Thank you so much for explaining. I can totally see this interpretation. I understood some of it myself (the bodies), but not all of it (the final scene with the two kokoys).
I was (and am) a little confused in places. And the FL is super unlikable and illogical.But the performances were…
For one thing, is the MC a trans man or trans woman? Because an argument could go either way - especially since we dont know exactly how long the FL has known them.
It also wasnt totally clear that they switched bags (and thus jars) at first. And if they knew they were, why were they reading each other’s stars/wishes?
Was there a translation error in the last scene? Was it supposed to be “when you put contacts on me”? But that still doesnt seem to answer the question. Contacts arent masculine nor feminine. So how would that correlate to when MC realized they were trans?
I was (and am) a little confused in places. And the FL is super unlikable and illogical.
But the performances were good, the atmosphere was well-done, and it seems to speak to the confusion that trans youth may feel. I wonder if the story wouldve felt more enjoyable if focused on Erek Lin’s character rather than the FL.
Thats always nice to hear! Yours is really helpful too. I actually didnt know about many of them, and had lowkey forgotten about a couple of the ones i had watched.
Im going to link yours up above in my description if that’s okay?
Also a note to other viewers: Has subtitles in English, Chinese, Korean, German, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese, French, Dutch, Malay, Indonesian, Turkish and Arabic.
OK. Clearly your trolling with that 3.5 but I can't let this just sit here. I may have to start leaving actual…
I don't want to attack you, but to bring up points that these other commenters didn't:
Between Us was meant to be compared to UWMA. They marketed it as such. They used some of the same footage. They purposefully skipped important scenes and context because they were included in UWMA. This was 100% meant to be affiliated with UWMA. And that means it gets compared. For good, bad, and everything in between. It's not like Love By Chance and TharnType which theoretically connected, but not really. Or Tonhon Chonlatee and Ai Long Nhai. Or Unforgotten Night and Love Syndrome. Or En of Love and Love Mechanics. Even outside of BL, at Lost Tomb, they aren't advertised as intrinsically connected. They all pretty much stand on their own, in advertisement, in framing, and more. So changing some of the story and characteristics didn't matter. Because they weren't marketed as being connected. Some you only found out when you started realizing that the characters all had the same names, and even then, you'd be wrong for comparing. Because they weren't framed to be compared. BU and UWMA were meant to be. So you get what comes with that.
But even looking outside of my UWMA lens - which, believe it or not, I am able to do - the writing here was sloppy. The bgm was poorly chosen. Some of the acting was not convincing. This was obviously meant to be taken seriously, but it failed in my eyes. Especially since i know what this director is capable of. What this cast is capable of. Because i've seen it. Saying something is good by older standards is not progress. Itd be different if this was released in 2018. Then maybe i could say “yea, it was good for a 2018 work.” But it wasnt. We’re judging it by today’s standards. Because that’s when it was released. And I would say that even if compared to Love By Chance, this director's 2018 work, this one still failed. Because at least the main couple in LBC got more focus. And wasn't as repetitive. And the cameo couple from the "connected" franchise was better incorporated. Hinted. In such a way that fans in-the-know were giddy, but unfamiliar viewers didn't feel burdened and confused.
I use the full range of numbers in my reviews and ratings. Because why else are they there? And if I drop, I don't rate. Simple ast that. If something is bad, but obviously fulfilled its task, i'll rate it higher. Plenty of people are generous in their ratings, so having a harsher critic is good to balance out the fluff. Obviously people agree with my comments, even if they don't agree with my numbers - and that's what matters. Because everyone's numbers are going to be different. There is no objective way of measuring ratings. Especially between different people. The only objective metric you can apply is across all of your own ratings. And I never claimed mine were objective, or measured, or had any sort of metric. It's based on gut feelings. And I stand by it.
As for your last sentence, you missed the part where I'm familiar with the director, the cast, and yes... even the writer. Let's not try to label this an out-of-date masterpiece in their portfolio when, in my eyes, they have produced better works in their past.
Now, was i too harsh in my rating? Maybe? Ive come back and rerated titles before - both up and down. It’s possible that i might come back some months down the line and re-rate it. Maybe to a 5? 🤷♀️ i dont see me going above that though. And it doesnt de-legitimize my comments and my initial feelings. Right now, even days later, this feels like a 3.5 for what it was supposed to be. What it was framed to be. And what it couldve been, knowing what this team is capable of.
Oki, can please someone tell me, am I the only one who finds that sniffing each-other's cheek thingy weird? As…
I just want to add on to what the others are saying.
