Less "friends to lovers" and more "struggling with one's feelings"

I was looking for a “friends to lovers”. However, this doesn’t really portray the trope as it should be. It’s more of a struggle with one’s feelings.

It was also a bit boring to watch.

Kenji’s actor is pretty good, he can bring emotions to the screen just by looking at someone.

The quality feels natural, overall everything felt natural and not like a scripted drama (which is a good thing).

The fake kisses annoy me every time tho. It’s not much part of the story but... idk lol.

Overall it’s an okay but not rewatch worthy.

I would’ve liked to see more of them as friends, before they entered the romantic relationship status.

-21.11.21

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Where are the puppies?

Oof. I thought this is gonna be a bit more lovey-dovey, but it took 8 episodes to get there.

I hated how everyone is always siding with Rome. I get that Gun has a cute face and apparently people can’t stay mad long at sweet faces, but honestly I was at Pick’s side all the time. Rome drove me so mad, especially when Din got involved.
I knew Din would be trouble the moment he agreed to go on the trip with the two. I didn’t think he’d go that far, but it was predictable.

I said i didn’t ship Emma & Porsche in s1 and look what we got. It was so clear how their love for each other faded and i just wanted them to break up. I don’t ship them with the other characters, but it’s just so damn exhausting to watch 2 people forcing sth that is not there anymore.

-23.11.21

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Makes fun of phobias & trauma

I watched that bc of OffGun, ngl.
Though I also found the puppies & cats very cute, but considering the show is about these two animals, I found that there weren’t many there on-screen.

While OffGun weren’t that close in 2016, I find they had pretty strong chemistry already. I don’t know much about their friendship and how long they are friends already, but I would honestly believe they were close friends during the series already. Even just in 6 episodes, their eyes were longing for each other.

Tho I hate again how Pick’s & Rome’s relationship started off with bullying.
Generally the way Pick and Porsche approached Emma and Rome were so wrong.

I especially hated how Porsche made fun of Emma’s phobia. Being afraid of dogs may not be the same as being afraid of scorpions, but there are still people who are and it’s really not funny. Also considering that a dog killed her cat when she was little – that’s some serious trauma.
Which made shipping them quite hard. The actors of the hetero couple had some chemistry and I really liked Emma, I just couldn’t ship them cause it felt wrong. Porsche got better in the end and if he hadn’t treated her like that at first, i could perhaps ship it, but I can’t.

-22.11.21

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Starts stressful, ends good

Damn, I LOVE how they made a poster for each episode and did it like a parallel to other romance movies, but still kept it iconic to the characters, instead of just copying the entire poster/scene. This is so frickin creative, damn. ❗️✨

Now for the story: I hated Khai in the beginning and really hoped they wouldn’t get together. Ignore the fact that Third loves him; Khai & Third were apparently best friends, but Khai treated him like a piece of shia. Can you even call that friendship? And then when Khai knew about Third’s feelings and played with his emotions like that... I just wanted to slap him. And the slaps of his previous girlfriends are not even enough for that.

But OffGun are amazing actors, especially Off, who made me like Khai in the end. If I were Third, I probably wouldn’t have forgiven Khai, but I did appreciate his efforts...

The fact that Gun cried in every episode tho felt a bit unnecessary at some point. I get that Gun won the awards of crying, but still, too much is too much.

I came for OffGun, but ended up shipping another gay couple, haha. I’m sad they didn’t get a kiss; I’d actually watch a series with them again.

Overall, the first 6 episodes stressed me out so much, that if I ever re-watch the series, I’ll skip these.

And please give a huge applause to Two (& Bone) for being the best friends anyone can only wish for: 👏

-25.11.21

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Bit awkward

Idk man.
I kinda had high expectations for this series, considering how many people talk about it, but... the popularity really doesn’t meet it. BrightWin is, apart from the holy trinity, one of the most shipped in gmmtv, yet I can’t see much chemistry between them? It could be bc they’re young and therefore not that comfortable as TayNew for example.

Well, the storyline at first also felt very forced. The way they tried to give Tine and Wat moments to meet up, gave me 2nd hand embarrassment. The characters all sharing one brain cell, got really on my nerves. Especially bc gmmtv can do better than that. It got better in the end and the flashbacks of Sarawat are a plus, but overall it’s kinda meh.

Overall the series reminded me of tharntype more than it should... except for the sexual assault at least, but since there wasn’t much story, I missed the kiss scenes. TineWat didn’t seem like a couple at all, and it made me cringe a few times.

I do however love how they created a world where gay relationships are treated just as hetero relationships. No drama about being confused about one’s sexuality, no drama about coming out, no drama about announcing you’re in a same-sex relationship. 👏 (Which is the only reason why it gets 2 stars more.)

