FKA REY
Paris
A well-run progressive series
It's quite amusing to see how GMMTV is capable of the best with courageous and modern series like The Warp Effect or Not Me as well as the worst with product placement infested mawkishness like Fish Upon The Sky and Vice Versa.Here, many important subjects are tackled with a lot of benevolence: homosexuality, consent, body acceptance, STIs, etc. We are not used to it and it's good to see a serious subject in a series that is more of a comedy. Even if it can seem a bit unrealistic at times, as if the simple fact of talking out loud about a problem with people could solve it, the good intentions are there and that is the main thing.
The actors are good in their roles. However, even if it advocates a certain diversity, the casting is still 90% "light skinned-thin body/muscular". There is still progress to be made, especially when it is one of the subjects treated.
The series is pleasant to watch. I don't know if it will be worth a second viewing. We'll see.
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A story that could have been really interesting but GMM falls into its eternal flaws
The basic idea was good: class struggles, privileges for the rich, debt management, inequality. A romance between a rich teenager and a poor one is interesting. Alas, as soon as the romance begins (in a totally unexplained way, by the way), we plunge into a rather inconsistent high-school crush, very poorly served by rather average acting. For once, the age difference between the actors and their characters isn't too much of a handicap.The rare moments of action aren't enough to save the series from the banality into which it's sinking. It's not a bad show to watch, but its lack of originality leads straight into a predictable tedium.
When I stopped wanting to know what was going to happen next, I told myself I'd better give up.
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The umpteenth failure for MAME
MAME, after banalizing sexual violence in all her novels (Love By Chance, TharnType, Don't Say No, ...) sets out to romanticize arranged marriages. The idea that a fake marriage between a gay man and a lesbian is an easy way to get rid of a conservative family is false. What will the spouses do at family reunions or when it's time to talk about children? Their partners at heart will be relegated to the shadows. We can deal with this subject, but we can't do it lightly. What legitimacy does MAME, a heterosexual woman, have to deal with a subject that concerns the LGBT community, of which she obviously knows nothing? We're on the verge of cultural appropriation.In addition to the above-mentioned subject, the series has another problem: the characters have zero consistency, and the acting suffers greatly as a result. The female couple are so naive as to verge on indigestion. Nuea is an extraordinary boring. Lom is cowardly and manipulative.
I have no intention of spoiling the ending; all I can say is that it's predictable. Lom's attitude towards Yiwa is not very fair.
When I started watching this series and discovered that MAME was behind it, I almost stopped. I should have.
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What a lovely series!
Like the main character, we're drawn into this life-size video game story. We follow the story intensely, wishing that fiction could become reality. We also note that just because you think you're doing it right doesn't mean you're doing it right - an interesting theme.As is often the case with Korean BLs, and unlike Thai BLs, we're not drowned out by countless long, maudlin scenes. Instead, the series cuts to the chase, keeping us captivated.
The actors are convincing. It's well filmed.
Worth seeing.
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A very bland scenario
The real problem with this series is that the scenario is almost non-existent. Considering the number of years they had to write one, it's very surprising that they're failing on this. Basically, we have a guy with a big childhood trauma and another guy who doesn't really know how to deal with his love feelings. The first one wonders if the second one is nice to him because he likes him or because he is nice to everyone. It's quite rudimentary but why not... for a series of three episodes. The constant mood swings within the couple in formation here are only there to last 12 episodes.As for the acting, I have mixed feelings. I feel more like they were poorly directed and asked to whine more than necessary. Manow's character is a perfect example: as much as she was the funny good friend in UWMA, here she is just so childish that it's annoying. Samantha didn't start playing badly all of a sudden, so the problem comes from the direction.
To continue with secondary characters: there are way too many of them. I think it would have been better to keep only Manow and her boyfriend (who were already there in UMWA) and the ABC's who bring a little freshness to this rather indigestible story. The story of the older brother is useless and the love story between Prince and B is interesting but doesn't add anything to this series. They should have their own.
A detail is very revealing of the total lack of investment from the members of the series: the permanent mistakes in the dyeing of Win's hair. This is not normal for a series with such a budget!
