Moonlight Chicken (2023)

diciamo che questo 8 è una media fra i settanta che volevo dare

Ecco, vi presento i pensieri intrusivo che si sono palesati mentre vedevo la serie:
Primo, sono fermamente convinta che i personaggi di Alan, Wen e Jim sarebbero odiati dai più se non fossero recitati da Mix, First ed Earth.
Secondo, Wen che dice che lui lo fa per lasciarlo andare (stiamo ovviamente parlando del mio cucciolo Alan), non mi sta bene, finché non gli serviva mollarlo era comodo avere lo sugar daddy, capo della sezione prestiti della banca che paga le bollette. Ecco, perché se veramente lo avesse fatto per Alan sarebbe bastato al più un mese per capire che stai facendo del male all’altra persona, non lo usi, in parte per i soldi e gli dai basically una colossale falsa speranza: perché siamo onesti, è vero che Alan si fa i castelli di carta, ma è anche vero che in quei famosi mesi è stato Wen a dargli la carta per farli.
Amo Gemini e Forth, mi piace proprio come siano alcuni fra i pochi attori che riescono a creare un amore adolescenziale genuino (per non parlare poi della parte di Hearth e del suo essere sordo, ma questo ne parlo dopo), amore che in altre serie sempre ambientate nel mondo delle superiori non sono riuscita pienamente a cogliere.
Considerate che questi commenti li ho scritti quando ancora non avevo visto gli ultimi tre episodi.
Devo fare i miei più vivi complimenti a First (guess what, lo amo come attore) perché nella scena a natale, quando Alan confronta per la prima volta Jim e Wen, in quella scena è riuscito a rendere piccolo Earth, che in relazione al tipo di attore che è (quel tipo di attore che prende lo spazio in molte delle scene in cui recita) e al tipo di fisico che ha risulta molto complicato. Credo che nemmeno in ToL, dove recitava con un mostro sacro come OffGun (dove sono sicura ci siano delle scene dove i tizi si confrontano) sono riuscita a vederlo piccolo come nella scena in cui arriva Alan e lo rende proprio piccolo. (Spero di essermi fatta capite con questa spiegazione)
Per il resto, quando finisco.
Ecco, nuova cosa: al personaggio di Wen piace fare la vittima. Nel senso che non puoi venirmi a dire “grazie a te sono riuscito a mollarlo” quando per la prime due puntate ti interessava di Alan tanto quando ad un cavallo di un mosca che gli ronza intorno e non gli da fastidio e quanto tu stesso hai detto che avevi smesso di amarlo. A te, mio caro Wen serviva solo una ragione relativamente valida (per te stesso, perché siamo onesti dare continuamente false speranze ad una persona per una persona normale dovrebbe bastare) per mollare lo sugar daddy chiamato Alan, perché siamo onesti, Alan ti faceva comodo anche quando (e con tutte le ragioni del mondo, perchè anche se strano, uno può smettere di amare una persona da un giorno all’altro) avevi già smesso da mo di amarlo.
Ecco se io fossi stata in Alan avrei sbroccato prima e avrei fatto peggio.
Vi prego salvate Gaipa da questo mondo.
Poi dopo aver visto cinque episodi di fila ho pensato che a. Era meglio andare a dormire e b. Che non ce ne è uno di personaggio che non mi dia l’hyk… tranne ovviamente Hearth e Li Ming e quel cuore di panna di Gaipa.
Altra scena irritante al tempio: per che cosa stai male Wen? Per aver mollato Alan o perché ai vissuto praticamente a sue spese e te lo sei fatto per pietà. No spiegami.
Perché i personaggi che interpreta Earth hanno tutti la caratteristica in comune di dare consigli anche quando non sono richiesti? Cioè, ma chi sei tu per dirmi come vivere la mia vita?

