This review may contain spoilers
I love this series but I find the love story of Dean and Pharm lacking. Everything was centered about Intouch and Korn that their character development in their own relationship didn't prosper. They could've balanced the story and didn't decide on a time jump just to settle everything. But what I can commend is Fluke and Ohm's acting. Man they know how to do drama! They have a switch that they can cry in an instant! And you can see that they have chemistry on screen. They're comfortable with each other that sometimes can make you giggle. ( *insert Pharm's voice* P'Deeeeeeaaaaan!)
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Acting/Cast: It was one of the most exceptional cast. Fluke Natouch Siripongthon is extremely talented, but I also thought Ohm Thitiwat Ritprasert and the newest actor Nine Noppakao Dechaphatthanakun were so talented. My only problem is with the acting of Earth Katsamonnat Namwirote. He is so awful. He is the same in everything.
Music: I thought the music was great, but none of the songs had that I must have it on my playlist feeling.
Rewatch Value" I would definitely rewatch it. I just need time to prepare for more crying. I cried a lot. I felt in my soul.
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This review may contain spoilers
I just absolutely loved this drama. It was so refreshing to watch compared to the other BLs Ive seen so far and took me on an emotional rollercoaster. The concept of reincarnation has always intrigued me so this was right up my alley, and the way they incorporated other details like the red string of fate and birthmarks were really a nice touch!! The show itself had very little to no drama, which was a huge plus for me!! The only major conflict was internally between Dean x Pharm and their reincarnated souls.The red string of fate symbolically tied Dean & Pharm to the traumatic past of Korn & In. In the sense, it predetermined their fate long ago…as their whole relationship more or less centered around Korn & In where its brought into question is their love truly real? Or is it soley based on the attraction and the longing feelings of their reincarnated souls. Quite an interesting journey of Dean x Pharm unraveling the truth but also redefining themselves as individuals and their relationship. I really do believe the reincarnated souls only helped in guiding and allowing Dean and Pharm to find each other. To fill that missing void in their life. Even though their reincarnated souls lived a tragic past which in turn lead to some lingering trauma for Dean & Pharm in the present, it allowed them both to see the realities of what could happen...and to not take each other for granted and fight for their love. And although this story is mainly focused on fated love, it also shows the importance of friendship, family, and acceptance!!And if nothing else is really catching your interest in the show…at least you’ll get some aesthetically beautiful thai dessert recipes out of this while jamming to some beautiful music!! THIS OST, specifically Luckiest Boy by Boy Sompob is my jam…such a beautiful song…I love singing along to it especially “You are my Sunshine, You are my Starlight at Night”
Korn x In were my favorite couple besides Win x Team in the story, and Im not entirely sure if it was the fact that it was because their story involved a “forbidden love” that resulted in a tragic ending where I so badly wanted them to have a happy ending….or if it was their acting itself; their expressions & contrasting personalities that sold it for me…Could be a combination of both LOL. I got so emotional every time they appeared on screen but I kept wanting more where I started realizing I was more invested in them than the main couple Dean x Pharm. Their parts sometimes were very slow and boring for me?? They seemed somewhat awkward with each other (not all the time, they def had their cute moments) where I wasn’t really convinced with their chemistry throughout the show but because of Korn x In, it made me care about Dean x Pharm. I wanted them to have a second chance/happy ending. However I will commend them because they had one of the healthiest relationships I have seen in BLs, I could clearly see by their actions how much they respected and wholeheartedly supported one another. And then we have Win x Team, which was a great balance between the other two couples as they were more humorous and fun LOL. The way Win always looked at Team…wow…he was smitten with him >< . Meanwhile Team only cared about his Lays Chips LOL JK. I cant wait for their spinoff Between Us!!!
Yes this drama was not perfect, it had its flaws, one being a decent amount of scenes were painfully slow…like I could be staring at the same scene for a good 5 mins..or what felt like 5 mins and nothing would be happening?? I could’ve probably fast forwarded and still not missed anything. Not sure if that was a decision made to built up emotions…but it didnt do anything for me. The transitions between the past and present day seemed choppy to me?? but that could be due to the episodes being in multiple parts, one part would end on Dean x Pharm and then the next part of the episode it would start as Korn x Ins story and vice versa….and some of the order of the flashbacks of Korn x In’s story seemed chronologically out of place with Dean x Pharm’s?? However that being said, these didn’t pose huge issues for me as I still overall enjoyed the drama!!
