Captivating Characters Shine Despite Flawed Plot: A Review of Fish Upon The Sky

— This review will be detailed and comprehensive. It reflects my personal observations and interpretations. If you disagree with or do not enjoy my review, feel free to write your own. I also suggest reading this review after watching the show, as it may contain spoilers.


This series successfully pulled me out of a drama slump, for which I am grateful. However, as it reached its conclusion, I couldn't help but feel disappointed and as though something was missing. There was an expectation for something to occur or be resolved that ultimately did not happen, leaving me feeling somewhat robbed.

PI'S CHARACTERIZATION

— Pi's character is thoughtfully crafted and easily relatable, particularly for those who have experienced the difficulties of self-acceptance and navigating their sexuality. His backstory, characterized by low self-esteem and self-destructive tendencies, adds layers of complexity to his personality. Even as he undergoes a glow up, Pi continues to confront the lasting impact of his past. His path of self-discovery, marked by confusion, identity crisis, and shame, mirrors the real-life challenges that many individuals encounter while grappling with their sexual orientation.

— Pi's character embodies a constant battle between compassion and self-destruction. He cares for others but struggles to be kind to himself, evident in his relationship with Mork. His communication issues and tendency to isolate himself highlight his internal struggles. While his character development is commendable, the abrupt ending left me wanting more. Despite its flaws, Pi's captivating story resonates deeply, making him my favorite character in the series.

MORK'S CHARACTERIZATION

— Mork's charismatic presence immediately caught my attention, drawing me in with his effortless charm. Despite creating a fake social media account to interact with Pi, which could be seen as cowardly, it revealed Mork's strong desire to be close to Pi, even if it meant hiding his true identity. Throughout their relationship, Mork consistently showed genuine love and care for Pi, offering attention and emotional support.

— Despite Mork's sincere efforts, his persistent disregard for boundaries and refusal to accept rejection led to frustration and conflicts. While his determination to express his feelings is admirable, it often overlooks Pi's wishes and the consequences of his actions. Mork's relentless pursuit of Pi, although well-intentioned, can become overwhelming and pushy. It is important to prioritize Pi's autonomy and allow him the space to process his emotions and make his own decisions regarding their relationship. Ultimately, it is up to Pi to decide whether to reciprocate Mork's feelings, and Mork should respect whatever outcome unfolds.

— Mork's actions in Episode 8 displayed a lack of sensitivity and consideration. If he truly cares about Pi, he should prioritize Pi's comfort and well-being above everything else. Allowing their personal photos to be shared without their consent by their obsessed and toxic shippers shows a clear disregard for Pi's privacy and consent. This not only caused distress to Pi but also contributed to the spread of misinformation and misunderstandings about their relationship status. It is crucial for Mork to demonstrate respect for Pi and take responsibility for the consequences of his actions.

— Mork's active involvement with the shippers and his decision to participate in an exclusive interview with them can be interpreted as endorsing their actions. By providing them a platform, he unintentionally validates their intrusive behavior and neglects to safeguard Pi's privacy. Mork's actions send a message that the shippers' conduct is acceptable, potentially encouraging them to persist in their invasive practices.

— Mork's behavior in Episode 11 greatly upset me. Pi is still struggling with his sexuality, burdened by insecurities, self-doubt, and a sense of worthlessness due to the bullying and hatred he has endured. While Mork claims to care about Pi's decision and expresses willingness to be patient, his actions contradict his words. He indirectly pressures Pi to reveal their relationship to everyone, disregarding Pi's discomfort. Despite Pi consistently showing his unease, Mork consistently overlooks it. The advice Mork gave Pi when confronted with his feelings of unworthiness in their relationship felt shallow. Mork spoke without fully grasping Pi's situation. While it may be easy for Mork, it is not the same for Pi. Mork failed to demonstrate the patience necessary in their relationship with Pi.

— At times, Mork's inability to fully understand Pi's emotional struggles can be frustrating. Despite his good intentions, his actions often fail to address the underlying causes of Pi's insecurities and self-doubt. Mork's need for reassurance and validation can unintentionally create pressure on Pi, who is already navigating a complex journey of self-discovery.

— However, despite his flaws and occasional missteps, Mork's genuine love and care for Pi cannot be denied. He has shown his commitment to Pi by enduring challenges and standing by him during difficult times. Their relationship, although imperfect, has weathered storms and grown stronger. However, it is important to note that while many consider Mork a green flag, my perspective is that he falls more into the category of a yellow flag, neither fully positive nor negative.

— Furthermore, the portrayal of Mork's character in the series felt lacking. There was a noticeable absence of weaknesses and vulnerability in his persona. Mork consistently maintained a confident demeanor and personality throughout the entirety of the show. It would have been beneficial to witness more depth and complexity in his characterization, allowing him to feel more relatable and human.

SECOND LEAD COUPLE

— The relationship between Meen and Duean in the series is incredibly adorable. Meen's clingy and cute behavior around Duean, and Duean finding it hard to resist Meen's charm. Their relationship doesn't face many obstacles and progresses naturally. They embrace their emotions and live in the present moment. It was amusing to see Duean constantly deny his feelings for Meen, only to eventually fall for him in the end.

— Duean's character provided the most laughter with his natural humor, loudness, and unfiltered speech. He has a tendency to say whatever he wants without hesitation. Meen, on the other hand, is naturally cute and sometimes clueless, but his innocence doesn't become annoying. Throughout the series, Meen displays moments of maturity despite his childlike and naive demeanor. When Duean pressured him to drink and experience adulthood, Meen confidently refused to give in to the peer pressure. He knows himself well and stands up for what he believes is right. While Meen and Duean's relationship is undeniably cute, it feels somewhat disconnected from the main plot of the drama. Their storyline creates a separate universe that doesn't have much relevance to the overall plot. The only connection seems to be that Duean and Pi are brothers, while Mork and Meen are also brothers. This connection allows for some interaction between the characters, but beyond that, their storyline doesn't contribute significantly to the overall plot.

