MaintainingMama

As usual, MAME does some things great and other things, meh. I'll start with the meh. I don't like the GL story line, although I liked them better together than in previous episodes. Mook as a character is just the worst and I need her to grow up. There is no way she works for someone who writes romance novels with graphic scenes and is old enough to work a job like this, but has a problem with two grown people having consensual sex. All that whining and jumping around were the peak of annoying in children, but she is a whole grown ass woman. Why would Vivi be into that? Even if you find it cute at first, after a little bit it would be too much for anyone. I also don't really like the way Vivi is written, but again, I liked her in this episode, especially with her interactions with Mut. I also kind of like her during the shopping scene. But it was also kind of boring, if I'm being honest.
And honestly, it wasn't just them, this whole episode was kind of boring. I do not need NC scenes every episode. (Although, when Rak came down in the long white shirt, a classic MAME repeating theme for sexy time, I just knew they were going to do it in the kitchen and nosy Mook was going to walk in and be traumatized!😂😂😂)
Now what was done right, in my opinion. What I liked about this episode was the maturity of the interactions between Mut and Rak. The getting an STD screening and sharing results. The open conversations about sex that were done casually and direct, to emphasize that sex is a normal, health, non shameful thing between two consenting adults. They are both single and shouldn't be ashamed for liking sex. A lot of times in these shows (much to my dismay), they act like one person initiating or even trying to discuss sex, is pervert. Or to be hidden from anyone ever knowing ever. Like they are going to die virgins, even though they have this new boyfriend who they love. And don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of abstaining until you are ready to take that next step in a relationship, however, the acting like it is gross to talk about or one person is weird for even thinking about it is sooo unrealistic. I like how Rak is clear that he likes sex, that he has sex and that sometimes, in order to be a better writer, he uses sex, again, with a consenting adult, to get clarity of thought.
I also like how Mut was clear with Rak that you may not believe in love, but you cannot stop me from believing and falling in love, while I will honor your wishes, you have no control over mine. He is submitting to Rak completely with out losing himself or respecting his own autonomy, and I like that. And I suspect Rak likes it too, anyone who likes someone who lets you run all over them, is probably abusive.
I was pretty meh about this episode, but I hope we get to see more Rak and Mut figuring out what their relationship is next week.

Also side note : Fort is GORGEOUS in this series. The hair in his eyes along with the half smiles/smirks are killing me!

😂 Her overacting was perfect in a series where they were all over the top. 😂 She fit right in! Plus, I think her dramatics were warranted. I mean the poor baby was going through it.

I'm not really routing for Ming and Joe, I'm mainly routing for Joe to finally be happy. And if that means being with Ming, then okay...I guess. I Ming has sort of learned his lesson...although he is still very much a stalker obsessed with Joe who likes to ruin Joe's life at every turn. Next week included cause I'm pretty sure that because of his shenanigans with his dad, which I actually applaud Ming for (standing up for himself and Joe), Joe is going to be a "Stand In" for Tong's kidnappers. My poor Joe! He can't catch a break EVER! I mean, even his mother is going to be mad at him! Joe better get the happiest ever after! And Tong needs to be in jail at a minimum, I don't care if he is having a baby with the sister! And I hope that was a bluff to get Ming to help Tong and not real!

I agree Phuwin is definitely the problem more than Pond. Maybe they are the exception, but I usually figure the more comfortable the ship is with each other and more specifically with doing BL's, the better the chemistry. Again, I point to JoongDunk. I'll even point to OffGun, TayNew, heck KristSingto. I just feel like as an actor, what ever the hang up is, they have been in too many series, especially together, to excuse subpar romantic scenes. Especially as the MLs.

So here is what I enjoyed about this special episode.
1)The production was still top tier. And story was pretty good for the length of time they had to develop it. I wasn't left with a bunch of questions. And it wrapped up pretty neatly.
2) I am glad that most of the main characters came back and that we didn't get stupid little side scenes with the sister and her...lover? (The never said if they ended up together) Or the grandmas. I also love they didn't take up a lot of time recapping like alot of series.
3) The action scenes were still great and that they kept the cheesy long unnecessary posing where some one just asked a question that could easily be answered, but they stare in the the distance in silence for way too long as the camera cuts to each character making a constipated face that is supposed to mean deep resolve and determination to get the bad guy that are ridiculous but it wouldn't be the Sign with out at least on of them .
4) The little girl. She acted circles around each and every one of them. And I have never been happier than when they revealed that she could speak both English and Thai fluently. Nothing makes me cringe more than when they add a TON of broken English/Thai to the dialog and there is literally no reason to have it. The addition of this multilingual queen made all the sense in the world in the context of this story line and I appreciate the addition. As well as then Billy and Babe's English dialog. Again, it made sense to the story, so I have no problem with it not being perfect.