Sniff kisses have actually been around in many cultures. Ive heard of indigenous tribes who do it as well. But sniff kisses are indeed a sign of affection in Thailand. According to research, part of this is because of how much they value cleanliness (which is also why you see so many mentions of showers). Sniff kisses are, in a way, telling your loved one that you like their smell.
It is more prominent in BLs than many other thai media ive seen, but it is by no means restricted to it. This trend might very well be because of how mushy and young and lovey-dovey BLs tend to be. Much other thai media is rather soap-opera-y. And even soap opera-esque BLs often lack sniff kisses (especially early ones).
How do you feel Win and Team were different in UWMA?
Team in UWMA was teasing, supportive, and ever so slightly chaotic. He would rough house with Pharm, leading to those TeamPharm shippers. He teased Pharm relentlessly after that night on the raft, telling him he needs to eat more eggs to recover his stamina. Prying for information and to get a reaction out of him. Trying to lift Pharm's shirt that day after Dean slept over and Dean picked up Manaow's call. And he would tease Dean as well. He was very much in tune with what was going on around him. Always nudging Dean and Pharm together, and suggesting at things. And he was the protective type too, always trying to protect Pharm - before the field trip and it was revealed Dean was angry, the night at the raft when Team was drunk and trying to get to Pharm's room. And on Christmas, out shopping with Win, when Win mentioned about kissing mistletoe means you would stay together, with no hesitation whatsoever, Team asked where they could get mistletoe. And then after only a brief look around, kissed Win right there in the mall. Also, he hates being vulnerable. He tends to laugh it off and change the subject. And while he did still hesitate with Win in BU, the hesitation felt different. In UWMA, it felt more like he was hesitating because he didn't want to be vulnerable. In BU, he seemed to hesitate because he didn't want to rely on Win.
Win is more or less like he was in UWMA, because we didn't see too much of him in UWMA. Both versions of Win arent shy about PDA. He supports Team however he can, but also tries to push him to do things on his own.
But the dynamic BETWEEN Win and Team feels different. Win had a certain amount of authority of Team, dragging him everywhere. And while Team would whine a bit, he never really resisted. They were also more flirty when people weren't watching (which we did see in the beginning of BU, but it didn't carry all the way through). But in BU, Team doesn't really let Win take charge. In fact, he's a little violent about the prospect. And they become significantly more mushy than flirty.
Please please please dont try to say that the reason people don’t like this is because it’s character/relationship focused, rather than plot focused like UWMA. Or because of pacing. I am a major major character-driven story consumer. I love my slice-of-life slow dramas as well. While it is true that many people hate on these types of story styles, and could be a contributing factor, it is by far not the only one.
The problem here is pure-and-simple: this wasnt Win and Team. It was Dean and Pharm all over again. And i can say that precisely BECAUSE im so character and relationship focused. Like, that’s legit what makes a good story for me.
And while UWMA and BU were both stretched out forms of their light novel counterparts, this one felt like it. Extremely.
Also, yes, is is P’New’s style to pull at emotions. Which he has done successfully in MANY of his projects. His trademark idea is here, but it wasnt executed with the finesse we know he’s capable of.
Tul & Wan saved it for me, too. This would have been a great series if they were the primary couple.The music…
YES! That was probably the worst case, and it was what reminded me to put it in this review. That music felt so freaking ominous i had to go back and rewatch because the whole first time i was expecting something to happen! Was waan gonna faint again? Was Waan’s dad gonna come storming into the room? Was Tul gonna pull away in typical Between Us- fashion tears?
I think the reason why I have been a bit disappointed in this drama was because I had ridiculously high expectations…
The thing is, this cast and this director have put out great great works in the past. But this one felt like I was back watching Love By Chance, but with a rewritten DeanPharm couple.
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1 
Stories of underrepresented and stigmatized characters who live their lives during the nighttime.
It also wasnt totally clear that they switched bags (and thus jars) at first. And if they knew they were, why were they reading each other’s stars/wishes?
Was there a translation error in the last scene? Was it supposed to be “when you put contacts on me”? But that still doesnt seem to answer the question. Contacts arent masculine nor feminine. So how would that correlate to when MC realized they were trans?
But the performances were good, the atmosphere was well-done, and it seems to speak to the confusion that trans youth may feel. I wonder if the story wouldve felt more enjoyable if focused on Erek Lin’s character rather than the FL.
Im going to link yours up above in my description if that’s okay?
Has subtitles in English, Chinese, Korean, German, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese, French, Dutch, Malay, Indonesian, Turkish and Arabic.
