Italophilia

I also loved the soundtrack through the series. Will add to my playlist.

Once you get to the last episode, the story becomes more interesting. How many missed connections Nine and Daonuea had to make it. And how chances they had to create and give each other to get there.

I normally don't watch shows with such a low rating, but the reviews were all over the map so I gave it a try. I watched the Uncut version on iQIYI. The subs were not perfect but totally understandable. The plot, about missed connections and second chances, was clear. There were times when a flashback happened but it was fairly clear (to me) what was intended.

8.5/10

Once you get to the last episode... (continued below)

Watched the first 12 episodes on iQIYI.

Yeah, that cackle at the end of ep 12 was unnerving.

I think having "stalker" in the alternative title and synopsis may throw people off from this hidden gem. Toh has a crush on Nuea and watches him at sports events and gets to know his schedule, so he can watch him pass by. This very much reminds me of having crushes on high school, except Toh is a first-year college student. Toh is really into photography. He joins contests and takes photos at sporting events. His photos of Nuea have even been used by the school for sports posters.

What I love:
-Toh, Som, Daisy and Jao are friends who totally support one another. They are loud & quirky and are quick to be there for one another for the good, the bad and the ugly. I want friends like this.
-The representation: gay couples, lesbian couple, couple where one is transgender, hetero couple.
-I normally don't like second-hand cringe moments but it was so well done in this series. Seng did a fantastic job!

I hope people take a chance and watch a few episodes. I think they will be pleasantly surprised.

I have to disagree with your assessment of Toh as neurodivergent. He's quirky, a bit immature and slightly obsessive about his crush. The collecting of items is not too unusual, but the type of items are (head of pig, for example). Many people collect theater and concert ticket stubs, Broadway show Playbills and more, neatly gathered in an album.

As I watched the series, I started thinking that the "Secret Crush" actually went both ways for some time. Granted, Toh's crush seems like it went for longer, but Nuea started having a secret crush on Toh as well, whether he realized it at the time or not. He started missing "Van Gogh" when he didn't see him, found that he always smiled when he caught sight of him, etc.

I absolutely loved this series. I think it can be difficult to be in a real relationship with someone you've been crushing on for a long time, but Toh and Nuea managed it with open conversation, esp. after Nuea found the wall of "adoration" - not sure what else to call all those photos of him in Toh's dorm. Nuea said he wanted Toh to know he's not extraordinary. As you have already hinted at, as a society, we tend to place rich, athletic, good-looking guys up on a pedestal. If Nuea and Toh will last as a couple, there can't be such an uneven power dynamic. Nuea doesn't want hero worship; he wants love.

He was hit with a poison dart and almost died. His right arm seems useless now from the poison.

Korean BL

Just my 2 cents, but when a relationships starts with pure physical attraction and sex like theirs did, I think it's reasonable for them to questions whether they're still just friends with benefits (sleep buddies, f*ck buddies, etc), or whether they can actually take the next step. I hear the hesitation and doubts in their individual conversations with their close friends. They care about each other but is it enough to call it love and take the next step?
Dean and Pharm are very obvious about their relationship and clear about their status. They took it slower and are openly dating. Team and Win think they're still hiding their relationship even though everyone can plainly see they have something going on. It's just not clearly defined, which is what's causing the doubts. And unless someone actually speaks up, I think the doubts will continue.

Just an FYI. While the younger brother (step-brother, by the way) had like the FL for years, the FL and younger brother date for 3-4 days after FL and ML had been separated for 3 years. People here have commented like it was this incestuous thing but the show was pretty wholesome; the FL and younger brother held hands - that was it.

SML doesn't try to kiss her, but does meddle and help her quite a bit. They are childhood friends and he thinks he is the best match for her.

Viki has 17 episodes

Not that they showed. But there was some hope of that, given that Prosecutor Seo, remembered an identical conversation between her and JDJ in that last conversation with YHW. Might make YHW intriguing enough.

I think HW concluded that he lived it even though he was only unconscious for a week as HW. And he would not have known as much as he did about CEO Oh (Miracle) if he had not actually lived it.

He was involved as an accomplice but didn't know the details which were soon covered up by the family. No investigation and the family almost erased Jin Do Jun from existence, so unless HW was going to look and investigate on his own, he was not necessarily going to know who was killed.

FL is being pursued by childhood friend but she's only interested in ML.

Dreams are realistic to me when I first wake up. I have to admit doing the same to my husband. He laughs it off... yes, I know it's ridiculous. But the intense feelings of abandonment and betrayal feel real.

QS was probably really hurt, knowing that TJH would break up with her because his mom didn't accept her family. So, she pre-emptively broke up with him. I agree that they needed a conversation for closure.
My spouse's parent's also didn't accept me for the same reason (my Dad's multiple divorces). Thankfully, my spouse defended me and said it was their decision to marry me anyway. Together 34 years, married 29 years.

It's true that TJH didn't know QS overheard that conversation between him and his mom, but they were together for 7 years. It was likely apparent that the mom didn't like QS's family because of QS's dad's divorces. The missing element with the sudden break-up was closure for TJH. If they had a decent talk afterwards, maybe TJH would not still be so hung up on QS. TJH was going to always choose his mom in the end, so breaking up was the right ending for them. Just missing a proper closure.
You're right that the timing of QS's marriage-and-kid lie complicated things so now, there's a cheating scandal, or TJH thinking it's his kid. Oh, what a mess!