Practically perfect.

This is one of the most interesting concepts for a BL that I have come across. It took the typical high school setting and flipped it right on its ear with this twist akin to "alternate reality." The idea that Myung Ha could be sucked into a to-be-made game based on a work-in-progress story where he had a few ideas on how to change it was interesting enough. But add to it the subtle (almost hidden) aspect of his depression and the fact that Yeo Woon was based on Myung Ha's life added so much emotional depth to the story. While it may seem like a BL on the surface, underneath it was more like a "learning to love yourself" story.

There were hints from the very beginning, what with Myung Ha said he would change Yeo Woon's story because it was "too much like my own," hinting at the regret he felt for his own personal discontent. Everything the game made him do was a way to validate Yeo Woon's life in a way that Myung Ha thought his own life was lacking. Then the game began to glitch when Yeo Woon was beginning to have romantic feelings toward Myung Ha because the objective was simply to make himself happy and love himself, not necessarily have romantic feelings. But then this is where the fun, BL aspect comes in and I personally think it worked well.

The only downside to this series was the short amount of time they had to tell such an in-depth and complicated story. In the first half of the series, I was impressed with the pacing and thought this series was probably the best I'd seen at making things clear and moving things along at a pace that made sense. (The "likeness meter" was a big help with that.) Then, somewhere around the middle, things were happening where I though to myself, "Did I skip or miss an episode?" And then there were a few things introduced or mentioned that never really were explored that was a shame since they were interesting plot points to me. (Kyung Hoon mentioning his BF and how he was supposedly coming for a visit soon; Sang Won getting into that fight while no one seemed to notice.. to name a couple of examples.)

While I understand and appreciate that they did not try to have a secondary couple with the limited amount of time they had to resolve the main one, I do also wish the two primary side characters got more screentime/storyline because they were done really well, both in writing and acting. I also wish the ending was a bit more clearer (did Myung Ha die and was given a second life or maybe the game was a form of afterlife? Who was Myung Ha's senior, really? )

But, overall, still a very solid series and, minus the few questions left unanswered, it was a satisfying and thought-provoking story. I would definitely watch it again and recommend it to any BL fan.

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Desperately needed more time on the editing floor..

This one is hard to rate because there were things I loved about it and there were things I really didn't like. Most of this review may just end up being my thought process just trying to work it all out in my head so I apologize in advance if it's just as scattered as this series was.

If we go with the bad first, as the headline suggests, this series really could have used some better editing. There were many things that didn't make sense at the time or seemed to come out of nowhere, leaving me wondering if I missed a scene or a full episode entirely. (I guess I should also mention that there wasn't a great option for English subs... I tried multiple sources and the subs on all of them were rough. But you can still get the gist if you don't read word for word or know your thesaurus.) Sometimes something will happen in an early episode and then about 4 or 5 episodes later, they will throw in a flashback kind of thing that explains it... but at that point, it's almost forgotten about since so much has happened in between. And then there's the other side of the spectrum where suddenly Ai is telling Songkhram to go away and leave him alone out of the blue when just before that everything was honky dory... then we find out he was having an inner battle of feelings but there was no show of that.. so it made him look like he was either being unreasonable or someone was forcing him to break things off with Songkhram otherwise they'd do something bad. So it really didn't make sense at all.

I was glad for the reviews I read that said the beginning was rough but that it gets better because it was very true and, in the end, I really ended up enjoying the series.

While the acting wasn't the best, it's clear the actors worked on their on-screen chemistry because pretty much all of the couples (3 main ones) had good scenes together. As individual relationships, there was progression and storyline (mainly for the couples of Songkhram/Ai and Bright/Meen... unfortunately I feel like the 3rd couple's story suffered from the aforementioned editing issue.) There was a decent amount of spice too which I somehow didn't expect with the way the series started out. Most of it didn't happen until the latter half of the series but I thought it was well done. Especially Songkhram and Ai's first time.. it was practically perfect in the buildup from the way their eyes just locked from across the room, being drawn together and then they started slow kissing, making out, allowing the tension to grow and finally coming together to complete the cycle. SO many series forget about foreplay and build-up which is, in my opinion, more important than the act of sex itself.

I liked the different take on the university rivals trope.. even though they were all engineers, they were divided by other aspects completely unrelated to school, just so they could start out their university life surrounded by people who had similar interests. It was like they took the hierarchy of the SOTUS program but made it into something meant to benefit the freshmen. There were no bully subplots though there was plenty of good-natured hazing amongst the core group of friends. That scene at the amusement park where the friends were "bumping into" either Ai or Songkhram was hilarious and I loved it. It was another different take on "outing the secret couple" trope that wasn't obnoxious or overly invading.

