he continues to grow. I'd love to see him playing serious and dominating characters too.
Music & Sound - 9.5/10
The music was top notch for me. Their OST "Sweet but Naughty" really became one of my all time favourite songs. It just felt right in an inexplainable way. Gawin's voice is just amazing to listen to. Sing Harit's "Safe Zone" was amazing too. I didn't really feel that the music stole the show. They were amazing to listen to individually but I barely noticed the songs when I was watching the drama. The music just blended into the scenes seamlessly.
Rewatch Value - 9.5/10
I this is one of the highest rating I've ever given to a show before. It wasn't forgettable but I'd watch it again just to be informed of the various social issues discussed. Plus I don't think I can ever get enough of New as Alex. The show was just being a green flag left and right. The relationships between the leads all grew to be so refreshing healthy.
Overall - 9.5/10
I loved the series. I recommend everyone to watch it. It's such a open-minded series when comparing to usual Asian content we are exposed. It was a satisfying watch and felt inspirational. Some of those characters were truly badass icons! I didn't know if I wanted to be them or do them.
Thanks for reading so far <3
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I Hate Everyone Involved In The Making Of This Show (trigger warning)
Unlike what happens in this show, my trauma will never be erased or undone.What the fuck is the point in a show where the main character inflicts unspeakable harm on everyone around him, who does not grow or learn anything at all, and instead gets to live happily ever after without sacrificing a god damn thing?
If the point was to leave me traumatized, disgusted, and afraid, then congratulations... you succeeded. As much as I try not to blame the actors (at least not entirely), I can't look at New without seeing Alex. I can't forget what happened on this show. I would do anything if it means I'll never have to think about this show ever again.
To be absolutely clear, my problem with this show is not that the protagonist makes a pile of shit look good in comparison. I can handle watching a deeply unlikable villain as the main character of a show. My issue is what this show is saying, or rather what it is deliberately refusing to say.
The first 15 minutes of Episode 1 were... an unforgettable experience. It was a wild way to start a show but I still gave this an honest chance. There was a lot about this show that impressed me. I wanted it to be good. But once I had watched Episode 6, I realized those first 15 minutes perfectly encapsulated what it feels like to watch The Warp Effect.
The show opens with Alex. He's a virgin that's tired of being a virgin, so he is with a sex worker hoping to .. fix that. Because of a promise he made to his mom, he ends up getting cold feet in the middle of their foreplay. "Let's stop" he says. She ignores this and jumps right back on him. He stopped her, and she kept going anyway.
Less than 10 minutes later, and only 12 minutes into the first episode, we get a beautiful scene of a sexual education class. The wide shot shows a chalkboard with "CONSENT" written across the entire thing. Juxtaposed with the scene of Alex and the sex worker, it's so ironic that I'm almost laughing. The absurdity of it rivals the sex ed class in Mean Girls ("don't have sex because you will get pregnant and die"). It's almost funny..
But the show never acknowledges what happened between Alex and the sex worker.
Fast forward to Episode 6. We finally get to see everything that Alex did on the night of that party, all the reasons why everyone in his life hates him. Because this is a MyDramaList review and not an essay or dissertation, I'll do my best to keep this short.
If you've been watching the show up to this point, wondering why Jean slapped Alex and why she hates him so much, this episode answers that question pretty quickly.
He raped her.
That night at that party, Alex raped Jean. They were both incredibly intoxicated. Alex was lucky enough to blackout and forget what he did to her. Jean did not forget. I felt sick to my stomach.
The Warp Effect initially impressed me by having open conversations about a wide range of topics like puppy play, nonmonogamy, and nonbinary lesbians.
But after watching this episode and everything that follows, those first 15 minutes of Episode 1 feel like a sick fucking joke. This show doesn't care at all about consent. This show isn't interested in unpacking what that rape did to Jean. It doesn't even care enough to show us Alex's reaction after learning about the horrific thing he did to a person he cared about. This show won't even call it rape. There's no weight to the reveal either. Most of the episode isn't even about the rape or Jean, and I felt insane because everything else that happened at that party feels insignificant in comparison. They drop this earth-shattering revelation on us and then barely mention it for the rest of the show's runtime.
But of course, in the final episode, Alex gets sent back in time to before the party happens. He gets to undo every single mistake he made that night. Jean, who (even after ten years) couldn't be touched by a man, has her trauma simply.... erased. Alex treats her well and they live happily ever after.
And what am I meant to gain from this resolution? What is this show even saying? What the fuck is the point of all this then? If he just gets to redo everything, why did we do this show at all?
People don't get to erase the choices they made and start over from scratch. If you fuck up, if you hurt someone, there's no undoing that.
The Warp Effect is an unforgettable show, in that I will be haunted by the memory of it until my dying breath. This show has done irreparable damage to my psyche. I hate this show with every atom in my being, with every fibre of my soul, with every single piece of my heart.
