gave me a headache

yall this started real good with an controversial start and all but damn it just fell SO flat at the end. it became a cringefest forreal. like you know that sound things in comics make when they fall? that whistle sound? yeah that was the plot.
i feel like the actors had a huge fight after filming ep2 and just pushed through so they can get their check n go home. one word guys: STIFF! the last episode especially had me CRINGING SO HARD I popped a blood vessel fr. it was jam packed with love confessions with 0 chemistry.
when they were lying in bed and kazuma held ren at like AN ARMS LENGTH with the stiffest arm in movie history.. lemme tell you I yelled!
also??? why was kazuma running all the time ???? where U going big boy? bffr and take a cab like everyone else.
while I'm at it let me talk about den. homie was a baddie at the begining but really had to stumble and wall in EVERY episode after that? get this man some iron supplements.

ANYWAYS the takeaway? don't waste your time, not even as a filler to binge

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mh yes the plot the uh.. so... yeah

OILED MEN YAHOOOO !!! I have arrived at a place in my life where I shamelessly admit that I like watching shows for eye candy will enjoy a show for eye candy only. the plot could've been the most rancid cheesy storyline I've ever seen and I still wouldve enjoyed watching it. I have no standards left.

luckily, this show had a good plot as well as good actors that made watching this show even more worth while.
I actually really liked that Geon Woo had this puppy personality and never really lost his innocence throughout the episodes. usually in revenge dramas the character undergoes this huge development and they end up very badass. proud to say they both stayed himbo until the end.
the ending was a bit messy - we all know why so I won't dive into it. but because if it, it felt rushed and it disturbed the natural flow of the show, that's why it fell flat for me towards the end

all in all the show slayed!!! hurray oiled boys!!!! hurray bromance!!!

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two bros chilling on the swing set....

holding hands because they are supposed to be gay.

so yeah it didnt give what it promised to give. i wanted childhood friends to lovers, longing, subtle touching and gazes, realizing they are in love and awkwardly trying to navigate on how to transform that relationship. but until the end both of them seemed like they are forced to be in this homoseggual relationship. LOOK WHAT THIS GENERATION HAS DONE. IS THIS THE FUTURE LIBERALS WANT?

it started off real good - the setup was immaculate even. the acting wasn't bad either so i was looking forward to some giggling and cheesing. What I got? Two besties being posessive and stubborn.

obviosuly the lack of chemistry CAN be attributed to the short time they had. fitting this complex of a relationship and developement into 8 episodes is not an easy task. they probably did the best they could.

conclusion: a lot to be desired. go besties tho !!

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Left a lot to be desired kind of

I kind of have two opinions that keep fighting internally. I keep going back and forth of "well it was better than expected" and "but it still felt kind of off".

I appreciate that while this is clearly a very sexually implied series, the NC scenes didn't seem too random and aimlessly thrown in just for "fanservice". I felt like this with previous Mandee shows and was honestly expecting worse. With this show, they managed to show us intimacy outside of sexual intimacy. Thus I was able to buy into them actually developing a bond and growing to love each other. I attribute that to the actors chemistry - it's amazing. I feel like James really ountshines the cast though.

The story overall fell kind of flat. There wasn't really a lot of plot except for trauma after trauma for Uea. Uea's "character developement" - if we can even call it that - feels super cliché and clumsy. While there was visibly none for King. His only characteristic is being head over heels for Uea. But why? Why did he suggest being FWB first when he acts like a lovesick boy immediately? I feel bad that this character is solely used as a "magic cure" for Ueas struggles.

I must say though that I enjoyed watching the show as it aired. I call these kind of shows a "good acquitance". I'm not left at the edge of my seat and WAITING for the next episode nor did I particularily look forward to watching it every week. This show accompanied me well through 10 weeks, but it didnt pull me through.

Lastly, I hope Mandee keeps developing in the direction of less fanservice and more plot.

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Help, the future made me GAY??? *not clickbait*

I went to the future and fell in love with an undercover CEO??????? *emotional*
Listen, I have more of these but I'll stop myself.

I usually give these short shows a little bit of leeway. You cannot have the juiciest plotlines in 10 episodes - but maaan this show had 50 mins per episode. There are shows that managed to develop a better plot - or at least characters - with only 20 mins per episode. So I really reached my limit here. The end felt very .. clumsy kind of.

Also, personally, I'm not a fan of the "Doe-Eyed Innocent" character. They are adults?? hello? Why does he look like the puppy eye emoji all the time? The characters felt really flat overall. I was so excited about Wen Hsen as a character at first. Like, OMG AN AMBIGUOUS CHARACTER???? NOT just a goody two shoes? But OF COURSE in the end he turned out to be good all along... kinda meh.