I guess that's where my biggest confusion comes from.. like.. there were so many good ideas thrown into this series to make it different enough and they had actors that worked well against each other.. but it just got lost when trying to follow some of the plot. They needed to work on the transitional parts that explained how they got from point A to point B. Even the flashbacks they threw in here and there seemed like an afterthought.

Either way, I would recommend this series as one that doesn't need too much brain power (except for further translating the subs). It was a fun, easy watch and I'll definitely watch it again. I'll give it some time to get some better subs, hopefully. I'll keep my fingers crossed..

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A cute, light and feel-good series.

I came to this series not long after watching Cherry Magic (Thai version) and I feel like there is a similar vibe here that I quite enjoyed in both series. It had a Japanese series vibe to it with some of the inner monologue and looking into the camera and a hint of over-the-top moments. This was a nice light show that was interesting and not your run-of-the mill University drama that follow the same cookie cutter storyline.

First things first, I'm sad that people bash the series because they compare it to others that Off and Gun have done together. It's really unfortunate because the series itself delivered on what its clear intention was: comedic and full of heart with the characters not only working to improve themselves but also lifting up those around them, whether they were their partners or friends. There was so much going on with different relationship dynamics that I can't imagine how anyone could say the series was boring. Before I knew it, I was on episode 12 simply because I wanted to see what happens next. It wasn't heavy or needed a lot of processing, making it an easy watch to breeze right through.

In that respect, I feel like the acting was fine, considering the overall tone of the series. There was a good mix of seasoned actors along with newbies and I feel like they all fell into place quite well with each other. It was clear who was who out of the experienced and the inexperienced but I like that they could come together in such a series. The actor for Dy was a prime example of this seeing as he had most of his scenes directly against actors like Gun and Neo. While it was clear he was new, I feel like he held his own opposite them well enough. The character of Metha was probably my favorite. He was goofy most of the time but had sage words of wisdom when it mattered, giving a glimpse of much more beneath the surface. His dynamic with each character was slightly different yet 100% still unmistakenly HIM. I also like that he didn't end up with a partner in the end, nor was he looking for one throughout the series. I feel like the writers here understood that each supporting role doesn't need to be paired up. I wish more series would realize this.

It had a very realistic feel to it where, yes, I could see people thinking it too mundane to be made into a series but I think these kind of series are nice to see every so often to show that any life could be important and worth being invested in, no matter their circumstances. And, again, it was different enough from the standard University setting to make it stand out. I would say it's a great series to watch after a darker series (I watched this right after Payboyy soooooooooo... yeah..) to clear out the haze and fog that sometimes those heavy series leave behind. And being a fan of Gun, I like to see his range of acting, knowing he can do the serious roles as well as comedy and heartfelt slice of life. Same with Neo.. it was nice seeing him like this after watching him as Boston in OF.

I would recommend this for anyone needing a series to feel good about and smile along with. (Also, prepare to walk away hungry because those dishes they make are stunning.) Take it for what it is and what it was meant to be. It's best enjoyed as it's own thing and not in comparison to other works by different writers, directors, crew, etc.

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Underrated

I had never heard of this series before and just happened to have a clip of it recommended to me from youTube.. and I'm so glad it did. This was a fun show that, going from the premise, I didn't think I would like as much as I did. Seeing as it's about the craziness of fans and shipping culture, I thought I would hate it because shipping actors in real life is not my thing.. I thought it would be full of annoying girls and the antics they get up to in order to get close to their idols.

While there was some of that, the show had a lot more going on with it, including a struggling band, the relationships and friendships between the members as well as their families and the underlying idea that fans should be respectful and shipping is supposed to be a fun, harmless thing. I actually learned a few things... like that whole sasaeng thing was pretty cool how even within the fandom, they blacklist anyone who is not being respectful to the artists or are invading their privacy.

A lot of the series was still pretty juvenile and the acting was a little rough in spots but it was somehow still very entertaining and really funny. The humor was done well without being obnoxious and the chemistry between the characters was fairly decent. I enjoyed their playful banter the most, especially within the bandmates. The romance was nice but nothing to write home about. The emotionally charged moments were more enjoyable than the actual kissing or any physical moments.

Being only 10 episodes long, this was a pretty quick watch, especially with the engaging storyline and progressive pacing. I didn't feel like there was a lot of unnecessary filler and that everything happened for a reason. There weren't any aspects left unexplained or dropped which is also a big plus in my book. I would certainly recommend this as a light and fluffy watch.. maybe as a palate cleanser after a more dramatic series.

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Not at all what I thought it would be..

.. which actually turned out to be a good thing. There was a lot of hype around this series being geared toward a more mature audience and having adult themes, not just in the NC sense. There was a lot of talk about it incorporating aspects of Omegaverse so I was interested to see what they did with that... whether it was going to be a major plot point or just a passing mention like "Oh, by the way, I'm an Alpha, just so you know."

