dodoubleg1785
Toronto, Canada and New York, USA
Interesting throughout
This was a good series with some great characters and terrific acting. The premise and script were fairly simple which didn't really allow for remarkable performances however I thought everyone did a great job with their respective tasks.There was minimal angst and most issues that came up were resolved fairly quickly instead of being drawn out to the point of frustration. The cute moments between the leads were satisfying and their bantering was interesting enough to keep me engaged in the story.
It was simple though it was nice to see an uncomplicated storyline surrounding adults. I don't know if it will be high on my rewatch list but I also wouldn't be against seeing it again. Overall a middle-of-the-pack kind of series.
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After reading the synopsis and even after watching the first episode, I was a little worried that this was going to be overly complicated and confusing to watch. But it didn't take long to get the gist of what was going on and I'm glad I stuck with it because it was a very good series. It had an interesting and different premise than anything I've seen to date and it kept my attention the entire way through. There was just enough angst to keep the viewer invested and it wasn't the same old tropes of misunderstandings and miscommunication.One of the things that stood out to me was how clever the writing was. There was so much subtle symbolism; from the colors describing moods and the whole hourglass thing. I like when these kinds of hints and tidbits are woven throughout the journey and it shows a great attention to the little details in the storyline.
I would certainly recommend this series as it gave delivered a wide range of feels and thought provoking moments while still keeping to the standard BL formula.
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A lot of people are saying they were disappointed with this series. The only thing I'm disappointed in is the low rating and negativity surrounding it just because people were expecting something different. As its own series, Between Us was good. But because it is attached to such a fan favorite like Until We Meet Again, it is being held to the same standard and formula.If you want another supernatural, fated mates sweet slow burn, this is not for you. If you want a closer to realistic drama that deals with PTSD and Survivor's Guilt but still full of heart and passionate characters, then please consider giving this a try.
But I beg of you, don't go into it planning to compare it to its parent story, It deserves its own recognition. I admit, when I started this series after reading all the bad reviews, I found I kept waiting for it to "get bad," if you know what I mean. Usually people are waiting for a show to get better but I had heard so much about disappointment that I had braced myself to feel the same but it never happened. The show was intriguing all the way through although I admit there were a couple of times I thought they probably could have shortened it by one or two episodes. Mainly because there was a lot of flash backs to the same scenes as characters recall and reflect on earlier conversations.
Aside from that, I found it to be a good show and I feel almost guilty going into it prepared to be disappointed. I feel like I owe the series another go 'round since I was watching with tinted pre-conceived notions.
A lot happened in the first few episodes and then it slowed down somewhat but it never got boring. I think because the main couple came out of the gate with such sexual tension and relations, people kind of expected it to stay that way. But it was during these more solemn moments where the characters get their biggest development and they are important moments.
If I WERE to compare the stories of the main couples from UWMA and Between Us, I liked that Win and Team were practically the polar opposite to Dean/Pharm's relationship where there was intimacy first then love rather than love first then intimacy. Dean was searching his whole life for his missing piece while Win wanted nothing to do with love and all the hard feelings that came with it. Pharm struggled with conditions that were beyond his control from a past life he somewhat recalls in dreams while Team struggles from Survivor's Guilt after a tragic accident from his own childhood.
I get that people think the MC relationship was inconsistent but I didn't see it that way. Win and Team understood lust, so they acted on it, then they had a very reasonable and expected internal meltdown when they started feeling more above the belt. Relationships begin and grow in many different ways and it's nice to see different situations portrayed.
While I don't really have any issues with any of the side characters (as they were entertaining in their own right) I think there were just too many of them. It was almost like every character introduced had to end up with someone and to keep track of that many relationships in one series is just overkill.
Overall, I really enjoyed this series and I will definitely watch it again, especially knowing that it wasn't going to be as bad as a lot of people were saying. I think it's unfortunate that the show gets a bad rep because of other's expectations.
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Wow..
Going into this series, I wasn't sure if I'd like it, knowing it was a medical drama and I never got into those.That being said, this had my interest from start to finish and there were plenty of twists and turns along the way to keep it thrilling but not too much to make it dizzying.
