When a remake does what the original couldn’t

The Korean remake was much better than the Thai original, at least in my opinion. While there are many differences between the plots, I found this one much more interesting and enjoyable to watch. The original dragged on forever, there were too many couples and no logical continuous story. Korean remake of the series had a much better structure and story development, it also only focused on the main two couples which gave the two relationships time to develop. I also found the two couples in this drama much more interesting.

I think the visuals and the aesthetics are very nice. I really enjoyed the locations as well. I liked the change from engineering students to something a bit more artistic, I think it fit the whole overall vibe of the drama better. I do believe it has a lot to do with the cultural differences between the two countries, but I don’t know enough about that to actually say anything. I still think it was a smart move.

I think the pacing was not the best in certain parts, and scene cuts and changes were not the best at times. But I didn’t find that too bothersome.

Kim Ji Oh & Jung Lee Won: I absolutely loved them! I might be in the minority, but I actually really liked their bickering. I find it cute and funny, it’s not obnoxious or feeling awkward. Kim Ji Oh was obviously the first to realize he is enamored with the other boy. Jung Lee Won was just as in love but was living in denial. I mean, who would want to admit that their sibling was right about something? No one. Jung Lee Won’s reactions whenever something happened that was similar to what his sister wrote were everything! I think the two actors had great chemistry. I loved seeing the two on screen together, either being cute and adorable or bickering and annoying each other.

Ko Yoo Kyeom & Woo Sun Woo: I found the two cute. It was very obvious that Ko Yoo Kyeom was struggling with his feelings. He wasn’t sure how to act around Woo Sun Woo, but he knew he wanted him close. Ko Yoo Kyeom remembered a lot of little details about him. And don’t get me started on him wanting him for his project. Woo Sun Woo didn’t seem to struggle that much, but he still felt very guilty about possibly taking his friend’s boyfriend. I liked the slow progress between the two of them. The chemistry between the two actors was really good too. The longing glances and soft looks. How sweet!

I liked the side characters too. We didn’t really see that much of them, but what we did, fit well within the whole plot. Woo Sun Woo’s relationship with his sister was so adorable! I was really enjoying their interactions. Very typical siblings stuff, I assure you. The friend group was fun too, even the acting teacher!

Read More

It adressed some really important issues in a very respectful way

I am usually not a fan of series where characters travel forwards in time, so I wasn’t going to watch it at first. But then I saw some scenes about Army and Joe and those go me hooked, so I decided to give the show a try. And before I knew it, I was not very patiently waiting for new episodes each week.

The series is amazing! I really like that the cast was given mature roles instead of just making it a high school series. I feel like the topics addressed in the series can be better portrayed with some maturity from the characters. Even if there are a lot of comedic scenes, the series takes a very healthy and open-minded approach to relationships, intimacy, kinks, and sexuality. I really want to point out that seeing an asexual person and them expressing their lack of need for intimacy was really refreshing to see, especially as asexuality is often ignored (I was wrong on this - the character in question is actually a side, check the comments for more info). The fact that Alex is a gynecologist also helps to open topics such as STDs and safe sex.

We get to meet a lot of side characters that each have their own very detailed story, but I didn’t find it overwhelming, as they all connect in the end. Alex had quite a few photo mysteries to solve, not all of which were love problems. I don’t want to give any spoilers, so I am not going to say who ended with who when that is not already obvious.

Army & Joe – Fluke and Thor did an amazing job portraying their characters emotions, I could sense when Joe was uncomfortable just by glancing at him. The two characters are quite different but I think that’s what makes them a good match for one another.

Jedi & Rose – I really love their dynamics. It was not really what I expected and the episode dedicated to solving their problems was really interesting. The plot twists were brilliant!

See-ew – I was really interested in what would happen with See-ew once we got to see his future photo as it looked very bad for him. I also like how his kink was not just something that others could make fun off.

Kat – I really appreciated how they approached her picture story. The trauma she experienced was not taken lightly, not by her nor the others around her. It was refreshing to see, as many series and movies just ignore the amount of damage such an experience can leave.

Nim & Molly & Bew – these three ladies were an interesting bunch. Nim and Molly dated in high school but broke up, so Nim then started dating Bew. I think we saw a lot more growth for two of them, but marking the third one as just plain selfish would be too simple. There is complexity behind her decision that might seem very self-centered and damaging at first.

Alex – he showed a lot of growth and understanding for what was happening and what has happened in the past. He fully accepted his responsibility for the hurt he had caused to those around him. He did try his best to correct his wrongdoings, but he never denied his responsibility. And that is something that I really appreciate, no matter how much I wanted to hate him at some point. Not all mistakes can be fixed, and that is something we need to learn and accept.

