Cooking Crush didn’t crush it

Except for ‘Not Me’, Off in ‘The Jungle’, and cameos, I don’t have much experience with OffGun’s acting but I know their history and have seen their chemistry in Safe House 3 and how cute they are off-cam. However, if I were to watch this as a first-timer, I would think Gun either doesn’t like or care about acting. When in reality, he’s one of GMM’s most seasonal, highest-demand, and paid actors. I just couldn’t feel his passion in here.

- Pros:
- The cast could act, for the most part.
- The cast, OffGun, Neo, Dome, Victor, and Tum, man is talented and natural!
- Samsi. He’s the only character I cared for from start to end.
- The friendship group for both Doc and Chef. I love healthy friendships and Cooking Crush did a well and natural job in this area.

- Cons:
- The cooking & food. Despite this being a show about cooking and food, I never once looked at any of the dishes and thought “OHHH THAT LOOKS YUMMY”. Oh wait, I stand corrected. Chef’s pepper looked pretty tasty in EP 11.
- Borderline boring. It felt like no one cared. The romance between Doc and Chef and Fire and Dynamite were both fast-paced with little to no chemistry. DocChef weren’t characters, they were OffGun in costumes. I can’t even remember their characters’ names even if someone were to hold a gun to my head.
- The university plot became an afterthought early on and didn’t come back until the very end.
- The 3B or 3 BULLIES gang is overutilized in a university setting. I feel like this show was trying to check off every old stereotype you can find in series in the early 2000s to late 2016s i.e. bullies in universities, closed-mouth kisses, the camera spinning around closed-mouth kissing, running onto filming sets with no security whatsoever, older characters attending college is frowned upon, an abundant of flashbacks, and the list goes on.
- The poor camera work and music killed this series for me. Most of the time, the background music/sound is NOT supporting the scene. Funny scenes are dryer than deserts and it’s because no one cared to add an upbeat soundtrack to go with it. This wouldn’t be a problem if most of the time the series was a heartfelt, serious series but it wasn’t, and was trying to go for comedy a lot of the time. It’s like the show is trying and they’re self-aware to a point but they’re also doing all the wrong things because they know the actors’ popularity will overshadow the lackluster effort.
- The heavy time skips only to use flashbacks to explain what happened. I despise series that use flashbacks for shock value. DocChef suddenly kissing and then having almost one entire episode showing ‘what happened earlier’ was simply boring. I don’t understand the abuse of flashbacks in this series.
- A lot happened and there was a lot of predictable drama but most of them were uneventful. The show should have cut out most of them. The whole separation to improve Doctor’s grades made me lose brain cells and it was such a brainless decision on the characters and production part. We never saw the result of it other than Doc himself saying his grades improved in the last episode. You could have just said that without the whole separating thing. The separation was so short-lived too, it wasn’t even funny. To be fair though, if Doc’s dad had just been upfront from the get-go, we probably wouldn’t have to see Doc acting like a teenager always throwing a hissy fit around daddy and new step-mommy. I wouldn’t have minded Doc’s immaturity if he was at least responsible and independent for a medical student in his third year but he has no part-time job, acts like a clown for the most part, relies on his dad for financial support, and still dares to get mad when he overpaid Chef for cooking courses he no longer needed and daddy found out. ‘Doctor’ was not the profession they should have given Off’s character. I’m not even going to talk about that horrible subplot of Doc meeting another Doc who looks identical to his mom and when he took her to the hospital and saved her life, he was no longer traumatized by his inability to save his mom back then. What. The. Heck. And for him to say ‘we’re not busy today’? I feel that’s something every medical student just knows.
- Gun’s acting. As I said before, it felt like he didn’t want to be a part of the show but did it for Papi. His energy was so low I found myself dozing off whenever he was on screen. For a character who likes to see other people happy, I thought he should start with himself…
- Changma's out-of-the-blue crush on Chef was a big ‘HUH’? Stop it, GMM!
- The whole social media shenanigans were a waste of screen and viewers’ time. For Doc. to apologize ON HIS KNEES and then still act possessive right after was so dumb. It was so middle-school behavior.
- The storyline I hated most is that the staff openly admitted to passing Chef’s group into the second round because they were lame and the show needed that for views...like wtf? I was so glad when Chef opted to withdraw but then he was so easily talked back into it, it was so lame. The fact that his team didn’t end up dropping out when it was an entertainment show and not a cooking show, made me question if it was their cooking skills they wanted recognized in the first place.
- Dynamite was so cute but he did a 180 towards the middle of the show. I liked that he respected Fire and Jane getting back together but since then, he seemed like a different character. We also never know what’s become of his place after his neighbor was murdered.

Overall Cooking Crush gets a 5 from me, in terms of OffGun’s series.

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The Middleman’s Love was a deal breaker

As a fan of ‘Bed Friend’ and the character Jade, I wanted to love this. In fact, I did for a little while.

Episode one was not a strong opener but I have a soft spot for cringy and slapstick comedy so it was bearable. I highly enjoyed episodes two to four, five started falling off but it was still tolerable. My biggest complaint would be the introduction of the second or even third couple if we count KingUea. This was a sequel/spin-off of the second couple from ‘Bed Friend’ so why introduce a new couple? It might be nitpicking and introducing new couples isn’t a crime but the new couple got so much screen time (I skipped most of their later parts because it was so repetitive and unattractive to watch). Their romantic relationship was also poorly developed and executed.

What the show did well:
- The comedy. It was my cup of tea and I enjoyed Yim as Jade. Some of the better execution would be when Jade was standing in front and middle while they were deciding what to eat as a group. He told everyone to come closer like he was ready to whisper, but he ended up shouting. I laughed so hard
- The consistency between Jade’s relationship with King and Uea. Jade and Uea being the lovey-dovey giggly besties is one of the better parts of the show. Jade’s constant butting heads with King was also great. I only wished his friendship with Gun was more apparent like in Bed Friends. They were inseparable at one point and in Middleman’s Love, they hardly hung out together unless it was a group/company hangout.
- Jade’s family is so precious. The introduction of his brother was funny and his sister is just a ray of sunshine.
- The shot of Jade’s family having dinner in episode 3. They shot it through the door to make it look like a live picture-perfect family. That was brilliant.
- Tutor covering Nunew’s song…OMG, can we get an official cover?

What the show didn’t do so well:
- As comedy was the baseline of this series, continuity errors and bad editing are bound to happen. But there’s only so much you can do before it becomes unforgivable. When Jade introduced the dog to Mai, there was a time when he was supposed to be squatting down beside the dog, but an editor decided to insert a blur, close up of the dog, and in the back, you can see Yim’s shoes as he walked by before they cut back to Jade still being next to the dog. That part stuck out like a sore thumb.
- I don’t know if perhaps Tutor can’t drive in real life or it was a lack of budget but every time Mai and Jade are in the car, they never move. Even when Tutor was ‘driving’ the scenery through the windows remained the same. That was awkward.
- The timeline wasn’t clear and the pacing didn’t seem to match it whatsoever
Jade’s fear of flickering lights in the daytime was never explained…
- Tong and Gus’ relationship shouldn’t have happened. Their amount of screen time didn’t contribute to the main storyline. Their personalities were also swapped halfway through the show. Gus went from a nice, friendly guy to a pouty kid who isn’t easily pleased. Tong wasn’t easily pleased or expressive but was all of a sudden very intimate and clingy. Gus’ relationship with his mother came out of nowhere and went nowhere.
- The NC scenes. Once Mai and Jade got together, they lost their spark and sweetness. The sexual tension heightened and the show attempted to become Bed Friend 2.0.
- Mai’s relationship with his family gave me mixed signals. Sometimes he'd be sweet on the phone with his mom. Other times, he seems annoyed with her. For some time it sounded like he had a falling out with his father and even brother but it was never clear. They also seemed like fine people by the finale episode.
- I'm not going to talk about Jade's uncalled-for, unexpected outburst at his family's lunch gathering because what was that? There was no build-up for that as far as I'm aware.

Though I’m happy to see Uea again, I’m glad this series only has eight episodes.
Unless you’re a fan of the actors, MaiJade, or clumsy comedy, I can’t imagine you’d enjoy this one very much.

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Night in Paradise was a dark place

This one came highly recommended by my brother who hardly goes out of his way to watch Korean shows/films so I said why not? I have loved Tagoo since Inspiring Generation anyway and Cha Seungwon has always been a favorite. Glad I watched it, it didn't disappoint.

This movie was dark, graphic, and violent, yet artistic and a great watch. The action and dark humor were right up my alley and a great reflection of the movie's overall atmosphere. I presume everyone who's seen this film knew or had a clue that Yang was behind the accident that killed Taegoo's sister and niece; however, I didn't expect the main characters' deaths. It was a nice twist as it made it different and realistic. The ending was satisfying and one of those rare moments where the cycle of revenge has come to a complete stop as all parties involved are deceased.