The acting was fantastic and their timing and delivery in practically every line was spot on. Also, the actor who played Art is now my favorite "best friend." He was like that in TharnType and he plays a similar character here, which he does so well.
The story was unique, at least when it comes to BL. The only reason I didn't give it 10 was because there were just a handful of things I wish they had cleared up more thoroughly. I know a lot of people felt like the ending was unclear but for me, I thought it was perfect. Tin quoted their conversation, showing he actually did remember and they end it on a simple kiss.
The parts I wish they had explained better were more along the lines of Jinta's origin and why this was happening to Tin in the first place. The most I got was that the "powers that be" wanted to make him rediscover his humanity but then was that the main reason or was Jinta trying to ultimately expose the illegal dealings? And when did Sing and Gap become a couple? I mean, sure it was foreshadowed but then all of a sudden they were together in the last loop which actually started days before they were still bickering but not together. It made me question how many of the side characters were feeling the effects of the loop, especially when Gap was like, "You're covering for him again?" when, in actuality, it was the first time.
But other than those minor lingering question marks, I feel like the story moved along and worked well, especially with such a fantastic cast to support it. I would recommend this for sure, but with the head's up that it will be a bit heavy in places.
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Frustrating at first but...
... luckily, I read reviews that Vee redeems himself because the first few episodes were rough. It wasn't enough to make me want to drop it, even without the head's up, but it was frustrating as hell.Thank goodness for Mark. I absolutely loved this character but then again, I'm a sucker for power bottoms. I thought he walked a fine line between "constantly getting the short end of the stick" and "I am independent, hear me roar," both of which I'm not a fan of. But he knew what he wanted and went after it most of the time and, when he finally admitted he wanted Vee, hot damn, that was some serious flirting/seducing.
They could have done more with the side characters instead of them all bumping into people in the bar at the end. Like, seriously, three couples did the exact same thing one right after another in the span of 5 minutes. Granted, this is the only instalment of the Love Mechanic franchise I've seen so far... perhaps they get more time in the others.
I'm kind of bummed with the direction they took Ploy. She had a promising strong story arc where she took a step back from both men and figured herself out. That's a really hard thing to do and it could have been left at that with no bad blood. But then I guess the writers needed more tension between Mark and Vee and they thought, "you know what we should do? Put Ploy back into the mix." Not like they hadn't already spent half the series with her as the main obstacle already. And then she turns into the victim while also forcing herself on Vee and the viewer doesn't know if they're supposed to sympathize with her or hate her.
Overall, though, it was a good watch. I could see rewatching bits and pieces but there was way too many misunderstandings to sit through the whole thing again.
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So much tension without being intense..
This was a nice short series; good for when the brain or heart needs a break after some of the heavier stuff out there in the BL world.The story was unoriginal but that didn't take away from its charm. If anything, the realistic plot was very relatable. I feel like even younger people could take away from this as a "live while you can because you don't want to end up in a stagnant life" mantra.
The tension between the two leads was so palpable, it had me blowing out a contented breath when they finally kissed. The actors delivered all the emotions in a spectacular way; from Togawa's unbridled longing and the snap of his restraint to Nozue's surprised pleasure and confusion.
I could see myself watching this again when I need a lighter piece to cleanse the mental palate.
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Glad I watched it.
At first I wasn't going to watch this series after reading the synopsis and a few reviews but I'm really glad I gave it a chance.The story was sad and tragic from the very beginning yet somehow managed to pull off a happy ending. It was the only series to date that actually brought me to tears and it wasn't because of any interactions between the couples but rather their interactions with their families. The goodbyes, the reunions, the revelations.. they were heartbreaking but necessary.
Starting with the lows, honestly, there wasn't a whole lot I didn't like. I remember reading one review that harped on the fact that Pharm cries in every episode and, while true, I didn't find it annoying or unnecessary. (I think the only thought I gave to it was wondering what the budget was for the eye-drops and tissues for this production and the crew.) Also, normally, I'm not a big fan of everything being connected as if it were one big coincidence; this person is related to this person who just happens to be related to this person and so on. Besides having to pause a few times to get the connections straight in my head, I think all the connections actually worked and made sense in this series, especially when you get to the ending episodes where both families come together to ensure Korn and In find their way to each other again. Fate just happened to decide to do it by way of family relations.
