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.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Annoying, Boring at Times, Unrasonable
WOW! It took me a long while to get through this one - I actually guessed what the last episode was going to be like so I didn't want to watch it - but I finally took a deep breath and finished this.I have to say, this is one of those shows that win awards - and you wonder who decides which shows will win awards!
I guess it was supposed to be deep and full of meaning, but this is what I got -
A Selfish, Self-Centered Mother who needed counseling and never got it - clinging desperately to alcohol and totally dependent upon her son. Get A Life - And take voice essons while you are at it - your voice is extremely shrill and annoying, and you talk too much!
A son who has an overblown imagination and a hero complex regarding his father who committed suicide - and a romanticized view of his father's best friend... that's not love, but then I think no one ever loved him so how would he know.
A mute, crybaby adult male who has run away from life and practically denied his own existence.
Put this all together and what do you get - Annoying, Boring, Unrealistic, Lack of a Good Love Story Series, but then that's my opinion, and this show has plenty of high ratings - that's what makes the world go round.
Was this review helpful to you?
Raw, emotional, worth every minute
Just finished and all I can say is this is a truly beautiful seriesThe cast are outstanding, the script and how it was delivered, the words not said but felt, the storyline was so intense, on the edge of your seat moments and flop back into your sofa moments, laugher and tears
The visuals, the cinematography, the way scenes were lit, thr colour palette throughout was truly stunning
Finished and lessons learnt through watching and i will be recommending it to others, watching again definitely
Was this review helpful to you?
Here we have a successful mother (acclaimed soap opera director), her son turning 20 and the best friend of the father, who passed away in a tragic accident. No romance, no kitties, no flowers or rainbows, just brutal truths that hurt and thus everyone tries to avoid. But not everyone can. The ending is not happy (at least not in the usual sense), but rather demonstrates that life goes on, no matter what.
The performance of the mother is excellent, of the father's friend quite good. That of the son is simply stellar! The quarrels at the end (after the elephant is released) are breathtaking and captivating. And they do not revolve around love as much as around life and how it's supposed to be lived. Love is just the ignition of everything .
Interesting detail: none of the actors are BL actors.
This is a gem that you should definitely watch. However, do not expect a romantic comedy. It's neither romantic nor funny, but brutally blunt. Thus, make sure you watch it while in a good mood and able to handle distress.
Was this review helpful to you?
PLEASE read this review before you watch this show so u know what u r about to get yourself into.
(boutta have the rant of my life, so hold on) Incredible show. Truly. But I had absolutely NO idea what I was getting myself into when I started this. I waited till it was done airing to start it, then I finished it in a day. little did I know, that this show would tear my heart out and leave me in SHAMBLES while writing this review. The last thing I thought this was going to be was a rlly heavy show and borderline depressing for me to watch. Ngl, I like the light and fluffy shows. I'm not used to this stuff. it was so SO hard for me to watch this because the entire show was just SO HEAVY and intense. I really cant describe it any other way. But I could NOT put it down.It truly was a masterpiece though. The aesthetics they used in this show, was stunning. The colors they used were perfection.
I wont lie to you, there were a lot of parts where i felt lost, like i wasn't following along too good, like i thought i accidentally skipped over something, but that's just the way this show is laid out. Everything gets answered in the end.
I absolutely hate shows with a sad ending. They really do give me the most emotions, but I hate it.
About the show:
CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS!!!
Once again, this show was incredibly difficult for my heart to deal with. SO many mixed emotions.
There was a lot of screaming and yelling at each other, which doesn't really bother me, but in this show there was a lot of it, and for very extended amount of times.
There was like ZERO happy moments with In and Wang. i literally can only think of one. Every moment with those two was just super intense. ALOT of staring at each other without breaking eye contact (seriously it was insane). There's A TON of crying, its really hard to get through because every episode is just like so depressing, u hope they get over it all eventually and finally start being a lil happy BUT NOOOO. Doesn't happen. it just gets progressively worse and worse.
I usually cant stand huge age gaps like in this show, but this one was bearable so i wont complain about it.
ALSO, you dont get ONE DAMN KISS from these two. so if you are expecting any of that, dont. cuz it doesn't happen.
You literally only have like three characters in this series, but they pulled it off well.
ALSOOO it’s hard to grasp that all of this happened within just a few days. Like I dont even think it was a week long…
I have a few things to say about In and his character. Honestly I didn't hate or love him. Whenever Wang would say something about how he felt towards In, In would just have this blank look on his face and not say anything, which I understand why. I know that's how his personality is, it just kills me to watch it happen. He does not reciprocate the feelings at all. physically or emotionally. he never ever says anything about how he feels towards Wang , even though Wang knows how he feels, it still hurts that he never tells him, not once.