I loved the cast and characters. They were all different and distinctive in their own ways. Taegoo seemed like a fun, considerate, and kind boss, only wished there was more of him and his gang. Jaeyeon is an intriguing and badass character. At first, I thought she was the cliche Korean heroine type who sees herself as an equal to men but in truth, she adapted quickly and realistically and simply didn't give a flip because she was dying. I mean, with her gun skills, I'm surprised she's not more arrogant. I only wish we knew what she was dying of. I like Taegoo and Jaeyeon together, I think they would have made great friends if not an understanding and passionate power couple. In the short amount of time that they've known each other, they cared and put their lives at risk for each other. Since Jaeyeon was destined to die shortly anyway, Taegoo could have saved himself and skipped town but he went to her anyway because she once told him she didn't want to be alone. And Jaeyeon brought all of Taegoo's villains to justice before ending her own life. She could have ended her life sooner but she endured her pain just a bit longer to fully avenge Taegoo.

The action was great and the angle they were shot in was perfect. I genuinely felt every knife wound Taegoo got. When he struggled to free himself out of the car, that was an intense and satisfying scene.

If you like mafia, gang, action, and crime films then this one is a must-watch.

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Double Savage, more like double jinx

Double Savage, more like double jinx

I originally watched episode one and then began episode two but found it boring so I put the whole series on hold for a while. After watching more shows with Film in it, and gaining more appreciation for her as an actress I decided to revisit this series and ended up binging episodes 2-12.

Pros:
- The whole cast is amazing and their chemistry is what you’d expect in real life
- The characters’ personalities, interests, hobbies, and dreams are pretty diverse
- Ohm, Perth, and Baitoel are the perfect siblings—the oldest sister with two loving, respectful younger brothers. Their relationship and intimacy were something to envy.
- The plot is intriguing, thought-provoking, and entertainingly messy. A criminal and cop as brothers, it’s like having two siblings who support different sports teams.
- The story of Korn being a jinx was consistent throughout the whole show so viewers were able to sympathize with his frustration of being blamed for anything and everything that goes wrong.
- Ah and Li’s loveline, and their child
- The order in how certain twists were revealed and parts were filmed was satisfying.
- The twist on Rung’s revenge. She was trying to avenge both her and her parents and not just herself.
- The revelation of Uncle Wit and Ah’s father-and-son relationship was the biggest plot twist the show saved for the finale and though I had a notion they were father and son, the hints that led up to it were subtle yet beautifully done. I.e. Ah always wins when he plays chess against Mek, then when he plays with Korn he’s defeated by a move that was taught to Korn by Uncle Wit, Ah’s father. In the finale, we see Uncle Wit and his grandson playing chess. Uncle Wit mentioned having a son twice.
- The instrumentals in serious and emotional scenes were great!
- I love that whenever Korn or Win fight or grab each other’s collars, it’s slightly awkward and not neat/rehearsed. There was authenticity there and it truly showed how inexperienced Win is and it added into his character as the adorable younger brother who had nothing but affection for his older brother.
- I was just complaining in another review about GMMTV’s misuage of guns. In this series, it was watchable. It’s not the best but by far it’s better than a lot of the other series that had guns in them.

Cons:
- If it’s true that you can get out on temporary bail, flee, and return after your charge has expired after committing a crime then that's extremely worrisome and needs to change. I mean, with that kind of loophole, how is it that more people aren’t committing crimes?
- The timeline--there’s a lack of exposition. In the beginning, we know Win and Rung were in their first year of high school. Then after some time, they were accepted into the colleges/universities of their choice. There was mention of Korn being a few years older than 20 and then Ah and Li’s kid came along in the end. It’s nice to show rather than tell but sometimes a timeline is necessary, especially in the case of Ah and Li’s relationship and Korn claiming to have completed school. And how long before everyone's charges expire?
- As mentioned above, Ah and Li’s relationship. Although the show was building attraction, we never got to see them being lovey-dovey until Ah was dying and in flashbacks. Mek’s death was similar, the show dumped flashbacks on us. I assume it’s to indicate that when people are dying, they tend to see images of all the happy moments in their lives but the flashbacks weren't necessarily theirs as they all involved the main characters and didn’t give us insight into their own past lives. I would assume Mek’s most memorable times would be with his mom and not just with his current gang members.
- Ah, Mek, and Korn tend to practice hand-to-hand combat but most of the time they used guns so we never got to see them apply their training.
- For a drug dealing den, the security sucks. How is Li able to waltz right in on multiple occasions unsuspected? And Win, who I would assume took precaution sneaking in, was easily detained? Is Li really a witch???
- Korn’s line “I only shoot those who deserve to die” was so out of character. Did he not learn from his first mistake? Dude shot a cop thinking it was the criminal who needed help. Besides, who’s to say who deserves to die and who doesn’t deserve to? Korn was a righteous character and that line was a major disappointment.
- Korn is the cliche main character who appears to have flaws and/or made mistakes but in the end, is revealed to not be at fault for anything.
- Kriangkrai’s commander never got what was coming to him
- The relationship Rung has with Korn and Win is plausible on camera but in real life, it would be extremely awkward how anyone could maintain a brother-sister relationship after all that's happened
- Except for Win, no one seemed to take Rung’s future being ruined seriously. Even her parents were lukewarm and very accepting, approving of her being a fugitive on the run. Given their closeness, I thought they would drop everything and move with her.
- How did Korn know Win caused the accident with Rung’s parents? Although I don’t condone Win running from the scene, I don’t see it as him ‘killing’ Rung’s parents. He cut in front of them, people do that when driving, but because Rung’s father wasn’t paying attention to the road he panicked and swerved. I would consider that an accident, not manslaughter.
- I hate that after Win asks to take back the promise he made about Rung and confesses his feelings AND asks Rung’s parents for permission to date Rung (while Korn was also a witness to this), Korn takes Rung to a room and proceeds to pet and kiss her. That part just boiled my blood, primarily when Korn’s romantic feelings for Rung are nowhere as strong as Win’s. Rung demanded an answer for her feelings but what about Win's?
- I don’t know why, I mean I know why because we wouldn’t have a series otherwise but why Korn or Li never bothered to tell Win the truth lost me. “The gang used Rung as a scapegoat, it wasn’t Korn’s doing or decision”. “I’m staying here because dad doesn’t want me home and though I’m a criminal, I’m refusing to do anything illegal.” Win’s hatred towards Korn was justified when Korn refused to tell Win anything and cut him off first.

The bottom line is, there wouldn't be a series if Rung's family never moved into the neighborhood. Their families were each other's jinxes.

This is for sure a highly recommended watch and rewatch.

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Highlight of my Fridays aka BL of the Year

This isn't much of a review but more of a comment; the full review will be added in after the show's completed.

[Episodes 1-4] When I fell for JimmySea in Vice Versa, I knew they had the potential to go bigger and Last Twilight delivered. Their acting and expressions have so much range and their chemistry just oozes every time they're on screen. Not only with each other but the extras and supporting characters too. I'm loving the progression and story-telling so far. Mhok and Day's growths have been steady, natural, and breathtaking as well. Last Twilight continues to be the highlight of my Fridays.
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[Completed] Let's just say that up to the breakup, I enjoyed every minute of Last Twilight. There was heavy foreshadowing since ep 10 but despite the obvious, Jimmy and Sea still managed to make us cry with their acting. I believe everyone knew or had an idea that Day's first eye surgery wasn't going to be successful, yet Sea's acting pleasantly surprised and depressed us~

I don't mind or care for breakups in series, especially when they're necessary (for example: when one or two characters have become toxic to each other) or are well-handled in the aftermath. And although I understood why there had to be a breakup, I didn't see it being critical to the storyline. And even if it was like time apart made Day independent and Mhok more understanding, etc, I don't see why Day had to also then block Mhok for three years. That only tells me that their breakup was not for their betterment but out of anger. As Day and Mhok have proven to mature throughout the series, to have them break up on a whim was out of character for Day. If Day saw it as Mhok pitying him then that's fine, but Mhok's reasonable reason was both dismissed and devalued.

Despite my ranting, my biggest issue isn't that they broke up, it's that they did it in EP 11 at the last second. That meant the finale would be about them overcoming their conflict and reuniting, and you just can't do it all in one hour. Especially if you want it to be good and want to avoid time skips. Not only did their breakup take away screentime to see them grow as a couple, but the show compounded it with Day's second eye surgery. I have mixed feelings about Day being able to see again.