allora, questi erano i commenti che scrivevo mentre lo guardavo e ora vorrei esprimermi un po’ di più sui punti toccati: prima cosa, mi pare palese la prima frase. tranne forse il personaggio di Earth (che fa delle scelte discutibili, ma comprensibili, tranne quella frase orribile che dice a Li Ming “sei povero e pure gay?” come se lui non lo fosse. e so che una persona potrebbe dirmi “proprio perché lo fa sa le difficoltà che deve passare”, ma proprio perché lo sa dovrebbe dargli una mano) che devo dire avevo sopravvalutato l’incavolatura che avrebbe dato (essendo questo un trend con i personaggi di Earth), gli altri due personaggi per varie ed eventuali ragioni sono delle persone non orribili (anche se Wen lo è), ma quasi. sopra lo ho scritto mentre vedevo la serie: è vero che ad Alan nella sua storia con Wen cerca di risolvere una situazione che non può essere risolta (anche se siamo onesti, una persona non smette di amarne un’altra così de botto, a meno che non compia atti strani, ma ci vuole del tempo e dubito che Wen abbia detto ad Alan che era da un po’ di tempo che non si sentiva più come una volta e forse Alan era troppo preso dal suo amore per Wen che non ha visto che l’altro non lo amava più), però alle persone normali, dopo quanto al massimo un mese si rendono conto che continuare a vivere con una persona che è ancora innamorata di te (continuare ad andarci a letto, perché sappiamo che lo ha fatto), fartgli pagare le bollette e il resto come uno sugar daddy, è quello che si chiama abuso emotivo e poi, siamo sinceri, come ho detto negli appunti di cui sopra, ad Wen faceva comodo avere praticamente uno sugar daddy che gli pagava tutto. quindi questo, e per tornare a tutto il tempo che Wen ha abusato delle emozioni di Alan, lui non è che lo ha mollato per il suo bene (di Alan) e il suo (di Wen), ma lo ha mollato solo quando doveva decidere se farsi pagare le bollette o farsi Jim (e visti gli addominali di Earth lo sceglierei anche io) e ha scelto la seconda opzione. poi non dico che Alan non abbia le sue colpe, però a. amo First come attore, quindi ho un bias verso i personaggi che interpreta e b. puoi veramente biasimare una persoana che si fa castelli di carta, quando sei tu stesso quello che gli fornisce la carta? altra cosa su Wen: lui è la personificazione del tuo pensiero intrusivo. vuoi liberarti di lui, ecco che ritorna: era necessario trovarselo mentre usciva dall’ospedale Alan? no, però come un pensiero intrusivo lui compare sempre (ora che poi io abbia la teoria che, addominali a parte, il personaggio di Earth essendo il prototipo dei suoi personaggi quindi che continua a giudicare e a dare consigli non richiesti sia altamente complicato da sopportare e quindi si possa essere pentito di aver mollato lo sugar daddy banchiere responsabile della sezione prestiti della banca, è una storia per un altro giorno). si è capito che non mi è piaciuto il personaggio di Wen? bene, fa ridere perché in ATOTS non mi piaceva il personaggio di Earth, ma ho adorato quello di Mix, qui tollero quello di Earth e non sopporto quello di Mix… quindi l’unica serie dove mi sono piaciuti entrambi (anche se il personaggio di earth sempre consiglio non richiesti da) è in CLS. bene, ora di chi parliamo? ah di quel cuore di panna di Gaipa. niente da dire, mi è piaciuto proprio. e poi… la coccola della serie: Hearth e Li Ming. come ho detto sopra Gemini e Forth mi piacciono perché sanno interpretare molto bene l’amore giovanile, quello dell’adolescenza. e poi mi è anche piaciuto il fatto che il personaggio di Hearth fosse sordo (dove si vede quindi una persona che cerca di lavorare con la sua disabilità)(e non ho trovato la mamma di Hearth così terribile come quando la serie è uscita perché alla fine non è che fosse imbarazzata dalla sordità del figlio (o forse solo in piccola parte), ma era più preoccupata e spaventata per quello che sarebbe potuto succedergli. (piccola parentesi, ma è perché sono uno studente di medicina, se Hearth e Li Ming hanno circa 18 anni e Heath è diventato sordo tre anni prima, in teoria dovrebbe essere in grado di parlare normalmente, però mi è piaciuto lo stesso quando ha detto quelle poche parole e l’importanza che hanno dato alle parole che ha detto).
ultimo commento… abbiamo i magnific ‘98 tutti nella stessa serie: infatti stupore e terrore, ma Mark, Mix, First e Khao sono coetanei.
bene la recensione è finita andate in pace, se volete vederlo sicuramente non lo sconsiglio, ma c’è di meglio (e anche di peggio)