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A hidden gem
I found out about this series because of a clip of Janhae I saw on twitter (give Janhae a gl main role pls), but I never heard about it before that. I don’t get why people don’t talk about how genuinely amazing this series is, it’s one of the best things I’ve seen gmmtv come out with. The amount of representation and serious issues that are dealt with is amazing. Everytime a new storyline was introduced I was so pleasantly surprised with the issues they covered bc of how well they addressed them. Even though this series goes over serious issues it will definitely be a comfort show for me, it’s very easy to watch and fall for the character’s.Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
This series has it all...
drama, funny scenes, diversity, sex education and all that without making it awkward. This series gives us a glance at what our society really looks like and how we talk or should talk about topics like sex, gender, feminism, and diversity. While it does that, it also doesn't forget to critique itself by including criticism on the entertainment industry itself. It speaks about casting actors just for their looks and not their acting skills, the pressure on actresses to look a certain way and nepotism. It surprised me that even though the cast is this huge, I didn't feel like certain stories weren't complete at the end or that they only existed for certain plot points. Every character had its own meaning throughout the entire series. Every plot is interesting because it highlights a different aspect of our world be it sexual harassment, pregnancy, homophobia, coming out as queer, sexual preferences or just communication skills. It's a full package where I think everyone will find themselves in one or more characters. Above that, the acting skills of each actor and actress are amazing. I felt no awkwardness whatsoever and enjoyed every second of it.Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
Sex education but make it asian
Western-like setup that discussed a variety of sexual issues in a conservative country. Yet, being conservative is a good thing too but there are tendencies that these people seem to degrade others just because of how showy they are about themselves. And this drama brought these issues to life. I like almost everything except for the time-machine concept as I am not a big fan of this kind of genre.I guess everyone will agree with me that Fluke Pusit delivers his role in the most perfect way. Army and Jo is my favorite couple with such an interesting storyline and overflowing chemistry. They are the ones who brought me to start watching this show after seeing their locker room clip of eating each other. GMMTV, give these two their own BL show.
The OST also ate! Fluke Gawin’s Sweet but Naughty is such a perfect song for the drama. The English lyrics are too cool as well as the melody and rhythm that it has. Been LSS every time I watched each episode.
There’s nothing more to say than the fact that I actually enjoyed completing the show. It is not that very impactful but enough to say that they nailed the performances and elements that the viewers are expecting from them. It’s time for everyone who takes a serious note of how important sex education is, which was the whole message of The Warp Effect.
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A Brilliant Series But....
This astonishing and brilliant series was so refreshing to watch and was one of the most thought-provoking series I have ever seen. It is a cacophony of every imaginable social ill, bias, and societal message one could think of. And all of it was dealt with a sense of maturity, honesty, and painful growing up stages to go through. However, where it fell flat was the ending. That was so disappointing and did not fit the overall theme of this series. In addition, it did not tackle a major issue that which became glossed over.Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
so underrated, i totally love it
this show has everything i have ever wanted. it's fun, humorous and it has a good story. it captures you from the first episode and it never gets boring until the end. the show addresses many important issues that are mostly overlooked or swept under the rug. the characters are very diverse; different genders, sexual orientations and identities are represented. the plot aims to raise awareness on sexual issues, kinks, STDs etc. i appreciate that gmmtv decided to produce such show as these topics are not really easy to talk about in society. in that sense, the series was very brave. the acting and music are great. i definitely recommend this series to everyone!Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
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Great drama with some weaknesses
The Warp Effect has so much greatness in it, I ended up sending a 5 minute voice note to a friend why it's so good.It tackles so many problems in society without it being overbearing or too in your face. The writing is very clever, incorporating things without making the viewer feel like they are lecturing us. I kept catching myself beign surprised how many important topics we are talking about, such as how HPV vaccines aren't just for women.
I know a lot of people came for Army x Joe, but honestly, the show in itself is great.
The characters are fun and likable. I have to emphasize how I LOVE that Kat, the pretty and popular girl, wasn't your typical mean girl. No, she was nice and helpful, I enjoyed how Kat embodied a sexual woman who enjoys and wants sex and is unapologetic about it. She knows she's hot and she knows what she wants. Go girl!
In general, the women are written in a refreshing way, none of them are unlikable or annoying.
The guys are fine, too. Though, sometimes I'm not sure if Alex wants to help everyone 'cause he wants to go back or because he genuinely wants them to be better. Probably a mix. I love how he went back and gave everyone random advice they didn't get lol.
Beisdes all the good things the drama does (like how sex-positive it is. I absolutely love it), there are some aspects I didn't like. For example, Nim does not come across to me as a motherly person. She doesn't like kids, she doesn't want them, she looks at kids and feels her energy draining. Why would she have a kid? I understand that she wanted to make her then girlfriend happy, but I don't understand why her character development wasn't "I realized for myself I never want to have kids and therefore we weren't compatable. Not everyone has to have kids." That would be such a strong and powerful message, completely wasted.