Between Us was meant to be compared to UWMA. They marketed it as such. They used some of the same footage. They purposefully skipped important scenes and context because they were included in UWMA. This was 100% meant to be affiliated with UWMA. And that means it gets compared. For good, bad, and everything in between. It's not like Love By Chance and TharnType which theoretically connected, but not really. Or Tonhon Chonlatee and Ai Long Nhai. Or Unforgotten Night and Love Syndrome. Or En of Love and Love Mechanics. Even outside of BL, at Lost Tomb, they aren't advertised as intrinsically connected. They all pretty much stand on their own, in advertisement, in framing, and more. So changing some of the story and characteristics didn't matter. Because they weren't marketed as being connected. Some you only found out when you started realizing that the characters all had the same names, and even then, you'd be wrong for comparing. Because they weren't framed to be compared. BU and UWMA were meant to be. So you get what comes with that.
But even looking outside of my UWMA lens - which, believe it or not, I am able to do - the writing here was sloppy. The bgm was poorly chosen. Some of the acting was not convincing. This was obviously meant to be taken seriously, but it failed in my eyes. Especially since i know what this director is capable of. What this cast is capable of. Because i've seen it. Saying something is good by older standards is not progress. Itd be different if this was released in 2018. Then maybe i could say “yea, it was good for a 2018 work.” But it wasnt. We’re judging it by today’s standards. Because that’s when it was released. And I would say that even if compared to Love By Chance, this director's 2018 work, this one still failed. Because at least the main couple in LBC got more focus. And wasn't as repetitive. And the cameo couple from the "connected" franchise was better incorporated. Hinted. In such a way that fans in-the-know were giddy, but unfamiliar viewers didn't feel burdened and confused.
I use the full range of numbers in my reviews and ratings. Because why else are they there? And if I drop, I don't rate. Simple ast that. If something is bad, but obviously fulfilled its task, i'll rate it higher. Plenty of people are generous in their ratings, so having a harsher critic is good to balance out the fluff. Obviously people agree with my comments, even if they don't agree with my numbers - and that's what matters. Because everyone's numbers are going to be different. There is no objective way of measuring ratings. Especially between different people. The only objective metric you can apply is across all of your own ratings. And I never claimed mine were objective, or measured, or had any sort of metric. It's based on gut feelings. And I stand by it.
As for your last sentence, you missed the part where I'm familiar with the director, the cast, and yes... even the writer. Let's not try to label this an out-of-date masterpiece in their portfolio when, in my eyes, they have produced better works in their past.
Now, was i too harsh in my rating? Maybe? Ive come back and rerated titles before - both up and down. It’s possible that i might come back some months down the line and re-rate it. Maybe to a 5? 🤷♀️ i dont see me going above that though. And it doesnt de-legitimize my comments and my initial feelings. Right now, even days later, this feels like a 3.5 for what it was supposed to be. What it was framed to be. And what it couldve been, knowing what this team is capable of.
Sniff kisses have actually been around in many cultures. Ive heard of indigenous tribes who do it as well. But sniff kisses are indeed a sign of affection in Thailand. According to research, part of this is because of how much they value cleanliness (which is also why you see so many mentions of showers). Sniff kisses are, in a way, telling your loved one that you like their smell.
It is more prominent in BLs than many other thai media ive seen, but it is by no means restricted to it. This trend might very well be because of how mushy and young and lovey-dovey BLs tend to be. Much other thai media is rather soap-opera-y. And even soap opera-esque BLs often lack sniff kisses (especially early ones).
https://mydramalist.com/photos/xVder_3
https://mydramalist.com/photos/qvmQ5_3
Win is more or less like he was in UWMA, because we didn't see too much of him in UWMA. Both versions of Win arent shy about PDA. He supports Team however he can, but also tries to push him to do things on his own.
But the dynamic BETWEEN Win and Team feels different. Win had a certain amount of authority of Team, dragging him everywhere. And while Team would whine a bit, he never really resisted. They were also more flirty when people weren't watching (which we did see in the beginning of BU, but it didn't carry all the way through). But in BU, Team doesn't really let Win take charge. In fact, he's a little violent about the prospect. And they become significantly more mushy than flirty.
The problem here is pure-and-simple: this wasnt Win and Team. It was Dean and Pharm all over again. And i can say that precisely BECAUSE im so character and relationship focused. Like, that’s legit what makes a good story for me.
And while UWMA and BU were both stretched out forms of their light novel counterparts, this one felt like it. Extremely.
Also, yes, is is P’New’s style to pull at emotions. Which he has done successfully in MANY of his projects. His trademark idea is here, but it wasnt executed with the finesse we know he’s capable of.