i'm pretty new to bl and this was my first thai drama. i had no idea this was a sequel to a different series until i read some of the reviews - but i honestly didnt ever feel too lost without it.

PRODUCTION:
there is a lot you have to get used to - i felt like some scenes/shots carried on for too long trying to really make the hour mark for every episode. i feel like you could easily cut it into 45 minutes. this definitely hinders the rewatch ablity for me.

also the audio quality definitely shifts around a lot and sometimes you can tell how limited the soundtrack is. sometimes one second a light hearted song is playing then all the sudden it shifts to a sad one and then goes back and forth throughout the whole scene and it can be distracting. also the overuse of sound effects while they were endearing at sometimes just needed to toned down a bit. but the cinematography sometimes was really beautiful.

STORY/WRITING:
the story started off kinda slow - but after the first two episodes you get kinda used to the editing and you understand more of whats going on. this part is probably where the knowledge of the prequel series would've come in handy for sure. because there are sometimes references to things they dont explain very well... and i was seriously confused how the 2nd episode just starts with them moving in together the cut from the 1st to the 2nd episode just really threw me off.

however once you get pass that i found the story arcs really delightful. i'm a sucker for established relationships and fiat and leo figuring out their relationship was such a nice thing to see - also just the outright acceptence from everyone around them (for the most part - but that doesn't come from a homophobic lense).

like i said earlier - i did understand the context without seeing the prequel. and i felt like they explained the past really well. and how their past affects their actions now. it was very calculated and didnt even use flashbacks that much which i appericated.

when it comes to the ending the miscommunication troupe is not done well. they try to subvert it a little but in the end i felt like they wanted fiat and leo to have this big struggle at the end with their relationship - and to come out stronger in the end. i feel like they could've done it in a better way than this. also i did feel pretty uncomfortable with their makeup speech maybe it was a translation issue and i can see what they were trying to say with leo's issues and fiat's trauma but the way it went about it felt a little toxic when up till this point they were anything but that.

thats why i say the beginning and end were a little rough but everythinng in the middle is really great.

CHARACTERS / ACTING:
i was mixed about fiat's (chalongrat novsamrong) performance in the beginning - and in some minor parts - but overall for playing a really emotionally driven character i think he did really well. i think i am not used to crying being so authentic in tv so it kinda threw me off. i also really related to fiat in ways with mental health and self worth. i know that some people have some issues about the way mental health was handled in this series but i really felt like it was done well in terms of fiat's character and growth.

leo (phachara suansri) was probably the best actor in the series. for a melo character i didnt feel like he wasnt ever emotionless and you could really tell how sincere he was. i honestly kinda wish he had more development then he did but overall i think the stuff we got with him struggling to take care of fiat and dealing with their past.

the two of them together was honestly the best part of the series. their chemistry was truly amazing even in just casual intimacy it all felt so natural. the way just even that leo would look at fiat spoke a ton - i think since it is a buildup and the two have already worked together on the prequel. they really understood their characters and their relationship. their relationship and commitment made this series work.

the side couple leon (smart chisanupong paungmanee) and pob (james pongsapak rachaporn) were good too. however... smart's acting definitely needed some work. i heard someone say something to the effect of "he acts with his jaw" and i think thats pretty much what it was. i feel like he was fine on his own but whenever leon was with other characters i felt like you could really see the difference. esp since james' acting in comparison was really well done. while leon's shift in character kinda came out of nowhere pob's felt more grounded. but the ending just came out of nowhere - it felt kinda out of place.

the rest of the cast was funny and charming with varying levels of acting. i esp liked the wlw couple as minor as they were and the twins. the actress who did fiat's mom was really good (i cant find her name).

overall i really enjoyed this series - i feel like because of the amount of time you spend with the characters (12 hours) compared to over bl you really get an attachment to the characters and their stories. i plan to find more work from a lot of these actors but i dont think ill be picking up the prequel series - not that i dont think it'll be bad i just dont think i need to. and itll be pretty hard for me to watch leo and fiat not be together haha.