What I thought it would be, based on the trailer:
-sports drama based on racing
-"playboy denying he's falling for a guy" type of romance
-rivalry between racers as main source of conflict
-father trying to cash in on son's success

While the first few episodes make it seem like it is setting up for some of the above.... Spoiler alert.. it's actually about none of the above and only mildly focused on the racing aspect. The story we actually got was much more involved and, quite honestly, more interesting to me, personally, than if it were simply about car racing. The "omegaverse" aspect was actually the main focus of the overall plot although it's not quite the omegaverse that is commonly portrayed in novels/webcomics/etc which typically includes the secondary sexes, mPreg, going into heat, amongst other things. In this series, they do have Alphas and Enigmas where both can have supernatural abilities and strengths. Scenting plays a small part as well though that is more because of the fact Babe's specific special ability is heightened senses, which obviously include his sense of smell.

But in this series, the big focus is on the Alphas being rare "super human" beings that all have different abilities which manifest as they get older. It was very X-Men to me, quite honestly, as every Alpha had different "powers" and I found myself keeping them straight by comparing them to their X-Men counterpart.

The overall plot was very involved and nerve-wracking while at face value it just looks like the good guys are going after a super villain and his cronies. However, as agendas are revealed and the entirety of the situation unfolds, it actually turned out to be some of the most interesting story writing I've seen in a BL to date. It's very rare this happens, but I would dare say that the story was what kept me more invested rather than the acting. A lot of times, an actor's performance will save a series for me and keep me from either dropping it or giving it a bad review because of bad or uninteresting plot. But here, it was the opposite.

I wouldn't say the acting was "bad" per say, but there were definitely some better than others, which became evident when they all had scenes together. Pavel was really good, especially when it came to the emotional scenes in the later episodes. He wasn't afraid to "ugly cry" which made it that much more believable. Pooh wasn't bad but he certainly wasn't outstanding. I feel like he either got better over time or he just grew on me throughout the course of the show. (most likely the latter since these things don't typically shoot in chronological order.)

Nut's performance was very good and, honestly, I think he pulled off the complexity of his character very well. We don't find out much about him as an individual until about halfway through but there's always this underlying question of "what is his deal?" from the very beginning because something just seems "off." Nut portrayed this extremely well with little nuances sprinkled throughout and it's almost like a "blink and you miss it" kind of thing.

There's actually quite a bit of that going on throughout the series with multiple characters and I found the guessing game to be very captivating. I think the only characters I never questioned their motives or true feelings were Babe, Mr. Tony and Alan. They were pretty much "what you see is what you get" all the way through.

This was also one of the few times I've seen a series where everything is explained, tied together and resolved by the end. There's nothing introduced for the drama aspect only to be forgotten about or given a half-assed resolution. Everything that happens is important and it all gets wrapped up by the finale. It was a breath of fresh air not leaving the series with questions or feeling like something is missing. All of it is very satisfying in that regard.

That being said, I can see this not being for everyone as it is very heartbreaking and frustrating every time the "heroes" are thwarted and they have to start over. People looking for a more mature love story may also find it somewhat lacking as the romance part takes a back seat to everything else going on. It's certainly NOT a light a fluffy watch. But I assure you, it truly is engaging and it had me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next pretty much from start to finish. I definitely liked it a lot more than I thought I might and I would gladly watch it again in the future.

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Have tissues ready for this emotional ride.

After reading a few reviews, I almost feel like this one will be a rebuttal against the masses but I guess it's all about personal preference, experience and perception so take from this what you will..

Personally, I think this was practically perfect in every way. Even those time where I felt frustrated or upset toward a character or situation, I could tell it was pretty intentional so I guess they did their job right. And, as my headline suggests, there were plenty of sad moments that had me tearing up which is not an easy task.

At the beginning, while I felt sympathy for Day because of his situation and I understood his frustration at the sudden disability, I couldn't quite get behind how bratty he was toward everyone. His attitude toward his brother and Night's obvious guilty attitude immediately hints that he was somehow involved with how Day became blind. We are given the impression that Night was a horrible person to Day in some way, shape or form however as far as the audience has seen, it just looks like Day is lashing out at him when Night simply wants to help. (more on the Night and Day relationship later because.. hoooo boy, do I have thoughts.)

As the series went on and we see Day from Mhok's perspective, it is clear that he is struggling with wanting to be seen as normal while also learning it's okay to ask for help with the things he simply can not do by himself. I definitely feel this one as someone with a sudden disability and coming to terms with the fact I can not do everything I was once able to while learning where my own limits are and needing help to achieve certain tasks. I feel like Sea portrayed the mixture of confusion, frustration and fear very well throughout the entire series.