Jean – she was a badass character! I enjoyed her high school self, her activism and the way she clearly expressed what she wants. Her story is probably the one that hurt the most, I was upset for guessing right what happened. I like how supportive she is to those around her, friends or not.

As for the ending, it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t what I was hoping for. I do understand why they decided to end it as they did though. I was not really happy with how they handled Jean's story towards the end of the series, which did bring my rating down.

I know a lot of people are / were bothered by the reason why Alex is solving all this mysteries and trying to make things better. I do agree that the whole idea that his main end goal is to be able to climax again is just ridiculous. But to be honest, it completely slipped my mind most of the time. Only when it was brought up by the characters did I actually remember it. So while it was not my favorite end goal, it wasn't that bothersome.

Read More

They did us dirty with the way it ended

I’ll preface this by saying I haven’t seen Addicted, nor have I read the piece(s) the series is based on. I am not going to compare it to anything, but I will simply judge it on its own.

The plot is interesting. It’s not something we often get in BLs (yes, I know this is a censored version, but it’s still a BL), and even if we do, it’s rarely done well. Stay With Me has executed it amazingly! The plot is not nearly as simple as it seems at first, which was a really pleasant surprise. While the development of the relationship (romantic or not) between Wu Bi and Su Yu is at the front of the series, it’s not the only focus. We also get to follow how other relationships change and develop over time, mainly those of their family members and close friends.

Wu Bi & Su Yu: I love seeing them together. The two might be quite different but they have an amazing influence on each other. Wu Bi might appear cold, arrogant, short-tempered and uncaring, but in reality, that’s all a front he puts up to protect himself. We get to see him open up more once he gets closer to Su Yu and his family. Su Yu lives only for school because that’s his ticket out of poverty. He is not a demanding child, he never asks for help or anything from his father, because he knows his father is trying his best. He does become more carefree as he gets closer with Wu Bi. He becomes more open and willing to talk about his wants and needs, especially with his Wu Bi. The two might have started off as enemies, rivals, but the way things change was done very well. It was well thought through. Their actions had clear intentions and reasons, as did the way their relationship progressed. I think both actors did great in their roles, they had great chemistry.

Now, this might have been a censored work, but it didn’t really hide what kind of relationship the two have. Their looks, their touches, the little kisses, the way they gravitated towards one another, the innuendoes that were being thrown left and right… they might have left a lot up to our imagination, but they made things as clear as they could.

I absolutely love Su Yu’s dad, miss Zhou and Duo! With all the flaws that Su Yu’s dad had, he has always been immensely proud of his kids – Su Yu, Wu Bi and Dou – and all of their achievements, no matter how big or small they were. He was incredibly supportive of them and always there when they needed him. The same goes for miss Zhou. As for Duo, she was a little ray of sunshine who is always ready to share her words of wisdom with her two older brothers. This was the found family all of them needed to thrive, not just the boys. Not all of them were blood related, some not even by law, but they truly showed what it means to be a family, to love each other, to support each other.

On the other hand, I don’t think Su Yu’s mom and most of Wu Bi’s family have any redeeming qualities. There is something about the cousin that I disliked from the start. Might be his arrogance or just the overall vibe he had, but I don’t think he cares about anyone but himself. His uncles are horrible. They treat everyone around them like dirt and that didn’t really sit well with me. Wu Bi’s father lost any right for redemption once we learned he has been abusive towards his son after his mom passed away. And Su Yu’s mom lost the right for redemption the moment she decided to abandon her child. I don’t care how much they tried to make us sympathize with the two, I think both of them are bad parents.

Which brings me to things I disliked. One thing was Su Yu’s dad saying how all parents love their children. Not all parents do and not all of them deserve to be respected as parents. Children do not owe love and respect to their parents if that is not something they received from them. I know Asian cultures are big on respecting your elders, but it’s actually a very damaging idea. I think certain scenes were very bizarre and didn’t make much sense or were done in an over dramatic way that just made them hard to watch. There are also certain things that I feel lacked proper closure or explanation why it happened like it did. Or how it was even possible. And I am not even talking about the ending here.

That ending though… they better give us a S2, because I am not happy with how it all ended. It does feel like it was a setup for another season, especially how it was all left in the air in the end. It was a scene I knew was coming based on the trailer, but I did not expect it to be left unfinished like that.

Read More

Strong cast and interesting plot, but it felt choppy and rushed

GMMTV knew what they were doing when they put all of these actors and actresses together. They all have a good following and loyal fanbase, so the series was in for a lot of attention. However, knowing what the cast is capable of with a solid plot, I ended up a bit disappointed.

