LightHouse74

Interestingly awkward with a side of boring

As I’ve noted before in other reviews, I need more than good-looking actors to make a series good.

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

The series started off very interesting, but slowly washed away due to very poor execution. This was unfortunate because it had a lot of potential. The one positive thing about the script is it did a decent job keeping me interested enough to get invested in the characters. Although the script did a nice job introduction the merman premise, the rest of the script quickly became tedious with the most basic story elements. This became surprisingly bland at times considering the multiple storylines and conflict scenarios the views were given. This takes some real talent, or is it a curse? I’ll let you decide. The production team was smart enough to give the views just enough at the end of each episode to make you want to see the next one. The script did a lot of telling instead of showing which was paired up with a lot of awkward dialogue. It also did not utilize a core storyline very well. This could have been an island mystery series involving a BL couple instead of a BL series that happened to turn into an island mystery. Another execution problem was really poor director choices. It’s not a good sign when we get a flashback scene 17 minutes into the first episode on something that happened 6 minutes ago. This continues by giving the audience at least 1 visual or voiceover flashback in each episode. The worst is episode 7 in which we get 24 flashback scenes with only 3 of them serving an actual purpose. There is even a flashback montage (7 in total) that last about 2 minutes. Another thing that wasted a lot of screen time was the very long pauses between the actors’ lines. I guess this was supposed to make the scenes dramatic and/or romantic, but it just made the already awkward dialogue worst. On the positive side, the acting was very good considering many of the actors are new. I give them kudos for doing their best with what they were given. Even though it has beautiful cinematography and locations, this also became a problem. The production team relied heavily on this by giving the viewer excessively long scenic location shots. I will say the merman costumes and CGI were good. As for the background music, it was nice but the volume was too loud during many of the scenes.

Random Note:

New Drinking Game: Take a shot for every flashback scene. Caution: Only do this if you have a high tolerance for alcohol.

The ending, although happy, was a little lackluster. They also tried to jam in all the information about the island mystery in the last episode.

If you eliminated all the poor director choices that added to the wasted screen time, this could have been a 4-episode series (6-episode max).

The English subtitles on Viki were good with the exception of the timing.


******Potential Spoiler Alert******

I wish the production team focused on just a few storylines. This series could have been more interesting if the production team had slowly incorporated what happened on the island 20 years ago. Instead they just randomly introducing vague information about it midway through and wait for the last episode to give all the important information at once.

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Sweet Acting Hindered by a Script Cavity

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

Overall, this was a very cute series. The script was not great at times, but at least it was entertaining. It did a good job with setting up the premise and introducing all of the characters. The main problem is the quality of the script was not consistent. It started off very enjoyable, but then episode 4 – 6 became frustrating. Then the enjoyable factor came back by episode 7. Unfortunately, some of this was lost with episode 9 because the script and editing was a mess. There were random unneeded scenes that didn’t really make sense mixed in with scenes that introduce key facts about Jay. Because of this, those scenes lost some of its emotional impact. Although emotional, episode 10 regain a good quality. However, the quality suffers again in episode 11 because it was very rushed. Another weak aspect of the script for me was the storyline involving Kak and Yada. For a random positive aspect, they did a great job using different screen formats to establish the flashback scenes involving Jay and Sant first day they met. I also like the use of cinematography with the scenes in episode 10.

Personally, I thought the cast did a great job. They did their best to make this work. There is only so much an actor can do with a poorly constructed script. Another factor that needs to be considered is the director’s choices. I think views forget that actors don’t always have much freedom with creating their characters. Ultimately, they have to follow the director’s view of how they want the characters to be portrayed.

Random Notes:

The guest spot with Sea Tawinan was cutie.

This is just a theory, but I think the quality of episode 9 and 11 suffered because they decided to eliminate episode 12. This would explain the odd editing choices which made each episode seem rushed by throwing a lot of information at the viewers. There was also a lot of things that was introduced in the last episode that didn’t make sense.

I don’t know if this was just a bad translation or a cultural difference, but the term tomboy has a different meaning in the U.S. This usually just refers to an individual that tends to express themselves with masculine character traits, not someone’s sexual orientation.

(Added on 4/5/2026): The location used for Jay’s childhood home was also used in the series “To the Moon and Back” (Trai’s parents’ home).


******Potential Spoiler Alert******

I was already annoyed with the “I’m not going to say it first” back and forth between Jay and Sant when they had to add the stupid love triangle in episode 5. This just added another level of frustration, but thankfully this did not last long. I understand this was probably in the novel, but not everything in the novel needs to be in the series too.

I just could not get into the storyline between Kak and Yada. I like the characters separately, but not together. this also felt like it was used as a time filler. I winded up skip all the scenes involving them.