The ending wrapped up everybody’s stories really well. It demonstrated different perspectives of what people go through when losing a loved one due to suicide…it showed the regret and longing for their lost loved one…The pain and suffering of those who were left behind where they are endlessly left with questions that’ll never be answered. As well as the perspective of the person who committed suicide, which in reality we are never able to see…so it was nice to see that perspective interpreted too. If I had to sum up the ending in one word….it would be forgiveness….It was a truly beautiful and satisfying ending for me, considering how hesitant I originally was but all my concerns were put to rest!
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You can really see the bond between the main characters strengthen every episode and I like how its not rushed. Fluke (Pharm) and Ohm (Dean) are both amazing actors. Every time Pharm cries in the show, I cry with him because it looks so natural. Ohm also does a great job portraying Dean's 'cold' personality.
(The other actors were also great, it's just that the story revolves around Pharm and Dean.)
I cried every episode (but that might be because I'm an emotional person). The relationship between Pharm and Dean is also really wholesome so it's cute to watch. All I can say is that the show had an interesing plot and I really like how the story is told.
I definitely recommend this series!
(Also, I can't really say anything about the music because that wasn't one of my priorities watching this series, but I do feel like the music chosen always fits the scene.)
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What a waste though! The interesting themes of reincarnation, karma, redemption and 2nd chances, the could-have-been intriguing twists and turns, & a mostly competent cast.... all deeply compromised by unforgivably miscalculated pacing. Too often, the camera lingers on an expressionless actor for 2 seconds too long, more often than not, an actor takes 3 seconds too long to respond to something. The awkward pauses and unnecessary milking of a dry moment make it all pretty uncomfortable. The time wasted would have been enough for tons of souls to be reincarnated.
Thankfully, as mentioned, most actors look and “act” the part (with the exception of a few who tend to mistake overacting as emoting, and a scene stealing wig). Also, everyone looks like they have perfect skin, the songs are pleasing enough, the desserts look delish and.... and... ok, no more.
In short, if “until we meet again” ever gets the chance to be reincarnated , I hope it becomes more of a lean mean P’ Dean ... than a soppy, confused Pharm who overstretches his P’ Deeeeeeeaaaaaan
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I thought the reincarnation concept was super interesting, which was why I started watching in the first place. However, by the halfway point, I really couldn't see what the driving conflict was other than that the characters don't know this big secret. The big problem with this is that the secret is revealed to us, the viewers, at the very beginning of episode 1 so there's no big reveal or anything like that. Of course, there are a handful of surprises that pop up throughout the story, but nothing that I thought was really of importance to the plot. A lot of new plot elements are introduced in the very least episode, which to me feels kind of rushed, especially since the story moves really slowly otherwise.
Another big thing to me was that there is little to no character development throughout the entirety of the series. The characters didn't seem to change at all despite what was happening to them. All the scenes moved so slowly, and each one is milked in a very similar way from the beginning of the series to the end.
ACTING:
I didn't really feel the chemistry between Dean and Pharm, and their relationship doesn't seem to develop very much throughout the series. They're kind of awkward for a lot of the scenes, save for the very end, although this might be more of a directing thing than acting.
Individually, though, the vast majority of the actors were great. Fluke, especially, does an amazing job portraying Pharm from the beginning to the very end. I also really loved Prem and Sammy, who did a phenomenal job playing Pharm's (very lovable) best friends. There were some moments where I felt like Ohm shows pretty much no emotions, but again I think this had more to do with the director than with the actor.
MUSIC:
For the most part, I thought the soundtrack was fantastic. There are a lot of a capella songs that are played at heart wrenching moments, and a humorous string track is used pretty often throughout lighthearted bits. All of the music is generally enjoyable on its own, but by the end they feel really old and overused.
REWATCH VALUE:
I might rewatch a handful of scenes, but personally I found myself skipping through a lot of slow-moving parts the first time I watched them. The complete lack of suspense also does not help.