The plot had some interesting twists and surprises, but I feel like it wasn’t really well executed. With most of the characters being in focus for 2-3 episodes and with a lot of other things going on, their relationships appeared very rushed. It felt like they simply weren’t given enough time to deepen the connections between characters, and for the viewers to see their love for each other truly blossom. On one other hand, I actually liked how we had focused only on one or two couples per episode, as it made it easier to follow and the episodes didn’t feel as choppy. But on the other hand, this made the series as whole feel a bit choppy.

I did find it annoying how one couple got a lot more attention and screen time in comparison with others. It does make sense why, because a lot of attention was paid to their past and how their story was connected to how The Jungle boys met one another. But I also think it could have been done and over quicker. It made it seem like they were one of the few (if not the only) couples that was given enough time to kind of develop their relationship. It also made the rest of the couples’ plots look even choppier and even more rushed. Certain things also lacked proper closure and were left feeling unfinished.

The Jungle are rich playboys with some honor. Sadly, their code of conduct is something they don’t always stick to. I liked how they addressed the importance of consent, both clearly and implied in multiple instances. I didn’t like how some of them didn’t follow it. There were at least two times, a different member of The Jungle each time, where consent was not given.

The idea of each character representing an animal was intriguing. I was curious to see how they will incorporate that into the storyline. It was both a hit and miss for me. They did really well with some characters (e.g. Gale as a rabbit), while they completely screwed up some others (e.g. Irin as a butterfly). I think it could have been done much better and taken more into consideration story and personalities wise. They were matching animals to how a character is, made it a big part of the plot with the narration as well, but then dropped the ball when it came to the execution.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know the review is already long as it is, but there is a little bit about each couple and Hunter written below. It just expands on what I have already addressed above.

Pentai & Gale / Jaguar & Rabbit: I think the two of them are a great pairing. They are the first couple we are introduced to, and I must say it was a cute story. They are two estranged childhood friends who get to meet again. I like how the conflict between the two of them was resolved fairly quickly, but it also felt a bit rushed at the end. Lee and Mook had great chemistry and I really liked how they portrayed their characters’ emotions through their eyes.

Nanfah & Pladao / Tiger & Gazelle: They first appear as more of a background couple, but their story progresses constantly until we get an episode that is focused on the two. They are the couple I was the most confused about, I was never sure if I wanted them to be endgame or not. I just think the two started in a very weird spot and I don’t think they really made it out of it. The lying at the start, keeping secrets, making a fool out of her… I don’t think any of those were addressed appropriately. Nanon and Punpun had good chemistry, and Punpun showed a lot with her facial expressions.

Nannam & Nithan / Viper & Squirrel: I honestly expected Nannam to be the bad guy, to be the worst member of The Jungle. I was mistaken. I loved how sweet he was with Nitham. She might not be someone who can lie, but she is still brave and daring. That is something that enabled her to match with Nannam so well. I loved how the rest of The Jungle treated Nannam as the baby of the group. Nanon and Mild were adorable together, I really liked their playfulness and how it translated through the screen.

Nannon played both twins perfectly, I loved how easy it was to tell them apart based on their mannerism. I know there were other differences, like their hairstyles and the way the two dressed, but that’s part of the styling. It was the way he stood, the smiles and grins… little things that really added up.

Hack & Irin / Tarantula & Butterfly: the two were on fire. I love a good enemies to lovers story, and theirs started so good. They don’t bother hiding their dislike for one another, even if certain scenes make me question if Hack really hates Irin or not. We don’t really get a lot of background information on Hack, but we do learn a bit about Irin. I personally found Irin to be not very likeable character. She annoyed me. A lot. But Hack also had his moments that made me want to shake some sense into him. Krist and Lookjun had great chemistry though, and made a cute couple.

Nathee & Florence / Wolf & Flamingo: I love a strong and confident female character, someone who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go for it. I also really love Nathee’s duality between his daytime self and his nighttime self. This is one of those instances where I actually liked the fact that the two characters know each other from before. It added to their story, it wasn’t just something that was there to be there. Florence being the one to pursue Nathee was just a cherry on top. Luke and Aye were great together, I really enjoyed the looks they gave one another.

Pine & August / Lion & Lioness: Pine is probably the character I dislike the most. I thought that his past would give us a reason for why he is such an awful person, but knowing what has happened made what he did to Irin even worse. At least in my eyes. He is closed off but loves playing the hero. To be honest, I think it’s the attention he likes. August is an interesting character. She has her flaws, but I loved how true to herself she was. Always. If I said I was surprised by the bad guys in their story, I would be lying. I think Off and Pat were great together, it showed that they are comfortable with each other off screen too.