There were other things that bothered me, but that was by far the worst one.
Also, it was so unrealistic for all of them to stay together and not have someone have break up. I know, it's a drama and fictional, but I would have appreciated it.
Overall, the actors are all great and fun to watch, the couples have good chemistry. I laughed and enjoyed myself. Very refreshing watch!
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Funny, cute , imagination
Funny and romantic series At the same time, the first time I watch a series like this, the story is amazing, a lot of imagination I had not yet seen this idea so I am happy.I love the fact that there are gay couples, for fans of BL there are many parties with Boyslove but unfortunately only one couple. It is a series that you can watch with friends for example if you are a fan of BL and your friend of Kdrama it is to add in your list, sincerely I highly recommend it, especially if you have nothing to do or if you are in a bad mood, this series is iconic.
a series that makes both romance but also explains diseases like HPV which are important things to know ...
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ES DE LAS MEJORES
Me encanta que esta serie incluya de todo, es una serie que tiene y aprendes mucho sobre la educación y protección sexual. Aborda tantos temas de manera sana y es algo que aveces puede ser incómodo de ver, pero realmente es algo muy nuevo tener este tipo de series en la industria tailandesa. Se disfruta mucho ya que tiene un poco de todo, el tema de los fetiches, la comunidad LGBTQ+, los traumas que viven las mujeres día a día y muchos más!! No me cansaría de recomendar esta serie y el cast es increíble.Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
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So much more than fantasy!
When I started The Warp Effect, I did not expect much: maybe a cute little time travelling teen lost but nothing more! What I got was the time travelling teen lost and then so much more.This series has been on my PTW list for a long time and I started it yesterday while looking for something to watch. As I kept dropping one drama after another after trying them (one episode tryout), this one came up and without realizing it I binged the whole series in a day!
It tells a story about teens and sex! Alex is an 18yr old who would like to get laid but it always ends up as a disaster apparently because of a promise he gave to his late mother. Finally he manages to have drunken sex at a party and suddenly finds himself 10 years in the future with a set of polariod photos he took at a party and puzzles he needs to solve in order to set everything right.
The plot sounds a bit silly but it is actually really well thought out: it manages to strike the perfect balance between entertainment and education. Because this is a full fledged sex ed course! The education part covers everything about sex, gender, pregnancy, stds but it is never "in your face" preachy, it flows so naturally that it is amazing! The writers managed to create a perfect teen/young adult drama!
The drama tells the story of 8 high school friends(who were never in the same friends' group but they knew each other) who reconnect when they are 28 years old and why are they who they became and what happened at the PARTY. They cover the large spectrum of sexual orientation but it looks natural, for lack of better word! None of them is really characterized by it but it is just something they are: what is important is how they are, what kind of person they are. Through them though every kind of sexual orientation is explained. And then more!
The time travelling plot is fun, Alex being completely lost and trying to figure out is funny, the interactions between the friends are realistic.... secrets hidden for a long time are revealed and Alex is taught a lot so when he eventually goes back he would avoid making the same mistakes.
There was never a dull moment. All the actors were excellent in their roles and I was pleasantly surprised by New's comic timing. People are saying that Joong would have been better in this role: I do not agree. Joong acts like a dead fish: zero facial expression. Sorry for his fans, but when you see him here, he always sports a semi smile trying to be quizzical but just being empty. Fortunately he only had a tiny role!
The writing was perfect, the editing as well and nothing was superfluous. And then there is music: I have not heard such a great soundtrack in a long time. Almost every song is not an original one but the music editor managed to choose some beautiful, mostly american, songs that illustrated perfectly what was happening on screen.
I am trying to find something wrong with this drama but I am having hard time. There are probably flaws since nothing is perfect but I have not noticed them. GMMTV managed again to surprise me with a great show. One time (55:15 ) is an accident, second time (Mama Gogo) is a coincidence, the third time (The Warp Effect) is a pattern!
PS I just found the flaw: the poster looks like those creepy & cringy US movies "American Pie". So awful!
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Watch it!
I went into this not knowing what it was about and I'm glad. I don't like time travel plots. For some reason they annoy me and make me anxious. So, generally, I avoid. But if I had followed course I would have missed this absolute gem! I am loving GMM's productions. They keep getting better with age! I love an assemble cast that's well balanced with storyline and acting skills. Everybody in this cast was Good! Steady, consistent acting skills. Able to give humor as needed but also able to carry the heavier moments equally well. Great group chemistry as well as couple chemistry as well. I highly enjoyed watching each storyline.Secondary, everybody is gorgeous and sex scenes are done very well with different degrees of NC. That, for me, let's me know that the creators incorporate the sex scenes as needed for the story as well as titillating the audience and not just for tacky attention grabbing.
I strongly recommend this series for anybody. I watched the whole thing on YT.
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