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  • Laatst online: jan 30, 2023
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  • Contribution Points: 1 LV1
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  • toetreden op: april 26, 2021
Close Friend Episode 2
2 people found this review helpful
jun 1, 2021

One Stars

Just realised we can separately rate the episodes, so here I am copying my review of the overall series into the specific episodes. Their story here is really weird and I don't quite get what is the point/central conflict/ending pay-off for this episode. In terms of acting, the plot development (what plot? The plot in this episode is even thinner than in ep 1) didn't require much range from the actors so this episode left zero impression on me. It was forgettable.
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Close Friend Episode 6
1 people found this review helpful
jun 1, 2021

Probably the best plot of the 6 episodes

Just realised we can separately rate the episodes, so here I am copying my review of the overall series into the specific episodes. What a fresh setting! It feels like a version 2 of Zettai Kareshi where the female lead purchased an ideal boyfriend robot. The highlight of this story has got to be the super realistic comments Ray made that got me squealing: "(Jedi: Since I'm here with you, what do you want to do together?) If you put it that way, how can I have any good thoughts?", "(Jedi: Why don't you lie down to rest and sleep?) Who is going to be able to sleep?". A very fun story and of all the episodes, this is the one I hope to see a full series being made out of!

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Close Friend Episode 4
1 people found this review helpful
jun 1, 2021

Quite a breeze watching it

Just realised we can separately rate the episodes, so here I am copying my review of the overall series into the specific episodes. The premise is quite interesting featuring various types of superstitious practices. I also like that we are shown the friendship between the two lead instead of forcing a romantic shade to it. In the limited time they were given, I could see how Peem might have developed/realised his feelings for Xiao Ping, instead of being told to accept it "just because the script said so". There was a proper closure to this episode, which felt like the start of something (this could be a pre-series teaser). One complaint: The OST track for this episode was abruptly inserted into a scene. Is it a KPI to feature the song in the episode? The insertion was too jarring and spoilt the flow of that scene. Acting was ok, nothing spectacular but not awkward.

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Close Friend Episode 5
0 people found this review helpful
jun 1, 2021

This plot wins with the nostalgia

Just realised we can separately rate the episodes, so here I am copying my review of the overall series into the specific episodes. Setting the story back in 1995 where communication channels are slow and limited added a nostalgic and poignant layer to this story. Hand written letters in the post, house phones and payphones, cassette tapes, printed photographs, old-school hobbies like folding origami stars. The premise won my heart from the onset. This is a very simple story but so precious. The only imperfection is the final line: "I'm glad to meet you, my friend". Not because of the platonic vibes which I was perfectly happy to accept, but because the scenes leading to this totally hinted at something more than friends, so this felt like a slap in the face.

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Close Friend Episode 3
0 people found this review helpful
jun 1, 2021

Common plot but underdeveloped

Just realised we can separately rate the episodes, so here I am copying my review of the overall series into the specific episodes. This is a very common plot, nothing new, and unfortunately it is once again a victim to the short-stories style of this series. The outcome of the Freshy Games will matter to the viewers in a longer series where the efforts of the characters touched hearts, and the relationship development will matter if there had been more time to show organic progress in their feelings. But no, I watch this not feeling anything for the characters at all. Giving it a passing grade at 5 years; 3 stars more than ep 2 because at least there was a point to the plot.

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Close Friend Episode 1
0 people found this review helpful
jun 1, 2021

The highlight is Fluke's acting which itself added 2 stars to my rating

Just realised we can separately rate the episodes, so here I am copying part of my review of the overall series into the specific episodes. ;D The plot is quite thin to be honest, but what can we expect when the episode is only 20 mins long? At least the message behind the story sort of resonated with me. Fluke did a great job in the limited time and plot he was given, as usual. In every scene we see a different vibe and facial expressions: joy, anger, disappointment, hurt, fear and disbelief. He's the only actor in his generation I can trust to salvage a poor plot just by making individual scenes a highlight. The song for this episode was quite easy on the ear too and that one liner summed up the message of this episode.

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