Hunter: I swear he is everywhere! He knows everything, hears everything, and remembers everything. I loved how attentive he was and that he took care of those who entered his bar. I liked the mystery around his character, it added to his charm. I do admit that what we do get to know about his past makes it easier to understand why he likes The Jungle boys. They are very similar. Both in good and bad ways. Mix did absolutely amazing in the role!

Read More

I hope that this feeling might catch up with you

The plot was a very standard best friends to lovers kind of story. We follow two high school boys that have been friends since they were little, and how their relationship changes as one starts to struggle with his feelings. There are certain things that felt unrealistic and unnecessary. I am aware that the series was not really released internationally, and the subtitles are fan made, so that is not something that will affect my ratings regarding the series. It is a shame that this was not an international release though.

I am not a fan of cinematography. Many scenes were too bright to the point of slightly blurring out the details and the faces. Some cuts between the scenes were also a bit confusing. There was also an overwhelming amount of slow-motion scenes. It just felt a bit excessive.

Ohara Yamato & Ashiya Kakeru: They have this black cat and golden retriever dynamics. Yamato is the calmer one, the more reserved and not so friendly one. Kakeru is the more outgoing one, the more approachable and more hyperactive one. They are quite different from one another, but they make it work. Yamato falls first, he has loved Kakeru for years, but has never dared to confess. He didn’t want to risk losing what the two had. But as Kakeru starts to show interest in dating, Yamato starts to struggle. I don’t think Kakeru is indifferent to Yamato either, I just think he wasn’t really considering that possibility until it hit him in the face. He was always convinced the two can be just friends, so even if there were any deeper feelings, he never admitted those to himself. The two actors had good enough chemistry, but I don’t think it was as sizzling in some other dramas I have seen.

As the title suggests, the main conflict of the story does resolve around miscommunication. The two boys are not able to express their real feelings due to fear and other factors. However, this does not mean that the characters don’t communicate well. I really enjoyed that Yamato, no matter how much he hated that, was always honest with people who confessed to him. He never led anyone on. And even when things started going south between Yamato and Kakeru and the two were forced to be honest, they were both able to express themselves.

I liked the side characters too. Especially Yamato’s sister and Hisaka Yui, their classmate. Both of them were very open-minded and accepting of the two. It also helped Yamato and Kakeru feel more comfortable and not like what they are feeling for each other is wrong and unacceptable. There will always be people who might not be very open minded, but there will also always be people who will accept you no matter who you love.

And bonus points for not making any potential female love interests into villains! That’s a plot twist I am happy we avoided.

Read More

What did I do with the past? You did something right, Kawi!

I think this is one of the hidden gems of 2023. It has been getting a lot less attention than some other series, but it was a great watch. It’s a GMMTV series, meaning my expectations were fairly high as they are well-established, well-known company that produces tens of series each year. And they did not disappoint. I think the cinematography was amazing, I loved how the scenes were filmed, the lightning, the transitions… The OST was beautiful as well. Both Krist and Gawin are good singers and that definitely shows.

Pisaeng & Kawi: Kawi is living his best baby girl life. I find him adorable. He can be so awkward and weird at times but dares to be outgoing when he thinks he is dreaming. Or is not sober. Hiding under his covers whenever things are not going his way is a total mood! And Pisaeng being a very reluctant babysitter to a drunk Kawi was cute! I really like his character; he is both serious but also very down to earth. He can easily read the room and seems to be quite good at understanding what is going on most of the time. I think we have seen a lot of character growth from both characters, but especially Kawi when he realized that there are things that cannot be fixed. Gawin and Krist were brilliant. I really loved their chemistry, and how Gawin portrayed so much through his eyes.

Kawi tries so hard to change the future and even ends up hurting the person that cares about him the most, but I can understand where he is coming from. He knows what the future holds, Pisaeng doesn’t, and he thinks that is not the future he wants or is willing to accept. He is stuck on the idea of loving Pear that he doesn’t think about anything else. He is trying to be closer to Pear and keep his distance from Pisaeng, but at the same time, it is obvious that he cares about him. A lot. Whenever he hurts him, he ends up chasing after Pisaeng. He wouldn’t do that if he didn’t care.

Speaking of Pear, she took me on a rollercoaster. I went from finding her cute, to pitying her, to hating her and to loving her. Her character is incredibly well written, it has a lot of dimension. Aye did really well portraying her, showing emotions and reacting to what was happening. The way her story unfolded, in both the past and present and possible present, showed a lot of character growth. Even if she technically didn’t know about the (potential) future. She wasn’t just a jealous ex or wanna-be-girlfriend which was really refreshing to see.