The cast seemed to me mostly rookies and i think that is the downfall of the HIStory series. Tai Ze Ni looked like he had a stick up his ass. I laughed out loud a couple of times, yelling "WHY DOES HE WALK LIKE THAAAT?" and his an Huai En's expressions looked really cartoonish. I feel like the director should've kept an eye on that more.

The music slapped though. Whenever "more than friends" came on i was jamming - sreaming - crying.

Overall, I would say that this is an OK binge. But really didn't leave an impression on me and made me cringe more than it made me feel warm n fuzzy.

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shines with nostalgia, not so much romance

this show was made for mid-twenty thai adults. i am very much not thai so i feel like a lot of the nostalgia - that this show just oozes with - didn't hit me the way it would hit a thai person. I believe it would make this show really special.

the production itself was really good. the quality of the camerawork and color grading in of itself was great and suited the show. though a lot of scenes and storylines felt draggy and pointless. then again: i feel like a lot of meaning got lost since i couldn't enjoy and bask in the scenes for the nostalgia. that being said, it's clearly a slice of life drama. it's simply the story of a friend group growing up with the fast advances of technology and navigating their relationships through it. but honestly, i'm glad they had Em narrate the "lesson" at the end because my one braincell really didn't get the point until then.

hm, well the acting. let's say it's questionable. i didn't like ANY of the chemisty. i didn't like FirstJa's chemi in Don't Say No either, which is why i dropped that show, but apart from them, everyone seemed uncomfortable and kind of just said their lines. it felt very unnatural. don't know it that's the actors fault of the direction though.

the show didn't excite me, which is sad. i really wanted to like it, since it had "comfort show" potential. but in the end, all i can say is that i definitely watched a show with actors in it lol. and if anyone is reading this: it's not a bad show - just know it's heavy on nostalgia and one single sound track.

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enjoyable with a certain uniqueness

This was alright! I enjoyed watching, but the characters didn't really grow on me. Which is unfortunate because shows of similar length got me to relate or sympathize with the characters in the same amount of time. As I finished this show, my only thought was "Well, this definitely is an ending." and I was ready to move on.

The story in of itself is quite unique for BLs, but fell a little flat as it requires a lot more depth than these short productions, I believe. So as a viewer, we don't get enough time to explore Yu Dam's pain and understand his despair. This being said - Yu Dam's intentions/memories from the beginning vs the end of the show seem a little iffy and kind of just made to fit the narrative. The Plot: Hole.

I was also disappointed in the character writing of Denis. What the hell ): I would've loved to see more of his character. I feel like he was just a plot device. Side characters usually are, but they really just... made him do things u know? No reason, no explanation. We just kind of have to think our part.

Overall, the acting performance of the cast is average but definitely enjoyable. The production is very good as well, which enhanced the viewing experience for sure. I loved all the little scenes of slight touches and movements.

Let me summarize this review and give you a recommendation:
It's alright. It's worth a binge if you're looking for something lighthearted.

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finally my suffering has an end

why do I keep doing this to myself.. big sigh. anyways, here's a rundown:

the premise isn't bad. it's a modern love story. people have casual sex and they eventually catch feelings. I think a lot of people dating nowadays have experienced something similar to this. so I am wondering how they managed to make the messiest plotline ever.
it started off alright. not good, but alright. it got better actually and I found myself relating to Sher and his worries a lot. after episode 5 or 6 (?) they really ran out of ideas though. they said "screw character development, were just gonna repeat the same conflict over and over until they both suddenly change into a better person. but we're not gonna let the audience see them actively trying to change or work through their problems". It was exhausting to watch let me tell you.

the acting wasn't that bad actually. when they weren't trying to be sexy, they delivered their lines decently. but oh my god the "sex" scenes. I've never felt less chemistry between two actors. the kissing scenes looked like two nutcrackers smashing against each other. lips curled inwards, one arm length between them. it was visible how uncomfortable they were together. most of the time it looked like they were fighting but couldn't use their arms so they have to headbut each other to death.
the side couples had such cute scenes together though. i stuck to the end for them, honestly.

I would say: don't waste your time. you can't watch it for the storyline, you can't watch it for the romance and the side couples don't have enough screen time to justify watching 12 episodes. it's not worth it, really.

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sweet ghost

I really enjoyed watching this show. I knew from the beginning that it won't be able to deliver the juiciest plot line in only 8 episodes, so I went in with managed expectations.
This show has amazing production. The scenes were shot beautifully and the sound was only off SOMETIMES. When will Thai shows stop with the wired mics under clothing...
Anyways, I was surprised when I read that this was the main actors debut. They delivered some amazing chemistry throughout these scenes. Especially since the characters have some longer scenes with emotional dialogue. I personally like scenes like this because they seem more intimate to me than the love scenes. But I can see how some might find them too long.

