Alena Kerketta
This review may contain spoilers
Better to assume that there is only one couple
Hi there.
Being a fan of bl, I have watched quite a few and I have to say this is one of the best story in history series after trapped. But just like all the series, this series too has its flaws. Let me first talk about the good points
Setting:
Being an avid watcher of BL, I am kinda done with college and high school theme. So, this came as a very refreshing change. I loved how the setting was that of an office rather than high school or college. This makes the guys, adult and mature men and hence, you can pretty much understand that it is no hormone fuelled reckless rash romance but rather a mature love story which itself brings a very different feeling.
NO love at first sight:
God that pisses me off the most. No! NO! And NOO!! Love at first sight can't be so deep that you are ready to throw your life for the person. Once or twice, I get it, it can happen but it is like a trope in every BL. I am sick of it. You cannot see an emotional bond between the characters and you can't see the reason for the characters to be so invested in each other. BUT this series made a difference. They showed them to be frds for 5 years and sharing a deep frdship and emotional connection. So, you can understand the characters deep care and protectiveness for each other and you can truly feel their love that organically developed from the already existing deep emotional bond. So, when you see how the characters are prepared to throw their life or job for the other, or raise their voice against the authority, you can understand that it comes from the strong feelings they have for each other.
Confusion and denial:
This is something I feel is very necessary to be portrayed. I have seen in many of the thai bl, the guys quite readily accept the other guy's feelings but honestly, that doesn't seem real at all. Most of the time, this guys are even portrayed as straight character, so, I find it ridiculous that they don't even find it confusing that they are feeling something for someone of same gender. It is same as a guy who had known himself gay all his life and out of the blue he started to feel something for a girl. Isn't it obvious that the guy would be confused and not sure of what this developing feelings are? Many may take it in a negative connotation but I don't think it's negative, rather it gives a touch of realism to the story. I loved how both the main leads struggled to come in terms with their developing feelings for each other. In fact, that confusion makes their feeling seem more real. Here, one main lead was confused and another went into a denial mode as they couldn't immediately accept the change in their feelings. But soon the love they have for each other, help them overcome their confusion and denial and ultimately accept their feelings. I really loved how it was portrayed
Acting:
This deserves a solid 10/10. All the actors were really very good actors. They did a great job. They were so natural, there was no awkwardness or unnecessary silence or hot stares, but they had natural conversation, playful moment, even during the time when they were still coming to terms with their feeling and won't interact, it did not feel like 'well they didn't exactly talk to each other much anyway' but rather felt like 'damn what is wrong with them, why won't they talk it out' which goes to show how amazing their acting was and how natural their frdship and conversations was portrayed by the actors. Not only the main leads conversation with each other but also with other characters felt real and not forced or weird. I really LOVED their acting. Even the antagonist characters made you hate them and give you a foreboding everytime they came on screen. Some of the minor characters, did not acted well enough but I forgave it. They were anyway not a very impactful characters.
The music was really very heart touching and I loved how the characters developed with the story's progression.
Even with all the above positives there were some real issues with the story. I said story but not the actors. They really did a great job.
1) Incestuous relationship and drunk sex
Okay, I know the second couple was not blood related but I cannot help but feel very creeped out with the relationship they portrayed. I hated how the younger brother was SO possessive and stalked the older brother. Without even confirming his older brother's feeling, he pretty much forced him to it. Getting him drunk, sleep with him where the older brother's consent is dubious and making video of it...I am sorry but all this acts were criminal. I absolutely abhorred the younger brother's actions and wanted his older brother to punch some senses into him as well as put him into some therapy as none of his actions seem to be from a stable mind.
2) Incomplete storylines
The fact about transfer of that awful VP after being complained by Li cheng was only communicated through other minor characters and felt very incomplete. Another was during the end of the series where too the plot line of Li Cheng being accused of embezzlement and how he cleared himself of all charges and how Muren got the VP trapped was all communicated through minor characters. The conclusion of the consequence was never shown even the antagonist evaporated into thin air. It gave a feeling of incompleteness. I wish they had completed the whole storyline or at least shown it in some subtle manner rather than having been communicated through gossiping office girls.
3) Not all guys just you
This is a little overused. Okay I do understand there are other sexualities in the world and sometimes they do not restrain to any gender but this is really a bad way to portray it. I know am being a little nit picky but I can't help it. I would have liked it if Licheng or Muren had admited to being bi rather than saying it is specifically that person who they feel it for. It is fine if it is once or twice, but it is used in every BL I have watched. It doesn't make the story BL anymore but rather demi sexuality. Hence, I would like to see a story with characters being gay and have been falling for guys and not just "it is just him" thingy!!
Pretty much that's all the issues I had with the story but otherwise, I loved the main couple...I wish to see them in some other series again!! Loved their acting and their frdship.
