remike
Unexpectedly Underwhelming :)
Great cast, veterans from other BL shows, a premise with a hint of lots of interaction and sex. What could go wrong?PLOT: Let’s say the basic concept is pretty interesting, the different members having connections or history with each other, seeing different ships mixing together, this idea would make the show not boring. Well, the execution is quite different. The different plotlines are not detailed enough and also pretty boring, that even the actors can’t make it better. I thought it would get interesting at some point but I noticed that in later episodes I just started skipping some parts because I was so bored with some side plotlines. By the trailer it seemed like a 18+ show, however, let alone some strong and truly hot scenes in early episodes, it gets so soft and boring later that it feels like a Turkish soap opera.
DIRECTION/PRODUCTION: The casual GmmTv issues are present regarding the production: weird sounds/voices, poor sound quality in outdoor takes. The setting sometimes feels a bit contracted.
ACTING/CHARACTERS: This is the heaviest issue for me. The cast is pretty good, well-known faces, good actors. However, it generally feels like poor acting, but I think it’s because of the bad direction and writing. I think the only exception is Khaotung (Ray) who seems to be the most complex character and also the actor is putting all effort into showing us. His performance was outstandingly good compared to others, despite this actor really not being my favourite in the BL world.
Outstandingly bad performance was associated with Force (Top). His plain expressions make it feel like it’s a production from a highschool afternoon acting club. This kinda worked in A Boss and a Babe, but doesn’t work at all in Only Friends. Let alone some good emotional moments in later episodes when his character cries, which is some decent acting.
-After watching the last episode, and the post-credit funny scenes, I realized these actors have so much energy and personality inside them, half of it wasn’t shown throughout the show. These last funny BTS scenes really show a contrast between what could have been and what was.
CHEMISTRY: Chemistry between Top and Mew didn’t really work for me, the other couples and mix-ups had some really intense moments, even some believable drama between each other.
So... Steamy scenes: 9/10 ; Drama: 6/10
MUSIC: The opening is kinda cringy in my honest opinion, but the title song is SO COOL, I never get bored of it, I really recommend you find the whole song on YT and give it a try, it’s pretty catchy. The other musics during the episodes were alright, they didn’t really bother me but also nothing special, however sometimes I felt like I’m listening to a “Teamfight_3” music from Dota2 Music Pack 2018. :D Actually there are some free stock musics from YT, but they are not disturbing at all.
ENDING: Underwhelming. Rushed. Empty. Could have been some real drama. The only exception is Boston’s ending which I found sad but realistic and well-deserved.
VERDICT: I find this show such a wasted potential, with such a great cast and promising premise/concept. Underused cast, lame writing, average, boring plot. A slightly better than average show for me, but maybe I expected too much, therefore I'm giving it a 6.5/10.
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Huge, wasted opportunity
I'm gonna be short. This show could have been much much more, especially with the pretty solid and talented cast.Story: Weakest point of the show. Incoherent: Childish, serious, childish, serious. Weak story makes the whole show pretty boring, and also curses the characters into not to be interesting at all. 2.5/10
Characters: Could be decent with a good story and better direction. Characters are quite one-dimensional, and also the script doesn't help. It's only the actors non-verbal skills that somewhat save the characters. 4.5/10
Acting: The strongest aspect of the show. The leading actors and the side actors are doing a pretty solid job, they try their best, some very nice emotional moments, in my opinion they could have done even better with a better direction/production. 7/10
Direction: I really can't decide if the bad direction made the show go sideways or the weak story. 5/10
Music: I can't even remember it sadly but it couldn't be terrible, otherwise I'd remember it as well. 4.5/10
To sum it up: I adore the leading cast members having already seen them in other productions, but this story is so lame and boring, no suprises, no uniqueness...
I almost dropped Double Savage around EP 5-6.
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4/10
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Promising start butgradually became a huge mess
When I first heard of this I was really hyped. More from KinnPorshe staff? Hell yeah, I'm in!!Ep1 promised a lot, it was great to see Mile again, and to get to know the "contestants", however, the goal of the game was pretty blurry for me to understand, tell a story, but lie, find liars, etc... It didn't really work for me but I enjoyed the episode a lot.
Later episodes started to feel cheaper and cheaper, and got more and more boring. The second section with the outdoor trials was kinda fun to watch, the guys also had fun, and a tied-up Ta Nannakun is a priceless sight as well hahaha
The last, acting section was a catastrophy. Disorganised episodes, horrible acting, it was a total mess. The last two episodes are the worst ones in my opinion. No more high stakes, the whole show bacame a plain, cheap and boring mess.
I don't recommend spending 1+ hour watching each episode. Fast forward to the actors you like or find symphathetic, so you can save 30 mins per episode...