All in all, this is a light hearted show. Though it deals with death an loss, it takes a pretty fluffy approach on it. All characters are likeable and get a decent storyline, enough to connect and get to know them. I might rewatch it during spooky season :)

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felt like torture towards the end

honestly, if mame had to write anything without SA, she'd pop a blood vessel.

I genuinely enjoyed the first half of this show. Noeul and Boss have great chemistry and it showed on screen. their stroy was alright. I don't mind a simple plot of people falling in love, but that being said, it didn't wow me either. their 18+ scenes were crazy though, never expected the things to happen the way they did. but these scenes sadly carried the show. if you were to take them out, I don't think the show would be as highly rated as it is right now (over 8).
except for cringy scenes and ambiguous consent, I don't really have too much of a quarrel with the first half. if it was just that, i would've given a solid 6 stars.

the show completely fell flat in the second half though. it felt as if they pumped 90% of the budget in the rain X phayu story and were left with 10$ and a dream for sky X prapai. the already bad sound design suddenly became worse as well as the acting.
the actors seem sweet irl, and I'm sure they gave it their all.. but even with bonus points for it being their first big role, it was simply painful to watch. emotional scenes were carried by fort, since he was able to get a tear or two out.
what bugged me the most was the sudden infantilisation of sky. Sky was sarcastic and snarky, but all of a sudden he acts like a baby in every scene. pouting, hands in front of his chest, super submissive and needy...
even if prapai "cracked" his "stone heart" that doesn't mean he has to change personalities.

that brings me to the second but also most important criticism. the ending perpetuates that love can suddenly heal your trauma. what a person with sexual trauma of this caliber needs isn't a rich, good looking hunk who borderline harasses them. it's therapy and a good social support system. there are 100 better ways to approach the topic of r*pe. idk why they keep letting mame write stories that use it as a plot device to have two good looking men make out on screen.

and with this, I'm out. I wish I had stopped after rain X phayus story wrapped up. I wouldn't be so upset now.

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Nothing special but a good binge watch

I'm finally getting around to write a little review for this. It won't be very long but there are some points I feel worth mentioning.

I finished this show a week ago when it was already done airing. It's nothing special really. The acting was alright, enough to make you believe the romance; there was definitely some chemistry.

The first 3 episodes started off really good. Instead of having a shy lead we had a man who knew what he wanted and went for it aggressively. It was a fresh wind honestly. In a lot of BLs, one male lead gets depicted as the "feminine" one and is shy without any desires, which is rooted in patriarchy and misogyny. But this show had two confident gays, which was a redeeming factor.

The story was dragging though and nothing really happened. The story arch was a simple quarrel that could've been solved with better communication. Not having lots of story going on isn't always bad if they focus more on the characters development of feelings and themselves. But that didn't really happen either. Both of them were the same at the end of the show just like we met them the first time.

Overall, this show did nothing WRONG. Im not mad at it and I'm also not mad about the time I spent watching it. It's a good binge watch with not a lot of impact. I had this on while cleaning and working :D

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packed with meaning, visually stunning

The ending scene of this drama concluded the story perfectly.
"To you who call yourself a parent: You can only give birth to them, but you cannot own them.
To you who are still young: You have to bleed first before you learn.
To you who call themselves wise: Don't let your cowardice get the better of you.
Pick a side or abandon what you believe in."

This show isn't a run of the mill BL. It's a mature show about growth - or the lack of it - and depicts the complexity of human relationships. Every character has flaws, trauma and their way of navigating the world. And even though nothing much happens throughout the story, we get to see incredible dialogue and acting. It's been a while since a show made me actually cry, but by the end I really felt like I understood the characters and the pain they feel.

You'll get very long scenes and dialogue in this drama. But it never gets boring. Every sentence feels like it holds a lot of weight and gets underlined the beautifully shot scenes and such good acting. Even during simple scenes you notice metaphors and underlying messages. It really stimulated my brain and got me excited. Especially the last episode had some of the best dialogue I've seen in the past 5 years.

I think what this show shines most with is the cinematography though. It had my eyes glued to the screen. Every scene felt like it was shot with intention. It is all about lines and crossing them. Once you realize it you can see it in almost every scene. For example, we often see In and Wang talk through the room divider that looks like prison cells. In these scenes In usually is standing behind the divider, while Wang is shown without the bars in front of him. It's one of the obvious visual depiction of the characters inner self. In tries to hold back, keep it all in and in prisoned himself in his house and his head in the process. Only in later episodes Wang steps behind the divider, thus crossing that line. But still then there is a line dividing them, depicted through the glas of the windows. Wang to the left of it, In to the right.

In the end, this show will stay in my head for a long time.