I actually didn’t mind the 3-year time jump because it made sense. What I didn’t like is they didn’t explain some things. Why did it take Sant longer to graduate and when did Kak get involved with music or have a band. I must have missed something.

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Good as a standalone.

Overall, this was a very cute series.

This part is about the series as a standalone without any comparison to the Japanese adaptation of the manga. This was a very enjoyable series and had a good script. However, the execution was not always the greatest at times. For the positive aspects, the cast was great and did an incredible job with their characters. It also had a great sound track. As for the negative, the pacing was a little rocky at times. There were many episodes that were spot on and then others that dragged on. The main problem for me was the overuse of sound effects. I’ve become use to sound effects in Thai series and even appreciate it when done strategically for a purpose. Unfortunately, this series overused it to the point that it really became annoying.

This part is comparing the Japanese adaptation. Again, I know this is not a remake but I would be lying if I didn’t compare both. Just like Cherry Magic, I like that this was not a carbon copy of the Japanese version of the manga. I thought the changes they made were great and help the story/character progression. I also like how they went further into the relationship development with both couples. The ending was perfect and helped bring everything to a full circle. Although I did enjoy this series, it was somehow missing the same whimsy that the Japanese version had. Again, I think it was the overuse of sound effects that caused this. I also think 12 episodes was too much. This easily could have been done with 10 episodes.

Random Note:

Sin’s café is the same café location used in the series “Why R U”.

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Enjoyable story that clashed with poor execution.

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

Overall, this was not a bad series. Unfortunately, the script and editing were not it’s friend. This was a shame because the series had a lot of potential. In its defense, the series main goal to keep views interested was good. If the idea was to keep you confused about the storyline to keep you watching, it succeeded. I kept watching because I was trying to figure out what the hell exactly happened with Ji and Achi in the past. However, the script was underdeveloped in some areas and lacked direction at times. The first episode did a great job grabbing the view’s attention but set an expectation for the rest of the episodes that was not met. The script also did a poor explanation on many things. I did not mind the slow pacing of the series, but they did not use their screentime wisely considering this is an 8-episode series. They could have eliminated some unneeded aspect to help fully develop the more important parts of the script. All of the characters were great and likable. The actors did a great job considering what they had to work with. Overall, it had beautiful cinematography but the editing seemed a little off. There were scene sequences that appeared out of order which caused some continuity problem. Actors made references to things that happen in the past from previous episodes as if it was still happening. However, the flash back scenes were done very well and not confusing. Most of the songs they used were good, but they made some odd background music choices that did not fit the mood of the scene.


******Spoiler Alert******

They were actually very smart on keeping us in the dark about what happened between Jirawat and Achivich in the past up to the second to last episode. I was so confused as to why Ji was giving Achi the cold shoulder which made me want to finish the series. Thankfully this only had 8-episodes.

They didn’t do a good job showing the progression between how Ji and Achi became friends in the past and how they became friends again in the present day.

The kiss in episode 2 was unnecessary and served no purpose to the script.

I wish they gave more screentime to Ki and Kambee. As much as I loved them, don’t introduce a second couple if you are not going to give them a proper storyline. Again, a miss use of screentime.

Although it had the mostly used story element to drive a classic story concept, I like that they did not use any of the predictable conflict scenarios in the last two episodes.

What the hell was up with Ki's college degree? What was that all about?

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Just as good in its own way!

I think it is possible to like, or love (in my case), both the Japanese and Thai adaptation of the manga. I know this is not a remake of the original series, but it is hard not to compare it with the Japanese adaptation. I loved that series, but I’m the first to admit that the script had some weak elements.

This part is about the series as a standalone without any comparison to the Japanese adaptation of the manga. This was a very good and cute series. They did a great job with the story pacing and introduction of the characters. It was also refreshing to have a more mature BL series with characters that talked to each other about their problems. Overall, the script was good with the exception of episode 8, which was ridiculous. I understand the overall idea behind it, but the execution was not good. Although Rock and Pia’s storyline was cute, this felt out of place and was added as a time filler. However, this was only a minor problem for me because their storyline didn’t take up too much screen time. As for the ending, it was perfect. All of the actors were incredible portraying their character. Great cinematography and music.

This part is comparing the Japanese adaptation. Again, I know the Thai version is not a remake but I would be lying if I didn’t compare both. Originally, my main concern was how they were going to fill 12, 45 minutes long episodes. Thankfully, my fears were relieved as I watched it. The only exceptions are the ones I noted above. The main thing I really liked was the Thai version didn’t completely mirror the Japanese version. For me, this series was able to keep the same charm while creating a way to fit into Thai culture. I really liked the added scenes with Jinta and Min that created more depth to their story and relationship. I thought it was smart, and funny, that Jinta was also able to read the cat’s mind too.