About the ending... from the VERY first episode, deep deep deep down i knew. i knew it was going to have a heartbreaking ending. i kept watching it though, hoping i was wrong and they would give me what i wanted. the further i got the more i knew it wasn't going to come. but the further i got the more i hoped they would prove me wrong and they would give me the ending i wanted. i watched the very last episode knowing exactly what was going to come my way. I wouldn't accept it. I kept watching after the credits telling myself i would NOT accept it to end like this. But here i am ranting about it.
i will NEVER re-watch this show. Everrrrrr.
(Edit: I rewatched it once. TERRIBLE decision. I warned myself so I shoulda known better :(
OVERALL :
Even though this show is far from my ideal type, it was just so good. They did a really good job which is why i give it a high rating. and i really did adore Wang. he was an incredible character. both men were great actors. i hope to watch Pond in another BL someday. ( a happy ending one next time. plz.)
Thank u for reading! ~ Dani
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A beautiful, Uncomfortable Series
So, like most of the review will tell you, don't start this show if you're expecting the typical BL where they have a push and pull for 4 episodes, get together in the 5th, drama in the 7th and then happy ending in the 8th. If you're expecting fun, sexy, cute BL. watch something else. This is nothing like that. This is the story of pushing boundaries that should not be crossed, and 3 people who are all right and wrong in their own way. I've divided my review into sections for easy reading. It's actually my first review so bear with me lol.Cinematography
This part of the show is excellent. This show makes use of blues, greens, greys, and black, sometimes contrasting with the occasional white. This is seen down to the clothing. No one wears bright colors, and even the house itself is black, inside and out. It sets the tone for the show with each episode. Their use of greenery to transition their scenes is also good. Lastly the show makes use of objects in all their scenes as a way to add to the dialogue. Lines made by the furniture in the house that separates the two, that Wang attempts to walk around. Globes and maps in every area. Even the trophy. Lots of thought was put into this. Probably the best aspect of the show.
Acting
The acting in this show really was off the charts. Amazing these actors dont have more roles. I felt the sadness of each character, and Pond portrayed Wang in exactly how he was meant to be portrayed. There is a lot of dialogue and story telling, that does not include flashbacks, so its dependent on the actors to portray the feelings of the characters, so that it feels like they're opening up to you. very theatre and very risky on the director.
Music
Nothing to shout about. The music is soft and subtle, sad but not loud and overbearing. The focus is on the characters, and the music tries to keep that focus.
Story
Okay, this is where I begin my dislikes. The story is beautifully told, but as more is revealed, you find yourself wishing that the things that you think may be true didnt happen. And then they do. Its told in a way where you can see where each character is coming from, but also you don't support any of them, and don't support the relationship of the mains. Interestingly enough, I think that may have been the point of the story. It's not a romance. It's a story about healing and faults. The relationship between Wang and In I simply could not get behind. Something about In and his father being in ill fated love, In being there for his birth, calling himself uncle, and then being in love with the child 20 years later did not sit right with me. Wang may have felt feelings, but the addition of his father made it uncomfortable, and you feel the elephant in the room every time. "What's wrong with loving the man my father once loved?" is 100lb question, and the silence to that question was deafening. As for In he's a coward. and though he is intelligent and speaks well, in the end he will continue to run. But i'm glad he did, because there was realistically no hope for the relationship. Wang is not a replacement for Siam. For mom, loosen that leash on your child. you don't own him. But also, your child telling you he loves the man that your deceased ex husband also loved and divorced you for is a LOT to ask someone to understand.
Overall was a decent drama. I felt pain, annoyance, general discomfort but also enjoyed the way they told it. 100% wouldve gotten a lower review if it had a happy ending for the mains. This drama is definitely not for everyone, but again, I don't think it was meant to be.
Was this review helpful to you?
Very different from the usual BL series
The show is centred around the interconnected relationship between a mother, her son, and his dead father's first love.The mother, Sasiwimol, is hard to like as a character. Her shrill, almost-desperate, voice fills the space with all the thoughts that nobody asked to hear. She insists that cares about nothing but her son – and yet, there are plenty of instances where she positions herself as the centre of the universe, a character flaw that reveals a deeper insecurity to be wanted.
What is deeply unsettling about Wang and In’s relationship is that Wang is never just Wang. He will always live in Siam’s shadow, and through him, In can finally be reconnected to the person he didn’t have the courage to love.
