koburi
London, UK
This review may contain spoilers
This review contains spoilers.
Having read a number of glowing reviews of this show I was totally prepared to sail this ship - but wow, what a letdown. If anything, it showed me how far Thai BL shows have come in the last couple of years. Before I discuss what I didn't like, first I'll mention what I did like.
First of all, I appreciated that the women in the story were portrayed as just normal people and not crazy, stupid or boring little nothings that were 'in the way'. It's sad that this should be a breath of fresh air, but there you go.
They also had some interesting side-characters who had potential to add variety and spice to the show, but they were under-used. And I liked the character of Arthit and the actor who played him with some degree of subtlety. I also thought the sub-plot with M and May was cute.
However...
The major issue I had with this show was the character of Kongpob. Frankly, he creeped me out. I'm not sure if it was the fault of the actor or the script, but Kongpob always had this eerie smirk on his face that really set me on edge. The creepy smirk, combined with his constant do-gooder interjections, made him someone I would never trust or want to be around. He felt very fake, very false from the outset. I mean, he even smirked DURING his first kiss with Arthit. It made me shudder, and not in a good way. I thought maybe the plot would turn and he'd be revealed to be a psychopath.
I also did not really respond to the core theme of the show - the hazing rituals. They went on forever and were very repetitive, doing little to drive the plot forward beyond setting up the basic 'bully being wooed by the victim' theme. There were pacing issues throughout, with annoying gaps in any sort of forward motion.
And finally, I found it hard to understand or trace how Arthit ever came to like Kongpob, or vice versa. There was a total absence of chemistry in that relationship, and Arthit's decision to give in to Kongpob did not strike me as credible. At the end of the day, if I don't believe in the relationship the show just can't work for me. It wasn't my cup of tea, I'm afraid.
Having read a number of glowing reviews of this show I was totally prepared to sail this ship - but wow, what a letdown. If anything, it showed me how far Thai BL shows have come in the last couple of years. Before I discuss what I didn't like, first I'll mention what I did like.
First of all, I appreciated that the women in the story were portrayed as just normal people and not crazy, stupid or boring little nothings that were 'in the way'. It's sad that this should be a breath of fresh air, but there you go.
They also had some interesting side-characters who had potential to add variety and spice to the show, but they were under-used. And I liked the character of Arthit and the actor who played him with some degree of subtlety. I also thought the sub-plot with M and May was cute.
However...
The major issue I had with this show was the character of Kongpob. Frankly, he creeped me out. I'm not sure if it was the fault of the actor or the script, but Kongpob always had this eerie smirk on his face that really set me on edge. The creepy smirk, combined with his constant do-gooder interjections, made him someone I would never trust or want to be around. He felt very fake, very false from the outset. I mean, he even smirked DURING his first kiss with Arthit. It made me shudder, and not in a good way. I thought maybe the plot would turn and he'd be revealed to be a psychopath.
I also did not really respond to the core theme of the show - the hazing rituals. They went on forever and were very repetitive, doing little to drive the plot forward beyond setting up the basic 'bully being wooed by the victim' theme. There were pacing issues throughout, with annoying gaps in any sort of forward motion.
And finally, I found it hard to understand or trace how Arthit ever came to like Kongpob, or vice versa. There was a total absence of chemistry in that relationship, and Arthit's decision to give in to Kongpob did not strike me as credible. At the end of the day, if I don't believe in the relationship the show just can't work for me. It wasn't my cup of tea, I'm afraid.
Was this review helpful to you?
