Enjoyable but average. Was hoping for more.
By far the best part of the show for me was the middle 4-5 or so eps. The beginning spent too much time on P'Por (honestly just too much P'Por all around) and the end was really lackluster. It felt like their relationship built slowly to this certain point of the first kiss then never grew beyond that for the rest of the series. That was the peak.Since I mentioned it, I'm also disappointed with every kiss scene. I don't need a full make-out or anything but let me not see daylight peeking between their lips at least. Make solid contact. I'd rather see no kiss than these barely touching things. This really killed the chemistry in those parts for me because it seemed so artificial. I did think their chemistry was cute otherwise though they are not flashy or intensely passionate.
The idea that none of the characters were anyone amazing, just normal people living their lives made the story seem a lot more realistic than the typical BL tropes. The slowburn was nice but after a certain point felt too same-y, and tho I liked the characters there wasn't much character growth either. I had looked forward to this series a lot and though there were things I liked about it they were not stand outs, leaving the whole thing feeling rather average.
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Older gays! The show has older gays!!!
For me, the highlight of the show was the older gay couple. I haven't come across a show that would portray an older gay couple so this was very exciting for me. Especially since one of the older guys is 66 years old (in real life). I am so glad that they included this couple and showed their backstory as well, where they both were in a heterosexual relationship before and their love developed from the long friendship that they had before. It was truly beautiful to include that.I was a bit annoyed by the fact that all the doctors in the show are not really that smart. Maybe they are just book smart but they lack social skills. May it be Tawan, Deer, Boss, or Por, none of them have any good communication skills sadly.
Mork on the other hand is a sensible and a really down-to-earth guy. He has seen the struggle in life, he has been through the pain and suffering that comes with life at a really early age. Even though his age in the show is not told but he is younger than Tawan who is 28. He started raising his nephew when he was 18 and has been supporting him financially since then. The way he talks is so humble and treats everyone the same way. He teases his friends and loved ones and makes lame jokes to make everyone feel at ease. One of the best characters I have seen in a while. He reminds me of Ae (from Love by Chance).
One of the things that I liked about the show was that no one was extremely rich. Tawan's family is well-to-do but that wasn't shown till the last episodes. The theme in most BLs where one or both of the main leads are extremely rich was getting really old. This was mostly just 2 regular guys who found their way to each other after facing a few obstacles.
Although we all hate Dr. Por, I do agree with one thing that he said. If it really takes a lot of effort from one of both sides of the couple to be together so much that it is straining the relationship, then maybe they are not meant to be together. Of course, something like this cannot be said as a general statement as each individual and each couple is different and their story is unique but from a personal standpoint, I agree with it.
As the last thing, I am glad that they had a trans character as well to ask the question, "Do you love the person or their gender?"
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A Solid BL with Normal BL Pros and Cons
Great beginning/first half, good story overall. Some points of contention that took it from a 10 to a grudging 7.5:1. Tawan liked the other doctor after literally one meeting and starting dating him after ten letters and literally nothing else (also 'letters' is way too generous-- they were notes at best.) He was way, way, waaaayyy too attached for how little they knew each other.
2. Mork knew the other doctor was cheating and lied to Tawan about it. Tbh even just keeping it to himself is fucked, but to lie?? Even when asked directly? No. I hate liars in general, despise lying plots, and I couldnt really get back to liking his character after. I still finished the series, but I really feel it the choice to lie to a friend for fear of being uncomfortable was brushed over too quickly.
3. ToyBoss was my least favorite thing in the whole show. Specifically Toy. Toy is an ass. Toy remains an ass, even after they kiss and make up or whatever. Idk, the scene where he fucks up Boss' bookshelf (books literally laying open FACEDOWN. LAYING ON THEIR SPINES DEAR LORD GIVE ME STRENGTH) got me heated. More than heated, actually. I didnt like the character to begin with, but I started skipping their scenes after that because, for me at least, it was unconscionable.
4. The barista couple side story was kinda contrived. Not the worst thing, but they didnt really do a great job showing why it needed to be that complicated besides one metaphor that very much didnt explain anything.
5. I wasnt a fan of the second obstacle in episode 9. Im aware that there must always be a second hurdle for the mains to overcome, but it felt really forced. Miscommunication is the fastest way to lose my attention, especially when everyone has smartphones and is an adult. An almost 30 year old adult.
Now for the parts I really enjoyed:
1. There were a lot of music hijinks/music based jokes that didnt just land, they destroyed me. I laughed extremely hard at the stop-start music jokes and I wish there had been more of them. Also, good music choices in general.
2. This is the first thai BL I've seen where people get hurt and their wounds are something I would give even one single shit about. Usually they just slap a papercut somewhere and freak out about it, but every time someone is injured in this series, I genuinely believe it needs a bandage. Not huge, but its one of the obligatory suspension of disbelief points I usually like the least.
