Honest opinion
First things first, this is going to be a hard review for me. I will be honest that I have a hard time separating my opinion as someone who read the novel, especially that TSFAS is my favorite BL novel.Watching it was very special to me. To see Arthit and Daotok not just in my imagination but literally as real people. Them choosing Ngern and Oat to do this is the best part. They were able to portray ThitDao well. And of course, we also got the best person for Direk — Jab. Other cast also did a good job, especially our Mae Min. I think my only negative take with the casting was Dao’s two fathers. I can’t see the chemistry and the actors’ connection with the characters.
As I said, it’s hard for me not to compare it to the novel, but I still believe that they were able to make it a good series. The story is still there. They were still able to make me cry with DoMin and the hidden sadness of Arthit.
But one thing I really noticed were those small things that were not included in the series. For others, it might be small, but those were what ThitDao was made of. Those small details that show Arthit’s gentleness and vulnerability. That show why Dao is Dao. The little moments that show how genuine and magical their love is. I love the Arthit that I saw in the series, but he was not the Arthit I fell in love with while reading the book. It’s missing some small elements, but then again, those small things are the reason why I love Arthit and Daotok so much.
Overall, I still appreciate the series for what it gave and how it brought the story to life. It may not be exactly how I imagined it, but it still holds a special place in my heart. And maybe that’s okay, because some stories are just meant to feel different when they leave the pages and become real.
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Ichitan's Ad
I'll admit it, I fell in love with Net in this series. I didn't realize that man is hot AF. 🤭🤭 And Latte... arghhh. Do I even need to explain myself when it comes to these two?Chemistry-wise, NetJJ and LatteKim are carrying it. Story-wise, it's amazing. They managed to perfectly balance the depth of the story, the comedy, the romance, and of course, the angst. I especially love the JomKaew angst. I'm a sucker for that kind of emotional pain.
As they say, Domundi has done it again. And one thing I always appreciate about DMD is how they handle their NC scenes. They're not driven purely by lust; they're delivered with passion, emotion, and the characters' devotion to each other.
One highlight I'll always remember is how cleverly they squeezed in Ichitan's ads. Seriously, how smart was that? I won't spoil anything, but it's definitely worth the hype.
Highly recommended.
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If the sky and the ground got in my way, I will destroy them all.
InnOngsa. I was honestly surprised by this tandem. Starting with their chemistry, should I even question it? Of course not. 😭Acting-wise, from the main roles to the supporting cast, everyone ate. Ongsa is such a good and pretty crier, but Inn? That man can ACT. You can see the yearning in their eyes, but in completely different ways. One shows it through sadness, while the other shows it through anger and eagerness. And somehow, both hit just as hard.
Story-wise, it was such a great ride. This series gave me the kind of love and yearning I was looking for. The NC scenes were shot beautifully, with so much passion, but what impressed me more was how they managed to show all of that without compromising the historical revolution storyline. Everyone was fighting for what they believed was right until the very end.
Angst, you said? Here you go. 😭 Is there even an episode where they were simply happy without having to fight to hold on to the love between them? And the script? Breathtaking. My favorite line has to be: "If the sky and the ground got in my way, I will destroy them all."
You can never make me hate Phob. Love doesn't just revolve around romance. How can I hate someone for trying to change what he believes is wrong with his country? And when he betrayed Thin, it wasn't just Thin who suffered. Phob suffered too, probably the most, because he had to hurt the person he loved most. 😭😭😭
But what I loved most was that they didn't simply run back into each other's arms. We knew they still loved each other despite everything that happened, but it took so many episodes before they finally found their way back to each other. And that made their reunion feel so much more deserved.
One of my favorite parts was after the system changed, when Phob started questioning whether he had supported the right thing because all he could see were the consequences of those changes. Meanwhile, Thin, despite being one of the people most affected by them, was able to see the good that came from it. I loved that contrast because it showed that neither of them had a completely simple answer.
Overall, this was such a great ride. Definitely one I’m going to recommend to everyone.
Isn't it obvious from how LONG this review is? LOL. 😭
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A god sent for manhwa readers
"Payback" is a gift sent by God to all manhwa readers. This is the most accurate live-action adaptation of a manhwa, from the line delivery and scene sequencing to, of course, the casting.Everyone did a fantastic job bringing "Payback" to life. The story was already great in the original version. The issues it tackles are highly controversial; while we might not have hard evidence that these things actually happen in the entertainment industry, we cannot prove they do not either. It is no surprise the adaptation is this good, since Sammon is the screenwriter (I love all of her work).