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One word summary: Beautiful

Really, everything in this show was simply beautiful. The story, the relationships, cinematography and the acting and everything in between. Even the imperfections in each character were beautiful because of the history behind them. They were realistic portrayals of flawed human beings. Even so, the show had so much heart, and not the soft, superficial kind.

Speaking of Heart, right off the bat I have to say Gemini did a phenomenal job in his role. Like, mindblowingly so. For a young, relatively new actor, he gave the best performance in this show in my opinion. I was more invested in Heart and Li Ming's development as both a couple and as individuals than anyone else in the series. Without having seen any trailers or info about the show beforehand, I didn't even know Gemini and Fourth were in it so when they first showed up on screen, I was a little worried it would be the same as My School President, but it was anything but. Honestly, these actors get a better chance to shine when they are taken out of the school setting and placed in more realistic and mature scenarios.

Speaking of casting, while I loved Earth and his character, I had a hard time reminding myself that he's supposed to be near 40 in this. Like, he's not even 30 yet, nor does he look it, so why would they constantly try to make him seem as such? They did the same thing in Tale of Thousand Stars where he was supposed to be near 40 and I just call "bullsh*t." I mean, realistically, in the BL drama category, the actors have a very short lifespan as they start to approach 30, now the writers/casting directors want us to believe these guys in their 20s are actually 40? I'm torn because I loved Earth's performance and I like him as an actor overall, but I think the story would have been just as good if they said Jim was, say, 30-32. It still provides the age difference storyline without taking it too far out of the realm of possibility.

All of the relationships, not just romantic, were complicated and some were strained while others were so tight knit giving a balance throughout the show. The friendship between the diner staff had me feeling envious while the less than perfect relationship Li Ming had with his mother was very raw and, honestly, refreshing. I know some see Li Ming as just a moody teenager but he was just so very REAL. When he was having the conversation with Jim about his feelings toward his mom and whether he actually loved her when she's essentially a stranger, I wanted to applaud the writers. So many times, the characters just blindly love and follow their parents even when they don't deserve it. Just because someone gave birth, doesn't make them a true "parent." It's a messy and complicated type of relationship that is sometimes considered even more taboo to bring up in conversation than talking about sexuality but they handled it really well here.

I know a lot of people would have liked a longer series and honestly, I get it. It was so good that instinctually, we just want more of it. But as far as the overall plot, I think 8 episodes was perfect. It didn't need any filler with silly storylines like miscommunication or misunderstandings that tend to go on for multiple episodes.

This is a good series to have on hand when you need a pick-me-up from the weight of the world. It will definitely get a rewatch from me, that's for sure.

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Overall, this was really nice

I've been a big Earth/Mix since A Tale of a Thousand Stars, which is one of my all time favorite BLs. Moonlight Chicken was an interesting series, here are my pros and cons:

PROS

REALISM. Moonlight Chicken touched on some real-life topics in a refreshingly realistic way: deafness, semi-poverty, unrequited love, unexpected death in the family, the pain of a breakup, the fear of entering into a new relationship after having been burned, difficulties with parenting... these were all dealt with realistically and sensitively.

GAY CHARACTERS. Thank you!

ACTING. Everyone delivered. Fourth and Gemini were adorable, Earth/Mix/First were professional as expected, and Khaotung was heartbreaking in what I feel is, so far, his best performance in a series. The supporting characters were excellent as well.

CINEMATOGRAPHY. Beautifully filmed.