3. Khai. I think his character couldve been ustilzed much better (and much earlier), but the episode in which he's pertinent was still well done.
4. The motorcycle trio. Literally best side characters in any BL ever. Period. Fight me if you disagree, Im ripped.
5. Serious conversations that delve into sexuality. It's interesting when BLs actually tackle topics related to LGBT+ anything instead of just throwing voyeuristic scenes in left and right and making everyone gay for the sake of it. I dont hate that-- here I am watching BL exclusively for the most part-- but it gets very old, very fast. Ive seen other series that delve into more sensitive topics more effectively, but it was done well here and that's really all I ask for.
6. I really enjoyed the progression of Mork and Tawans relationship. A lot of BLs montage to try and say "hey theres totally a reason these guys fall for each other lol, you imagine what that is based on these fun gifs" but we actually get dialogue and scenes to show how their personalities mesh or where they arent such a good fit. Again, I've seen it done better, but this is a rare gem of a quality to have, so I'm not going to nitpick it.
In conclusion, definitely worth a watch, it does go a bit off the rails in the last couple episode but if I ever find a BL that doesnt, I'll probably die ofbshock anyway.
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A GOOD ONE TO PASS THE TIME WITH!
What can I say, it has all the traits I find as a wonderful story. Something different than a uni student x uni student, or uni student with someone older. It was fun to see something out of the university setting where both ML are working!The story was great in my opinion. It was smooth, has good slow, and the friendship developing between the two lead was also great! It wasn't suuuuper force, as they did became friends at first.
BOTH leads are loveable, as well as Morks' friends (honestly the mvp lol). Mork is such a sweetheart and I want to protect him at all cost, along with Tawan. I could understand why Tawan was having a hardtime wanting to accept the truth about his BF two timing him - probably because it's his first relationship (if I'm not wrong) and that person is his crush from a long time ago. Who wouldn't get heartbroken and be in denial when knowing the one who idolize and love so much to suddenly became a bad person? (Though I would admit it is a liiiiittle annoying how long it took him to finally accept it XDD)
I LOVE how there is near no conflict between the MLs, only at the last episode where Tawan misunderstood Mork, thinking he would get back with his ex girl. But even so, that wasn't that long/bad of a scene. Good thing it wasn't half the series or something like that. Most of the time is just fluff between them and it's ADORABLE.
NOT TO MENTION THE DIMPLE. THE DIMPLE WAS SUPERIOR! HAHAH
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Easily my favorite Thai BL that started airing in 2022
Though it’s not what I’m here for, can I give a 10/10 for Mork’s dimpled smile? It may not seem relevant, but I find the expressions of Fluke, the actor playing Mork, rather natural and suitable for the character. Fame, who plays Tawan, only gets to shine more in the last two episodes due to his emotional ups and downs, but he does quite an impressive job.What I liked a lot:
(1) Tawan and Mork as the main couple. Their love story is simple but sweet. Mork has been jilted by his girlfriend while Tawan’s boyfriend is cheating on him. Mork soon befriends Tawan, the doctor who gets rides from him. Tawan’s feelings for Mork develop later in the story, but, interestingly, we don’t see Mork being jealous even as the man he has fallen for is in a relationship with someone else. Instead, he is very protective of Tawan’s feelings and doesn’t want him to be upset. Tawan’s affections for Mork are not sudden even though he only makes a clean break with his boyfriend quite late in the series. We see the gradual changes in him, changes that he himself may not be aware of.
(2) The inclusion of Mork’s uncles, an older gay couple. They are humorous and cute, an interesting departure from the usual focus on young couples in BL. They are not the main characters, but they have a nice presence in the story, serving as a positive influence on Mork even though they may often squabble.
Some Flaws:
(1) The Toy/Boss side couple is cute but doesn't really fit in with the Tawan/Mork story. Compare it with the couple formed by Mork's uncles. The uncles integrate better with the Tawan/Mork story as they talk to him about his feelings for Tawan. While Toy and Boss work in the same hospital as Tawan, their story doesn't really intersect with the Tawan/Mork story. I guess casting Yoon as Toy adds some star power to the series, but I wish the character had been better integrated into the main story.
(2) Inconsistencies/continuity issues with the portrayal of Mork’s feelings. The production could have been more meticulous here. Mork seems to vacillate between being aware of his own feelings for Tawan and being unaware of it. In one scene, Mork's friend warns him about being hurt if his feelings are not reciprocated, and he even avoids Tawan when the latter goes to him for a ride. Then in a later scene (Episode 7), Mork seems genuinely surprised when his uncles talk about his feelings for Tawan, behaving as though he is unaware of his own feelings (and not just denying it in front of others).