I believe that Kawi has never been truly in love with Pear. I think he was in love with the idea of being in love with her and what that represented to him. Pear for him represented a good life, a good future, something better than the life he had.

Max. He might be my favorite. I absolutely loved the way his character was written, how he was always there to support his friends, to give advice and to talk some sense into them. I found his presence very calming. He was realistic and did his best to lead his friends down the right path, but he was never pushy about it. He simply spoke what others were afraid to admit to themselves, to say it out loud.

I think we can all agree that Not is the most unlikeable character in the series. And I am not mad about it. It showed that not everyone is a good person, no matter how many chances they get, some people never better themselves. It really drove home the idea that we are responsible for making the right choices, for being honest and good. That is not up to others, even if their actions can affect us to some extent. Just compare how he never changed and how much growth Pear showed.

The series also addressed a few important issues and I think they took a very mature and appropriate approach to it. They talked about the pros and cons of drinking, of what happens when it becomes too much. They let us peak into what it means to not have your relationship be recognized by the country. The confusion one faces when they realize they might be attracted to someone of the same sex. Coming out to parents. And more. But it was also incorporated into the story, it made sense to be discussed, to be shown.

I do think that they mostly incorporated the humor nicely, especially at the beginning of the series when Kawi went to the past for the first time. I do think that it got a bit strange at some parts later in the series, but it wasn’t too bothersome.

Read More

My husband is dead - I think we all wished he was

I didn’t expect to enjoy this show as much as I did. I do like how Cha Jung Sook made a complete turn in her life after her near death experience. It’s like she knew her life was far from great before, but she worked so hard to convince herself otherwise.

I love how supportive Seo Jeong Min is of his mom. He might not be able to always show it, but he is proud of her and is willing to help her as much as he can. Seo Yi Rang is a bit too selfish for my liking, at least in the beginning. I can understand this is a big change for her, but she is almost an adult and should be able to take care of herself, at least to a certain extent. I know Cha Jung Sook made her kids, her husband, and her mother-in-law so dependent on her by always doing everything for them, so I cannot blame her daughter fully. But she showed a lot of growth towards the end of the series.

The mother-in-law is awful, but I think Seo In-Ho is even worse. Not only did he cheat on his girlfriend with his now wife when they were younger, but he’s been having an affair with that same ex for probably close to two decades. He is incredibly selfish, the only thing he seems to care about is himself and his image.

I am not usually one to feel sorry for the mistress, and I can admit that Choi Sung Hee is not innocent in this situation and can be quite evil, but she is also hurting. Seo In Ho treats both his wife and his mistress horribly. I really wish they would both just up and leave him, take the kids and enjoy their lives away from him.

Choi Eun Seo is someone we want to hate, but in the end, no matter what she did, she is just a victim of the situation as well. Seo In-Ho only seems to have kind of an okay relationship with his son, but between his daughters, Choi Eun Seo is the one that got the short end of the stick. He treats her even worse that Seo Yi Rang. But she doesn’t cut him any slack either, so maybe its his guilt talking.

Doctor Roy is an absolute joy. I love how he gave Cha Jung Sook hope, he gave her a dream to follow. He was the first person to truly believe in her. He is also very supportive of her. I like their friendship dynamic a lot. I don’t think romance is needed, even if it looks like that’s the path the show my take.

I like how they are combining the more serious sides of the series with the more dramatic and even comedic ones. It is not overdone, which is what I feared.

The ending was perfect. It was just what was needed to conclude the series. I think that all three adults that are part of the love triangle did an incredibly mature thing by admitting they were all wrong at some point (the two ladies more than Seo In Ho) and they did what was best for their children in the end. I couldn’t ask for more.

Read More

Ghosts playing matchmakers

It was a fun ride for sure. I think the cinematography is beautiful, I really liked the filming locations. The OST was very catchy as well. And I think the plot was well written, things connected right and made sense. The reoccurring characters had some sense of purpose, which pushed the story forward in one way or the other. The comedic aspects are nicely incorporated and fit in well with the plot.

To be honest, at some point the ghosts appeared to be good wingpeople. Whenever they annoyed or scared poor Bu Xia enough, he would run to Jiang Chi. And while I do agree that the idea that he only wants him close to keep the voices out of his head is problematic, they do address this problem and I think that’s important. Communication makes things easier (too bad it’s not Bu Xia’s strong point).