Sea's performance as Day was damn impressive. Before going into this series, I was thinking it would be similar to the Vietnamese series Want to See You and thought I'd be comparing the performances but, really, there is no comparison. Both were excellent and I think Sea deserves all the recognition. I haven't been this impressed by a performance since Gemini as Heart in Moonlight Chicken. There's a lot of conflicting emotions that come with disabilities and Sea conveyed all of them effectively.

With Mhok, we are given insight to his own fears and insecurities with little tidbits here and there but I do wish we got more of his story because, while it is heartbreaking, it would have explained just that much more instead of having to piece together all the sprinkled hints. Since it was hard to really know what happened until way later in the series, it didn't give Jimmy much chance to convey Mhok's thoughts through expressions very often. We saw a little here and there which I think Jimmy did pretty well, but the lack of his story was definitely not helping.

Speaking of lack of story, I really wish they gave Night more as well. As I said before, it is obvious Day dislikes his brother although we don't find out why until later on. First he says "he's responsible for me going blind" then he says "I know it was an accident and that part I could forgive but what I can't stand is him pretending to be a good son in front of mom." Oh, so he's not allowed to change for the better after the accident? He's not allowed to try to be a better person without being chastised for it?

And here's my big gripe with Day and Night's relationship: It wasn't Night's fault in the slightest. Day was the one who was driving and took his eyes off the road because he didn't want a bit of vomit in the car. Why couldn't he just pull over instead of looking for a bag while the car was in motion? Or just let Night vomit in the car and he can pay to get it cleaned afterward. There really was no excuse for taking his eyes off the road for that duration of time while the car was in full motion. I almost wanted there to be a reveal that Night suffered injuries during the accident too and he held that against Day for taking his eyes off the road. It bothered me that no one seemed to ask or care if Night was okay after being in that car too... and they kind of touch on that a little with the fact Night felt ostracized within his own family. (Night was the biggest source of my crying, by the way, so prepare the heartstrings to hurt for him.)

On the subject of Night, I was so impressed with Mark's performance. I mean, it shouldn't surprise me because he is always phenomenal. But when he's sitting at the kitchen table and has a completely coherent inner monologue using just facial expressions, I just wanted to reach into the screen and give him a hug and tell him "it's okay, let it out." I'm glad they finally acknowledged that he was being neglected though I wish Day had taken more responsibility for what happened.

Here's where I disagree with the masses... a lot of people say that after episode 9 it was all unnecessary but here's why I think it is very important: Day and Mhok went through a "normal" couple's issue of lying and miscommunication. For all of Day's insisting he wanted to be seen as normal and Mhok insisting that Day was normal, this was the most realistic hurdle they came across that any couple could find themselves against. Mhok lied about being accepted for the Hawaii job and Day found out he lied. Simple as that. The fact he is blind has little to do with this fight besides the fact that Day accuses Mhok of taking advantage of his blindness to hide the truth. But, honestly, the truth would come out sooner or later one way or another so the blindness is barely even a factor. And it is in this fight that we see just how much Mhok needs Day and how petrified he is to lose him like he lost his sister. Up until this point, the sister storyline had only gotten a few mentions without really seeing the full toll it took on Mhok... now we see it when he completely breaks down.

Mhok needed to lose Day in order to see he needed to work on himself in order to not rely on someone else so much for his own self worth.. which makes the "thank you for breaking up with me" so poignant and important. Sure, the self discovery might not be the reason Day broke it off but the side effect of the separation made Mhok a better and self reliant individual. That being said, I don't think they needed the 3 years apart to get the point but oh well.. time skips mainly just show that nothing has changed and that the status quo is too boring to showcase, I guess.

Last but not least, the big upset for most people was the very end when Day gets his sight back. Really? We knew this was going to happen from the very beginning. In the first couple of episodes, it's pretty obvious that they were setting up for him to get his sight back at some point. From the very first episode, they mention there is a way to fix it with a transplant so they've already put the idea out there that it is "curable." They wouldn't do that if it wasn't an inevitability. I personally like to see his attitude and behavior afterwards. While we don't see much of the time with his sight back, what we do see is that Day is paying it forward. He had a reputation of being a self absorbed jerk before the accident and he became more compassionate while he lived without sight. Now that he has it back, he doesn't revert back to being a jerk, he instead becomes an advocate for the blind. More than the "happy ending" aspect, I see it as a huge part of his character growth, even if it would have been more meaningful if he never got his sight back at all.