A controversy:
(1) Apparently the character of Nadia, Tawan’s best friend, is supposed to be a male character. I think any decision about keeping the character as male or changing the character to be female is going to stir controversy. Given the relative lack of attention on the character, it would be hard to portray with sensitivity a male gay man who isn’t conventionally masculine, and this could lead to comments that the character is used for laughs, stereotypical, etc. On the other hand, changing the character into a female character could raise questions about the invisibility of men who are not conventionally masculine even in stories about people in gay relationships.
Personally, I can respect the decision to turn Nadia’s character into a straight woman, and I think she gets a little too much hate for not accepting Mayom’s love. It’s partly miscommunication–she isn’t sure if she can accept Mayom’s love, but it’s not like she is not giving it a serious thought.
Overall:
The story of Tawan and Mork is nicely done, and I think taking away unnecessary distractions like the Boss/Toy side couple could have allowed the two main characters and their relationship to be depicted with more nuance. The story of the main couple is quite simple, but it is a simple story nicely executed in many ways. I don’t get the feeling that the Fame/Fluke pairing is going to have legions of fans who obsess over and fantasize about them (unlike say, Max/Tul, Mew/Gulf, Earth/Mix), but it is just as well. They have done their jobs well enough and they don’t have to feed people’s fantasies beyond their roles.
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Cute, Soft, Fluffy, No Toxic Family/Elders
TBH I had heard about this series a year ago (I think?) and I did wait for the series after loving the book, but I wasn't particularly that invested in this series as I was with the other series that were also released in this quarter.But to be fair, once I got started, I felt like this was a breather after all the heavy drama that the recent Thai BL dramas that came out had us all grabbing for our undies for.
There was no toxic, homophobic parents.
There was no gender prejudiced public
There was no phenomenal, dramatic plot twists and mind-boggling climax... and yet the plot progression was still hooking the viewers in the most fluffy way possible, and by no means boring.
I also love the main lead's parental influences to be so open-minded and wise and still gave us the childish coupley character that you can't help but adore...
it was all fluffy and lemony and although not a perfect portrayal of reality, logic and common sense, it was a much needed breather from all those heavy BL tropes.
The acting was average. but appropriate enough for the type of energy the series was trying to go about... I just felt a little iffy about the acting of the one who played Por... he felt stiff with his character emotion-wise.
Fame can work on his crying expressions, since it felt forced at times... he did good, his sad scenes did make me cry but the wailing made it sound like he's pretending to cry (I mean, he is, since he's acting, but) I mean, it ruins the build up of emotion from an audience's stand point, so I think he can definitely work on it. But other than that Fame did a very good job! His acting was moving and relatable.
Fluke also did an exceptional job on acting, his eyes really draws you to the emotion that's being portrayed. And, good lord, his dimple smile is lethal. Not to mention his visuals, it just becomes a national crime when he smiles (p//v//q) staaahp... Of course, he wasn't just looks, his acting was just as good as his looks. No doubt.
Also it would've been nice if their kiss was a little deeper than just the touching of lips, but the intimacy was not diminished nevertheless... They probably wanted to stick on the kind of romanticism from the book, or are not comfortable enough to take it a step further, which I totally understand... It didn't make the scenes any less romantic anyway so it's forgivable, I guess ~
The sound engineering and OSTs also helped a lot in the entire series. It helped build up tension, emotion and even emphasis on scenes than neede to be emphasized. There was no dull, awkwards moment because the bgm and effects make up for it...
In conclusion, this was cliché but it was a very captivating
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Cute and pretty series
With "cute and pretty" I mean that it's a mostly fluffy series with a good production. It captured my attention from the very beginning and I didn't struggle to finish at any moment, so it's great for whoever wants to take a break from more dramatic and tense shows.The plot is not one of the most original, but its execution made it stand out a lot. The multiple parallels between Tawan and Mork made me very curious to see how would the two get closer over time and what would their dynamic look like, and I have to say I wasn't disappointed. Both Tawan and Mork are sweet souls, two men who are ready to help the people around them no matter what, even at the cost of neglecting themselves, and I really liked how they slowly became each other's safe space.
What I wish was done better is the overall message of the storyline. The material was right there for the writers to grasp and use, but they seemed to prefer cliché situations and tropes instead. While I didn't mind the cute and romantic moments, I couldn't help feeling like it was a waste of good material in the end.
The secondary couples were cute, but to be entirely honest they didn't stand out to me all that much. Boss and Toy's dynamic wasn't really my cup of tea (I felt like Boss was being forced to get out of his comfort zone for no real reason other than Toy's personal satisfaction, on top of the usual "being an introvert is bad" message), As for Nadia and Mayom, I felt like their story just sort of... happened? Nothing caught my eye about them.