In short, we are far from the very good UWMA! Everything is just an accumulation of lazy clichés to which none of the actors seem to really adhere. It's not a complete failure but it's very boring. What a shame for a series that should have been a real success!
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The unforgotten night turns into a forgettable series
First, we are sold a BDSM story but once the first episode is over, it is almost forgotten.Like in KinnPorsche, the police/mafia story is unfortunately totally secondary to the love story but at least in KinnPorsche, the characters, dialogues and direction had style. Here, the dialogues and situations are repetitive and uninventive. And above all, the character of Kim, angry and whiny, is unbearable. It's really hard to get attached to him and it is hard to understand what Kamon sees in him.
In summary: little interest to watch this series.
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THE good surprise
Once you get past the rather annoying sound effects - which you end up enjoying! -, we let ourselves be caught by this typically Thai and well conducted sitcom. Each episode tells a mini story that fits well with the general scenario.The actors are good, and the dialogues rather funny. The English translation watered down the characters' words which is a waste; especially those of Daisy and Kanom, quite vulgar. So I'm glad I understand enough Thai language, it helps to better understand the humor!
At the beginning, I was quite afraid to be in a bromance but no, it's a real BL in a format that we are not used to but so much the better!
In summary: this sitcom is really worth it and we laugh a lot while watching it.
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Not as good as it could have been
We have good actors, action and it is well filmed. The series is enjoyable without being ultra captivating. We have a big budget production and it's good that for once, we are told something more than an eternal student romance. The problem is that the love stories take too much precedence over the police plot which lacks consistency and realism. This makes some episodes lack of interest.Also, the romanticization of the sexual assault scenes is not acceptable. This is a recurring problem in the BL world.
In summary: to watch but not to watch a second time.
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This review may contain spoilers
Best BL ever. Period.
Admittedly, there are a few flaws in the editing: they never turn off the lights, never close the front doors and especially the English subtitles are more than approximate!But this is very secondary. Here, what counts is this love story that nothing makes him waver: when Xie Yan realizes that he is in love with Shu Nian, nothing makes him give up, not even destiny, his parents or malevolent people. Not even death! The film is infinitely sad (the alternative ending brings 2 minutes of joy at the end and therefore a happing ending, it's better than nothing) but it is carried by impeccable acting, everyone being at the heart of his character.
A few years later, I read the novel and I was disgusted! The characters are much worse: Xie Yan is monstrous, Ke Luo who is a nice little guy in the movie is in the book a rapist and Shun Nian is so weak! He has no personality, so much so that everyone wants to shake him up by shouting "Do something! React!". In addition the author does everything she can to show homosexuality in a negative light: rape, shame, guilt... Shame on the author ! And the eternal love advocated in the film does not last very long in the novel. Yet that's what makes this incredible story so charming! What I mean is that they managed to make such a masterpiece based on such an abominable novel makes the movie even more beautiful !
A must see.
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Very bad at the beginning, much better afterwards but an unexceptional ending
It gets off to a very bad start: messy, excessive, directionless and, frankly, not very well acted (these actors generally have trouble with intense scenes). I almost gave up.Then the story takes a step backwards, and the story becomes more interesting. The whole is much more coherent and we begin to understand. There's a desire to get away from the traditional Manichean schema, and this complexity is welcome. Karma plays its part, which is logical for a Thai series.
But the last episode ruins it a little. The aftermath should be more developed and - without wishing to spoil anything - the very end is rushed through with more questions than answers. I'm okay with an open ending, but this one's just too confusing.
In short, this could have been a great show; in the end, it's just okay.
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A very realistic description of the gay scene... unfortunately!
Having experienced the gay scene from the inside, I can tell you that it's unfortunately just like in the show: everyone sleeps with everyone else, fidelity is a dirty word, friendship is a concept, alcohol flows freely and drugs are all too easy to come by.The series can't be faulted for its desire for hyperrealism, and in that sense it succeeds. But we're not here to watch a documentary, and Only Friends doesn't have the stature of an Oscar-winning film, so a little levity would have been welcome. The characters are in 100% toxic mode at all times, and we'd have appreciated it if this had been softened by a bit of a bitchy moment. I was expecting to watch this series all smiles with a glass of wine in hand and found myself sighing and thinking "someone get them a psychologist!".