As for the prominent side characters, I absolutely loved Phojai and I thought her friendship with Mhok was very wholesome. I loved that her and Night were together because they both deserved to have someone good next to them. I didn't really see the point of adding in the romantic aspect with August AT ALL. They were partners and there was absolutely no mention of it until a fleeting "oh, by the way, I had a crush on him. Surprise!" And then it's over just as quickly as it started. Everything with August happened in one episode.. that's it. Pretty pointless in my opinion. Gee was a good crossover from his former life to his new life and was very good in terms of showing Day that he could still have his friends from before if he just gave them a chance and was honest with them. She bridged the gap of time quite effectively.

Honestly, this may be one of my favorite series to date. It's nice to see more serious storylines that still balance the romance and feel-good moments effectively. I also like how there was really no "bad guy" or villain in the story and it was just the characters having to work on themselves. I would love more of these where the main setting is not in a school and the characters are more mature even if they are not much older than student age. More of this, please!

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Better than reviews led me to believe.

Apparently, if you watch the trailer then you will be disappointed because it hints at a more serious storyline than what the series actually ended up being. I, personally did not watch the trailer therefore I had zero expectations going into the series which I would personally recommend is the way to go. Because from a lot of the reviews, it makes it sound like this series was horrible which it certainly wasn't. I found it to be an interesting and engaging watch overall, if not a little juvenile in places (but that's to be expected in a high school setting.)

I think initially, they were aiming for a similar vibe to Never Let Me Go with the danger element and such since Perth and Chimon's role in that series was very popular. But when you put the setting in a high school with really only a debt collector as the main threat, that's not exactly a thrilling plot. I found more "danger" in regards to Kang's heart where Sailom was concerned. Their relationship was worth sticking around for while the side couples were a bit hit and miss sometimes.

At the start of the series, I was already close to dropping it because of the juvenile bullying. But the way Sailom stood up and fought back in his own way without involving others was very refreshing. He knew he was superior and wouldn't allow Kang to treat him lower than he deserved. This made for some great bickering and build-up of tension between them that had the victim on the offensive more often than not.

The side couple of Guy and Nawa was entertaining as well though when the main couple is already an enemies to lovers trope, it kind of becomes redundant in the secondary couple. They played it well enough, but it was just lost in the background most of the time. Which is a shame because they had a decent storyline going as well.

I really wish there was more between Saifah and Name, especially since it was more like a reunion of friends. There were hints of a potential romance but nothing concrete the whole series which left me guessing right up until the last scene they have together in the jail. But by then, it's like "I need more!!" and we just don't get it. Not only with their storyline but with the actors Papang and Pepper... these two seriously need a series together where they are the leads because they totally have the chops for it. I hate that they are typecast as the older siblings or school mentors because they are closer to 30yrs old instead of all the actors in their late teens/early 20s. I would love to see a more mature series with these two. (Doesn't have to be mature as in NSFW but just a story that is about adults "adulting" and not about kids being immature.)

Speaking of NSFW, I kind of wish they just left that part out of this series, and that's coming from someone who lives for the smut. While Perth and Chimon had good chemistry with the bickering and even with the flirting, their actual physical chemistry wasn't great. It looked almost uncomfortable. I would rather it be implied than shown at just 40% effectiveness.

With all that said, I did find it to be a good watch overall and I would recommend it. There were quite a few funny moments that had me cackling and there were some heartfelt moments that pulled at the feels.

And, yeah, someone give Papang and Pepper their own series.

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Mixed feelings but overall good watch.

I'm kind of torn how to rate this series because it was really good in some parts and then others, I found myself fast forwarding because it was either repetitive or unnecessary.

Starting out with the cons, I really couldn't stand about half the characters. I pretty much only liked Ace, Sky, Jam, Kim and Jake. Sky's parents were sweet and I loved how supportive they were but they sure didn't intervene when they should have a lot of the time. I mean, I can understand that Sky is not a child and he needs to make his own mistakes and all but he really could have used some tough love in some areas. I liked how his brother was supportive as well but his entire purpose was to sell the products of the sponsors so it got annoying pretty quick and I skipped almost every scene of his. He had one sweet moment with Sky and then everything else was all about product placement. Same with Miss Becky. She was a good support for Ace but honestly, there were way too many montages of her twirling around the mansion that added absolutely nothing to the plot or series in general.

Moira was an over the top baddie that was somewhat well written but, in my opinion, if you're going to make them THAT bad, they need to get their just rewards. And unfortunately, everyone hugged it out in the end and forgave her horribleness. Now, granted, I know nothing about law in the Philippines but she must have committed at least 3 crimes with her shenanigans. She did a full on B&E, kidnapped (dognapped) ChukChuk, planted a hidden camera without consent then released the video illegally.. oh and almost committed murder by putting peanuts in his food to purposefully trigger an allergic reaction. So then she comes to their house and sobs that she loved him and wanted to be with him while she was the one who broke it off in the first place. And we're supposed to feel bad for her? Honestly, they should have been hauling her ass to jail instead of hugging and apologizing to her.