Jiang Chi & Bu Xia: The two are adorable together! They seem to be quite different from one another, but they still make a great pairing. Bu Xia might not be the best academically and can be quite awkward at times, but he is still a cutie. He is afraid of ghosts. Or at least afraid of ghosts trying to get them do their bidding. Jiang Chi is both smart and athletic, but he is also confident and goes after what he wants. And that’s Bu Xia. They start as enemies, but things quickly make a turn for the better. The two face plenty of troubles, but I do think they balance each other nicely. The two actors did amazingly and had great chemistry as well.

I really liked Bu Xia’s sister too. She was a fun character, and I absolutely loved her relationship with her brother. They teased each other but were also the person the other could count on. Always and for everything. That’s life with siblings!

The ending is kind of open, so it makes me think they might be planning for S2. At least I hope they are. I considered such an ending a possibility, but I wasn’t sure what route they will take. It might be considered finished, I guess, but to me it still feels like there is more of the story to follow. So fingers crossed for another season.  

Read More

Let’s be honest, Cher has always been the boss

With all the body and role swaps that we got in Our Skyy 2, this one seems to make the most sense to me. Both with the plot and the way it is done. The two are not actually swapping bodies, which I am grateful for, nor are they switching personalities. Cher is simply trying to show Gun how his behavior affects those around him. And he went with the most Cher way to do so, of course.

I love the relationship between Gun and Cher. I never knew Cher had such a wild imagination, but I am living for it. And his friends trying his best to be supportive, but only ending adding fuel to the fire seems fitting. I do like the fact that Jack never complained to Cher about how Gun is at work, he is keeping work and private lives separate. And while it might affect him a lot mentally, he is still doing the right thing.

Seeing Cher boss Gun around is not really that surprising. I think that Cher was always the boss in their relationship, he has Gun wrapped around his finger. Not that Gun is complaining about it. He quite likes it. I really liked how different Cher and Gun were in their roles – Cher trying to be a strict boss but only coming across as adorable, and Gun trying to be a good intern but ending being a grumpy one. They stayed true to who they are, personality wise, so it really was an enjoyable watch.

Three and Zo are still adorable. Yuck! As Cher would say. Zo talking to Three with a big smile on his face while threatening him was so cute! And the fake argument that ended up with Zo really being upset, and Three chasing after them… Can we please get a full series with them? Look, it doesn’t even have to be anything heavy. I just want to see them all lovey-dovey together. That’s it.

If we really need to say goodbye to Gun and Cher, and I think this was the perfect way to do it. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face while watching the two episodes. There was a lot of really fun scenes - the not-intern Boom mumbling, Cher trying to disguise himself and accusing Gun of doing naughty things in the meeting room, the photocopy machine driving Gun crazy...

Read More

What is a boyfriend?

Palm became such a flirt! I think that is such a great character development, especially as he really struggled with where he fits in Nueng’s life for the bigger part of the main series. And Nueng being whiny and sassy? Yes, please! I think it shows that he feels better now, he is not so worried and high strung as he was in the main series. The amount of absolutely iconic and hilarious lines we got in this two episode special is crazy! My favorites are probably "What is a boyfriend?" and "In many dramas, the lord makes the servant his wife." Palm being someone who watches dramas is not something I expected.

The historical part of the series is done well too. I like the fact that the two switched roles from how they were in the main series. Palm as a lord and Nueng as his servant is a combination I didn’t know I needed. I think Palm was enjoying that dynamic a bit too much. The death glares Nueng gave him were absolutely hilarious. I really enjoyed their bickering, even if it was mostly just the two of them being cute and taking petty jabs at each other.

I am really hoping this could be GMMTV opening the doors for a possible historical BL in the future. I am no expert, but I was still able to notice certain historical inaccuracies (mostly in what Nueng does that would absolutely not be permitted for a slave to do), so if they ever do decide to make a full historical series, I hope they at least try to not be so obvious with them.

Also, the side couple! I didn’t think we will get any new pairings, so getting a BL pairing in a historical setting was a nice surprise. And Palm and Nueng as the matchmakers were adorable! They showed so much joy and happiness for the other couple.

I really like the fact that the cinematography seems to match pretty well with the original series. I like how muted the colors are (or maybe it's more sepia toned) and that they kept the same overall vibe, especially during the present time. It really makes it seem like a continuation of the main series and not like a completely different, new series. I also like that they kept the bracelet as an important part of the storyline.

Pond and Phuwin pulled off their historical roles well. Their chemistry is amazing, not that I expected anything less.

