Ryan B
Cleveland, Ohio
This review may contain spoilers
Better than you think...Very well done.
I really liked this series. And, I scored it higher than other reviews basically, because I went into it without expectations. After watching Be Mine Superstar, I have been searching out the First/Ja titles to see how they work together. I loved finding the audition scenes posted on TikTok. And, I noticed after finishing the series this evening - the Viki viewers averaged a higher score than, the MyDrama reviewers. Curious as to why.
This is a down to earth series showing a group of friends from elementary school age through college and beyond. Done well enough to keep your interest and they take the time to develop the characters just enough so, you care. With so many cast members and the usual stumbles in the writing/directing department - we always wish for more. Give us the beautiful work of Our Dating Sims where the extra characters are there just to balance the story and never take your focus on the main characters.
This director held the camera on the characters far too long in too many scenes. Okay...we get it...he's sad...move on! But, it is forgivable. Time passing is handled so badly. Em and Name spend the night in the same bedroom and as they fall to sleep - they are awkwardly holding hands. The next scene has them in the same bed together - Em waiting for Name to wake up. Okay. But, wait! This is a completely different day. What the H E double hockey sticks happened? This happens often during the series. Pay attention - you can catch the timeline - though, frustratingly handled by bad editing.
Agree with most of the other reviews. Spend another $1.98 and have another song added to the OST. There were some scenes where the words fit in an almost comical way - not intended - the lazy sound person would just press play and leave the room. REALLY hate the preschool background music they use for most of the production. Just awful. I had to turn the volume down to 4 and thank the gods for subtitles in too many scenes.
Name's arc was satisfying. I loved that they showed his near attempt at suicide when he thought his only friend had abandoned him. When you live in fear and only have people around you tell you to get over it - nothing changes. You really feel lost. When he thought Em had just used him and grown tired of him - what else could he do? And, then - to deal with his Mom collapsing - that scene where he lays on the ground and just gives up is near perfect. And, I love how their little group - parents and all stay together and support each other.
I like that this is just a normal BL. People get together - their friends love that they are happy - life goes on. Golf's parents are wonderful. When the dad wanted them to hold hands was so cute. They were just happy their son found someone to love. And, I love their shyness. So real. And, I thought how they handled Golf's issues were so well done. I know that look when someone does wrong and then, comes into the room being overly happy to conceal what an ass they have been. Evading looking at people, the smile, talking about everything but, being late...handled really well. And, while I thought it was lazy - I didn't mind how quickly they got back together. It should have gone on for a few days longer of Golf being a bit more sorry and tormented at what he had done over the course of many months.
Em's arc was a bit of a mystery. Was he fighting his feelings while in school? Was he feeling overwhelmed? Why he did the things he did seemed more mean than to help. So, I held my breath in many scenes with Name because I felt he was going to hurt him again. It was hard to believe his sincerity when he came to offer support when Name's mother collapsed. But, after that moment - his character never waivered. I grew to appreciate that and his character.
Champ - boy - that was hard to watch. You really hurt with him and thank goodness - he finally let go. What a great way to handle the whole wedding day. Appreciated that detail as well.
Give this one a chance and be patient - it is worth the wait. And, one little tidbit I want you to notice - you never see a straight couple kiss. I can't even remember a hug. They save those kisses and embraces for the BL couples. Cute.
This is a down to earth series showing a group of friends from elementary school age through college and beyond. Done well enough to keep your interest and they take the time to develop the characters just enough so, you care. With so many cast members and the usual stumbles in the writing/directing department - we always wish for more. Give us the beautiful work of Our Dating Sims where the extra characters are there just to balance the story and never take your focus on the main characters.
This director held the camera on the characters far too long in too many scenes. Okay...we get it...he's sad...move on! But, it is forgivable. Time passing is handled so badly. Em and Name spend the night in the same bedroom and as they fall to sleep - they are awkwardly holding hands. The next scene has them in the same bed together - Em waiting for Name to wake up. Okay. But, wait! This is a completely different day. What the H E double hockey sticks happened? This happens often during the series. Pay attention - you can catch the timeline - though, frustratingly handled by bad editing.
Agree with most of the other reviews. Spend another $1.98 and have another song added to the OST. There were some scenes where the words fit in an almost comical way - not intended - the lazy sound person would just press play and leave the room. REALLY hate the preschool background music they use for most of the production. Just awful. I had to turn the volume down to 4 and thank the gods for subtitles in too many scenes.
Name's arc was satisfying. I loved that they showed his near attempt at suicide when he thought his only friend had abandoned him. When you live in fear and only have people around you tell you to get over it - nothing changes. You really feel lost. When he thought Em had just used him and grown tired of him - what else could he do? And, then - to deal with his Mom collapsing - that scene where he lays on the ground and just gives up is near perfect. And, I love how their little group - parents and all stay together and support each other.
I like that this is just a normal BL. People get together - their friends love that they are happy - life goes on. Golf's parents are wonderful. When the dad wanted them to hold hands was so cute. They were just happy their son found someone to love. And, I love their shyness. So real. And, I thought how they handled Golf's issues were so well done. I know that look when someone does wrong and then, comes into the room being overly happy to conceal what an ass they have been. Evading looking at people, the smile, talking about everything but, being late...handled really well. And, while I thought it was lazy - I didn't mind how quickly they got back together. It should have gone on for a few days longer of Golf being a bit more sorry and tormented at what he had done over the course of many months.
Em's arc was a bit of a mystery. Was he fighting his feelings while in school? Was he feeling overwhelmed? Why he did the things he did seemed more mean than to help. So, I held my breath in many scenes with Name because I felt he was going to hurt him again. It was hard to believe his sincerity when he came to offer support when Name's mother collapsed. But, after that moment - his character never waivered. I grew to appreciate that and his character.
Champ - boy - that was hard to watch. You really hurt with him and thank goodness - he finally let go. What a great way to handle the whole wedding day. Appreciated that detail as well.
Give this one a chance and be patient - it is worth the wait. And, one little tidbit I want you to notice - you never see a straight couple kiss. I can't even remember a hug. They save those kisses and embraces for the BL couples. Cute.
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