The part I really liked about the series was how everything that happens has purpose. I generally don't like a lot of filler, even if that filler is of the spicy nature. (This series lacked the spice but not the emotion so that was enough for me.)
Speaking of spice, this series is straight up "food porn" and I'm kind of upset that there isn't a cookbook out there with the recipes from throughout the series. That didn't effect my ratings, though.
Edited afterthoughts:
Another review I had seen brought to attention the fact that the flashback scenes were hard to follow since it didn't give a date or time stamp for them. While I will say that would have been a nice added touch, I personally didn't think it was necessary. You can clearly tell at what point in their relationship the scene is from just by Korn and In's interactions and that in itself was impressive.
Also, speaking of the flashback scenes, in one of the first ones where you see Perth as In's friend, I couldn't help but think of the phrase "Go for the Oscar, Perth." Which basically means they didn't necessarily have to go that hard in their acting. I'm not saying it's the actor's fault, a lot of times it's the monologue they are given, but still, that just stood out to me for some reason. There were a couple of times, actually, where I feel like they didn't need to dial it all the way to 11, but it wasn't enough to effect the rating of the show either. Even the cookbook is still more important to me.
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Interesting story without unnecessary filler.
This show was really good in many ways, especially the storyline. I'd never watched one like this though I know there are a few out there that dabble in supernatural. This series, though short, used their time wisely. I felt like every scene had a purpose and there wasn't much unnecessary filler.That being said, there are a few things left unanswered at the end. And, while it has a somewhat happy ending, it really isn't all that happy either. I don't want to give full-on spoilers, but basically nothing is really resolved and they leave as a "that's something we will have to worry about later" kind of thing.
I would rewatch maybe once or twice more to see if I could catch any foreshadowing, but that's pretty much it. Still worth a watch at least once, in my opinion.
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HIStory5: Love in the Future
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Why is this rated so low?
I swear, the day I figure out how to decipher what viewers want and where they get their ratings from will never come. Was this a 10 out of 10? No. But it was certainly better than a lot of the shows I've watched that are rated 8 or higher. You'd think I'd know by now not to let myself be influenced by reviews but I am just as guilty today as I was a year (and 70 series) ago.So far, I have seen a handful of the HIStory series though admittedly not all of them. This one reminded me a lot of the last one, HIStory 4, at least with the main couple. They have a similar storyline where one guy enlists the help of the other to seemingly get with a girl but that is just what it looks like on the surface. In this series, there is so much more going on but unfortunately, the viewer doesn't realize it until the last 2 or 3 episodes. This, in my opinion, is both a good and bad storyline choice which I will try to explain without too many spoilers.
On the one hand, without knowing the full depth of the situation, the story seems shallow for a good portion of the series and, especially for people watching week to week, it can seem boring. Binge watching this is the best way to go to keep engaged and, I promise, it will make sense later on. I guess in that respect, it's a good way to ensure that the show gets a re-watch from the same viewers because now knowing what happens in the end, I want to watch from the beginning while keeping it in mind and seeing everyone's actions under a different lens.
I don't want to pick at other people's reviews, but part of me feels like I need to defend this series because it really was a lot better than many people are painting to be. One complaint I noticed quite often was saying Johnny came off as childish. I didn't see him as such, at least not childish in a negative sense but more in the way that he is an innocent, carefree and overall positive person. But he also has moments of showing an opportunistic and cunning side. Not only is he completely out of his element (and time) but he is used to being a loner save for his grandmother. So of course he's going to be awkward and hesitant when interacting with others, especially when it's more intimate and serious.
Another complaint which I can kind of agree with is the whole "is the time travel element really necessary?" At times, I'd say it added to the show as time travel gives both the "fish out of water" vibe as well as the uncertainty of how long Johnny will be in 2022. He doesn't know what brought him there so at any point, he could vanish just as easily. Not only does it add tension but it creates the underlying idea of cherishing every moment and appreciating the small things. Nothing should be taken for granted, no matter how small, especially time. But the story had so much other stuff going on that I feel like it could have been left out. The whole thing with the department store and espionage was interesting enough that I don't feel like they needed to add time travel to the mix.