Being a fan of bl, I have watched quite a few and I have to say this is one of the best story in history series after trapped. But just like all the series, this series too has its flaws. Let me first talk about the good points
Setting:
Being an avid watcher of BL, I am kinda done with college and high school theme. So, this came as a very refreshing change. I loved how the setting was that of an office rather than high school or college. This makes the guys, adult and mature men and hence, you can pretty much understand that it is no hormone fuelled reckless rash romance but rather a mature love story which itself brings a very different feeling.
NO love at first sight:
God that pisses me off the most. No! NO! And NOO!! Love at first sight can't be so deep that you are ready to throw your life for the person. Once or twice, I get it, it can happen but it is like a trope in every BL. I am sick of it. You cannot see an emotional bond between the characters and you can't see the reason for the characters to be so invested in each other. BUT this series made a difference. They showed them to be frds for 5 years and sharing a deep frdship and emotional connection. So, you can understand the characters deep care and protectiveness for each other and you can truly feel their love that organically developed from the already existing deep emotional bond. So, when you see how the characters are prepared to throw their life or job for the other, or raise their voice against the authority, you can understand that it comes from the strong feelings they have for each other.
Confusion and denial:
This is something I feel is very necessary to be portrayed. I have seen in many of the thai bl, the guys quite readily accept the other guy's feelings but honestly, that doesn't seem real at all. Most of the time, this guys are even portrayed as straight character, so, I find it ridiculous that they don't even find it confusing that they are feeling something for someone of same gender. It is same as a guy who had known himself gay all his life and out of the blue he started to feel something for a girl. Isn't it obvious that the guy would be confused and not sure of what this developing feelings are? Many may take it in a negative connotation but I don't think it's negative, rather it gives a touch of realism to the story. I loved how both the main leads struggled to come in terms with their developing feelings for each other. In fact, that confusion makes their feeling seem more real. Here, one main lead was confused and another went into a denial mode as they couldn't immediately accept the change in their feelings. But soon the love they have for each other, help them overcome their confusion and denial and ultimately accept their feelings. I really loved how it was portrayed
Acting:
This deserves a solid 10/10. All the actors were really very good actors. They did a great job. They were so natural, there was no awkwardness or unnecessary silence or hot stares, but they had natural conversation, playful moment, even during the time when they were still coming to terms with their feeling and won't interact, it did not feel like 'well they didn't exactly talk to each other much anyway' but rather felt like 'damn what is wrong with them, why won't they talk it out' which goes to show how amazing their acting was and how natural their frdship and conversations was portrayed by the actors. Not only the main leads conversation with each other but also with other characters felt real and not forced or weird. I really LOVED their acting. Even the antagonist characters made you hate them and give you a foreboding everytime they came on screen. Some of the minor characters, did not acted well enough but I forgave it. They were anyway not a very impactful characters.
The music was really very heart touching and I loved how the characters developed with the story's progression.
Even with all the above positives there were some real issues with the story. I said story but not the actors. They really did a great job.
1) Incestuous relationship and drunk sex
Okay, I know the second couple was not blood related but I cannot help but feel very creeped out with the relationship they portrayed. I hated how the younger brother was SO possessive and stalked the older brother. Without even confirming his older brother's feeling, he pretty much forced him to it. Getting him drunk, sleep with him where the older brother's consent is dubious and making video of it...I am sorry but all this acts were criminal. I absolutely abhorred the younger brother's actions and wanted his older brother to punch some senses into him as well as put him into some therapy as none of his actions seem to be from a stable mind.
2) Incomplete storylines
The fact about transfer of that awful VP after being complained by Li cheng was only communicated through other minor characters and felt very incomplete. Another was during the end of the series where too the plot line of Li Cheng being accused of embezzlement and how he cleared himself of all charges and how Muren got the VP trapped was all communicated through minor characters. The conclusion of the consequence was never shown even the antagonist evaporated into thin air. It gave a feeling of incompleteness. I wish they had completed the whole storyline or at least shown it in some subtle manner rather than having been communicated through gossiping office girls.
3) Not all guys just you
This is a little overused. Okay I do understand there are other sexualities in the world and sometimes they do not restrain to any gender but this is really a bad way to portray it. I know am being a little nit picky but I can't help it. I would have liked it if Licheng or Muren had admited to being bi rather than saying it is specifically that person who they feel it for. It is fine if it is once or twice, but it is used in every BL I have watched. It doesn't make the story BL anymore but rather demi sexuality. Hence, I would like to see a story with characters being gay and have been falling for guys and not just "it is just him" thingy!!
Pretty much that's all the issues I had with the story but otherwise, I loved the main couple...I wish to see them in some other series again!! Loved their acting and their frdship.
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