Why I liked that Day was able to see again:
- He got to see what Mhok looks like
- His hope to see again was finally answered

Why I don't like that Day could see again:
- He's navigated the world as a blind man for a while and has come to accept it. If anything, I thought that would give viewers hope that despite being dealt bad cards in life, you will be fine as long as you learn to accept and live with it.
- Day running a bookshop as a blind man went out the window
- Porjai's daughter lost that opportunity to develop a positive trait towards disabilities as someone who could have grown up with a blind uncle
- This doesn't give Mhok the chance to prove that he can trust Day despite Day's blindness

Overall LT is a 10/10 and I've rewatched it another three times after Jan. 26.

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In between the GAP was madness

GAP was a waste of time. I watched episodes 1-3 normally, 2x episodes 4-6, 3x 7-9, and skimmed episodes 10-12 so basically I’m dropping this at episode 9 though I saw the ending. I understand that this is one of, if not the biggest GL series from Thailand right now but the show did not need 12 episodes to tell its story. The plot was interesting but the delivery was unhinged.

Pros:
- The plot
- Some of the outfits were cute. Sam’s outfits, house, and car fitted her lavish lifestyle.
- Ampere Suttatip Wutchaipradit & Yo Tassawan Seneewongse

Cons:
- The actresses. Rebecca is a good “Mon” but I cannot invest in Freen as “Sam”. Nothing about Freen screams ‘I’m a hardass, rich b*tch that everyone fears’. Even Freen’s RBF (resting b*tch face) is NOT intimidating. Instead, she looks as if she’s always pouting. Her speech and voice color is also not terrifying. I have nothing against the actress as I simply don’t know her but she did not make a good ‘Sam’.
- The characters. I hated all of them but Tee, Yuki, Noi, and Kirk. Nop is okay but that’s kind of it. He has no life outside of Mon’s story. Then again, no one really did. Mon’s stepfather was cool but the way they kept pushing Mon towards Sam was just odd. Mon’s mom is the show’s scapegoat, in order for Mon and Sam to be together, Mon’s mom makes poor decisions after poor decisions that would force them to be together.
- I detest that Sam was coined as someone who always says the opposite of what she means because WTF was all that firing and work-related things in the beginning about then? When does it begin and when does it end? Does her indirectness apply to work, too? If that's the case then all those employees who got fired need to come back. How is anyone supposed to take her seriously when she’s an indirect person? Do you just get to decide what she means depending on your relationship with her and hope for the best? I don’t get it. I mean, no wonder Grandma and Kirk didn’t take her seriously when she wanted to call off the engagement. You can’t take her for her word. Stupid.
- Sam is friends with the trio that bullied Mon when they were younger. Okay, small world.
- Sam and Mon don’t consider biting lips, making out, and having sex cheating on Kirk. Oh, okay…I guess it’s not cheating if it’s same-sex or as Sam liked to claim ‘girl friends do this’. I don’t remember suckling on my friends’ lips but whatever you say Sam. Because of course, we’re also supposed to take everything you say at face value, right? Righttttt.
- Sam appears to care about her business but does absolutely nothing to expand or grow it. We don’t even see her applying her talent or skills. She rejects Kirk’s idea of a joint business just because. She threatens to fire employees who do not bring her and her company good or successful work ideas. She hands out tasks that we never see come into play. I’m shocked her company lasted five years when the employees are clearly the brain of the company but they’re being fired left and right for anything and everything. The work environment she’s built is purely toxic and she didn’t get enough shit for being a horrible boss.
- There are always talks of working but we never see them work. Sam clearly doesn’t care about work once she’s got a taste of Mon’s lips.
- Mon is frustrating to watch. She’s like a little robot with pretty privilege. The girl has three, maybe four, expressions at most. She forgives everything right away after some late nights crying. I don’t know why she’s seen as someone amazing or great. She completed one project and never kept up with it; her co-workers had to update the audience and her of her finished work. Make it make sense.
- Mon and Yuki both are sucky friends though Yuki at least seems to care about Mon. Mon is painted as kind and gentle but she always belittles or scoffs at Yuki’s problems. It beats me why Mon has friends at all.
- Sam is the biggest hypocrite. She made the rule that fired two employees at the beginning about dating (and why did Mon act like a kid who didn’t understand the concept of office romance? She asked even after she was told and warned about it three times!) then she started dating when she hasn’t called off the engagement with Kirk yet. Kirk can’t keep secrets from her but she has no problems stringing him along. She calls Yai and Chin’s cheating ‘immoral’ but sees her cheating on Kirk as fiction because she ‘doesn’t love him’. Guess I missed the part where it’s only cheating if you have romantic feelings for more than one person even if you’re engaged or married. I thought the show and characters said Sam was clever. Clever, where?
- Yai, clear as day, condoned cheating twice (and it's not just Yai. All of Sam and Mon's friends and families did. Not a one told them they were cheating on Kirk. All of them suck. All of them are horrible.). “You can’t help who you fall in love with” might be true but you can always control your actions. Being a homewrecker because of a crush isn’t an excuse. It’s a crime, thank yew very much.
- This part bugged me the most. Sam slut-shamed Mon, loud and clear. In public, in front of Nop, and how was this cleared up? Sam who was clearly angry and jealous at the time twisted it later on to say that she wasn’t done talking. That it was meant as a compliment because the slut Sam shamed Mon with is a pretty, clever, and hard-working individual just like Mon. Gee, thanks? There are plenty of pretty, clever, and hard-working women out there that aren't cheaters or sluts but I guess if the only one you could think of was a slut then we’re taking it. It’s not like you were mad when you said it, you were just jealous. Though I personally might have said Oprah, Mrs. Obama, Reese Witherspoon, Tokiko Shimizu, Tam Debhakam, or my favorite actress Yaya to avoid misunderstandings. The best part is, Mon forgave Sam right away because Sam said she was ‘jealous’. Oh, my freakin…I couldn’t deal. I had to pause the show before I punched my computer screen.
- The dinner scene in episode 9 was borderline unnecessary. One, Sam had it set up by the housemaid as per Sam’s apology to Mon. Why couldn’t Sam just pull out three placemats and one 1800s candlestick to showcase her sincerity was beyond me. Two, the production team refused to and purposely chose not to shoot the table itself and it gave low-budget reasoning. Three, the revelation was so poor I almost choked on air. Mon’s ‘wow’ was giving fake energy. Nothing about the table was wow but the 1800s candlestick.
- The GAP between Sam and Mon in terms of age and social status is interesting but we never felt it. I never feel that there is a gap of eight years because they’re both emotionally and mentally 12.
- This is just me nitpicking but Sam was holding the photo album of Mon in episode 9 and while talking to Mon’s parents, it vanished into thin air…? Where did it go? It was nowhere in her proximity when the camera zoomed out. Continuity error.
- The music wasn’t terrible but wasn't memorable either.
- This show should have been about Tee and Yuki. With Tee’s senses and logic, and Yuki’s communication skills, we would have gotten GL series of the year that wasn't this but I digress.

Had the series focused on Sam and Mon working together, building their relationship in a natural way, and less on their childish love life, I think the balance would have kept the show more realistic, less repetitive, and enjoyable to watch. The build-up of their relationship was no fun at all and they failed to show us just how important the company is to Sam. This was a big miss and one I’ll never want to see again.

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Moonlight Chicken is a hidden gem

You know the acting will be phenomenal based on the cast alone, but Khaotung (Gaipa) was my favorite of them all. His scenes were just purely fun, sweet, and/or very emotional. Man made me cry like a baby twice. Of the eight episodes, 5-7 did get a bit draggy because of the repetitiveness in the main arc, nonetheless, it was still an enjoyable watch and I love the order in which certain things were revealed i.e. Alan’s entrance, the identity of Wen’s stepfather, and Ms. Hong’s death. I also like that the timeline was clear and that all eight episodes happened within a six-month to ten-month period.