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I truly admire the work done in this series and Wabi Sabi Studios is really showing they know how to make winning shows. The director truly knows what he is doing now, and so we are in for many years of enjoyment as series made by him get better and better. Until We Meet Again will be hard to top though. When watching this, sit back, relax, cry when you feel like it (that was often for me) and just let it in.
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One of the BEST BL
GIRL!! ONE OF MY FAVE BL1st very intense intro tho
2nd OST is superb! I love the ost because it has english version and cast version. The music matches the series perfectly.
3rd the connection between the actors ? you can literally feel it within ? i swear.
4th MANAOW Girlllll ?
5th The first flirting scenes in ? ? girlll I’m single too ??
6th ready your tissue... for crying tho hahaha
Anyway if you want to know what I’m talking about. You should watch Until We Meet Again. You’ll love this.
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This review may contain spoilers
Mmm this is my first time to post a review on series so it might be a bit clumsy.I like it although I think it could have been better.
First :It focused most of time on the effects of Intouch suicide upon his family but it neglected the effect of Korn's suicide as if he is guilty and responsible for both suicides.
Second: too many crying scenes but I interpret it as producer wants to always remind the viewers that parents ' unyielding and violent oppose forced the lovers into a corner
Third :we only got few glimpses of Korn and In' s time which (in my opinion) weren't enough.
Fourth:Pharm and Dean's relationship was approved by those around them (which was too much of a fairy tale), I would understand if Dean's grandmother, mother, and pharm' s uncle, grandfather would be toleratent (they suffered loses already so it would soften them like how Dean's grandmother froze when he told her that his lover is a man, she recalled Intouch 's death and begged Dean to never hurt himself no matter what happen)
I interpreted this utopia as producer meant to show the contrasts and its consequences (The fierence opposition led to tragedy, approval and support led to strength)
Fifth:Although the series started with the tragedy as a start scene but it took us back and forth in a way that made my head spin a little.
During the series I blamed Korn for the tragedy but I understood what made him feel like there is no way out as his father practically threatened him to hurt his lover.After that I gradually started to understand better.
All in all it is a good series to watch especially to those who like decent romance without too much make out scenes
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This review may contain spoilers
Loved It
I’ve seen a lot of lack luster reviews about this drama and honestly I highly disagree. This drama is amazing, I wish I could erase my memory just to rewatch this drama again. This isn’t a heavy plot drama, but the plot twists are so worth it and well earned. The characters could use a bit more development, but the small details that make up the four main characters (Dean, Pharm, In and Korn) make this such an enjoyable show. The love story seems a bit slow, but I honestly didn’t mind as I felt Pharm and Dean had a lot to work through. The side ship is 100% one of the great parts of this drama and the side characters are so fun.Now on to the SPOILERS:
Pharm is the reincarnation of Intouch and Dean is the reincarnation of Korn. One of the main things I love about this drama is how it sets the reincarnations a part from their past lives. The details make it that much more enjoyable. You’ll see what happened in their past lives take a mental toll on them in their reincarnations. Pharm, who witnessed Korn’s suicide as Intouch, now has ptsd, even though he has no idea why.
And at the climax you’ll see the full effects of Korn’s decision to kill himself on Pharm. I saw in some reviews that people didn’t like how reserved or prudish Pharm seems for someone that is supposed to be in love. But I think it’s important to realize that Intouch had been such an out going and affectionate person which is not contrasted with Pharm who seems a bit more emotionally constipated and afraid to show his love, because essentially that is what lead to both of them dying in the first place.
The changes between Korn and Dean are much more subtle. I don’t think we ever see Korn cry, or it’s very rare. Where as Dean cries many times and feels the full weight of his choice and the guilt is consuming for him. At first it seems that Dean is just as reserved as Korn was, but I don’t think that is the case. Dean has friends where as it seemed Korn only had his siblings to confide in. I think Dean has grown and matured a lot since his past life as Korn and has become more mindful of his decisions and their effects.
I don’t want to spoil too much, their are some amazing plot twists and truly heart wrenching scenes. I cried a lot watching this drama. I highly recommend it.