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Sex Education in Taiwan with more drama
I really enjoyed watching Let's Talk About Chu. It brings high quality in every aspect as Taiwanese movies and shows usually do nowadays, with showing strong positive and negative emotions as well, funny and (sometimes dark) jokes, great actors, good music, great and serious topics as well in an easy and consumable way.On the negative side: The show operates with lots of storylines, subplots. While each of them is good, you might find yourself get bored with or not paying attention to the one that is your least favorite.
hm I never felt like dropping this show or even skipping some subplots, I really wanted to know where the lines lead and how they affect each other.
I would recommend it to anyone with some mature mind. I watched it on Netflix.
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7.5/10 at least.
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HIStory3: Make Our Days Count
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In my TOP 5 BL Dramas. An Exquisite Mixture of...
This drama mixes various topics and aspects of life perfectly. It starts as a high school drama, with lots of funny moments, struggles of student life and teen romance, how to find your own way, finding out what you like, what you love, experimenting with new things; and ends with making serious questions about adult and psychological issues. The casting is pretty good, main and side characters alike and the actors are really top-notch and versatile. They can be funny, lovable, goofy and can also carry out heavy drama at a very high standard. Moreover, the script and the characters are beautifully written, and side characters are not only in an insignificant comic-relief role, but certain characters are utilized later on in the show as a plot device as well as in an emotional drive, making them a feel more significant. The quality of the episodes only vary a little, every episode is entertaining and satisfying by itself, with the finaly one being the best episode in my opinion. It could be a stand-alone clip/movie as well and would feel very strong.It is 100% worth watching the whole show and reaching the finale.
The questions the drama shows the viewer include:
- How do you find your own way as a teenager at school, at love, at your own family?
- What can you learn from another person culturally, emotionally, especially if they are totally different from you?
- How do you think about the future?
- What to do with your life after graduation?
- How to overcome the past? Is it even possible?
- What's the true meaning of life?
- And more....
What I can say is that this drama will:
- Make you smile
- Make you root for the couples' happiness
- Make you learn from their dynamics
- Lift up your soul to the Heaven, squeeze it and send it to the deepest parts of Hell
As for me, this BL should be placed on the same shelf as titles like Your Name Engraved Herein, I Feel You Linger in the Air, and I Told Sunset About You (ITSAY), which introduce you into real drama and heavy emotions in a nearly perfect way, with beautiful script, visuals, characters and actors. Although it is not as realistic as ITSAY, it really deals with serious topics not many BL dramas do. It's one of the really unique BLs ever created.
Personally, I have rewatched it already 3 times, at different stages of my life, whenever I felt like reliving some real or even sad emotions, or just to remind myself to believe again, and I enjoyed it every time I watched it, I feel its rewatch value is pretty high, but you tell me. :) I'm feeling a bit confused that its MDL rating is lower than its more action-packed counterpart HIStory3: Trapped, but I can accept that action and lighter BLs might be more popular.
You'll LOVE this show if you are empathic, enjoy details and can easily get engaged by heavy drama situations.
You'll NOT LOVE this show if you are only into fluffy, goofy, innocent, easy BLs.
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I Feel You Linger in the Air
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Shiny gemstone in 2023
The high quality of this show is visible in Ep1 already. The cinematography, the direction, the production, the OST, the setting, the cast... everything just feels on spot.The plot has a very strong start with Ep1 with really heavy drama and great acting; providing a unique, somewhat supernatural premise. In later episodes the plot's strength is fluctuating, not as strong as Ep1 but still pretty good and enjoyable, the main plot and side plots are pretty slowburn, yet giving time for the characters and actors to shine, develop connections, show emotions. It's such a great relief compared to average, lower production highschool BLs where sometimes their emotions often come out of the blue and we're supposed to believe it. Moreover, the presentation of the culture of Thailand in the past is also amazing and I enjoyed every moment of watching it.
My only regret is that the plot often changes from serious to a fluffy and funny tone. I would have also liked some more representation of the old<->modern conflicts, solutions and more times when both timelines teach each other. Instead, one of them is quite passive, and the only one being taught, not vice versa.
Ep11 is heavy drama, in contrast to previous, more playful and side-plot focused episodes, maybe the strongest episode after Ep1.
This show is already a 9/10 for me, and I'm looking forward to watching the finale. I somewhat have high hopes that it will be as satisfying as the previous 11 episodes, maybe with an open ending and a hint for another season...
( Fingers crossed :3 )
If you want to see more of something, it should be I Feel You Linger in the Air. This is probably the best and most surprising BL series of 2023 (so far), with the best drama, OST and setting.
9/10
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