What I liked/enjoyed:
- The reality and hardship economically post-COVID. It’s a no-brainer that everyone was heavily affected by COVID-19 in one way or another. But what made Jim’s Chicken diner different was despite Jim being poor and a single guardian of an 18-year-old teenager himself, he was able to empathize, sympathize, and cater to the unfortunate out of the kindness of his heart. Not only is his chicken rice recipe simple, but it’s also affordable, convenient, and fulfilling for the middle and lower class. His kindness spoke volumes throughout the whole show.
- I love the entire cast but Mark and View’s coupling takes the cake. Salaeng and Praew are naturally fun to be around and are very supportive when they, themselves are struggling; set to be first-time parents with a baby on the way. I also love Saleng’s relationship with everyone, he was the perfect friend, employee, boyfriend, and support everyone needed. Probably would have been a good son like Gaipa had his parents been alive. He also seemed like a really great dad from the one scene of him playing with his baby in episode 8. I love that although he had to be put out of his job at the diner, he didn’t forget to pay Jim back and still kept in contact with everyone. It truly showed that Moonlight Chicken wasn’t just a workplace but a home away from home.
- Gaipa and his mother’s backstory was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Normally, funerals for side characters are rushed but in this case, the show highlighted the impact that Ms. Hong, a side character, had on not just Jim, his family, and the diner but the whole community. While Gaipa mourned, you can feel just how much the Hongs were loved and respected by all.
- I know some find it weird or unrealistic, but Wen rooming with Alan after they’ve broken up is probably the one thing I like most about this series. During lockdown and quarantine, it wasn’t uncommon to hear that couples who lived together do and did break up. I thought Wen living paycheck to paycheck was a reasonable enough reason to keep living with his ex; especially when his ex is the breadwinner and they’ve agreed to be friends. The only problem was Alan took this as a possibility of them getting back together despite being told it wouldn’t happen countless times. To be fair, it was completely understandable because, in Alan’s case, he was still in love and actions do speak louder than words. If Wen hasn’t moved out by now then obviously it wasn’t really about Wen falling out of love but something else. Like another man (Jim) for instance. The reality is Alan can afford to think this way because he isn’t financially restrained like Wen is. If Wen leaves, Alan’s capable of paying all of his bills just fine but if Alan leaves, Wen will have to look for another roommate or cheaper condo. We got a glimpse of that when Wen had to ask their friend, Gong, for help and ended up renting a condo (hello Ohm’s room in ‘Bad Buddy’ xD)
- All of the characters’ growth was noticeable and lovely but Li Ming’s growth is the most impressive. Once he knew what he wanted, his confidence and responsibility surfaced and he was able to sell his future plans to his mother and uncle despite their doubt. Li Ming really showed them that he wasn’t as unprepared or unmotivated as they were led to believe. Not only did Li Ming plan the next four to six years of his life, but he’s been working towards it. He was dedicated and ready to walk his own path and his family couldn’t be more proud and supportive.
- Jim and Li Ming fight as any uncle and nephew would but I had so much respect for Li Ming when Jim said ‘Don’t raise your voice at me’ and Li Ming instantly piped down and apologized. That scene was beautifully done and showed that deep down Li Ming has a lot of respect, love, and gratitude for his uncle. He’s just frustrated because of the lack of communication and the pushing and projecting from flawed adults. It was brilliant of Li Ming to recognize that what Jim was projecting onto him was in fact Jim’s dreams and Li Ming calling his uncle out for that was great.
- The fact that Heart was deaf. I love the representation here and I thought Gemini did an excellent job. He was really convincing. I loved that the show stressed the fact that people tend to think deaf people are also mute when that’s not always true. I love that not only was Heart finally understood by his family but also accepted by Li Ming’s friends and family. His parents learning and becoming pros at signing, Wen communicating with him through sign, and Li Ming’s mother's openness to learn and attempt sign were all very wholesome.
- The communication between some characters was great whilst others were realistic.
- I love it when characters drop names without telling us who they are right away. It keeps the audience guessing and gives the characters some history and substance. Or when children are introduced and you have to do some connecting the dots. i.e. Beam’s ex-girlfriend’s daughter and Jam’s stepdaughter/Li Ming’s stepsister.
- The portrayal of Jim’s stubbornness that stems from age and fear. Jim being set in his ways as an older, more traditional guy is so lifelike. Although Jim isn’t as expressive and agreeable as Li Ming would like, it’s clear that Jim is trying his best to build a good reputation and connections for Li Ming’s sake.
- The reality of being able to accept gays as friends, co-workers, or neighbors but wouldn’t come around to it when it’s family. Although it sounded homophobic, Jam made it clear that her concern was about how her son would be viewed and mistreated by others if they found out his orientation, and not that she was repulsed by it. I did like that she had at least three conversations about it with Jim and Li Ming. It showed how much she was bothered by it.
- The revelation of Ms. Hong’s death. From the marketplace to the hospital and finally temple/funeral. The transition from Gaipa and Saleng walking, talking, and joking around to the discovery of Ms Hong was so well done. Khaotung’s acting in the hospital scene, it was clear that he’d been given the bad news and his crying was so heartwrenching!
- The cinematography and setting were aesthetically pleasing. I love the color palette and it was really giving Hainanese. (I love Li Ming’s little lion dance too!)
- Aof’s cameo! xD

What I disliked/wished was different/included, and noticed:
- Jim and Beam had more chemistry than Jim and Wen.
- Gaipa pursuing Jim is cute but surprisingly for someone who's really into Jim, Gaipa doesn't come around a lot. Yeah, he's busy helping his mom and keeping her company but he mostly, if not always, drops by only at his mom's requests and not because he misses Uncle Jim's face.
- Some events in episodes 5-7 could have been shortened or cut out entirely to focus, explore, and revisit older scenes.
- Jim consistently saying ‘no’ and bringing up what he said before their one-night stand was great, a man of his word, however; there were way too many back and forths about it on screen. They could have cut out one or two rejection scenes and implied it in a passing conversation with another character.
- It’s clear that Jim likes Wen and even misses him at the diner. However, whenever there’s an opportunity for Jim to initiate contact first, out of desperation, Wen would call or show up and we’d get the same rejection scene but in different clothes. If viewers enjoyed the mains together then sometimes a separation would do everyone some good and make a reunion 10 times better. It’s boring that Wen was the only one trying to make them work.
- The comedy was present but not emphasized enough to be memorable
- I wish there was a scene where Heart confessed to his parents that he was the one who broke the bottle OR there’s a short scene of his father drinking from the same bottle he and Li Ming secretly drank out of and wondering why it’s somewhat watery. That would have been a good callback.
- The reporter clearly said they were moving into 2023 on New Year's Eve, however, when Ms. Hong passed away, a couple of months later, she was written to have passed in February 2022. I suppose they filmed in 2022 and forgot to change the year on the printout.

This was a slice of life and I for one enjoyed them immensely. This is a definite watch and rewatch.

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Dangerous Romance was dangerously bad

I was watching this series as it aired but after episode five it wasn’t captivating enough so I set it aside to binge later and oh my goodness, I damn near pulled out all my hair. The entire show is a bore, sure, sweet and interesting moments were sprinkled here and there but overall it was similar to staring at a blank screen. A lot happened but they were uneventful. At one point I was watching an episode a day and every day I considered dropping the show but held on for PerthChimon. PerthChimon did their best but their characters were not worth the 12 hours of torture.

What I liked:
- PerthChimon
- Perth's whole wardrobe was spot on!
- Enemies to lovers trope
- “Wind” by Chimon
- Sailom’s friend, Guy.
- The development between Nawa and Guy, and Auto and Max.