-26.11.21

Ps: I don’t mind to have romantic relationships with no sexual content, as not every romance is sexual as well. That’s totally fine. However, here, it was often enough implied they do have sexual attraction to each other, and do want to do physical stuff, but every time it got to the mood, it suddenly cut off. And the actors simply didn’t have much romantic chemistry either, their intimate (non-physical) scenes rather felt awkward.

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Better than season 1

Well, this season was definitely better.

BrightWin still don’t seem like a couple here, but I mainly came back for ManType anyway and didn’t get disappointed! Their relationship is so mature, and Man/Mike is the best! I’m glad they have their series in “Tonhon Chonlatee”, tho it’s sad how they’re still the background couple and not the main.

I didn’t like how BrightWin didn’t have barely any kisses in both their seasons – I wouldn’t say I like it now but in the end, they did somewhat a good job on portraying a slow-burn relationship. Tho it’s kinda awkward that they’ve been living together for a whole year, yet are still shy when it comes to skinship? Reminds me of KongArthit.

Also, they made it way too dramatic when they were apart for 2 weeks. Way too much drama.

Overall, Mike and Gunsmile carried the show again. Their friendship is the best and their comedy just too funny! Whoever named them Man and Boss really knew what they were doing.

-27.11.21

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Calls out toxic tropes in the BL industry

DAMN. Did I really just watch a healthy BL drama? It has (almost) everything what one could ask for, without being toxic. And it’s so REALISTIC.

I LOVE how it’s such a SLAP to other BL series. Especially TharnType. But it also reminded me of FUTS; or at least what they weren’t able to tell.

The way LW is calling out other romance shows – AMEN – by literally letting the characters say, “you know that this was wrong, right?”, instead of just letting it pass and romanticize toxic behavior.

Let me give you some aspects of what this has:
- characters asking for consent for a kiss
- both people in a relationship making sure the other one is ready for sex and not forcing anything
- parents acting like an actual married couple and not just letting the dad be the boss
- people actually talking about stuff, showing once again that communication is the key
- showing that toxic fans really can’t differentiate between work and private life of actors
- a bisexual dad
- guys who are less masculine, doesn’t mean they’re gay; and clothing doesn’t define sexuality
- authors who write BL don’t have to be gay themselves; just like crime authors aren’t serial killers, either.
(- Bonus: remaking of classic fairytales (like Snow White and Cinderella) but it’s gay 🌈)

Also the cinematography is amazing.
You can really tell the talent of the director, writers, camera team, actors, and all the other bts staff! Props for them for making such an awesome series, especially because some toxic fans really need to hear this!

I really hope it gets the popularity it deserves!

-02.12.21

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It already fails with the most used and easiest love trope – the love triangle/corner.

This was a mess. Completely all over the place with no depth or any development.
It felt like the director & writers wanted to make another KinnPorsche, but then realized in the middle they're better at making another Lovely Writer.

Was it even directed by one person? It genuinely feels like every 10 minutes someone else directed it with a script from a different writer, and these different teams didn't communicate between each other. Like, "oh yea, let's all make short films about these characters, every team will work on another time period of their story, and then add these shorts all together to have one full series. Oh, and also, we won't tell each other what exactly we're gonna put into those scenes – who needs communication, when you can surprise each other." Basically. That's what I imagine the producers said to the team working on it.
If not that, then it felt like the director(s) (& writers) never watched a movie before, never did anything in that field, never even read a book or consumed any type of story.

I'm convinced that a kid, who watches nothing but "baby shark" on Youtube all day, would make a better director & writer than this team did.
At least for the overall plot.

There were scenes here and there that I did like, where it really seemed the team has actually put some effort and passion into what they want to show, and then really flourished to prove to everyone what they're capable of. Particularly episode 7, at the end, had beautiful shots; also props to the camera and color grading team for that.
Generally, the cinematography was mostly beautiful and great. The camera team are definitely professionals; at least they knew what they were doing and put their passion into it, despite the awful writing and probably also directing.

~

Episode 1 starts off with a rather "dark" tone, talking KinnPorsche or generally mafia vibes. As far as I know, Yai's family is not mafia, just very rich. That already felt out of place, because while they were going for the dark tone, there was no dark plot whatsoever.
Yai seems to be into BDSM and drugs people a lot apparently, but that's it. It's like Yai listens to too many of those "POV: you're a mafia boss" music playlists on Youtube and tries to make it his personality, but the problem is that nothing in his life suggests to be dark or even fit the mafia vibe – except for being rich and having bodyguards.
He tries to be that dark playboy/womanizer, who doesn't let anyone close to his heart, but ends up failing every time he puts up the facade. Manipulated by TikTok into wanting to be the main character so badly, wanting to be this hot and dangerous mafia boss, and refusing to give up, even though he knows it's not his personality.
Well, it was never said that being a playboy was just a facade, but if it's not, the story would make even less sense, and my brain is just trying to fill the gaps.
The Yai at the beginning and the Yai at the end, especially episode 7, feel like two different characters.