Something that I really want to mention is how much I liked Yoon's performance here. The contrast with his character in Unforgotten Night is very strong, it made him stand out to me a lot as an actor. The same goes for Ging: this is the first series where I don't see her as the evil love rival/antagonist, so I was really happy to see her as a warm and supportive friend of the main character for once.
If you like fluff and cheesy romance and don't mind the lack of passionate love scenes and kisses, this is for you!
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I only watched until episode 7.
Short review.Okay. This is one drama that is quite interesting to watch, the acting of the two main characters is very good and their chemistry is also perfect. But I feel a little confused about their kissing scene because it doesn't look natural (I think so).
Dropped.
Actually I've watched up to 7 episodes (i think), but I forgot to continue lol. I'm the type of person who when watching a drama has to start when the drama is aired. But if you forget, it will be very difficult to watch again (due to lack of desire to watch again)
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Above average series
This Thai project pleasantly caressed my soul and even though it was not completely perfect, it left a small mark on me. The story is interesting, the acting is good, the music is great in the last parts of some scenes (I don't mean the opening song). And now he has a subtle critique. The main pair of Tawan-Mork, in addition to looking very good, said it nicely, the "something" there was felt, but physically worth the old white and their "kisses" behind the foul word, the director is apparently blind and deaf. The second pair of Toy-Boss was completely artificial for me, even though the ending was too sweet. As a senior doctor, Boss didn't sit well with me, he was too young (20), while his "trainee" Toy, who was studying with him, was actually 28 years old, and his make-up was further enhanced by combing a tall "helmet" from his hair, so he looked like wax doll from the Madame Tussauds Museum. Here, with this pair, the creators did not come across a choice of actors and the types they played. In the hetero pair, I enjoyed the symposium barista Mayom, who is really a doctor in civilian clothes, so it's funny to me that a 20-year-old boy plays an experienced doctor and a real doctor plays a hopscotch in a café. In this context, I was probably best impressed by the two older uncles in supporting roles, who played a great relationship with them for many years.Was this review helpful to you?
The best ride right into my heart
What a sweet drama this is. If you like a slow burn filled with swoon-like moments, this is it.The whole time i was watching this 10 episode series, i could not help but just feel my heart squeezing at the heartbreaking moments and being filled with joy and warmth in the romantic ones.
It's just sad that it's so short. I think that if it had one more maybe the relationships would have more space to be developed and not feel as rushed (not talking about the main couple tough).
The acting was not the greatest in some parts, but nothing too bad that would be make someone question attittudes or anything like, just felt a little... awkward(?); and that still doesn't feel like the right word for it, but the closest i could thing off.
Anyway, it was nice ride, no, the best ride i had and it is one i can repeat again when i miss it.
Totally worth it.
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Fluffy love story served well by a straightforward plot
Spanning 10 episodes, the series wastes no time with convoluted subplots and complex characters. It is served well by a straightforward plot with a healthy sprinkle of fluffy moments. And dimples.Despite their vastly different social backgrounds, Tawan and Mork somehow find a soulmate in each other. But then there are nagging doubts – Mork, a lowly-educated taxi rider, questions if he could ever deserve someone like Tawan because he isn’t as educated or wealthy.
In Southeast Asia, motorcycles are generally perceived to be of a lower status to cars but this notion adds to the charm and romanticism of the plot. There is something wildly intimate about motorcycle rides set against the backdrop of a city’s nightscape as 2 people cruise into an unknown future. Motorcycle = the real wingman.
My Ride is classic rom-com material in this respect, mostly glossing over the potentially thorny issue of class using a magic solution called love. It is a classic tale about how the right person was always right by our side. Best illustrated by this quote in the series: “Sometimes we don’t need the best person, just someone who’s best for us.”
Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/04/20/my-ride-2022-review-fluffy-love-story-with-a-dose-of-dimples/
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AN EASY AND BEAUTIFL RIDE!
My Ride was such a surprise for me!It had no huge cringe scenes...had cute couples and had an appropriately, if not huge, good plot!!
As someone who was looking for cute bl to binge on, I enjoyed the series so much!
Fame's cute smile and Fluke's omfg dimples!!!... Killed me!!! Ughhh
I cannot talk enough about those dimples! That man's dimples are gonna haunt me for a while!
Side couples all had their sweet pace..
Yoon and Best were super cute as Toy and P'Boss!
It was 10 episodes of cuteness with no heavy shits!
It might not have much of a story and it might feel bit cliche at times but that was all pretty much the fun of it for me!
There were some breakups and cheating (not by the main leads or side leads) which could be easily overlooked with the lead's chemistry!
I did wish we get one more episode so we could see how during the 4-year leap, they managed with Tawan's new job, Mork's college, and his new shop all with together their relationship!
But.
Overall it was amazing! I do wanna see Fluke and Fame again together 😍 I am definitely not done with their chemistry!
Would totally recommend this if you are in need of something light!
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