There was a lot of time spent on her and other "time wasters" that really could have been skipped over (which I did). It would have easily cut down the series to maybe 9 or 10 episodes but it also would have gotten a higher rating from me...

.. because the pros of the series were actually really good. The story for the main couple was believable for the most part (crazy ex aside) and they had really good chemistry together. I actually liked that there were no side couples because Ace and Sky deserved all the focus on the romantic front. Their progression felt natural even if the acting was a bit over the top at times. It also felt like they bounced off each other well. In some parts, it seemed like there was no real script and they were just told to act a certain way and they ran with it.

I like how Kim was a good friend to Ace throughout and didn't turn into an ex like Moira. Granted Ace and Kim were never technically an item, but when she finally realized Ace would never feel the same way toward her, she didn't turn into the crazy, vindictive ex that Moira was. She supported Ace and his feelings.

While Ace's father was horrible and also pretty over the top, he did present a more realistic hurdle to their relationship which was worth watching. And even at the end, when he said he would work on himself, it was also good to see the more realistic portrayal of a parent not quite doing a full 180 turn overnight (because that kind of thing wouldn't happen in a "eureka" kind of moment in real life either) but we see the effort and the regret he has had for his previous way of thinking and realizing that it will cost him his relationship with Ace if he didn't change.

I think this is also the first series I'd ever seen where there was a reverse - or maybe it could be a double? - coming out conversation where Ace's mother explains her past with Ace's father and why she left.

While there was a lit of filler, I feel like the core conversations were really important in this series (like when Ace's father has his self reflective moment near the end.) There were a lot of poignant moments full of truths that I wish more people would grasp.

While I'm not certain if I would watch this often, I could see rewatching this again, especially as part of the trilogy with other people. It was enjoyable and I would recommend it as a lighter series with a few serious dramatic moments that will certainly hit all the feels.

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Much better than I expected

Honestly, I was fully prepared to not enjoy this as much as I did simply for the fact it was centered around basketball. Or, so I thought. (Nothing against the sport, I just don't watch it.)

But this series was about so much more than that. Even the basketball parts, I found myself interested and invested in because the storyline was that good. It wasn't your typical school rivalry sports drama but more about the personal journey of the individual characters and the way their attitude affects their game and their team.

Also, usually when there are multiple love stories going on, it's easy to pick favorites or be more invested in one over the others. But here, I was equally interested in all three of the couples because they each had a different dynamic going on. All while there were solid friendships and platonic relationships that were so fun and wholesome.

The communication, while missing in some areas to create drama, was very much on point and the characters were all honest with each other and themselves most of the time. It's so refreshing to come across a drama that doesn't rely on misunderstandings as their main source of conflict. There was also no real "villain" either which is a testament to how good the story was without that riffraff.

My main complaint with this series is that the couple with the best tension had an open ending and we never got a release out of all that build-up. I would almost prefer they don't do all that if they are not going to resolve it but it still made for some cute moments.

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Better than I thought it would be

The idea for this story was intriguing for me as I've seen a couple of mafia series now and have enjoyed the added suspense aspect it brings. This series was definitely more on the lighthearted side of the serious spectrum mainly because the main characters are not in a business of "questionable legality." Even the mafia boss is not in illegal activity so it's a nice change from the idea that we root for a bad guy, despite what he does for a living.

I was concerned that as soon as the bodyguard showed up that Sky was going to become a whining brat and purposefully get himself in danger just to defy his father. It didn't really happen though he did at first become very defiant and stubborn against Sun. But the fact was, Sun nor Father told Sky the severity of what was going on so he was just trying to live his life like he normally does. I mean, I can't really blame him because I would have probably done the same if I lived a certain way and then all of a sudden had a babysitter when I'm an adult with no explanation why. But I was pleasantly surprised when Sky found out the threat against his life that he immediately became more careful; listening to Sun and even asking his permission to do things. And the threat felt very organic.. the way the two bosses were going back and forth with their attacks. And I really liked how Sky was saying it's a never ending cycle that someone has to break by not retaliating. That was very mature of him to see that when the adults didn't.

One of the things that brought down the rating for me was the acting... it was sometimes distractingly amateurish even though the bulk of the mains have a decent acting history/background. And while the MC had good chemistry, they almost looked uncomfortable whenever they had to kiss. At that point, I wish they just wouldn't put it in at all and let us fill in those gaps with our imagination because otherwise is pops the chemistry bubble they had going on.