What I hated/took issue with:
- KanghanSailom. They don’t make sense. Not when they were children, not in high school, not in their universe or the real universe. Their ONE run-in as children that left Sailom with a long-term crush on a kid he never met again or knew is one thing but to compound that with the current HS bully Kanghan? It’s such a cop-out that Sailom is ready to forgive Kanghan for anything and everything because of that one incident. It's like Sailom forgot that Kanghan’s bullying crossed the line of SA and extreme harassment. Then again, their first two kisses were non-consensual so--
- Their getting together was so bizarre. Kanghan was just mad that Sailom rejected Pimfah then all of a sudden, after Sailom’s confession, Kanghan became possessive and told Sailom he didn't like Sailom hanging out with Guy. NANI?!
- Kanghan gave us a cliche, vague reason when he first fell for Sailom, he said ‘Before I knew it, I had already fallen for you’. That could be cute but then when exactly was that? Because Kanghan still liked Pimfah up to Sailom’s confession so at best, Kanghan had two nights to decide that he, too, likes Sailom. Once Sailom ‘opens his heart’ to Kanghan, Pimfah is tossed to the back and without any struggle accepts Kanghan and Sailom’s relationship as if she never cried over Sailom. Her shipping Nawa and Guy was also a WTF moment.
- Sailom forgave Kanghan too fast, and Auto and Guy even faster. Unrealistic.
- In the beginning, Sailom had a moral fiber and standards but as the show progresses, he loses that. I thought it was strange that Sailom stopped Kanghan from breaking a replaceable debit card but was completely fine going out and spending all of Kanghan's dad’s money on it. He never physically tried to stop Kanghan’s impulsive spending either. Sailom also acted as if he was above it, that Kanghan was the only one spending all the money when we saw the new clothes, watches, and accessories on him, the food he ate, and the suite he bathed and slept in. It was so odd to put Kanghan down for it when he willingly participated.
- Maybe it was implied or the translation was off but I believed Kanghan jumped the gun with his dad paying his way into the football team. Remember, Kanghan was personally invited by a senior to try out for the team due to his skills. Secondly, the dad asked the coach to look after his son AFTER Kanghan already made the team. Or are we supposed to believe the senior was set up by Kanghan’s dad and/or coach?
- The actors had chemistry but their characters were not chemistrying. When Kanghan’s father was carried out of the house, I thought he’d run to his dad but instead, he ran to his grandma. Sailom also doesn’t stop or seem too concerned about the police escorting his brother in handcuffs to the car. Saifah and Name’s relationship was interesting but it came in at episode nine and wasn’t naturally developed. Why would you introduce a gangster to the rich family you care for? (Name’s driving scene was also terribly done. Thanks for nothing, Dangerous Romance!)
- Pimfah, and even teacher Napdao, Auto, and Guy were all there for Sailom on TWO occasions when his brother was locked up but Pimfah, Nawa, and Max weren’t shown to ever be there when Kanghan’s dad was shot, and in a vegetative state. And I thought Kanghan was Pimfah’s best friend? Least, that’s what she said episodes ago. Nawa also spent more time with Guy who just had knee surgery rather than be there for Kanghan. Then again, Kanghan and Guy seemed to be the good friends that Kanghan and Nawa are meant to be whenever they're on the fields.
- Napdao and Pimfah’s implied lesbian relationship is a no-go. I feel, Napdao only exists to keep Pimfah from meddling with Kanghan and Sailom’s relationship.
- Who told all the actors and extras not to act natural when they're in the background? In many scenes, everyone only pays attention to the characters whose arc matters at the moment. I.e. in the car scene with Pimfah and Napdao, Sailom, Auto, Guy, Nawa, and Max weren't engaging but watching Pimfah and Napdao act from the backseats. There was also the scene with Kanghan and his father, where everyone was just watching them in front of the bleachers. It was so robotic and controlled, it didn't feel natural for the main, support, or extras.
- The show is predictable and not thought-provoking.
- The editing & shooting. It's like they gave up on this one; like they couldn't even watch what they've edited and shot. In two of the scenes where it was heavily raining, the surrounding areas were completely dried when the cameras panned out. The first mistake was funny but the second one, come on, now. All of the football scenes were so boring in the way that they were shot and edited together, and at every game Sailom always gets in a scene where he soloingly shouts ‘Kang, you’ve got this!’. If Kang can’t play football without Sailom cheering him on then he shouldn’t be near a ball.
- The part where Kanghan pulled up to save Sailom on the motorcycle was nice but it was badly shot, no suspense, and the bad guys left before Sailom even jumped on the bike and panicked. It was anticlimactic.
- The sound editor or whoever was in charge put in so little effort it was comical. I don’t recall if earlier episodes had it but in episodes 9-12 someone vividly had an aggravating obsession with using a beat to indicate a transition in scenes and I had the hardest time recovering from it. The sound quality, in all, was poor. Dirt poor. There was no proper audience cheering at any of the games or clapping when a scene warranted one. There were no good buildup tunes either; everything was either short or abruptly cropped out. It was a hot mess.
- This series was flashback-heavy. In episode 6, I cut out 6-8 minutes of flashbacks; every single scene of just Kanghan and Sailom contained at least two flashbacks (I'm not kidding).
- After episode 7 or 8, the quality dropped and it's most likely due to budget limitations but it doesn't excuse anything.
- This probably doesn’t bother the majority but it always irks me when GMM involves guns or shooting scenes as they never do them justice. I’m no pro at guns but I do know that if you shoot a pistol at closed range and in tight space, per se, in a hospital room, the hospital room isn’t going to look or sound the same. Kanghan getting shot in episode 11 was cringe. Where was his gunshot wound? Where was the blood on the white part of his shirt or hospital walls? Where was the feeling of excruciating pain and paralyzation when one’s been shot? The boy was completely fine. Whoever did the CGI needs to be fired. There was no silencer on the gun when the villain clearly said and I quote “I’ll make it as quiet as possible”. I mean, obviously, he thought he could control the volume of gunshots but that’s not how it works. Even with a silencer, it can still be pretty loud.
- The English title doesn’t apply to the main couple
- You know a series is bad when you’re tired and don't like seeing the leads together. How is it that I enjoyed the second and even third couples more than the main?

I could sit here and trash Dangerous Romance all day but I don’t want to spend any more time on this series. You’ll never catch me watching it again. I hope that Perth and Chimon get a decent series next time. This was a very baseless watch.
I'm sure this one will be a guilty pleasure for some but I can't say it was any kind of pleasure for me.

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I Feel You Linger in the Air was almost a horror

I Feel You Linger in the Air is the first Thai BL I waited for all 12 episodes to air before binging it and I have to say it left me with mixed emotions. I enjoyed episodes 1-5, no problem, but 6-12 took me longer than expected to finish. I also skipped around in episodes 10-12.

What I enjoyed/liked about the series:
- The acting and cinematography were equally aesthetically pleasing. The whole cast is new to me but I thought Nonkul did an exceptional job as Jom and Bright delivered. Everyone is talented but I especially love Guide as Ming. His voice color and tone…who wouldn’t fall for it? Kimmy (James) oh my gawd, someone give this guy a lead role.
- The English script was spot on. I don’t know if they hired a professional or Kimmy simply put his own twist to it but it was so fluid and fluent, and James really came across as a competent character.
- I already praised Nonkul but I have to say his and Typhoon/Ohm’s scenes were so rewarding. I haven’t seen the behinds but from the series alone I would assume they’re close based on their chemistry. I mean, they could just be good actors but I’d like to believe they’re friendly and comfortable with each other too.
- I love that the series included all kinds of love and relationships.
- Bright and Nonkul slayed every intimate scene!
- The costume design and styles were great here. They really convinced me that this was 1927-1928 Chiang Mai. The landscape was great. Though the forest scenery in episode 11 appears to be a greenscreen. I know they used the same location for Home School and didn’t do much with the outdoors but I appreciate the decor and furnishing indoors.
- The music was adequate, except, they used the same two(?) songs throughout the entire show. I love the opening song, it really captured the historical sound of Thai culture.