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it was awful. I loved it.

yeah your eyes aren't deceiving you. everything was a 0/10 and I ate every single second up as if I was starving.

the story: the writers sat in a room and Jon from accounting said "BDSM Mafia Boss". one person said "what about the storyline?" "don't worry about it" Jon from accounting replied. "the hornies don't care about that." and they really stuck to that because except the lil quarrel they had in the end, nothing really happened. Until Jon from accounting said "you know what. throw in a threesome, but don't build up or follow up on it at any point ok?" and the room said "Sure thing, Jon".

acting: listen I've never seen these actors in any other show and I've read that they are supposed to be good........... BUT WTF WAS KAMOL DOINNNGGG the actor cracked me up. whatever emotion he was supposed to portray, I wouldn't know because of all the botox he apparently got done right before filming. like damn he was hardly able to smile and no way he was able to look angry. his forehead stayed perfectly smooth and gosh I loved it so much...

music: the evil piano music whenever Kamol entered........... It was perfect.

conclusion:
when I watched the first episode, I added this to the "dropped" list real fast. but then episode 2 came and I started to see it as what it is. peak camp. the piano music. whole scenes only for product placements. awkward acting and even more awkward sex scenes with 0 build up. Kamols only characteristic being head over heels for Kim...

everything was awful and it's my favourite show ever.

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6 isn't a bad rating y'all

The thing with rating is, that you have different scales, right. I hold this to the standard of other shows of similar length like Semantic Error, Mr Unlucky and of course Star in my Mind (which got 6 stars from me as well).

The plot is simple. Unruly protagonist meets pretty and kind love interest in a rural setting. It's a feel good show with no extreme plot twists or serious conflicts. So I really have nothing to say or comment on regarding the story.
I watched the last episode with a friend who knows nothing about the show and they put it perfectly "This would be perfect for when you're really tired from work and just want to take a nap. Just turn this on and drift in and out of sleep." And that hit the nail on the head I think.

I personally didn't enjoy the acting at all - no, let me put it in another way - The acting made my toes curl. Fah sounded like he was congested the entire time. Like come on, give my boy some nasal spray so he can breathe!! And Prince's facial expression ranged from "no toughts in my head" to "are you fkn stupid?". When I realized it, I couldn't unsee it and made me chuckle a couple of times, honestly.

ALSO I wish they would've tied in them meeting at Daonuea's Freshy Boy competition thing before somehow? I was kind of waiting for that. In Episode 4 of Star in my Mind they ran into each other on the stairs and that scene seemed so meaningful to me but they never addressed it. Not even in the flashbacks or something. Why was Prince even there? Why did he have all those roses? A mystery... (I know the director probably just put it in to tease the love story in whatever way possible but.. you know. A girl can dream of meaningful plotlines)

Anyhow, 6 stars isn't a bad rating in my book. I enjoyed it for what it was but it's forgettable by nature.

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Interesting concept, got a bit lost in the end

This drama started out really well. All the romantic tropes you could ask for where there. Enemies to lovers, Boss in love with employee, Childhood friends, a mysterious curse only their love can solve, a tragic accident resulting in memory loss, a second male lead that's too good for the female lead...

The storyline and concept in of itself is really interesting. Sadly, I don't think they used it to it's full potential. But let' get to the good things first. The biggest surprise for me was how open they talk about sex and it being a big plot device without making the show explicit. Yesool is going through her horny era in this drama for sure. It's not handled awkwardly as if it's a bad thing but rather naturally. I really enjoyed that.
Secondly is the last episode. I won't spoil it, but I've never seen a last episode like that one. Personally I wasn't a fan of that kind of dynamic, especially because it seemed that Minho's character made a 180. But I can see the directors/writers intention behind it.
This brings me to my biggest criticism. I honestly kind of disliked Minho's character. I try not to hold every character to a super high standard, but he treated her kind of shitty up to the 5th episode or so.. he worked her to the BONE only because she had a boyfriend? We never actually got closure on that. That's also why I never came around to liking him. His character development just suddenly happened. They gave us some loose backstory, but it never really clicked for me.

The acting was very good tough. I loooove that they casted Yoon Kye Sang for this. He was born in '78, so OUT with the baby faced male lead that somehow has an executive position at 23 y/o and IN with the 44 y/o who might actually has worked his way up. The dialogue overall was fun, as well as the main leads chemistry. I enjoyed watching them figure each other out.

In the end it seems like they tried to come up with a drama that has everything and smushed as many tropes into it as they could and then attempted to counter those with some sub plots when they should've focused on the main plot. They left sooo many loose ends and the resolve of the mystery of their powers felt like an afterthought and honestly kind of lazy. The first half was good, but they unfortunately lost me in the second half a little bit.

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