To go along with those lines, the time travel part is never really explained either. Why did he time travel in the first place? What was Fude actually trying to do that had him accidentally bring Johnny to 2022? Was he just trying to save him from flat out dying in an accident? Fude in general is never really explained or makes much sense however I do have to say the many faces of Fude are absolutely hilarious.
I do feel like I enjoyed the secondary couple's storyline more than I did the secondary couple in HIStory 4. Both couples in this series worked well and I liked how they were intertwined. While one of the main "plot twists" was pretty predictable, I was pleasantly surprised that a more minor plot twist completely took me by surprise and I have to give credit where credit is due. (Looking at you, Sam.)
Overall, I really think this was a good series. It's a shame that anything under the HIStory umbrella is destined to be compared to each other. Because as its own story, this was great. I would definitely watch it again and I'd probably come back to edit this afterwards with some additional thoughts.
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A cute, light and feel-good series.
I came to this series not long after watching Cherry Magic (Thai version) and I feel like there is a similar vibe here that I quite enjoyed in both series. It had a Japanese series vibe to it with some of the inner monologue and looking into the camera and a hint of over-the-top moments. This was a nice light show that was interesting and not your run-of-the mill University drama that follow the same cookie cutter storyline.First things first, I'm sad that people bash the series because they compare it to others that Off and Gun have done together. It's really unfortunate because the series itself delivered on what its clear intention was: comedic and full of heart with the characters not only working to improve themselves but also lifting up those around them, whether they were their partners or friends. There was so much going on with different relationship dynamics that I can't imagine how anyone could say the series was boring. Before I knew it, I was on episode 12 simply because I wanted to see what happens next. It wasn't heavy or needed a lot of processing, making it an easy watch to breeze right through.
In that respect, I feel like the acting was fine, considering the overall tone of the series. There was a good mix of seasoned actors along with newbies and I feel like they all fell into place quite well with each other. It was clear who was who out of the experienced and the inexperienced but I like that they could come together in such a series. The actor for Dy was a prime example of this seeing as he had most of his scenes directly against actors like Gun and Neo. While it was clear he was new, I feel like he held his own opposite them well enough. The character of Metha was probably my favorite. He was goofy most of the time but had sage words of wisdom when it mattered, giving a glimpse of much more beneath the surface. His dynamic with each character was slightly different yet 100% still unmistakenly HIM. I also like that he didn't end up with a partner in the end, nor was he looking for one throughout the series. I feel like the writers here understood that each supporting role doesn't need to be paired up. I wish more series would realize this.
It had a very realistic feel to it where, yes, I could see people thinking it too mundane to be made into a series but I think these kind of series are nice to see every so often to show that any life could be important and worth being invested in, no matter their circumstances. And, again, it was different enough from the standard University setting to make it stand out. I would say it's a great series to watch after a darker series (I watched this right after Payboyy soooooooooo... yeah..) to clear out the haze and fog that sometimes those heavy series leave behind. And being a fan of Gun, I like to see his range of acting, knowing he can do the serious roles as well as comedy and heartfelt slice of life. Same with Neo.. it was nice seeing him like this after watching him as Boston in OF.
I would recommend this for anyone needing a series to feel good about and smile along with. (Also, prepare to walk away hungry because those dishes they make are stunning.) Take it for what it is and what it was meant to be. It's best enjoyed as it's own thing and not in comparison to other works by different writers, directors, crew, etc.
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Desperately needed some polishing up
This series was hard to watch because there were times it was engaging and interesting, showing promise of a decent series. And then the next moment, there's something happens that is so incredibly random that make me think I missed something or that they were trying to make it suddenly exciting all too quickly without context or preamble. Many things were done without reason or, really, we don't get a reason right away or even in the near future.. more like an afterthought like "Oh, that's why this person acted this way" kind of thing. And these questionable actions are done by people we are later supposed to root for to be happy? I don't really buy it.But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Let's first talk about the couple of Him and Nail. It started off interesting and looks like a random hookup from a night of clubbing after a broken heart. Then we get a glimpse of Him having an ulterior reason for chasing Nail other than initial interest and lust. Nail was a great character in my opinion... shy at times but super flirty and hella sexy when he turn on the sass. That in itself would have been a good enough storyline for these two as they worked things out. Him would find himself falling in love again and realize it had nothing to do with the fact Nail resembled Blue and Him was not trying to replace his dead lover with a replica model. Nail would move on from his broken heart and find a new love in an unexpected place.