As said earlier, there was never any development. No transition between scenes, plot points or character personalities. It was constantly jumping. In one moment he's that dark rich kid and in the other he's that shy kid, who lost his mother too early, and just needs to be held by someone. If my "theory" about his personality is true, then it would definitely make a little more sense, but the thing is it was never addressed in some way or the other.
In ep1 he’s basically a mix of Kinn & Vegas (from KP), and the rest, especially the second half, he's like Gene from LW.
But it's not only him. In one moment, Mangkorn is that hot womanizer, who makes out with another woman every day in the back of some shady bar, and the other moments, he's like Nubsib (from LW), who just wants to finally get together with the crush he had for so long, but doesn’t know how to be honest or make friends.

The only characters, who stayed the same from beginning to end, really were only the bodyguards, Pong and Park. Goofy, awkward, clumsy, comedic reliefs without being funny (at least for me the comedy felt forced and out of place), and horrible at their job.
Why does Yai even have bodyguards? First off, Yai's family doesn't seem to be hated or anything, there was never any dangerous situation in the series, where they were needed. Secondly, they're so horrible at their job, that, if there really were a moment where they'd be needed, Yai would die sooner than they can blink or even realize that he's in danger.
At this point I think these two are cousins of him and just needed a job, so the dad made them bodyguards, even though Yai doesn't need them. Just so they have some kinda job on paper and get legal money from that.
Or Yai was just lonely, so he hired them to basically keep him company.

Also, the rival thingy. They're supposed to be these two rivals, who aim for the same women, hate each other and apparently also want to make each other’s life miserable, instead of focusing on getting the woman.
And apart from that, the woman they're fighting for, didn't even seem interested in either of them. Like, if you do the rivals trope, at least show that they are in fact rivals.
What are rivals? Two people who have an equal chance of winning. All they had was an equal chance of losing, because if you'd asked her, she'd reject them both. Edward & Jacob, those are love rivals. But Yai and Mangkorn? They may hate each other (for no reason, because they've never actually met before the moment at the bar), but you can't call that rivalry.
How did they fail at making a love triangle/corner, when it’s the most used trope in the romance/YA genre? All they needed to do was to actually just make the woman be interested in or at least attracted to them. Show that she’d pick at least one of them. How can they be rivals, when the prize they’re competing for isn’t even in their reach to begin with? It’s like as if two runners were arguing over who of them will win the next marathon at the olympics, but they both forget to actually sign up for the olympics.
Especially because as soon as they slept with each other, they completely forgot about the woman they were fighting over. Rivalry gone in like two seconds and suddenly they're not interested in her anymore, and make out with other women.
Sure, it's hinted that Mangkorn never actually hated him in the way Yai hated Mangkorn, and just played along with his game, pretending he's into the woman, to make him jealous. His intentions would make sense, after you find out the backstory.
But Yai? He got drugged by his own bodyguards (accidentally), slept with a guy for the first time, who happened to be that guy he hates and wanted to ruin his image with a tape (by filming how a woman rapes him, which is another part I don’t get… if he’s a womanizer, surely everyone knows he sleeps with lots of women. How would a video, where he sleeps with a woman, or, well, is getting raped by her, ruin his image?), but instead that guy figured him out and stole the tape (which had footage of the two guys making passionately out), and then threatens to post it, if Yai doesn't do what he says. So, from Yai's perspective, their relationship is based on a threat, which would surely make anyone hate a person even more. Yet, when Mangkorn asks him to be friends an episode later, Yai seemed to have forgotten their hateful relationship and agrees. And then suddenly they’re really lovey-dovey, talking about deep feelings, as if they’ve known each other for years.
What? Did I miss something? Was there a whole episode the producers had to cut? Seriously, either the writers have no idea how to write smooth transitions and make realistic developments, or there actually were some more scenes, but for some reason didn’t make it or were forgotten. But it feels like they skipped a whole season.

I started this drama mostly because of the "rival to lovers" trope but got deeply disappointed in that aspect.
Later at the end, there was another rival relationship, with Mangkorn & Nine. Now, these were real rivals. I actually wanted them to hook up, so that the teased "rivals to lovers" trope could finally be fulfilled, because that would've worked. Not that I ship these two, but a make out session would’ve been cool.