CONS

BORING AT TIMES. For me, some of it was uninteresting. I felt less invested in JimWen as a couple than LimingHeart, only because JimWen weren't all that fascinating as people, IMO. They just came across as very ordinary and -- dare I say -- not really noteworthy as main characters in a series.

ALAN/GAIPA. I was REALLY disappointed that the producers/screenwriters put AlanGaipa together at the end. Why? Because the story was so realistic up to that point. It felt (to me) like the writers felt obligated to put First and Khao together to satisfy their shippers. Alan just happens to be the same banker that Jim has, Wen's ex... and then, in a move that only be described as extremely tacky and insensitive, he shows up at grief-stricken Gaipa's mom's funeral to discuss business.... and Gaipa falls for him. It was unrealistic and totally took me out of the story which, up to that point, had been well written and thought out. I really wish the producers would have left that alone.

It's an 8.0 from me, which would would have been higher without the AlanGaipa intervention.

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A masterpiece: a truly underappreciated, hidden gem.

If you're looking for something fast paced- then this isn't for you. Moonlight Chicken is stylistic and very aesthetically beautiful, it's a warm and sometimes angsty slice of life of everyday people just living life and trying to make ends meet.
It brings up issues of poverty, class, hardships and tragedy; the lack of opportunities, interpersonal relationships and how even when there's love and good intentions, poor communication can make one feel trapped and miserable. This series takes its time to introduce and go through these topics with these very real and very human characters that come from diverse stages of life. The sense of community and family is super present here and it's really made me laugh, cry and feel with these characters which is honestly so special. If you like to watch complex and believably flawed characters navigate complex interpersonal relationships, then this is for you!

With a cast like this- gosh this show was blessed AND it's a P'Aof directorial? Yes, please! It also includes the perfect song choice which is sung by Ford Allan.
In my opinion, each and every actor held their own but they all have such different characters that it makes it harder to appreciate their craft and each of their portrayals. Even the side characters are masterfully crafted and portrayed; and are ready to steal your hearts!

Earth's performance of uncle Jim is a more subtle one yet it's purposeful in this low-key character. It's easy to miss it. Mix is able to embody the open minded and charismatic Wen who's searching for something more. He's understanding and such an essential part of the cast.
This was GeminiFourth's first significant supporting roles- as this was filmed before My School President- I wouldn't say that they'd stolen the show like other users have, but I'd argue that Li Ming and Heart are just as much of main characters as EarthMix's Jim and Wen. Phenomenal and very commendable performances from both of the boys especially as rookies in this very experienced and established cast of actors. They were both able to hold their own and definitely held a lot of the spotlight with their charming storylines. I was really amazed at how Fourth was able to portray the intricacies of Li Ming's emotions and internal frustrations; I adore all of the characters in their own light but Li Ming is definitely my favourite! Gemini's portrayal of a deaf boy was so spot on and completely believable; after having watched the behind-the-scenes of MLC, you can really appreciate all of the preparation and dedication that he'd put into his first significant role. Very impressive and definitely payed off.
Mark's Leng/Saleng was a great addition to the cast, and so were Aey, Chokchai, Lookwa, Papang and View in their respective roles. And then there's First. He committed so much to his character and when he shows up he absolutely kills the role; there's not much else I can say without spoiling it.

Last but not least, Khaotung's performance as Gaipa/Kaipa (apparently his character's name is Kaipa but the subtitles call him Gaipa. It's confusing). It's no secret that the guy's a great all 'round actor but his performance here has got to be my absolute favorite role of his yet! He's not a main lead but he almost feels like he is. His performance was phenomenal and lovable and I just don't have any more words for it. Please just trust me in this one!


As of writing this review, I've finally gotten around to rewatching this underappreciated, hidden gem; this series really is like a warm hug that just so happens to also encompass all of the emotions that one could ever possibly feel, during a hug.
I'm loving this rewatch just as much as I did when I was watching Moonlight Chicken premiering for the first time last year; for me, this has a huge rewatch value. I've just got to say that I'd forgotten just how angsty and painful some of the scenes and relationships can be. It really is such a journey and a joy to experience.