And then they added all the rest of the characters and intertwining storylines and shtuff hit the fan.
The side couple was okay enough but again suffered from being in the middle of everything else going on around them and interlaced storylines. Pie was a former lover of Him's cousin, who he simultaneously had beef with though we really never know why.
Actually, it seemed like everyone had it out for Him, who was also grieving the loss of his lover. Te wanted to destroy his life just because Him and Blue had relationship issues? Their dry spell was the least of what Blue was going through but Te acted as if Him was the sole reason behind it. Seems to me like Blue had no actual friends or family he could talk to and didn't try to seek help. So Te's solution is to hurt both Nail and Him. And then we're supposed to believe he feels bad about it and moved on to this random Peach guy who shows up out of nowhere? (If you're dizzy reading this, trust me, watching it unfold will not be any easier.)
The best friends at the school probably made the most sense throughout the whole thing. And, I know a lot of people say the "mean girls group" was so unnecessary and ridiculous - which is kinda true - but I will say this... I really like that they weren't actually "mean girls." I like that the show depicted that the popular pretty girl clique could still be supportive and root for their friends. They were ready to fight the pretty boys because Nail was hurting and I can't help but give major props and respect for that. Sure, they were kinda OTT and unnecessary but they weren't the typical villain type a lot of these roles are. Even the one friend ended up with one of them which is usually unheard of unless it's something like Hana Yori Dango.
So would I recommend this series? I mean... I never say "don't watch this" but this one really was rough. Instead of suggesting to steer clear, I'll just say keep what I've said above in mind and be prepared for not everything to make sense. There's some decent NC scenes, if that helps. And Nail being a subtle sassy queen is amazing.
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F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers
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Such great acting from the main cast
After seeing a lot of the different adaptations of the F4/Boys Over Flowers story over the years, I couldn't help watching this while comparing them to the others. This version held its own and I think it captured the key points without putting too much filler into it while simultaneously including some side stories that I don't recall being in any of the other versions. (It's been a long time since I watched the older versions so maybe they were there and I don't remember them.)Right off the bat, I really liked Bright's portrayal of Thyme. (All of the F4 guys were phenomenal but Bright in particular.) I thought the series did a good job at showing Thyme's personal growth and change over the course of the episodes, especially showcasing just how far he had come when he reverted back to his old self after losing his memory. Bright did a great job showing the many complicated sides to Thyme and how different he acted around different people.
Kavin and MJ reminded me so much of their Taiwanese counterparts in the 2001 Meteor Garden adaptation. Like, at times, I felt like I was literally watching Vanness Wu and Ken Chu. They even had the same basic look which, yeah, it makes sense since it's the same character. But it was just so bang on that I could immediately tell who was who when the series started.
I was kind of hoping they would have gone further into Kavin and Kaning's relationship (I guess I'm so used to series having multiple couples now) but I understand why it was left the way it was since that's how it was in the original manga. Their story was kind of left open ended.
For a series that I knew what was going to happen and what it was about, I wasn't prepared to be so invested or emotional about it. Especially the rage I felt over the bullying. The series is literally based around bullying but it's still so frustrating to watch which I guess means they did a great job at showing it. I did like how they included the bit about them going to all their victims and apologizing and, even though it was like a montage with narration over it, you can still see how the victims could finally let go of it, even if it doesn't fix what happened. Sometimes, that's all they need.
This was also a better showcase of how kids mimic their parents' behavior and the effects it can have on their life early if they don't recognize it themselves and change before it's too late. Thyme was on a fast track to being as cold and heartless as his mother and, while he wanted to please her, he didn't take a moment to step back and realize she had zero love around her and that was how he'd end up in the end. On the other side of the spectrum, you have Gorya who has basically nothing but love and yet she's happy and has healthy relationships with her close friends and her family. From one extreme to the next, they needed to find a middle ground which came at the end of a long and bumpy road.