Personally, as beautifully heartwrenching the story was, they were a couple I just couldn’t get behind. I can’t decide if 180 Degree Longitude has truly succeeded in what it set out to convey – first loves and loss, new journeys and redemption. It has all the classic traits of a typical indie flick – beautiful visuals, long and ambiguous conversations, and explorations of literature and philosophy.
Done well, it should evoke a profound sense of emotion in the viewer, and when done poorly, it comes off as cringey and tryhard. 180 Degree Longitude was neither for me. There are times when I really liked the dialogue, and other times when I felt the series was trying to be artistic for the sake of it.
My favourite part of the series wasn’t the storyline or characters – it was actually the soundtrack.
Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/10/04/180-degree-longitude-passes-through-us/
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Shades of dark green into the void
So plastically it's very beautiful, this house is incredible in the middle of this greenery, the decoration and the costumes all in shades of dark green, it's sumptuous. After that, there is nothing more to say because there is no story, no stakes in this scenario. They filled the void with endless dialogues about nothing: "he told me this and then I told him that and at this point I could only do that and he had to do this and that's how I left and blablabla...." for 15 minutes interspersed with little scenes that are just as useless. Broth. Episode 1 sold us incredible tension but nothing since. The three actors of this closed session do what they can but with no intrigue it is quickly seen. Anyway, I'm watching it at x2 speed until they end up kissing. It's so hard sometime cause the mother is so unbearable, her voice, her delivery, her words, unbearable! By the way, the former lover who burns for the son of his past crush, who calls him uncle, it's a bit creepy.Edit : I watched the eight episodes for nothing. Nothing happens, not the slightest kiss.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Perfect 10
That was truly a work of art! I'm left with completely different feelings from my usual shows, but I'm accepting that this is a good thing. I tend to latch onto the same vibes, rely on a comfortable ending and the expectation is often "at least a kiss".This show reminded me that I have serious appreciation for world class acting, writing and dialogue. Not to say many of my top favorites don't have those things, but this show really just knocked it out of the park. It's easily some of the best chemistry I've ever seen and that statement extends well behind "bl" or the like.
It's hard to understand it, but Wang put it pretty well. There is seemingly going to be a happy ending for two of them, but not all three; In unfortunately is that character. I won't pretend I didn't wish for the Mom to be the one to get the short end of the stick, as she was heavily manipulative. selfish and from the storyline it seems like she's been getting her way in all aspects. The only time she didn't get her way was when her husband tried to pursue his own happiness and we all saw how that turned out.
I don't regret watching this and I hope there continues to be a large variety of options in media. I typically rely on the shows that "don't change" to protect my little heart from endings like this one, but I think if I keep doing that I will miss out on some absolute gems.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Ugh!!! Literally has my stomach in knots.
I very rarely if ever take the time to give a review. This story has so much potential. The emotional intensity and chemistry between Wang and In was breathtaking and kept me on the edge of my seat. The storyline was great. Acting great!Scenery beautiful. Music lovely. Everyone played their parts and made you have an emotional response to them.BUT the end left me feeling anxious and extremely agitated. I rarely feel hate (strong emotion) towards a character but mom had my stomach hurting. I have two sons 31 and 28. I can't imagine being that selfish and self absorbed to watch their pain for my benefit. Oh! She has my stomach hurting!
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Stagey at Times, but a Wonderful Bittersweet Story
I need to get my one criticism out of the way. I felt this series was too stagey at times, including with over the top acting at times. It was distracting because in my opinion, I would have preferred a film style presentation, but I ended up being able to overcome my bias.I had difficulty finishing this series, not because it was lame and cliche, but due to my feelings of not wanting the protagonist, Wang, to continue being in the middle of a love triangle that will never be resolved, because it cannot be resolved. Wang is one of my favorite fictional characters I've had the pleasure of meeting. Wang is such a delightful person, that it really hurt me to see the adults in the generation about him being so stuck in their own misery, mostly a misery they made and sustain. Initially, I was pretty judgmental about Wang's mother sending him to board school, but now I realize that it may have saved him from a s similar fate. Being away from his mother allowed him to not experience her over the top demands 24 hours a day.
The shallowness of Sasiwimol and In's existences are in sharp contrast to the liveliness and optimism of Wang. Even when offered a ray of light, neither of them could reach out for it. Since Siam was with Sasiwimol and In all of the time, he wasn't able to break out on his own, while Wang has the strength the adults never had. Sasiwimol won two prestigious awards and could not find one person to share her victory with, and In could not acknowledge his feelings and chooses to be alone.
I half jokingly said that Wang should take his father's ghost, and move out on his own. I stand by this. Wang will honor his father by living, while In and Sasiwimol will continue to be the walking dead.
Was this review helpful to you?