Read More

A crossover I didn’t know I needed

When I learned we will get a BB x ATOS crossover, I wasn’t thrilled. I honestly didn’t see how they would pull it all together as it felt like the two stories have nothing in common. But I really like what they did with it. They made it make sense. While still giving us flashbacks to both original series. There are the iconic lines and scenes we get to see again, even if they are said / done by someone else. Pran deciding to make ATOS into a play was a nice way to connect the two series. And GMMTV gave us a little sneaky hint for it in the MSP episodes. Well played.

I didn’t expect that I would be enjoying Pran & Tian and Phupa & Pat dynamics as much as I am. I really though that Pran and Phupa will have more in common, while Pat and Tian would be the wild ones. But I was wrong. And I am not even mad about it! I do think I should be concerned about the fact that both Pran & Tian and Phupa & Pat have great chemistry though. And I am really enjoying that.

There were times when I really had to tell myself that Phupa and Pat are not a couple. I feel like the two flirted more with each other than they did with their actual boyfriends. I know they both know how to be flirty, we’ve seen that before, I just didn’t imagine how chaotic it would get when they are put together.

Pran is a total mood. Pouting and dragging his feet after Tian and Kampung. And Tian being his usual hot mess. I didn’t think Pran and his OCD would work that well with Tian and his impulsiveness. But they make it work. They are giving me either siblings or best friend energy, arguing all the time but also caring about each other. And blaming each other whenever they get the chance, of course.

And then we get to see Phupa & Pran and Pat & Tian together too! Phupa and Pran are quite level-headed and get along well, as one would expect from them. Pat and Tian are a stubborn and chaotic duo looking for trouble. There’s less chemistry when they are divided like this, but I really enjoyed their scenes as well.

I'm sure I could find things that bothered me (like the repetative getting lost in the woods), but honestly, it wasn't really that annoying. I truly enjoyed the two parts, they were really fun. I might be biased, but these are probably my favourite Our Skyy 2 episodes.

Read More

No. Just no.

I should have know this was going to be a disaster after seeing the trailer and the intro episode. I honestly don’t really like anything about this show. Not the plot (it wasn't really interesting), not the execution, not the acting, not the OST… it was all very bland and mediocre. The cinematography isn’t the worst I have seen, but the lighting and certain shots are done very strangely. The comedic sounds were horrible and didn’t really blend in.

Dino & Rak: Dino looks too old to be in university and most of his “seniors” look like they are ten years younger than him. As a character, he was very straightforward but also in a slightly creepy way. I didn’t like how pushy he was at times, but also super closed off and not ready to share anything with Rak. Rak is… well Rak. There is nothing about him that stands out, he is soft and innocent. And that is his whole personality. There was some chemistry between the two actors, but it didn’t translate well most of the time. I knew Pepper (Dino) from before and I must admit I didn’t really enjoy his acting in this series. As for Kong (Rak), it felt like he had one, maybe two, expressions throughout the series. His crying was not believable, and the adorable-yet-dumb look that he wore the rest of the time was annoying.

I really wanted to give this series a chance, hoping I would at least like some of the side characters. I know that there are three more couples in the Buddy Line Y Animal storyline, so I thought at least one of them might interest me to watch its future series. Yeah, this was my one and only try at it because the rest of the characters were very meh as well.

I honestly ended up skipping a lot of the scenes, mostly because it got boring and kind of repetitive very quickly. I don’t fully understand what they were trying to do by dragging this series out into 10 parts when the storyline could be done in a much better-rounded way in less episodes. It would probably be less boring too.

I dropped this on ep 7, mostly because I couldn’t force myself to watch any more of it. Even with skipping big chunks of it. It just wasn’t an enjoyable watch.

Read More

Where there is love, there are miracles

The plot was interesting. It might not have been something completely new, but it had some interesting plot twists that I did not expect. The first 8-9 episodes are happening in the past, before we jump into the present for the remaining few episodes. I like the fact that the distinction between past and present is very clear. There is also a very clear reason why the jump happens, and it’s not just there.

The story did seem rushed at times. There were a lot of unrealistic scenes. I know a lot of it was done to add dramatics to the plot, but it just made me cringe. Like one of the first scenes is Fan Ze Rui blackmailing Bai Zong Yi to take care of him otherwise he will frame him for murder. No respecting court will convict someone by only what Fan Ze Rui had on Bai Zong Yi. Not to mention he could have easily gone to the police and told them about the crazy man who is blackmailing him.

The OST was nice and catchy. I think the cinematography was okay, but I was bothered by how bright some scenes were. They almost blurred details and edges of the faces with the brightness. Some cuts between the scenes were not the best either.