I don't know if I could watch this again, seeing how frustrating the overall plot is. But I did enjoy it and I think it's a great addition to the Boys Over Flowers catalog. I would recommend it but just keep in mind, it's not for the faint of heart or if you want a light and fluffy romance. The characters are flawed and sometimes have to learn the hard way from their mistakes. But it makes the ending that much more satisfying, in my opinion.
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I was NOT expecting that..
When I saw that this was going to be a high school drama with relatively new actors as leads, I was preparing myself for an awkward, juvenile story with mediocre acting and entertainment value at best.But what I got couldn't have been further from that. Honestly, I'm glad I binged it because I would have hated waiting each week for the next episode, for sure. It was just that good and I needed to know what happened next after each episode.
In that respect, the story never lost momentum and interesting happenings to hold my interest as many series do. Or, rather, it didn't have a lot of random storylines coming in and out of nowhere to mess with the couple and the entire series flowed seamlessly from start to finish.
At the very beginning, I was a little worried that I wasn't going to like Moo's character because he came off as a whiny brat who was going to hate his mother for trying to do right by him. But it soon became evident that he was going to have an arc of self growth after he had his ego knocked down a few pegs by realizing he really did not know how to do anything for himself. I was also a bit concerned that his high energy, Golden retriever nature was going to become annoying. But Keen did a fantastic job of keeping it endearing instead of distracting and I feel like whenever he was on screen, it was very hard to look at anyone else. It almost made Sea look stiff next to him but I feel like a huge part of that was due to the character as Kang was supposed to be this gruff, bad-mouthed guy that people mostly stayed away from except when he was working.
The supporting cast was just as entertaining and I feel like any and every character who had lines was important in some way at one point or another. The side couple was fine for the most part but they did ruin the shows track record for having THE BEST communication in any series I've ever seen before.
This was a drama done right in regards to showing you don't need miscommunication or misunderstandings to create tension or problems for the couple. You also do not need a villain in every story as life in general throws enough punches to mess with relationships, as seen perfectly well here.
I feel like the writers were playing with the idea of making Shone into a bad guy but honestly, I see no real issue with what he did. Throughout that whole scene in the hospital, I got the vibes that he didn't really think he had a chance with Kang, but more like he was defending himself from Moo's verbal attack. After all, Moo and Kang had already been apart for a year yet Moo made it clear he felt entitled to claim ownership of Kang, even though the guy had ghosted him all this time after their very clear break up. Every time we see Shone and Kang together, it's clear that every time Kang shoots down Shone, he's not surprised or overly upset. I don't think he ever really held out any tangible hope that Kang would be with him but he also didn't appreciate Moo's attitude of saying "You said you wouldn't go after him when I was with him." It was definitely a moment of... yeah, it's a bit of a crappy move on Shone's part but really, he did keep his promise and waited more than enough time before showing interest in Kang again. In a way, I almost felt bad for him for trying to toe the line of being respectful of his family but also wanting to follow his own heart.
Speaking of... Hooooo boy, this series totally hit the feels hard. And so quickly too! One minute, my heart is pulled one way and the next I'm laughing at something else. An example off the top of my head being when Moo tries to stay away from Kang to focus on school, and Kang keeps trying to get his attention, it hurt. But then they show it from Moo's perspective of him trying to keep his cool and it was the funniest thing ever. Like, smelling the jacket after Kang washed it and he says to his friends "Guys, he made it smell so good!" and they're just like "Dude, keep it together."
I know I said it before but I really liked that Moo never lost his playfulness. I feel like, a lot of the time, when a series has a very forward character like that, they always seem to come off strong in the beginning but then either mellow out or lose that spark at some point along the way. But Moo was very consistent and I think that's why it never became a bad thing.
Also, special shout out to all the adults in this series. The teachers, the parents.. they were all beautifully written and acted. Honestly, there's not much I didn't like about this series. I'd almost prefer they didn't put any kissing in it because the kissing was distractingly awkward but I get it.. new pairs, first major role, high school adolescence. But it kind of took away from the idea that they supposedly wanted each other. But really, other than that, they had good chemistry bouncing off each other and reacting to each other in a way that felt natural.
Very solid series and it makes me excited to see where these actors go next.
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Interesting premise that needed more time.