The main leads' chemistry is surprisingly excellent, especially given that this is their first project together and they are relatively new to the BL genre. And don't even get me started on their NC (no-children/mature) scenes—those are just WOW! Pure "wow," "woah," and "ack!"
The production value is great too; you can really see the quality. Plus, the OST is quite unique and fits the series perfectly.
Once again, I want to commend the casting, from the main leads to the supporting roles. Shout out to Boss CKM! He is exceptionally handsome in this series. I find myself wanting to pause the screen every time he appears. LOL, bye!
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Honestly...
This was the first time I saw Boss play such a hopeless simp, and I'll be honest, I'm not really used to it. In my eyes, he'll always be P'Phayu. 😂I'll be honest again, though... a lot of the scenes felt pretty cringe. I kept defending it by telling myself that maybe they intentionally wanted it to be that way. The story was very simple and didn't have much depth.
That said, I did enjoy the cast since most of them were new to me. My only issue was that the other three couples didn't get proper closure. I really wish they had been given satisfying endings too.
Honestly, I don't have much else to say. I finished the series because I love BN.
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Armageddon???
It was okay. Just okay. Meh.I mean, there's nothing new about the story. A dying bad boy falls in love with the introverted nerd in class. He'll do anything for the one he loves. Then we have the older brother, who was cast out by his homophobic father because he's gay... only for the father to turn out to be gay too. And of course, we get the dramatic sacrifice at the end where one chooses to stay away just to save the other.
See? It's fine, but nothing new. Nothing that made me go, "Wow."
Now, the ending... what exactly were they trying to give us? An open ending? Honestly, I'd rather they both died because of that comet. 😂
Speaking of which... what was the point of the comet? One moment we're dealing with terminal cancer. Then we're dealing with a homophobic father, which is already a familiar plot. Then suddenly... a comet? Are we in Armageddon now? 😭
And lastly... I have to ask.
What was the thought process behind that opening sequence? You know, the one where they're standing against a black background while it's raining, dramatically reciting quotes? I was so confused. 😂
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Untamed???
Starting with the cinematography... who handled this series? They deserve to be hired for every GMMTV series because it was absolutely stunning. Every shot looked so well thought out and cinematic.The story was good too. I won't say it's completely new since it shares some similarities with other fantasy series I've watched, but they executed it really well. I also like how they mixed fantasy with political issues, which made the story feel even more relevant.
One thing that made this series work so well is the casting. This is where I realized I really can't act because I would probably be laughing through most of these scenes. Everyone did an amazing job. As for Sky and Nani, I already expected great performances because I know they can act. And of course, Nani absolutely nailed the action scenes.
One thing I couldn't stop noticing though... why does the ending of Wu remind me so much of The Untamed? Even the OST gives off a similar feeling. Is this becoming the trend for bromance series? 😂
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What am I expecting??
The simplicity of this series carries such deep emotions. This is why I fell in love with JBL, and honestly, it's been a while since I last felt this way about one.I fell in love with it in the first episode, then slowly fell out of love after two or three episodes. But then I stopped and asked myself: What exactly was I expecting from this series?
The characters are literally in their late 30s. So what was I expecting? Fluff? Pick-up lines? Cringey romantic moments?
And that's when I fell in love with it all over again.
This series is not for everyone. As I've mentioned before, this isn't your usual fluffy, student-themed BL. This is real life. There's very little fantasy in it. Instead, it hits hard with themes like midlife crises, the struggle between choosing stability or happiness, the pain of slowly losing people through death, falling apart, and of course, love and marriage—especially as a queer person.
So yeah, it's not for everyone, but I'll definitely recommend it to all of you.
Bye and peace
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Very cliché but i love petty angst
This series is lowkey giving Jinx in its first episode, just with a different sport. But after that, you'll realize it's actually very different from Jinx.Honestly, there's not that much special about the storyline, but I'll be honest... I got hooked. Hahahaha. Why? Because the story is cliché, but it's giving the classic Wattpad stories we read 15 years ago. The angst is cliché too, but sorry, that's exactly the kind of angst I'm weak for. HAHAHAHAHAHA.
The second thing I like is that the main lead took a long time to forgive the other. Yes! Let him suffer! Let him yearn!
I didn't like the ending, though. They could've given us more.
So overall, I wouldn't really say this is a great series. It just happens that I'm weak for this kind of angst. Hahahaha.
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