What I disliked or had me scratching my head:
- The timeline isn’t crystal clear until the end of episode 11. October 1928. Since we had Christmas, that meant Jom spent close to a year in the past. Maybe I missed it but was Jom’s age ever revealed?
- RIP to Jom’s architecture arc. Since he was renovating the main house in the present/future, it would have been nice if he studied its construction in the past and then returned to the present to give the workers some pointers but I guess that would have been a waste of screen time. I did like that the show maintained his artistic skills as an architect though.
- Khun Yai being soft-spoken was expected, given the timepiece, but it was a fresher breath of air that he had no mean bone in his body. However, this side of him didn’t do his character any favors. Diving into the series, he evidently holds some power as the oldest son of the homeowner but after some time, we see that he has no real authority (even Lek doesn’t listen to him). That’s when I began to question if bookworm Yai is intelligent or if his father’s influence is doing all his bidding. Whenever he rescues Jom from Robert, I'm always left with a lingering feeling of dissatisfaction. Everyone seems to be on edge due to his assigned position and not who he is as an individual. Yai also has a tendency to seclude himself to the small house, primarily to avoid his family’s high expectations, and to do his own thing. Early on, he reveals that he finds his brother-in-law offputting but except for one or two conversations, nothing comes of it. Yai also doesn’t have any friends and isn’t close to any of the servants except his nanny. We know Yai works with his father but we never see what he actually does except mentions of running errands and attending parties. Yai wasn’t even trusted to set up, plan, and host his father’s promotional ceremony as it was left to the servant Chan. Yai had no real growth throughout the entire show and the major conflict with his father was easily and single-handedly resolved by Jom (well, with the help of supporting characters but Jom orchestrated and led it). I wished Yai had more going for him other than jumping Jom, reading, and snacking. I know he was the healthy relationship Jom deserved but as an equal Jom could do better.
- I wish the show had a moment where Khun Yai really cared and helped the other servants besides Jom. Then again, even with Jom, he always gave up after one sour conversation with his parents. I.e. the two separate incidents with Prik and Ming.
- Why didn’t Yai ever tell Jom he had a dream about Jom? It gave me the impression that he only developed feelings quicker for Jom because he recognized Jom from his dream. As if the affectionate Jom in his dream shaped the real Jom for him.
- Yai and Jom spent about a year together but hardly knew each other on a personal level. Yai doesn't inquire if Jom regained any memories of his past or what Jom's hobbies, favorite food, desserts, etc are. Jom didn't really know that Yai's dream was to study Law. They always spoke of their love for each other but Yai doesn't seem to care for Jom's personal goals, wishes, etc. Their relationship is somewhat shallow and surfaced level.
- I like that Khun Luang, Yai’s father, knew about his son and daughter’s same-sex relationships but as someone who was painted as very judgemental, old-schooled, and strict, I’m shocked that the worst he can do is arrange marriages and had his son followed. Maybe I’m numb to the harshness some may see in it but I also don’t understand the accusation and treatment he received from his wife afterwards. Khun Ying’s 180 came out of nowhere when she's been supporting Luang’s decisions for 20 years. It’s bad that she condoned Luang’s strictness, but when shit hits the fan, she wants to dump all the ugly on him and plays the nice and accepting parent role? What gives?
- I don’t mind it when supporting characters get a lot of screen time but when there’s no crossover or cause and effect; the feeling of watching two different series in one negates the realism and logic of the entire show. For a while, Yai and Jom were stuck in this loop of mushy puppy love while the other house went through a whirlwind of crazies is crazy to me. What happened to “the walls have ears?” And I don’t understand the distance of the three houses. At times they all seem to be on one big lot, within walking distance of each other, other times you need a boat to get to the other house. The consistency isn’t consistent.
- Why Fongkaew feels the need to apologize to Ueangphueng is unclear. If it’s about her becoming Robert’s second wife then that wouldn’t be on her but him. In actuality, it was Ueangphueng and Mei who plotted and wanted Fongkaew as Robert’s second wife. Fongkaew’s arc is interesting but the arson was glossed over and only employed to stop an engagement. Except for getting Fongkaew to marry Robert, there wasn’t any transparent reason to burn down Kad Luang. We also never got to see Fongkaew ask James for a favor or what hole Ueangphueng dug Robert’s notebook out of. A lot of the investigations were done off-screen and then retched to the viewers at the ceremony. I had no appreciation for that, and again, Yai had no part in bringing the crime to light.
- A handful of the twists and conflicts were jaw-dropping but their executions fell flat. Some for example are a servant witnessing Yai and Jom’s about-to-kiss moment and spreading it like wildfire (though it eventually leads to the engagement) there’s no real consequence for it. Yai continued to jump Jom in broad daylight despite getting caught on multiple occasions. The last drawing is Yai’s, not Jom’s. Ueangphueung’s pregnancy and abortion. A warrior Khun Yai? Chan stalked Yai and Jom day and night but claimed they hadn’t crossed the line when they spent every night together?
- Why wasn’t this series about Jom and James? They would have made a more interesting couple.
- Ming’s problems aren’t taken seriously and that annoys me.
- My theory for the ending is that 1928 Khun Yai, some 3-5 years later is now in the present/future. Simply because in the letter he talked about studying in France and ended it there. There was no 'in my 30s, 40s, or 50s', 'I became a judge', 'I changed this and that', 'I've obtained power without my father's help, 'Ming is now my majordomo but he brings me bad desserts and gets crazy drunk'. I don’t know, something, anything that briefed us he lived past the age of 25, at least.

I regret waiting to binge this only because I might have enjoyed it more watching it once a week. Regardless I'm glad I checked it out because I do love historicals and this series not only introduced a talented cast but two very good songs to me. I also got to know of Nonkul’s music and “Won’t Tell You” is a banger!

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Dirty Laundry was about airing the dirty laundry but in a ridiculous and comical way

A friend recommended this and I'm glad she did. My throat and stomach hurt so much from laughing. Truth be told when I saw that Film was the heroine, I was skeptical because I was first introduced to her through 'Home School' and she was such a serious character there. I have to say an unserious character really suits her and her duality is insane. She's stunning even when she's making all kinds of funny faces. This is my fifth or sixth series with Nanon and boy has never disappointed. He's always got great chemistry with his counterparts but he and Film are the perfect couple for 'Dirty Laundry'.

All the characters did amazing but I'm beyond impressed with Pond. He did so well and gave me so many laughs. Never in a hundred years did I imagine I'd get to see Nanon pinching his nipples and not once but thrice. I love the diversity of the supporting characters; they were very well-written and were committed to their parts. I admire that they didn't try to look nice and pretty and just went bat crazy with their roles. I bet it was an extremely fun set to be at.

Of course, the story wasn't perfect and there were some plotholes but overall it's extremely funny, smart, and memorable. I admire that despite its ludicrousness, it stayed true to reality and morality. The balance of romance, comedy, and tension was spot on. This is definitely a rewatch and my third highest rating yet!

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Love Syndrome is more demented than amnesiac

When not one, not two, but THREE couples are a result of sexually assaulted victims falling for their assaulter, you know you’re in for a toxic mess.

Despite this series’ low rating, I gave it a go as I’ve seen Lee Long Shi in “Even Sun” and Frank paired with Drake in “Between Us”. Can't say I'm a big fan of both butttt I did enjoy them to some extent in said series. What’s interesting was seeing Lee Long ‘top’ here when he was the ‘bottom’ in Even Sun. I have to say his ability to do both makes him one of the more unique BL actors, not to say that not being able to fulfill both isn’t unique, but it doesn’t limit his acting or typecast him. (Also, I want to see a series where Fort Thitipong and Lee Long Shi are brothers because wow, they give me similar vibes.)

Before diving into the series, we need to understand that there’s a ‘Bad’ Day and a ‘Good’ Day (I honestly love that the character’s name is “Day” and they stretch the 'bad day' and 'good day' in him).
‘Bad’ Day is ruthless, jealous, and combative. He was born the day his parents were killed in a car accident that left him and his beloved younger brother, Night, orphans. Bad Day is a former mafia member who dropped everything bad about him two years ago. Good Day is the result of Day getting away from Bad Day and closer to Itt. He is mild-tempered, soft-hearted, responsible, and a bit of a pushover. Despite being the ‘Good’, he still possesses a dark side which is his openness and willingness to groom his boyfriend into becoming solely dependent on him.

This brings us to Itt, ‘Good’ Day’s boyfriend of two years. Right from the jump Itt is painted as a spoiled man-child who has an irritable cake obsession. Cake was his drug, he had to have it right then and there otherwise everyone suffer from his tantrums and inability to function, particularly Day. Despite Itt’s childishness and immaturity, he’s adored and babied by his peers, friends, and parents. Although Day has admitted to bending Itt into the role of a codependent boyfriend, it’s been revealed that Itt’s parents sheltered and spoiled him relentlessly growing up; never pushing him to do more nor asking him to help more with the family business. Cooking was also out of the question as he once burned down their kitchen. Therefore, when Itt, a grown man, lacks the basic survival skills it’s impossible to blame him or any party entirely. Itt’s codependency also allows him to accept abuse on an unhealthy level and I don’t care how many times a character says Itt is selfless, he’s the most selfish character.

Since Day suffers from memory loss and has returned to a character viewers aren’t familiar with, his growth, or lack thereof, is fairly acceptable. However, Itt has never truly grown. Itt doesn’t take responsibility for much of anything and this is because his friends and parents are always on his side. He shouts and raises his voice at Day every other four to five lines. Everyone but Day gives him more credit than he deserves and victimizes him on an unconditional level. The only time they called his childishness out was when he demanded cake and asked Peace to sleep beside him. I wish Itt’s cooking skills were developed and shown over the series and not him waiting until the final episode to show interest in learning because at this point we’re supposed to believe he’s been responsible for Day’s meals for months. I mean, did Night end up cooking all of them, or did Itt order delivery? Because we never saw Itt grocery shopping either and he clearly hasn’t shown any improvements when they went shopping with Bell.

