The Luminous Solution (2023)

The Confusing/Boring Solution (interesting premise let down by poor writing/editing)

Overall: although episode 6 finally explained things, they ruined Ryou/Mai. It could have been a masterpiece with solid writing but I regret watching this. Aired uncut on GagaOOLala (1st episode was 1hr11min), cut on YouTube PTG Entertainment channel (1st episode was 45min). I watched the uncut version.

Important Plot Points to Know
- the very first scene is a flashback, there are flashbacks several times but they don't indicate they are flashbacks, the woman in the flashback is a character in the present
- the sandwich dude is playing two characters, himself in the present and his dad in the past
- the world building is explained in the final episode

Content Warnings: non con touching/attempted rape, punch, bullying, manhandling, non con turned consensual, slap, manipulation

What I Liked
- an established couple with realistic relationship issues
- decent solo NSFW scene (only in uncut version)
- camerawork where everyone else moves at a faster speed but the main character doesn't, to show how he's stuck
- the high school storyline up until the 2nd half of episode 5

Room For Improvement
- the way it started was confusing (note, this is a flashback)
- scenes jump with no explanation of how a character got there/when, for example, when/why/how did he get that business card? they never show the one guy being locked in the locker room? (explained in ep 6) why does Patis get a key from that nurse? why didn't they actually show the wish asking scenes in more detail (explained in ep 6)
- they needed to do more world building/hints prior to episode 6, they should not have included that grocery store scene
- episode 6 ruined Mai/Ryou, Mai should have stopped right away, also Ryou's wish was so awful, so we don't even know if the love was real or just because of the wish
- I don't want Thana and Patis together for many reasons
- I'm not sold on that level of tame kissing with an established couple and then how Patis is reluctant many times
- stupid wishes, why ask for a job when you can ask for a trillion dollars???
- cliche female character
- the pink transition effect was distracting
- open ending
- confused why they age restricted their youtube episode themselves as the cut version doesn't have anything in it that warrants being age restricted
- episodes are odd/out of order on their youtube channel

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Confusing and messy, but with a great plot twist

It was a mess, from start to finish. The trailer / teasers for the series looked really interesting and really promising. I was looking forward to the series for a while now but was left feeling disappointed in the end. I do think the series was too short to really get deep into the stories of everyone involved – the two main couples and the owner of the coffee shop.

The plot idea was not bad. It is actually quite an interesting one, especially with the plot twist we got. But the execution was not the best. I think the series would seriously benefited from a few more episodes, which would hopefully give them a chance to develop the plot in a better and more easily understood way.

Thana & Patis: I was looking forward to this couple. They are in an established relationship, something we don’t get often in main roles, and are dealing with realistic problems a couple might face at a certain point in their relationship. Thana is feeling stuck, both at work and privately, while also sometimes feeling like he is not good enough for Patis who appears to be the more successful between the two. Patis is sweet and hardworking but doesn’t really have much time for his partner. All of this combined, puts a strain on their relationship. I actually found the two incredibly awkward with each other, especially their intimate moments. Patis didn’t really seem like he enjoyed them, at all. For a couple who has been together for over 10 years, the two don’t communicate nearly enough. They don’t talk about anything. So much of it could be avoided or resolved by talking. I did expect what their main conflict would be, including who would cause it. I don’t think the two of them are a good match for each other. I also don’t think the actors had good chemistry. It all felt very stiff.

Ryou & Mai: The two have an enemies to lovers story, but because of the time restraints, it seems very sudden and kind of out of the blue. It feels like we are missing some scenes to help us understand how their relationship develops. Also the fact that it went from zero to a hundred in a few seconds doesn’t really help. They both seem similar in the sense they don’t really let anyone close to them too quickly, they find it hard to make friends. Ryou is more independent though, while Mai seems to be someone who hates being on his own. Their chemistry was better, but things moved so fast with them. Sex can’t be the main basis of a relationship if you want it to last. They also didn’t communicate with each other when it was needed.

There was a lot of flashbacks that left me feeling quite confused at times. I think it’s because it was hard to tell they are flashbacks when first seeing them happen. The coffee shop cards just appearing with no reasoning how, why, and when was also very confusing.

The coffee shop owner was strange. I don’t fully understand how us knowing her story is important for the events that are happening in the present. Is her magic good or bad? I am not sure. It seems mostly neutral to me, but because people don’t really know how to make a wish, it usually ends up blowing in their faces.

I wasn’t a fan, but seeing it’s quite short, I finished it. There are quite a few plot holes and scenes that don’t make much sense. The final episode only made everything even more confusing. And it made the whole timeline of the series make even less sense. Not that it made much sense in the first place.

I do have a very important question though. How old is Time? They said he is supposed to be in high school, but it wasn’t really his thing, so he is doing homeschool now. He gets involved with someone who is in his late twenties (at least), so their minimal age gap is around ten years.

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