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A Perfect Balance of BL and LGBTQ+ Drama
I have re-watched this drama for so many times and I never failed to end up crying a river. The story was just so beautiful and Fluke's acting was impeccable, to say the least. Now let's get into the pros and cons.PROS
1. Acting
Fluke's acting was, again, excellent. He has shown time and time again that he is one of the best actors in Thailand. The last episode alone has showcased his range. His ability to cry on cue, his amazing skills to switch from one character (Pharm) to another (Intouch) in a single frame, and his subtle yet profound expressions have basically carried the whole show.
I also want to praise the veteran actors who played Dean's mother, Dean's grandma, Intouch's father and Korn's father. Their acting was sublime and they elevated the drama. Other actors did decent too, although not reaching the same level as Fluke and the veteran actors.
2. Story
The story is one of a kind. No other BLs have reached the level of complexity that UWMA had at that time. This would make you cry buckets of tears yet at the same time would also wrap you in a lingering warmth. DeanPharm's story was a fated one. This might seem boring to most people but I personally think it portrayed a healthy and mature relationship between two young individuals—which is unfortunately rarely shown in BLs. Dean was full of desire but also patient, while Pharm was meek but also firm.
I was quite impressed when Dean was making physical advances to Pharm by grabbing his behind when suddenly Pharm took a stand and said a firm no to Dean. Dean respected that and apologized to Pharm, which showed that 1) Dean succumbed to his desire, he made a mistake, but he recognized that mistake and apologized profusely; 2) Pharm knew his boundaries and was not foolish enough to let someone he loved to cross those lines, and 3) Consent was clearly a major key in this drama.
How this drama portrays family acceptance/rejection was also another major plus. In DeanPharm's arc, we would see how family acceptance became the stone that built both individuals. Meanwhile, in KornIn's arc, we saw how rejection from their fathers broke their lives apart and created a long-lasting, detrimental effects to all parties involved. BL dramas rarely showed, let alone elaborated the extent of the latter scenario. LGBTQ life in Asia, in fact, is not all butterflies and rainbows and UWMA had successfully portrayed both sides of the coin really well.
There are also other great points that the drama brought up, such as the importance of safe sex and care after sex (!!!). The use of condom/protection has been brought up multiple times in BL drama and I will never get tired of it, but I believe UWMA was one of the first ones that brought up the after-sex care. Sex, especially for the first time, can be mentally/physically exhausting and painful, especially for the receiving end. After care is needed and Dean showed his love for Pharm by providing care package afterwards. I found that very thoughtful and sweet, and it was a major plus to me. UWMA also gave us a serious conversation on same-sex marriage, which is surprisingly rare in BLs.
However, the story is not without flaws. I found WinTeam's arc to be unnecessary. It felt like a filler and I was compelled to skip through most of them, although I understood that it served as an introduction to the sequel (or spin-off?) which focuses on WinTeam. Still, I wish the drama could have focused more on KornIn and DeanPharm.
3. Music
I found myself listening to the OSTs from time to time. The orchestral music did its job to intensify the watchers' feelings in emotional scenes. I also appreciated the different opening soundtracks. I noticed that they changed the opening soundtrack depending on the overall mood of the episode, which I found pretty neat.
CONS
1. Editing
I hate to admit this but the editing was sloppy at times. There were some scenes that could have used better transitions or been cut a few seconds shorter. There were also some filler scenes that I find unnecessary as they added nothing to the main story and added little entertainment value. They also missed some minor details were quite bothersome for the watchful eyes.
2. Pacing
My goodness, the pacing was the biggest flaw of the series. It would've been a 1000000/10 if it had 12 episodes or so. Some of the scenes were awfully slow. I felt like the middle part of it was quite draggy, while the ending was a bit rushed. That scene where Pharm and his friends went to the BBQ (??) place was unnecessarily long, in my opinion, and could have been used to flesh out Pharm's mental journey to separate his love story with that of Intouch.
CONCLUSION
Despite the flaws, this drama is a trailblazer in BL genre. I often found the acting in BL drama to be lackluster, but Fluke really showed his acting chop and served the best performance out of all BL drama. The story was solid and deep, unlike most BLs that often have surface-level plot. As I said at the beginning of my review, UWMA truly is *the* perfect balance of BL and LGBTQ+ drama.
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