My Rating: 9.876/10 stars

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Its alright...

See, fourthgemini are doing so good in this show but i can't say the same thing abt earthmix. the storyline is weird for them. i mean, the whole one night stand is bullshit. why tf would you bring a drunk guy in your house in your personal bedroom??? there was a goddamn sofa. ngl im not a huge fan of earth's acting as well (please don't attack me or expose my ip address). its a personal opinion.
first is doing very well no doubt. khao is also pretty good except i found the rejection scene a bit extra but everyone handles rejection in different ways right?
fourth and gemini are too good.
also, love mark's character. just wholesome
SPOILER
jim's gonna be one hypocrite in ep7 after he saw li ming and heart kiss. "we're already poor and now you're gay?" bruh isn't that you as well...
anyways definitely gonna complete the show cuz im here for firstkhao and fourthgemini haha

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This could have been a masterpiece...

Lets rename this to "Walled Jim, Cat Commercial, Slutty Wen and the best teen romance". I am never harsh on anything, but I had such a high expectation from this project.

For such a high level cinematography it was poorly written. Who came up with the story? The dialogues? How was this person allowed to touch the production. The fact that the support couple absolutely stole the show without getting undressed is telling that two different people scripted this. Yes the whole visual execution and sound is top notch, the rest is alright. And yes, teens stole the show hands down.

Jim - the main character is too complex. The speed that he takes his shirt off and builds his wall up is not even cute, but annoying. I was expecting more from Earth to bring to the show.

Wen- second main character is summarized in that popular song "Im just thinking with my D, my sh$t dumb". And if "I don't get what I want, I will make everyone else miserable".

But then these is a second lead couple- beautiful teens doing beautiful teen stuff. Cut everything else out.

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The story tries to be realistic. But in some cases it doesn't seem reasonable.

Earth: Uncle Jim is 40 years old, but his decision+Composure+Experience has been also not showing well

Chicken Rice It takes a long time to cook and it's a very difficult food to cook. There is water to boil the soup and add ingredients to cook, cooking rice, making dipping sauces. But I still haven't seen Uncle Jim do anything.He spent his time on walking, sitting, talking and walking around. Even chopping chicken, chopping chicken doesn't look like professional.

Some of the actors did it well, like Saleng, Kaipa, Li Ming.

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Watchable drama

I feel the people who are giving less ratings but I hope they shouldn’t concentrate on only one couple and give the ratings anyhow guys I’m big fan of all the actors they are really good at everything for acting it’s just that some plots are not that entertaining but I like the deaf boy couple I watched the series just because of them it was really sweet and cute I love that couple their chemistry was another level I enjoyed it and finished within a day and as per ratings I gave high why? Because of this couple and main leads are good but it’s just their story wasn’t upto mark I hope they get other stories and do well . I guess we can give 8 above for this drama I gave bze I’m fan of all the leads and mainly for dead couple so people can watch their stories… all the best guys

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This couple is worth to watch!

To be short the long review. I really love this couple of how they Portrait their Characters in different ways. The eyes that always speaking itself that always captured my attention while I'm watching. This love team is like a chocolate that you can create a different variety that everyone gonna love it. Jim and Wen please keep it up and make your love team stronger than ever. To be honest In this series, all the good actors is here. Well done everyone. The story is so realistic that happens in every relationship, family matters and to the society. Thank you so much and hoping to see you both in more projects and as a love team. Yeheyyyyy???

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Queer Life and Love

This show absolutely devastated me in the best way possible.
It's pitch-perfect from the acting, to the cinematography, to the music, it's all spectacular.
But most importantly it's entirely driven by a cast of deeply likeable if flawed characters whose various pasts and hardships shape their lives in a multitude of ways.
As is to be expected with a project led by P'Aof, the show addresses a variety of real life issues from disability, to socio-economic inequality, to homophobia (both societal and internalised), to simply how messy break-ups can be.
Combined with the excellent writing this makes all the characters feel almost painfully like real people and makes every scene, from the light-hearted to the deeply serious, highly impactful.
This is one of those rare cases where I love a show so much I have virtually nothing to say about it, so I will simply leave you with this:
This series is incredibly meaningful both in how touching it is and in what it means for the queer community.
As a queer person, this story made me feel good - seen and respected and loved.
It's a perfectly paced, quietly angsty yet wholly comforting slice-of-life we all deserve.
Do yourself a favour and go watch it it you haven't already.