The supporting and side characters were fine for the most part but they were too nosy and the amount of gossiping they did was excessive. There were a lot of times when I wondered why Gear and Night felt the need to control the direction of Day and Itt’s relationship. As a brother and friend, it’s acceptable to help but manipulating (i.e. Ball) is a different story. It gave the mains outs and excuses not to talk. It also skewed some situations i.e. when Day punched a wall because he couldn’t remember, friends miscommunicated that to Itt as Day punishing himself for punching Itt when in reality Day never felt bad for punching Itt on the racetrack because let’s be honest, was dumb and irresponsible on Itt’s part. The common person knows better than to jump in front of an oncoming race car at high speed. The part that further pissed me off about it was that Itt specifically asked Nan to be in the car with Day and still decided to put all of their lives in jeopardy. Had Nan not noticed and Day not braked, Itt would be 4-6 feet underground. Or had Day swerved, he would have crashed or flipped the car with him and Nan in it and they, too, could have been one with the ground. I’m so upset that when Day brought this up, Itt took ZERO accountability for it and never understood why he was in the wrong. Gear and Night also never asked why Itt did that, they just assumed that Day was in the wrong--he was, in the way that he overreacted and resorted to violence but I have to say Itt asked for it when he put all three of their lives at risk.
I also despise how selective the support characters are when it comes to over and under-sharing. When Day woke up with his memories of Itt wiped clean, he never got answers because everyone would just say ‘Curious? Figure it out yourself”. But then they would blame and get mad at him for not remembering. Day just couldn’t win as he was surrounded by Itt’s supporters.
Sometimes I questioned if Night was Day or Itt’s brother.
Speaking of Gear, I don’t understand his hostility towards Day in Night and Day’s house, especially when he once abused Night and knew Day hated him for that. Gear is a guest but he oversteps like he owns ¼ of the house.
I’m a huge fan of Nick. I love his humor and wit and wish there was more of him. He’s Itt’s best shield. I thought he and Neil were a compatible couple. Neil isn’t overly jealous of Nick’s flirtatiousness and understands that it stems from a cry for attention as the son of a mistress.
Nan and Mac…hmmm…at this point, I can’t gauge if they’re the second or most toxic couple but I’ve seen them being compared to Vegas and Pete from KinnPorsche and well…if you know then you know. Nan is Day’s henchman who instantly strikes us as someone who always has the upper hand and is quick on his feet. Despite his small screen time, he’s not a man to be trifled with. Although he doesn’t use his fists as often as Day, he’s proven to be just as good a fighter but with big brains. Aside from running a racetrack with Day, Nan’s toxic trait is to punish Itt’s molester, Mac. Mac is someone who went to high school with Itt and stole Itt's girlfriend, Meen, in the name of actually having a crush on Itt. As adults, Mac throws an out-of-the-blue confession at Itt while forcing himself onto Itt. Witnessing this, Day beats and shoves Mac into Nan’s arms and insists that Nan does whatever pleases him. And so Nan did, on top of threatening Mac with a non-existent video. Like DayItt and GearNight, Nan and Mac’s abusive relationship alas blossomed into ‘love’.

Guest roles and their purposes:
Meen - utilized to show us that Itt is bi aka gives Day more to be jealous of.
Kim - creepy guy #1 to prepare us for creepy guy #2, P.
Kamol - the mafia boss who never felt like a mafia boss. His motto is ‘killing creates an endless cycle of revenge so manipulate people to off themselves instead’

Other notes…:
- The mafia arc was done so poorly, it was over within 1-2 episodes
- The acting is passable, not great but not bad. In some scenes, one actor would overact as the other underacts. Frank’s acting can be dry at times, especially the non-red eyes and tearless crying.
- The script is…fair at best. I wish there were more industrial terms but meh
- Continuity error is a big one (the biggest offense is when Itt took the car to the waterfall but they kept cutting back to the house showing the car parked in front (establishing shot, I get it but c'mon now!). The first mistake I can laugh at but the second or third just tells you no one in editing was paying attention. And no one can convince me that was Gear’s car because it simply wasn’t.)
- The editing: they overused fade to black one TOO many times. The rectangle/zoom out in the middle was also used TWICE; it screams basic editing skills.
- Some camera angles need to go
- The comedy was satisfactory but lackluster editing killed it. And I’m not saying they should have added those overused sound effects but a change of song would have suffice. There were a lot of times when Nick delivered iconic, and I mean ICONIC, lines but background sounds never backed him up. It’s bizarre to laugh at a joke with soft, romantic music playing, just sayin’.
- Again, the misuse of music and sound throughout the show; they don’t match what’s happening on screen. (i.e. Itt passing out in the car due to Day’s speeding for one.)
- Opening song was chef's kiss though!
- Seeing that Lee Long Shi is a former Muay Thai trainer, I expected good action, and he and the series delivered! Although the pool table scene didn't quite work as Day was trying to pocket the 8-ball from two different angles but hey, at least we got comedy and romance out of it.
- Itt always has something of the five going on: he’s angry because cake, he’s happy because cake, he’s crying, he’s sick, or he has a bruise(s)/cut(s) on his face. (It’s ridiculous that they turned his running away into a camping trip for one but secondly, of the eight people present he’s always the one getting hurt. Like getting his jaw body-slammed and a leg cramp--there’s always something wrong with Itt.)
- Every. Single. Time. Day remembers something, Itt’s go-to reaction/response is ‘You remember?’. Istg, doesn't he have anything else to say? Seriously like no…he was just telling you what he remembers… The only time we didn’t get to hear it was when he had his panic attack.
- Day’s cast-off party was creepy, cringe, and a hot mess. I'm aware that its purpose was to reveal how sick all of the characters are and make Itt question whether he's Day's equal partner or property but I'm sure there are better ways to go about it. (Also, love that Itt was aware of that, however, he never got a direct answer because TOXIC RELATIONSHIP. Then again he said Day was his as much as he was Day's so...match made in heaven I guess...)
- Why is everybody gay?
- Why is everyone so taken with Itt other than his good looks?
- Why are all the villains men who are or were interested in Itt? Mac, whatever-his-face-long-hair-guy-who-pissed-everyone-off, and P.
- Why were characters introduced but nothing came out of them? Why wasn't Salmon a recurring character (he was one of the few healthy relationships Day had with literally anyone. And hello English-speaking Lee Long Shi!)?
- Why were issues created but never resolved or brought up again? What happened to the four teens that broke into the barbershop? Did Day ever replace Bell's stolen items as they never attempted to recover them? Why weren't the police involved in any given issue (SA, kidnapping, physical violence, attempted murder, stalking, you name it)? And why was Itt afraid of taxis, I don't think that was ever explained.

All said, this series isn't for everyone but I for one enjoyed it despite all the eye-rolling and frustration I went through. After episode 8, everything was redundant and even more unhinged but somehow it kept me glued to the screen. I wouldn’t recommend this series to the light-hearted but to the sickos such as myself, it's one of the must-watches!

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The Gifted is a gift

When you have Nanon, Chimon, Jane, Gun, and Sing as main actors, the acting can’t get better than this. From the main to the guest actors, everyone delivered.

I love all the powers and potentials. I have to admit the ending, particularly Pang vs Supot the Director, was predictable but in a fantastic way! It was reasonable and possible despite this being a thriller, supernatural. In a way, there wasn’t anything unrealistic about the way the Director took down Pang. If Mr. Pom said the Director was smarter than everyone then the Director had to be smarter than everyone. I love it when credit is given where it’s due, even if it’s the villain we’re talking about.

I love that depending on the characters’ arcs, we aren’t overwhelmed with the whole cast but get to see their relationships with other certain characters. The only complaint I have is that I wished there were more to Jack and Jo other than they excelled in chemistry and had a psychic connection. They never got their own episode and disappeared for a while so I seriously didn’t remember their names until episode 11 or so on.

Pang is the optimal main character. He’s the first of the lowest class in history to make it into the Gifted program. And he fights for equality despite receiving the best treatment as one of the Gifteds. Using his power only for good makes him a lovable character.

My favorite arc is Punn's. Not only did Gun play five different personalities beautifully, but his whole episode was super well done and written. I loved the artwork of five trees that represented each personality and that internal fighting! Wow!

My favorite character had to be Ohm. He was adorably hilarious and his potential was both fascinating and interesting! Mon is also one of my favorites and her action scenes are admiringly enjoyable.

Wave’s backstory was a nice twist and plentiful explanation for his present self at Ritdha Wittayakom High School. Although I don’t condone a romantic relationship between a teacher and a high school student, I’m glad it wasn’t all romance but actually about an abusive teacher using a student’s intelligence for personal gain. Wave outing his teacher was so satisfying!

Pang and Wave teaming up was something I expected but not as a duo. I thought Wave would be included in the Pang-Namtarn-Ohm gang but I understood why the other two were omitted. It was made clear that Namtarn was always for the Gifted program and Ohm just couldn’t be trusted due to his forgetfulness. In the end, Pang cited this as it was just him believing he was smarter than everyone else but I wholeheartedly believed he had really good reasons to leave Namtarn and Ohm out.

Namtarn and Claire’s potentials are super cool and Claire's episode was just fun. From her sassiness to acceptance and friend-zoning Korn. Initially, I felt bad for Korn but after Korn's episode, I was happy Claire chose Punn. Punn can be so smooth when he wants to be!

People tend to complain that there’s not enough time in a day (and I agree) but I liked that Korn found his power burdensome. His wanting to just sleep was so relatable and realistic, I loved it.

I highly enjoyed this one and am definitely looking forward to also binging season two. This is a must-watch, rewatch, and gift to viewers!

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Jack O'Frost froze at an 8.5

Aside from incorporating its title into the series in several good and fun ways, the show did not explore and gave its characters too much yet not enough to work with; resulting in them being either flat, unrelatable, or both.