Apart from Sand and, to a lesser extent, Nick, the characters are not really likeable: Mew is falsely candid and rather bland, Top is infuriatingly "I want to control everything", Rey is ultra-toxic, Boston is the epitome of the well-built bitch who doesn't give a damn about anything, Nick is touching but goes too far in his actions. Then there's poor Sand, in whom I kind of saw myself.
As for the acting, Neo and Mark are excellent. As for the others, it depends on the moment.
In conclusion, I'd say it's a good series, but if you have to compare it to Friendzone, which is in the same style, Only Friends is worse.
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Beautiful love stories and real moments of life
The trailer didn't really make me want to see it. I was afraid of another smooth love story in chicken sauce. Within the first few minutes, when inflation and COVID-19 were discussed, I realized I was wrong. If there are indeed love stories, they are for once shown in a realistic way. It's a far cry from "I'm not gay but" and that's a good thing. We believe in it.This series is also a real social fable: we talk about social classes, money, homosexuality, abortion, traditions. Everything is treated in a sober, well-filmed way. The emotions are perceptible, without exaggeration.
The acting is of high quality. Special mention to Khao. Without spoiling you, I can just say that in the scene where he holds back from crying, we are really touched!
I wish I had the opportunity to see more shows like this one, because here we are talking about real life of real people, and we adhere! I recommend it.
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Incredible
I'm probably writing this review a little late, but in front of such a masterpiece, I want to do it anyway.I didn't intend to watch it at the beginning, but several excerpts seen on IG (including the end) made me wonder if I wasn't missing something.
Everything is incredible: the story, the acting, the sets, the way it's filmed. The question of self-acceptance and teenage emotions are treated with sublime accuracy.
I quite identified with Oh-Aew in his attitude and the way he reacts. The two heroes often have difficulty communicating and understanding each other, and this is very well filmed and shown.
The acting is perfect. Billkin is now becoming the reference for how to cry in the right way.
Here, they don't try to be cute, they are not afraid to film the emotions in a close and credible way. The action is rather slow but it matches perfectly with the story and the context.
In short, a must see!
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A successful metaphorical ode to freedom
Let there be no mistake: reducing the scenario to the curse of an eclipse and teenage love stories would be a mistake. What is dealt with here is the right to freedom, whatever it may be, especially individual freedom. Why follow rules if they do not bring anything good? Why accept things that are bad for you? The different protest movements are all shown in a non-violent light, which makes them even more relevant. These topics were already covered in NOT ME, and it is nice to see that people are engaging with these issues in places where it is not necessarily easy to express one's personal opinion. Bravo to them!Another interesting point to raise is the way homosexuality is dealt with. For once, we have an ordinary man who comes out, whereas usually, men who have a relationship with a man define themselves by "I'm not gay but". It's not pansexual, it's just that they refuse to admit that a manly man can be homosexual, which is somehow homophobic. Here, nothing of the sort, and the subject is assumed. And on top of that, we are portrayed with parents who can handle the situation.
The acting, finally, is very good. Khao had managed to give consistency to his character in TONHON CHONLATEE, which was a real feat given the complete failure of this series. Neo and Louis had almost saved FISH UPON THE SKY from the slump in which this series was. And AJ is still doing very well in his supporting roles - we are waiting for his main role, he deserves it. So, no surprise that the acting is great.
In summary, this series is a successful and necessary ode to freedom in these times when it is regressing all over the world.
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An unpretentious and enjoyable story
First of all, the actors are all good, even those in very secondary roles. We let ourselves be taken in by this story of enemies-to-lovers rather quickly. The personality of each is well described. The story is a bit messy but I think it's voluntary because the people have a lot of pseudo-existential problems so it works.Plus, we're on a comedy and we stick with it, which is nice.
In summary: we spend a good time watching this series, carried by a great cast and a nice story. I recommend it.
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