Fan Ze Rui & Bai Zong Yi: the two of them are an interesting pairing. Bai Zong Yi is very hardworking, a good student and brother, he is someone you can rely on. And Fan Ze Rui appears to be quite similar to him in those aspects as well. The two of them do come from very different backgrounds, but that doesn’t seem to cause any problems between the two. If anything, it almost seems like Fan Ze Rui is used to taking care of himself on his own. They truly loved each other. Bai Zong Yi lost a lot in order to be able to have a relationship with Fan Ze Rui. He lost it not even being certain that the relationship would ever be possible. And Fan Ze Rui got off too easy. After everything that has happened and knowing that he kept a certain lie up for who knows how long doesn’t sit right with me. Yes, Bai Zong Yi made the decision to sacrifice so much for Fan Ze Rui because he loved him. But I also think there was more Fan Ze Rui could have done once things improved. There should have been more begging once we get to the present. The actors had great chemistry and were very expressive with their eyes. And I really liked that.

To address the elephant in the room, Fan Ze Rui is five(?) years older that Bai Zong Yi. When the two first get involved with each other, the latter is 17 years old, still underaged. I am usually not a fan of such age gaps as such relationships are not something we should promote in real life. There is also often no reason why the younger person couldn’t be a few years older. However, there was a very good reason as to why Bai Zong Yi had to be underaged. It played a big role in the plot and in how things turned out. I still think there are certain thigs that should have been avoided, like Fan Ze Rui working as Bai Zong Yi’s teacher for some time. And I also didn’t like the few non-consensual scenes between the two. I liked even less the way those were handled. So it’s not the age gap that is bothering me, but how they went about it.

Chen Yi & Ai Di: Ai Di is a cutie with deadly intentions. He might be my favorite character. Whenever he was in the scene, all the attention was on him. And the blond looks so good on him. He is fierce, loyal and reliable, but also slightly guarded. He has loved Chen Yi for years. He has been hurt many times, pushed to the side by the man that was his everything. Chen Yi is someone who seems to be set in his ways and unwilling to change unless he really gets shaken up. At least that’s how I saw his obsession with being in love with the boss and seeing Ai Di only as a friend, even when he was acting like a jealous and possessive boyfriend. It wasn’t until certain things happened that he opened his eyes to what was right in front of him. The two actors had amazing chemistry. I also really liked their height difference. It made them look cuter together, especially with Ai Di being such a little spitfire and Chen Yi just putting up with it.

I liked some other side characters, but I don’t think we really got to see that much of them. Chen Yi’s helper was fun, I liked how he was trying to teach his boss how to win over his crush. Bai Zong Yi’s father and sister were nice too, I liked that they supported him no matter what.

I didn’t really like how cartoonish the villain was. If he’s some sort of gang leader, at least make him slightly scary and not kindergartener safe. The lollipops were just too ridiculous for me to take the man seriously.

Read More

Wish it was more Phupa & Tian focused

I am not entirely sure about the timeline, but this takes place a few years after Tian returned from his studies abroad. There seems to be quite a bit of tension between Phupa and Tian, even before Pran and Pat arrive. Their way of handling their problems might be quite childish, one would expect them to talk about it more seeing they have been together for a long time. But at least they are dealing with it now.

I do think that the problem that the two have is quite realistic. It probably should have been dealt with earlier into their relationship, but still. Phupa is obviously struggling with the social differences between him and Tian. And while it might be less obvious while they are on the mountain, once they return to the city, it becomes much more obvious. I think that makes Phupa feel like he is not good enough for Tian. Maybe he even fears that Tian might realize that and leave him. Which is why he always avoids going with Tian when he visits his parents. Tian loves him fully, but that doesn’t make Phupa’s insecurities any better.

I love seeing the two on the mountain, but they look adorable while in the city. Especially Phupa, it’s interesting seeing him this shy and in his sugar baby era. But damn, Earth looks absolutely stunning in black. It really suits him. And their chemistry is amazing, as always.

I like the episode. It was fun, but I wish it would be a bit more focused on Phupa and Tian. I do love Pat and Pran and Ink and Pa, but this was supposed to be Phupa and Tian episode, so I really wish we would have seen more of the two and less of the others. Especially considering the fact that we had a BB focused episode before the crossover.

Read More

The emotions!

It feels a bit choppy at times as there are only two parts, but it gets the story through. It sets the mood for the full series. The amount of raw emotions shown by both main actors is amazing. It's a cry fest though. The fact that it is based on a true story made the whole thing even more painful to watch. I can't even imagine how torturous something like this must have been for the real life Nan (or Phu). There is not really much else to say about it, but I am definitely excited about the full series that is airing in March. I can't wait to see more of Phu and Nan, eventhough I really want to shake some sense into Phu before that.

Read More