This was one of the rare Thai series where I'd say a few more episodes would have really helped. Normally I say this about Korean series as they are notoriously shorter and try to cram so much in 6-8 episodes. Usually with the longer Thai series (10-14 ep at 40+min each) they contain so much unnecessary filler that the story becomes boring, silly, off the rails, etc.But there was so much going on in this series that, while they probably should have made it longer, I still feel like they did very well with the time that they had. It's a complex concept, to say the least. And then as the series goes on, I can see how some people may not like all the "coincidences" and how things are connected. But I thought it made the series more enjoyable.
I also wish I hadn't seen some of the spoilers so I will refrain from saying any of them myself.. as much as I can while still writing a review on the series as a whole.
It seems like a lot of people did not like the last couple of episodes. All I can say about this (as someone not trying to spoil anything) is that, if you are in it for the shipped actors, then yes, you will not like the last couple of episodes. But if you like the story of the characters, then the last bit is VERY satisfying and downright heartwarming. Also, do yourself a favor and ignore the age with the math. It's better enjoyed at face value.
That being said, the story has a lot of depth and makes one question a lot (I mean, come on.. we're talking about parallel universes and quantum physics here) but as far as the main couple is concerned, I enjoyed the lack of questioning how they felt toward one another. There were no secrets or hiding of feelings and I LOVED that they were open with each other when feelings started developing. Maybe they needed the impossible concept of them ever being together to make that honesty happen, who knows? Maybe they felt safe in being honest because they knew they had nothing to lose, being on opposite sides of the mirror. That was their obstacle and I liked that about the series.
While the acting could have been better, I understand that this was a first lead role for these two so it's understandable and forgivable. They were still good performances in the end. I also liked how there wasn't an abundance of side/supporting characters as there really wasn't much time to focus on anyone else. Everyone who was introduced had a clear role and was essential in some way to help the story along. But then they were put on the back burner instead of trying to make things complicated. That was handled well, in my opinion.
I really would recommend this series and encourage everyone watching it to stick it out to the end. It really is a well-rounded story and I like how everything was wrapped up to completion.
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Practically perfect.
This is one of the most interesting concepts for a BL that I have come across. It took the typical high school setting and flipped it right on its ear with this twist akin to "alternate reality." The idea that Myung Ha could be sucked into a to-be-made game based on a work-in-progress story where he had a few ideas on how to change it was interesting enough. But add to it the subtle (almost hidden) aspect of his depression and the fact that Yeo Woon was based on Myung Ha's life added so much emotional depth to the story. While it may seem like a BL on the surface, underneath it was more like a "learning to love yourself" story.There were hints from the very beginning, what with Myung Ha said he would change Yeo Woon's story because it was "too much like my own," hinting at the regret he felt for his own personal discontent. Everything the game made him do was a way to validate Yeo Woon's life in a way that Myung Ha thought his own life was lacking. Then the game began to glitch when Yeo Woon was beginning to have romantic feelings toward Myung Ha because the objective was simply to make himself happy and love himself, not necessarily have romantic feelings. But then this is where the fun, BL aspect comes in and I personally think it worked well.
The only downside to this series was the short amount of time they had to tell such an in-depth and complicated story. In the first half of the series, I was impressed with the pacing and thought this series was probably the best I'd seen at making things clear and moving things along at a pace that made sense. (The "likeness meter" was a big help with that.) Then, somewhere around the middle, things were happening where I though to myself, "Did I skip or miss an episode?" And then there were a few things introduced or mentioned that never really were explored that was a shame since they were interesting plot points to me. (Kyung Hoon mentioning his BF and how he was supposedly coming for a visit soon; Sang Won getting into that fight while no one seemed to notice.. to name a couple of examples.)
While I understand and appreciate that they did not try to have a secondary couple with the limited amount of time they had to resolve the main one, I do also wish the two primary side characters got more screentime/storyline because they were done really well, both in writing and acting. I also wish the ending was a bit more clearer (did Myung Ha die and was given a second life or maybe the game was a form of afterlife? Who was Myung Ha's senior, really? )
But, overall, still a very solid series and, minus the few questions left unanswered, it was a satisfying and thought-provoking story. I would definitely watch it again and recommend it to any BL fan.
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