THE KITTY GANG

— The Kitty Gang, comprising Yok, Koh, James, and Jeans, truly brought comedy to the series. Their jokes and presence enhanced the scenes, making them more enjoyable and humorous. However, beyond their comedic roles, I genuinely appreciated their friendship. They never judged Pi and provided unwavering support during his glow up. Whether Pi or Duean needed assistance, the Kitty Gang was always there for them. Moreover, they offered meaningful advice to both Pi and Duean, adding depth to the story. The Kitty Gang not only fulfilled their comedic purposes but also contributed to the overall richness of the narrative.

OVERALL RATE: 6.5/10

This series is a hilarious and laughter-inducing watch. The chemistry between the main couples is fantastic and feels incredibly natural. Initially, the plot is easy to follow, but as the story progresses, it becomes repetitive with the recurring theme of Mork's unrequited love for Pi. This repetitive narrative continues until the final episode, which unnecessarily prolongs the plot and stretches it thin. The show also delves into the toxic culture of shipping, highlighting the wrongdoings of fans who stalk and misinterpret the relationship between Mork and Pi. It sheds light on how these fans glorify and romanticize situations that aren't based on genuine love. One particularly satisfying moment is when Pi confronts the shippers about their misconduct. It showcases his courage in setting boundaries and standing up for himself, as their actions make him feel uncomfortable and unsafe. The invasion of privacy, with pictures of him and Mork being posted all over social media, including his personal space, is a clear example of stalking and potentially criminal behavior.

Initially, I was impressed that this show addresses the issue of shipping culture, particularly within the BL actor community. It highlights the importance of respecting an individual's decision to keep their sexuality private, as Pi is not yet comfortable with publicly outing himself. However, towards the end, I was disappointed. I had hoped that the series would delve deeper into the discussion and confrontation heads on. Unfortunately, during Mork's birthday celebration, all the shippers gathered and turned the event into a fan gathering. They proceeded to display pictures of Mork and Pi, proudly claiming their contribution to the relationship. This undermined the show's attempt to address the issue of toxic shipping culture, rendering it somewhat pointless. The events at Mork's party were highly inappropriate and gave the shippers a false sense of importance in MorkPi's relationship. In reality, their actions only worsened the situation.

I strongly dislike the MorkBam ship as a way to conceal their actual relationship. It is a confusing and problematic approach to hide their true feelings. Bam's overly friendly, or rather, flirtatious behavior is often inappropriate and excessive. What bothers me even more is that Mork allows Bam to initiate these advances, seemingly accepting her flamboyant flirting, despite being in a committed relationship with Pi. I can understand Pi's frustration with their dynamic because whenever the three of them are together, it unintentionally makes Pi feel invisible and like a secondary character. Additionally, Bam's lack of a sincere apology for her actions adds to the unresolved nature of the storyline, making the ending poorly written. The way they simply pair Bam with another boy and move on with her life, as if she didn't do anything wrong, infuriates me. Moreover, the fact that shippers will likely continue to obsess over and invade the privacy of another couple is disheartening. I had hoped that the show was advocating for something meaningful, but it all seems to have been in vain.

I would also like to mention Muang Nan's character, as I believe he had the potential to be so much more. He is charismatic and brings life to any scene he's in. However, it feels like his character was primarily used as a bridge between Mork and Pi. While I understand that this was his purpose in the plot, it seemed like that was his ONLY purpose. Once Mork and Pi started their relationship, Muang Nan was hardly seen throughout the series and only made a reappearance in the last episode. It felt like his character was discarded after serving his purpose, which is something I didn't appreciate. Muang Nan had the potential to be a well-developed character in his own right, but unfortunately, he wasn't given the opportunity to shine.

When it comes to the acting, the romantic moments were executed excellently, and the chemistry between the leads was evident even through their glances. However, in the heavier and sadder scenes, I didn't quite feel the emotions that were intended. While the actors are undoubtedly talented, I believe they could have given more and put in more effort, particularly in the scene where Mork embraces Pi in the rain. This scene was meant to be symbolic and climactic, but unfortunately, it didn't evoke the emotional resonance for me.

I absolutely adored the scene in which the title "Fish Upon The Sky" is mentioned and Pi affectionately refers to Meung Nan as his "Fish Upon the Sky." This reference beautifully captures Pi's feelings towards Meung Nan, as he sees their relationship as something unattainable. I was deeply moved by Mork's explanation of falling in love, using the metaphor of flowers. He eloquently stated that if you find the flowers beautiful and enjoy admiring them, it signifies an interest or liking. However, if you desire to possess the flowers, it becomes an obsession. True love, according to Mork, is when you want to nurture and care for the flower, allowing it to grow. This heartfelt moment melted my heart and added a poignant depth to the story.

This series is filled with humor and features endearing characters. Pi's struggles with communication, tendency to withdraw, and keeping one foot out the door, combined with Mork's lack of patience, understanding, and self-centered mindset, raise red flags in their relationship. However, despite these flaws, I cannot deny the undeniable chemistry between them that made me squeal with delight. I am pleased that each couple in the series ultimately found their happy ending, despite the numerous challenges they faced along the way. However, its major flaw lies in its poorly constructed plotline. While it starts off strong, it soon becomes repetitive and dragged out, leading to unresolved resolutions by the end. I would recommend this series primarily for beginners who are interested in exploring the romance BL genre. However, for those who have watched a substantial amount of BL series and have higher standards, this show may not meet their expectations.

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