Random Note:

I like the silent nods to the manga.

The Thai adaptation incorporated story content that was used for the Japanese series and movie adaptation of the manga which I think was a very smart move.

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Outstanding!!!

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

This was an outstanding series. Overall, the script was nicely done and successfully connected multiple elements and characters together. It had a few weak elements, but it did not distract me from enjoying the series. The first episode did a great job giving brief introduction about mental health, as well as the stigma and prejudice society has about it. It tackled so many aspects of mental health in a very considerate way. This series not only showed how it impacts individuals diagnosed with a metal health disorder, it included how it impacts family members and the medical staff caring for them. The series often used a whimsical/fantasy aspect to help represent certain disorders without it being disrespectful. My only critique is that I was not a fan of the romantic storylines. See the spoiler alert at the end of this review if you want more information. The cast was incredible and did a beautiful job portraying their characters. They did a wonderful job with the cinematography and special effects too.

Random Notes:

I anticipated this series since Netflix announced it and happy it didn’t disappoint me.



******Spoiler Alert******

The romantic storyline between Hwang Yeo Hwan and Min Deu Lae was not bad, but felt a little misplaced within the series. The other romantic storyline was slightly bizarre. The series introduced a love triangle between Dong Go Yoon, Jang Da Eun, and Song Yu Chan in the beginning of the series, but then this completely disappeared by the end. However, I was cool with it because I hate love triangle storylines.

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One Disappointing Spell

I guess my expectation was set to high for this series because I really enjoyed the first one. This had a very creative story concept, but it failed with the execution. The first episode was a little chaotic, but it did succeed in grabbed my attention. Unfortunately, the script quickly unraveled by the end of the second episode. I was done after watching 12 minutes of the third episode because the script became a complete mess. I love supernatural storylines, but this went beyond my threshold of suspended belief. Weirdly, it was the non-supernatural story element that had no logic which did me in. On a positive note, the whole cast did an amazing job. I give them kudos for trying to make what they had work (well in the two episodes I watch). This also had outstanding cinematography, special effects, and FX make-up.

Random Note:

This had a great cast and production quality, it just missed a good script.

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Here is My Unpopular Opinion

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

Yes, I know this is going to be a very unpopular opinion. I started watching this fully understanding it was going to have some heavy topics. It had some strong ideas, but I wish the script was better. I understand they were trying to set the overall tone, but something was just lacking with the main storyline development. Although they could have done a better job introducing it, the watch aspect was interesting. However, this felt more like a gimmick instead of an integral part of the script. The romantic storyline was ok. It just had some aspects that were awkward and a little weird. The dialoged often directed towards Hwang Dong Man did not help. Although many of the characters were somewhat interesting and likable at times, this gave me very little to keep me invested in them or their storylines. The main positive aspect was the excellent cast. They actually did an outstanding job making what they had work. The other positive aspect was the amazing cinematography.

Random Note:

I almost dropped this after the first episode but there were two separate scenes towards the very end that gave me some hope. I gave it my usual 3-episode chance after sleeping on it and decided to give it a shot. I end up dropping this because the script was just not working for me.

******Potential Spoiler Alert******

Unfortunately, the watch aspect gets forgotten until they connivingly need it.

The various lines directed towards Hwang Dong Man about how he needs to get a girlfriend or fine a woman really annoyed me. This was basically saying you will be fixed if you’re in a relationship.

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Did Not Watch the Original Series

The first 11 minutes was very interesting. Unfortunately, this faded away as the series continued. The script was mostly boring with many weak aspects. The comedy sections were not funny and the dramatic sections lacked human interest. Many of the characters were actually very likable with the exception of Risa. This character was very annoying and I started to dislike any of the scenes with her in it. Although I usually can overlook a weak script when I like many of the characters, this was not giving me enough to really care about the storyline or characters. However, the cinematography and acting were good.

Random Note:

As I noted above, I did not watch the Korean original story (Hot Stove League). I went in without any preconceived notion what this series should be. I personally think this series suffered due to a bad script regardless whether this was a remake or not.

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Can’t, Just Can’t

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

I have a confession. Vampires is my least favorite section of the horror genre. However, I’ve enjoyed BL series with this type of storyline before which is way I gave this one a shot. It seemed to have a very interesting story concept that reminded me of the Koren BL series “Kissable Lips” due to the “special blood” concept.