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Moonlight Chicken is a hidden gem

You know the acting will be phenomenal based on the cast alone, but Khaotung (Gaipa) was my favorite of them all. His scenes were just purely fun, sweet, and/or very emotional. Man made me cry like a baby twice. Of the eight episodes, 5-7 did get a bit draggy because of the repetitiveness in the main arc, nonetheless, it was still an enjoyable watch and I love the order in which certain things were revealed i.e. Alan’s entrance, the identity of Wen’s stepfather, and Ms. Hong’s death. I also like that the timeline was clear and that all eight episodes happened within a six-month to ten-month period.

What I liked/enjoyed:
- The reality and hardship economically post-COVID. It’s a no-brainer that everyone was heavily affected by COVID-19 in one way or another. But what made Jim’s Chicken diner different was despite Jim being poor and a single guardian of an 18-year-old teenager himself, he was able to empathize, sympathize, and cater to the unfortunate out of the kindness of his heart. Not only is his chicken rice recipe simple, but it’s also affordable, convenient, and fulfilling for the middle and lower class. His kindness spoke volumes throughout the whole show.
- I love the entire cast but Mark and View’s coupling takes the cake. Salaeng and Praew are naturally fun to be around and are very supportive when they, themselves are struggling; set to be first-time parents with a baby on the way. I also love Saleng’s relationship with everyone, he was the perfect friend, employee, boyfriend, and support everyone needed. Probably would have been a good son like Gaipa had his parents been alive. He also seemed like a really great dad from the one scene of him playing with his baby in episode 8. I love that although he had to be put out of his job at the diner, he didn’t forget to pay Jim back and still kept in contact with everyone. It truly showed that Moonlight Chicken wasn’t just a workplace but a home away from home.
- Gaipa and his mother’s backstory was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Normally, funerals for side characters are rushed but in this case, the show highlighted the impact that Ms. Hong, a side character, had on not just Jim, his family, and the diner but the whole community. While Gaipa mourned, you can feel just how much the Hongs were loved and respected by all.
- I know some find it weird or unrealistic, but Wen rooming with Alan after they’ve broken up is probably the one thing I like most about this series. During lockdown and quarantine, it wasn’t uncommon to hear that couples who lived together do and did break up. I thought Wen living paycheck to paycheck was a reasonable enough reason to keep living with his ex; especially when his ex is the breadwinner and they’ve agreed to be friends. The only problem was Alan took this as a possibility of them getting back together despite being told it wouldn’t happen countless times. To be fair, it was completely understandable because, in Alan’s case, he was still in love and actions do speak louder than words. If Wen hasn’t moved out by now then obviously it wasn’t really about Wen falling out of love but something else. Like another man (Jim) for instance. The reality is Alan can afford to think this way because he isn’t financially restrained like Wen is. If Wen leaves, Alan’s capable of paying all of his bills just fine but if Alan leaves, Wen will have to look for another roommate or cheaper condo. We got a glimpse of that when Wen had to ask their friend, Gong, for help and ended up renting a condo (hello Ohm’s room in ‘Bad Buddy’ xD)
- All of the characters’ growth was noticeable and lovely but Li Ming’s growth is the most impressive. Once he knew what he wanted, his confidence and responsibility surfaced and he was able to sell his future plans to his mother and uncle despite their doubt. Li Ming really showed them that he wasn’t as unprepared or unmotivated as they were led to believe. Not only did Li Ming plan the next four to six years of his life, but he’s been working towards it. He was dedicated and ready to walk his own path and his family couldn’t be more proud and supportive.
- Jim and Li Ming fight as any uncle and nephew would but I had so much respect for Li Ming when Jim said ‘Don’t raise your voice at me’ and Li Ming instantly piped down and apologized. That scene was beautifully done and showed that deep down Li Ming has a lot of respect, love, and gratitude for his uncle. He’s just frustrated because of the lack of communication and the pushing and projecting from flawed adults. It was brilliant of Li Ming to recognize that what Jim was projecting onto him was in fact Jim’s dreams and Li Ming calling his uncle out for that was great.
- The fact that Heart was deaf. I love the representation here and I thought Gemini did an excellent job. He was really convincing. I loved that the show stressed the fact that people tend to think deaf people are also mute when that’s not always true. I love that not only was Heart finally understood by his family but also accepted by Li Ming’s friends and family. His parents learning and becoming pros at signing, Wen communicating with him through sign, and Li Ming’s mother's openness to learn and attempt sign were all very wholesome.
- The communication between some characters was great whilst others were realistic.
- I love it when characters drop names without telling us who they are right away. It keeps the audience guessing and gives the characters some history and substance. Or when children are introduced and you have to do some connecting the dots. i.e. Beam’s ex-girlfriend’s daughter and Jam’s stepdaughter/Li Ming’s stepsister.
- The portrayal of Jim’s stubbornness that stems from age and fear. Jim being set in his ways as an older, more traditional guy is so lifelike. Although Jim isn’t as expressive and agreeable as Li Ming would like, it’s clear that Jim is trying his best to build a good reputation and connections for Li Ming’s sake.
- The reality of being able to accept gays as friends, co-workers, or neighbors but wouldn’t come around to it when it’s family. Although it sounded homophobic, Jam made it clear that her concern was about how her son would be viewed and mistreated by others if they found out his orientation, and not that she was repulsed by it. I did like that she had at least three conversations about it with Jim and Li Ming. It showed how much she was bothered by it.
- The revelation of Ms. Hong’s death. From the marketplace to the hospital and finally temple/funeral. The transition from Gaipa and Saleng walking, talking, and joking around to the discovery of Ms Hong was so well done. Khaotung’s acting in the hospital scene, it was clear that he’d been given the bad news and his crying was so heartwrenching!
- The cinematography and setting were aesthetically pleasing. I love the color palette and it was really giving Hainanese. (I love Li Ming’s little lion dance too!)
- Aof’s cameo! xD