While I didn't like the way Sky used the girls to make Sun jealous, I also couldn't believe that they never picked up on Sun and Sky's attraction to each other nor did they get the hint when Sun always shot down the advances. I mean, come on, if a guy is into you, he'd be thrilled at how much you touch him and cling to him but he always had to pry her hands off him... was that not obvious enough? I'm glad that all they did was cry when Sun and Sky announced their relationship because if the girls had gotten pissed or wanted to cut ties with them because of it, the rating would have gone down more for me. I'm glad they were all friends still in the end and can be mature about it.

Which is more than I could say for Father... seriously.. as if the boys' actions of putting the others' life before their own was not a testament of their sincerity, he makes them live apart for 6 years and waste precious time together? So silly.

Anyway, overall I thought it was an enjoyable watch and I would recommend it for anyone looking for a series with a progressive, interesting plot that doesn't require too much brain power.

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Much better than I thought it would be

The reviews for this series made me put it on the back burner for a long time which is unfortunate because this was a good series in my opinion.

While I understand and can appreciate that it's not everyone's cup of tea, I don't think it deserves such negativity. Is the story groundbreakingly original? No. Is the acting stellar? Not really. Is it entertaining? One-thousand percent yes.

Story-wise, we've seen this a million times before: childhood friends where one harbors a secret crush on the other and they part ways only to meet again as young adults. Through a series of obstacles, they finally reveal their deepest feelings for each other and overcome all adversaries together.

Acting-wise, while it wasn't the best, I did very much enjoy the main cast's performances, especially where the comedy was concerned. Mike, Toptap and Khao all had fantastic facial expressions, especially when reacting to something someone else had said or done. Ton's parents and Amp were a bit over the top though I guess that was mainly done to emphasize their role as a hurdle in the main couple's relationship. Thankfully, they didn't have all that much screentime overall. Also, while I absolutely LOVE Jan, I wasn't a huge fan of her character here as I found her a bit annoying at times though still lovable in that way you love a good friend but can only take them in small doses.

Na was probably my favorite character after Ai and Nai as a couple. When he's first introduced, it seems like he will be yet another scheming bad guy who tried to get Chon but he ends up being the most selfless and best of friends to Chon and the group. (Side note: I watched this after watching Only Friends and it was super weird to see Neo like this after playing such a character as Boston but it was also a reminder at how talented Neo actually is.)

Speaking of comparing to other series, I'd seen Mama Gogo which had a lot of these actors in it and found it to have a similar form of hilarity to the characters. Especially Mike, Toptap and Pod and their interactions with each other. I also found it hilarious that when they went to the bar in the second episode and there was a dance competition, 3 out of the 4 of them will go on to play strippers and yet the 4th one is the one who dances and wins the competition. Then at the end, Mike and Toptap do a body roll and I'm like "Aaaaand there it is!"

Anyway, getting off topic..

Overall, this was a highly enjoyable watch and I would encourage more people to watch it, especially for the many laughs that I got out of it.

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So much going on without anything actually happening.

While I wouldn't say this was bad, it really lacked in a lot of ways for me.

This was all over the place as far as storyline, as if the writer or director or someone just couldn't decide on what story did they want to tell. Was it a university drama? Was it a countryside drama? Was it a rich boy/poor boy drama? Was it a workplace drama? Was it a winning-over-an-opposing-parent drama? No one knows because this series had ALL of that at some point.

And that's all just withing the main couple. Then there are secondary couples that tackle secret crushes, questioning sexual identity, using someone to get closer to someone else, violence rumors, school bullying and the list goes on and on and on..

Yet, with all of this going on, there seemed to be a serious lack of development between the couples / characters. It played almost more like a sit com where every episode was a standalone thing and there MAY be a hint or undertone of slight progression of relationships. But the constant change of story direction made it hard to get invested in which is unfortunate because they could have had a solid series if they just focused on one thing and did it well.

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This was such a refreshing change of pace from the bulk of BL dramas out there. It was a nice twist on the childhood friends - to - lovers trope that felt new yet comforting in its familiarity at the same time. It was also a great dynamic having the third friend in the mix to show the evolution of feelings and how the friendships differ from each other (platonic love to romantic love to unrequited love) and how they compared to the past verses the present.

The flow of the story was a little weird although I can't say it was bad.. just a little confusing. From the very start, we see a potential car accident so right off the bat, it is hinting at a tragic conclusion. We are made to believe it will become even more tragic over the course of the series as we see Amber's clear affection for Le but his reluctance to say anything out of fear. This would be a quintessential "secret crush" story if it weren't for the added depth of Amber actually being Wen Wen whom Le has always been in love with and had been waiting for to return. We see this through a series of flashbacks though the truth of Amber's identity is not actually revealed until pretty late into the series so unless someone read a detailed synopsis or spoilers, it may not make much sense. Maybe they did this to encourage multiple viewings so that we see it in a different light, who knows? But again, I didn't find it to be bad, just strange. It was as if they wanted people to already know the big plot twist before it actually happened.