This had a very interesting start, but slowly started to slip by the 3rd episode. It was easy to see that the script was rough around the edges by the 4th episode. It did not do a good job explaining many key facts and was constantly changing story ideas. There were times that I felt like I was watching a bunch of random scenes stringed together with no purpose. It was also frustrating because it seemed the screenwriters didn’t know if they wanted this to be a horror or a comedy. The script did not do a good job integrated either component. The 4th episode is also when they decided to introduce too many sound effects and music that didn’t fit the horror genre. They also started creating wasted screen time with unnecessarily long flashbacks. The CGI and special effects were ok considering this is from GMM-TV. It’s not great, but I’ve seen worst.

I just feel sorry for the cast because they all did their best with what they were given. It seemed the screenwriters were hoping that having a good-looking cast would distract the audience from the poorly developed script.

Random Notes:

Sometimes it’s not good to have too many screenwriters because it was very noticeable with this series.

I’m still going to give “Revamp: The Undead Story” a chance. I just hope the script is better than what we received in this one.

The location used for Mark’s house is the same one used for Nawee’s house in “The Tuxedo” series.

The English subtitles on GagaOOLala were ok, but there were sections that did not have any subtitles. However, they did a great job edit out the break credit between the episode sections.



******Potential Spoiler Alert******

I must have nodded off during the first two episodes because I had no idea what the 21 deal was. Exactly what would happen when Tong turned 21?

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!!!!System Error!!!!

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

I know this will be an unpopular opinion, but there is just something off about this series. I went in with high hopes because Anti Rest was one of my favorite sections out of the compilation series. Although the story concept seemed interesting, the script seems very underdeveloped. It did not do a good job setting up the story premise or introducing the characters. It also tried to introduce one to many storylines in the first few episodes. The storyline with the main couple seems very rushed and not quite right from the very beginning of episode 1. The acting from most of the cast was good, but not outstanding. On a positive note, it had good cinematography, graphics, and cute opening credits.

Random Notes:

There was a hint of side BL couple but it’s a case of too little, too late. I found myself not fully invested in the series to continue.



******Spoiler Alert******

They do not fully explain Ever 4 past about advocating for robot rights. If they gave a little more backstory from the beginning, maybe I would have been more interested in the character. I need more than a good-looking actor to get me invested in the character/storyline.

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Don’t Ghost This Series!!!!

As I’ve stated before, I love series with a supernatural vibe. This was a funny and heartwarming series. This is one of those series that gets better with each episode. My advice is don’t give up after the first episode. Although it does a great job grabbing your attention in the first 3 minutes, the rest of the 1st episode was slow. However, the pacing gets better by episode 2. The whole series had the right amount of comedy, drama, and heartfelt moments mixed together. They did a great job tying everything together, but I was not prepared for the twist in the last episode. The cast was great and did an outstanding job. I also like that it had the right amount of supporting/side characters. The CGI, special effects, and cinematography were amazing.

Random Note:

The Cookie scenes were awesome.

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Nope, Not in 2022

I placed a spoiler alert at the end of this review.

This had an ok story concept, but the script had one major flaw for me. I liked episode 1 because it was making fun of BL series using sitcom humor. However, I still noticed some red flags. The biggest flaws with the script pop up during episode 2 which made me drop it. See potential spoiler alert at the end of this review if you want more info. The acting is ok, but it’s hard to gauge this with the poor character/script development. I like the music and found it very catchy.

Random Note: Why does the show not match up with the poster and the description listed on here.



******Spoiler Alert******


The first flaw was there is no logic in blaming Kim for the prank when it is very clear that Mek was behind it. The major flaw for why I dropped this was the fact that a college administrator was forcing two students to became a BL couple. She was also the cause of the situation because she filmed and posted it without the student’s consent.

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Amazingly Beautiful

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

It is always refreshing to watch a BL series with a more mature story concept. I also love how this BL series focused on many other underline themes about one’s own struggles. The artful simplicity of this script was incredible. Everything from the relationship development to the overall themes about family was well paced. The entire cast did an outstanding job with their characters. Unfortunately, there is one exception with the male leads which is very puzzling to me. The cinematography was beautiful and helped capture the undertone mood while the events unfolded.

Random Note:

I originally was undecided about watching this because the MDL series synopsis, which is very inaccurate, scared me. The one on GagaOOLala is much better.




******Potential Spoiler Alert******

The exception was the very inconstant chemistry between the two lead actors during the more intimate scenes. There were times that they were great, but then we get the standard dead lip kiss scenes that you usually see in Korean BL series. Although very puzzling to me, this was only a minor irritation.

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This was a very intriguing series. Although the first episode was a little fast pace, it defiantly did a great job grabbed my attention. The script has well-crafted on introducing all of the characters and foreshadowing future events. It was also very successful with connecting the multiple storylines and characters together in the end. The only negative aspect was the foreshadowing worked a little too well because I was able to guess some of the plot twists. However, the last one caught me by surprise and did not see it coming. The entire cast did an amazing job. I also liked the very interesting filming style.

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