What I disliked/wished was different/included, and noticed:
- Jim and Beam had more chemistry than Jim and Wen.
- Gaipa pursuing Jim is cute but surprisingly for someone who's really into Jim, Gaipa doesn't come around a lot. Yeah, he's busy helping his mom and keeping her company but he mostly, if not always, drops by only at his mom's requests and not because he misses Uncle Jim's face.
- Some events in episodes 5-7 could have been shortened or cut out entirely to focus, explore, and revisit older scenes.
- Jim consistently saying ‘no’ and bringing up what he said before their one-night stand was great, a man of his word, however; there were way too many back and forths about it on screen. They could have cut out one or two rejection scenes and implied it in a passing conversation with another character.
- It’s clear that Jim likes Wen and even misses him at the diner. However, whenever there’s an opportunity for Jim to initiate contact first, out of desperation, Wen would call or show up and we’d get the same rejection scene but in different clothes. If viewers enjoyed the mains together then sometimes a separation would do everyone some good and make a reunion 10 times better. It’s boring that Wen was the only one trying to make them work.
- The comedy was present but not emphasized enough to be memorable
- I wish there was a scene where Heart confessed to his parents that he was the one who broke the bottle OR there’s a short scene of his father drinking from the same bottle he and Li Ming secretly drank out of and wondering why it’s somewhat watery. That would have been a good callback.
- The reporter clearly said they were moving into 2023 on New Year's Eve, however, when Ms. Hong passed away, a couple of months later, she was written to have passed in February 2022. I suppose they filmed in 2022 and forgot to change the year on the printout.

This was a slice of life and I for one enjoyed them immensely. This is a definite watch and rewatch.

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