And then there are the sexualities. Since they were both womanizers before, and after having slept with each other, you'd think they're both bi/pan. Well, apparently not.
Mangkorn seemed like he knew he was bi, considering he knew what he was doing in ep1 and the fact that he had a crush on Yai for far longer. But aside from that, we've never seen him hooking up with a man. If he knows he's into a guy and doesn't mind it, why does he only make out with women then? Is it easier to get a woman or was he not ready to explore his sexuality? Or is he "only gay for him"? Questions that are never answered or even hinted at.
Yai too was supposedly that hot playboy, but we only ever see him make out with a woman once – except that short BDSM scene with a call girl, who he often calls. Don't get me started on this, because the whole scene was just awkward – they wanted BDSM but didn't know what to do with it; the girl was just basically hitting his leg, trying to get him in the mood, but he didn't seem like it and wasn't even naked; then they talked about him being down and she leaves… and the BDSM aspect is never explored again.
He's also never slept with a guy before, given his butt was hurting af after their first scene (typical trope you find in college BLs) and he didn't know what to do about it. He does have a kiss with another guy, though, but never with a woman again, making it seem like they pulled the trope "I was hetero before but he turned me gay", forgetting that bi- or pansexuality exists.

Oh, and the lesbian couple. GL asian dramas are rather rare, but even rarer it is to find them in a BL drama. I was thrilled when their relationship was confirmed, but at the same time just confused, considering they didn’t seem like a couple at all. I did ship them, but they seemed like good friends, who might have a crush one another, yet aren’t even close to the point of confessing to each other. And then it turns out they’re actually already together and have been maybe dating for a few years (they talked about marriage)??
They were cute, but ultimately didn’t seem like a couple. I thought for a sec they could be an aro/ace couple, but considering how non-modern and non-2023 everything else was, there’s no way the directors/writers have even heard about the aro/ace spectrum.
And then they had a somewhat kiss, and oof, was that awkward. It was just a kiss on the cheek, or, well, that’s what it was supposed to be, but her lips didn’t even touch her cheek. Why? Isn’t it common for women to kiss each other on the cheek, especially for heteros? There’s no way the actresses were uncomfortable with that, unless kissing friends/family on the cheek isn’t a thing in Thailand.

And they throw an arranged marriage trope in there. Huh? In 2023? Apparently it was only a plan between the dads, the mothers had no saying in there and the kids didn’t even dare to talk with their fathers, even though they both didn’t agree with the marriage.
Can parents even force their children to marry someone nowadays? Lawfully speaking. Why did the kids seem like their world was shattered, when technically it shouldn’t even be a problem? Dude, it’s 2023! If your father forces you to marry someone, especially if you’re a son, you can just laugh at him and give him an updated calendar.
But even then, why were they so afraid of talking to their fathers? They didn’t seem to be abusive in any way. At least they could’ve shown a scene where they once tried to talk to them and since then know it’s useless, but with what it is, the audience is basically clueless.
Weird thing is, that, in the last episode, the mother of one of them was like, "oh, I finally talked to your dad and he’s okay with you not marrying her."
Huh?? So it was easy after all?? All it needed was one talk?? Wtf? The marriage proposal was made so dramatic, that it seemed like the kids would rather die than marry or talk to their dads. Dude!

~

You can’t tell me that 8 episodes is too short to flesh all of this out on its own. Each episode is around an hour long, that is more than enough time. Considering there are kids shows with 8 episodes, each only 10-20 minutes long, and somehow can develop things perfectly.
Sure, there were definitely too many plots thrown in there, but even then it isn't an impossible task to write connections between the plots and give it a somewhat depth.

The high rating really just comes from episode 7. The last 15 minutes were beautiful, truly art. Episode 8 was way too dramatic honestly, but also had good shots, with the director finally realizing what they’re good with: filming static, emotional/intimate, slow scenes.

Technically you could watch ep1 and skip to ep7 right away. You wouldn’t miss out on any development, because there was none. You’d also have more fun, because then you wouldn’t need to sweat through those unfunny & forced comedic scenes, as well as the unrealistic moments (like the one at the doctor's office or Yai chasing Mangkorn at uni).

Oh, and btw the OST is amazing, particularly "Dancing with the devil" by Isbanky. Only that the song doesn’t fit the series at all – it’s like what they wanted to be, but miserably failed in trying. (The song would fit PeteVegas from KP pretty well, though.)

There's also no homophobia or dramatically realizing they’re into the same gender (looking at you, SOTUS), so that’s a plus. And Mangkorn’s mother was also really supportive and mature – saying that she doesn’t care which gender he likes. 

The two main actors had beautiful chemistry and I got butterflies during each of their intimate scenes or even when they were just holding eye contact for long. The other male actors were overall also good, though not as good as the two mains.
But the women… mostly just awkward. Well, not really the actors itself maybe – this is probably just another mistake by the writers.
Especially Yai’s stepmom. She was too dramatic, and it didn’t even make entirely sense.

Overall it basically seems like the writers first wrote the hot scenes between the main couple, and then realized they actually will need some kind of plot, but had no idea how to write „normal“ plots and especially never heard of smooth transitions (only jump cuts), let alone what development is.

-07.01.24

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