I was very happy to see that they could create a drama without needing a "villain" or someone coming in to try and mess with the MC. There was a little bit of a hint of that with Yu He but I thought her journey was very realistic and very well executed that you couldn't help but feel bad for her. She never once tried to get in their way but she was honest about how her feelings were torn between being happy to find out Wen Wen was back yet knowing it all but demolished any chance she may have had with Le. Oh, and her brother is ultimate BF material... she's sitting there crying and alone and he just puts on music and gives her cake while he listens to her pour her heart out. Sometimes, that's all we need.. an ear to listen to us while we eat cake.

I honestly didn't understand the purpose of the car accident.. I mean, there was barely a scratch on Amber so why make us think it's going to be much worse than it is if it was barely a blip on the radar when it actually happened?

But that's probably my biggest gripe with the series. I knew going into it that it would be a slow burn which I generally do not prefer. But it definitely worked here and made sense. Also, honestly, that was probably the most satisfying kiss I'd ever seen.. not so much the kiss itself but just the fact that it FINALLY happened. 12 episodes of tension and buildup ultimately get released and it's like letting out a breath that's been held in for way too long. Then from that point on, it was seriously adorable.. I liked how they showed them as normal friends at the end with the flirty undertone. They were just so comfortable with each other after all that uncertainty throughout.

Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect with the synopsis I'd read somewhere else but I'm so glad I watched this series and would certainly recommend it to anyone. Truly beautiful and enjoyable watch.

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Entertaining watch

I honestly don't understand all the hate this series gets. It was highly entertaining and I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery aspect of it in the search for Enchanté's identity. It filled the time of the series really well (especially since we already know who Theo is going to end up with anyway) by creating the drama somewhere else rather than constantly throwing things at the MC like other dramas do. Yes there was a little bit of potential crushes looking to get with Theo but I personally liked how all the 4 Enchanté's had different reasons for claiming to be him.

The fact that Akk was willing to help, despite his surfacing feelings for Theo, also made us wonder if perhaps Akk was in fact Enchanté and hoping to prove to Theo that he was there all along. It helps showcase the care and investment Theo and Akk have in each other while teaming up to solve the mystery while also realizing their feelings along the way. And, personally, I didn't see a hint of it coming when they finally revealed who the real Enchanté was. I was even going so far as to guess it could be his father trying to anonymously befriend him to sway his feelings on trying to keep the literature program going. (Spoiler alert: it's not the father.)

I thought the acting was well done, especially by the supporting cast. I felt like everyone bounced off each other really well and all the clashes of personalities and motives made for an entertaining watch. In truth, I think they probably could have gone on with the different stories from all 4 Enchanté's a little longer, which is rare for me. Normally, I'm thinking a series could have been a lot shorter because most of the "filler" is unnecessary or boring or repetitive or a combination thereof. But here, I was so curious in all of their reasons and would have been just as happy to see more of it explained. I feel like out of the 4, Saifa got the least amount of explanation but it kind of makes sense once you find out his involvement.

(Can you tell I'm trying really hard not to say who Enchanté is?)

Speaking of which, I would suggest, if possible, watch the series without finding out who Enchanté beforehand. I admit, normally I am one to check spoilers and such but with this series, I managed to hold myself off and I think that really lent itself to the enjoyment of the watch. That being said, I'm actually looking forward to watching this series again in the near future to see if I can spot extra hints, now knowing what I know.

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The rare case of misunderstanding done right

Normally when the main obstacle for the couple is miscommunication or misunderstanding, I spend the entire series internally screaming at them to just talk already.

But at least in this series, there was a reason for Namnuea to feel torn about Lom's flirting with him when Lom is supposed to be getting married; there was also a reason for Lom to keep the truth hidden as it meant protecting Yiwa's secret from her parents. As much as we, the viewers, want them to clear the air, there was reasons to keep their true feelings hidden and I felt like it really worked in this series.

It's interesting how, when there's a well written story for the MC, there isn't as much of a need for a secondary couple. I didn't miss the constant change of pace when looking at one couple then the other as they tend to have very different experiences. There were other couples in this series but they were already established and firmly in their relationships with pretty mild drama. I think it also helped that the series was only 7 episodes long as they didn't need to fill in time with unnecessary BSing.

I don't know how Me Mind does it but they tend to have great luck with relatively newcomer actors who are actually really good, considering. Their production quality is always really good too, whether it has a strong story/plot or not. It adds to the overall quality which makes for an enjoyable watch. I know a lot of people have issues with MAME stories but I personally find them entertaining and consistent with the acting and production.

I would definitely recommend this series. I hope more series take notes from this to show how you can still have misunderstandings but make them less annoying/frustrating to sit through.

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