Most of the characters, particularly our mains, possess contradicting traits/personalities and lack depth.
- Fumiya is introduced as serious and someone who has difficulty putting his thoughts into words; however, this only seems to be the case with Ritsu. Around supporting characters, he’s an open book and comes across as a social butterfly. Particularly in flashbacks. Besides working as a salesman with a lot of time on his hands, being a good cook, kind, and possibly popular we know nothing about his background or upbringing. Nor his ex.
- Ritsu is timid, lethargic, and daring/stubborn(?) Eventually, we learn that Ritsu has parents and a younger brother but aside from his brother, we don’t know if he keeps in contact with his parents. Though we know that he’s a great artist/illustrator and a successful one given that his work was published in a magazine. Honda Kyoya, handsome as he is, did his part but Ritsu as a character was not all that appealing to watch.
- Shuji is said to be overprotective of Ritsu but we see that he’s more overprotective of Fumiya. Except for the cafe scene, his scenes with Ritsu were somehow painful. Rarely did they come across as close brothers and instead, Shuji feels closer to Fumiya. They know each other’s ‘tomorrow’ schedules, share a secret, and Shuji is more comfortable talking to Fumiya about Fumiya and Ritsu’s relationship.
- Miyasaka Tomoko added some substance to the series but then she quickly became the side character that exists only to get the mains back together. I don’t understand why she kept her run-in with Ritsu from Fumiya until the final episode, especially when she has been advising Fumiya on their relationship throughout the show. We also never found out what happened to her and her boyfriend.
- Keigo is the ex of Ritsu who was set up to mislead us into thinking is the villain but isn’t(?). He gives Fumiya advice and encouragement but also blithely brings up his bad past with Ritsu. His purpose is to add tension and depth to Ritsu’s sexual orientation which Ritsu thought Fumiya was in the dark about. I admit that part was done well but it’s strange for Ritsu to jump the gun when he has no memories of anything he’s ever told Fumiya. If Fumiya is strictly a roommate then his coming out as gay isn’t unlikely.

My biggest problem with the show was that there was no clear timeline. I can’t gauge how long they’ve been dating and living together. Except that they were the same age again when they celebrated Ritsu’s birthday. It seems they fell in love and moved in together after graduation and while working, and that's all we can go off of. Before moving in together, Fumiya did reveal that Ritsu had a steady income/career and we saw Ritsu working so he had to have been in his early to mid-20s. But are they in their late 20s or early 30s at the beginning of the series? I wish amnesiac Ritsu had at least asked how long they've been living together so we know. Although I took issue with the blurry timeline, it is a plus for the show. Since we don’t know how long they've been together or living together, we can’t fault their relationship in relation to time. If their communication sucks but it's only been a year then 'meh, it happens' but if it's been five years then it'll definitely raise eyebrows.

In short:
Good plot. Dry characters. Dryer script.
The acting was fine overall.
Fun coats. Loved Ritsu’s scarves.
Kind of wished there was snow...? It's Winter, after all.
Enjoyed the music.
Some camera work was uncreative.
The not-so-high budget was a tad bit obvious.
Easy to watch. Not great but not terrible. Heartwarming but also unmemorable.
May never rewatch unless I need some slow background noise.

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Semantic Error was...an error

As a long time fan of Park Seoham and KNK, and is also familiar with DKZ, I’m sad to say that this was lukewarm at best. The acting was cringey at times; perhaps not being able to take Seoham seriously is a personal issue knowing he’s such a goofball, but at times it looked like he was holding back laughter or trying too hard to be cool. Much of the acting, like some kdramas, feel unnatural or very 2D. I couldn’t feel the romance, let alone bromance. The bantering was adorable at times but ‘gotcha’ moments weren’t hitting as they should be.

The story, overall, isn’t too messy but it felt slow and draggy for an 8-episodes-25 minutes-each series. The timeline wasn’t the clearest. Did they fall in love within two weeks? But Sangwoo’s birthday is in October? Jaeyoung leaving for France in the middle of the semester? So he won’t be graduating again? I’m confused.

I’m a big fan of Yuna, Jaeyoung’s female friend. Her character is so fun, calm, and badass. If she gets together with Jihye, I think they’ll make a cuter couple than Jaeyoung and Sangwoo. Originally, Jihye seemed like an innocent girl with little confidence, but she turned out stronger than I thought. Her straightforwardness would go well with Yuna’s relaxed attitude. And whatever happened to Hyeongtaek’s confession lol?

I don’t have a lot to say as nothing really happens but I do like the cast, the music, and the storyline of game designing. I did wish they used and had a wider range of music but that’s creative differences so--

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My Personal Weatherman was more personal than I thought

So I waited for this series to finish airing to finally binge it and I have to say, dark as it got, I enjoyed My Personal Weatherman immensely. I’m both pleased and shocked to see that the directors and screenwriters are all women! I will touch on this later~

Right from the get-go you have to expect toxicity; your leads are walking examples of a typical traditional man of the house and housewife. No one likes a tyrant and I’m not one for extreme conservative practices, but when the show spoon-fed us the characters’ weaknesses and flaws 2-4 episodes in, we can’t expect significant growth. Especially in 8 episodes each ranging 20 minutes and the production team choosing to overkill with repetitive flashbacks. Either way, I can’t say that I’m all that disappointed, I also tried to be more flexible as this is a slice of life.

This is my second Japanese BL in 10+ years, the first one being the Takumi-kun series, and this one really brought back a lot of nostalgic memories for me. It reminded me of how beautiful and well-written Japanese films are, especially when it comes to slice-of-life and romance!

I adore the cast here, they had great chemistry and each character is so different in his/her own way.
Higuchi Kouhei is such a delight to watch. He had a lot of range in his expressions and body control, and he’s just drop-dead gorgeous! That hairstyle, someone please give his stylist a raise! Originally, I wasn’t impressed with Segasaki but considering who he hung out with in university, the saying ‘show me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are’ really fits him! Mizuki is an overachiever who sees himself as superior not because of his appearance, achievements, or popularity but his abilities. He’s confident, highly intelligent, and dogmatic. It’s clear that Mizuki cares for Yoh but Yoh’s denseness makes it difficult for them to be on the same page and transition their relationship into that of a more romantic one. Yoh’s slowness was also something Mizuki initially liked until the final episode where he seemed annoyed by it twice.
Mashiko Atsuki did an introvert justice. Yoh is a seemingly darker and gloomy character who concentrates on the negatives; since he’s cooped up at home and has more internal monologue and inner thoughts, he’s consistently doubtful and has the tendency to build up people’s persona in his head. While we see Mizuki applying and taking his meteorologist knowledge and career seriously, Yoh doesn’t seem to have the same passion for his mangas. Then again, if he has to cook and clean all day every day, he’s probably got writer’s block. I wished their little outing inspired something in him other than ‘bed sheets’ :/ I mean it was cute, but it wasn’t cute.
Manju is sooooo adorably funny! I had so much fun whenever she was on screen! Yoh is NOT the good friend she needs and deserves but if she’s happy helping him then girly do you!
Manju’s husband, Atsuya, was interestingly fun. You can tell he’s used to Manju’s quirks and shenanigans in the way that he reacts and supports her.

I like that the show touched on some stereotypes and modern issues such as women saying the opposite of what they want/feel (Yoh) and the wives' jobs don't matter to today’s husbands (Mizuki to Yoh). That being said, given that the directors and screenwriters are women, I wanted to see these two conflicts play out but oddly yet not surprisingly enough, there were no follow-ups. Aside from the problematic theme, on multiple occasions, the conflicts were either never resolved or forgotten. Nothing ever came of Mizuki and Yoh wishing they’d happily smile at each other as they do to other people; please don’t tell me the ending at the dining table was an implication of that. Yoh lying about working with Manju because he’s afraid Mizuki would judge them was unnecessary as Mizuki hasn’t struck us as an unreasonable character – lustful, possessive, and condescending yes but not entirely unreasonable. How hard is it to tell Mizuki that ‘glasses guy’ is Manju’s husband? And Mizuki, knowing that Manju has a husband never put two and two together? Why not? Communication between Mizuki and Yoh started off fine (for roomies who sleep together) until we got to them being jealous and possessive of each other. I hate to believe it but that may be the show’s way of telling us that Mizuki and Yoh were ‘falling in love’ after living and sleeping together for four years. The show would be a perfect 10 had they just replaced at least two sex scenes with serious conversations between the leads but no :/

I’m definitely rewatching for Higuchi Kouhei’s smugs, though Mizuki needs to take a hint, 'no means no' and 'stop! he's drunk!'!

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