Now to the stuff that wasn't as great.
1)The lack of actual police-ing the special investigation team actually did . I had a problem in the series as well with the same thing. All that training they did to then be bad fighters and never know when to pull out their guns drove me nuts then and it drove me nuts in this special episode. That fact that Sarawat Cutie Pie told new Chief girl to get a team and watch the house to specifically protect the girl and all she did was bring herself with one gun and zero extra clips arriving late is the most irritating thing! And then she called for back up and no one came. Like no one! Even when Tharn and Phaya came to back her up, they too came with zero back up. Where are the police in the area? Her whole team that should have been there to protect Deeni? Same goes for Sarawat Cutie Pie! Who sends in part of their team undercover with zero ways of communication?! Aren't they the special unit!? Didn't they have to go through Ice tube training so they would be elite!? And then when they figured out they were online, no one thought to call for back up to the warehouse before they broke in, so that the whole, "you are surrounded" wasn't a bluff?! Then the stand off! They brought a few extra folks to help, but then...where did they go!? Half the bad guys ran into the forest with the witness and only Phaya and Tharn went after them!? HUH?! THEN Tharn finally starts using his gun (where was the gun when they broke into the mansion! He didn't remember to pull that out until the end), he is able to kill/take out literally everyone by himself?! HUH?!
This is literally my only complaint. I don't need to be realistic. I actually loved Phaya's fight scene with the guy who injected himself with....dog?! That last "let me run, jump, stand on your shoulders, look down at you with rage as you look up at me with concern before I kick you in the face" was top tier tv. Maybe I'm just too American in my expectations. I just feel like they made the training such a big part of the show that it would be nice if at least those 5 that were selected as well as Sarawat Dreamy could at least mostly be bad ass.

For the most part I enjoyed it. I don't know what to make of the teaser at the end. Is that a spin off? Just an introduction to new characters in the same universe sense they also ended it with an Avengers closer? I guess we shall see.

Lastly, I must thank the producers as well as the actors for swimming pool scene. There was a lot of..."confidence" surrounding the pool and I appreciated it!😂😂😂

We finally get a drama with ALOT of episodes and they still are telling a incomplete story and with only 2 episodes left in a 16 episode series, we barely get to see the main couple be together. I liked all the story lines. And I love the friendship this story displays. I almost dare to say, if they had made this just a story about the friends you make in college, it would have been top tier. But how do the writers justify having Peem confess his love to Phum and then still have us wait 20 more minutes until they are actually together. And that acceptance was trash. I get that it was meant to be cute/funny, but there were several moments that missed the mark for me in this week's episode. That one and the scene where Peem confesses his love and Phum has zero facial reaction. A hug and a bad kiss and that was it for the top confession scene!? I really wanted Phum to either cry and suddenly grab Peem up into his arms, to show he was overwhelmed with emotion, or to break up the serious scene with his jaw dropping and Peem taking advantage of that to then either sniffkiss or direct kiss Phum. That lackluster hug, just made the scene lose all of its power.
I also felt that the whole arguing with his dad scene was lackluster as well. If they had had Phum break down and admit to how he felt about being sent away and what he thought his father felt about him to do that to him, and his dad respond with either an heartfelt apology or even a jerk response of dismissing Phum's feelings, if only so Khaofang could hear it and no longer try to force the relationship...just something other than the abbreviated scene with lack of too many emotions.
I guess I am disappointed because between the episode length and this being on iQiyi, I expected this to me on the level of Only Fans. And by that, I mean a well thought out, more mature story. And by more mature, I just mean, dealing with college age issues, like real college age students would.
While I love Q and Toey's story and relationship, it would have been nice to see them be more intimate, more mature acting. I get that Toey is supposed to be a freshman, and that the group babies him, but how refreshing would it be that when it's just the two of them, he drops the cutesy baby voice and speaks to Q with a bit more...intimacy. This could have been on par with Not Me and Only Fans in terms of showing a deeper level series, but they missed the opportunity. If they were going to keep this script, they could have cut out a couple or 2, a friend or two, and bunch o'scenes and made a typical 12 episode Sunday night GMMTV drama aired on Youtube.
Especially with these kisses. With the exception of AouBoom, these are some substandard kisses. I can give WinnySatang grace, cause this is really the first time they are more center stage and have had to do multiple kisses. Most GMMTV ships had pitiful first series kisses. But PondPhuwin have been in like 3 series together, they have zero excuse at this point for these fish kisses. Someone show them JoongDunk. Heck even ForceBook have improved (and they had the worst kisses in OF, ForceNeo kissed better!)
Again, I guess I was hoping that when they were given such a big project that they would do better. And I will say, acting wise, I do think they, especially Phuwin, are better. But otherwise...sigh, it's okay I guess...

I agree, OF proved you could have this many couples and still tell full and complete stories about them. The fact that We Are is getting way more episodes than OF but are still not telling balanced stories is frustrating.

I get that Rak was more comfortable. I just wish, as a viewer who didn't read the book, that it was made clearer that a greater amount of time had passed. A simple montage would have sufficed and still could have kept the schedule of them going to Bangkok. Thanks for mini spoiler (and warning), it definitely helped clarify. I just wish, MAME as the director had done something to make it more clear to the viewers.

I definitely thought we would get more island time.

Honestly, it was tackled realistically. But if you don't like that specific trope, you probably won't like that part of the show. For me, they really did that part well.

I did like like this episode, but I need just a bit more to help get me to the end scene more smoothly.
We went from Rak avoiding Mut until Mut had to chase him down. Then after the star scene, we had to cute little cuddle scene, which I loved, because it showed Rak being vulnerable and soft. But then we get to the environmental scene, which I again, I loved, but I feel like between the cuddle scene and the environmental scene, we should have gotten a montage of them being together, cause the beach/star scene led me to believe they had time together to "prove love was real". If we had had a montage of them exploring the island together, eating, laughing and so on, when we got to Mut's house and then HIM being vulnerable, it would have made sense to me why Rak would agree to staying. Because again, at the beginning of the episode, he wasn't even talking to Mut. I needed them to show why Mut would leave the sea that he loves so much for a guy that as far as they have shown, he has barely spent any time with.
Second, I am not into the GL story at all. I said it last week, but if they had just shown the actress and the assistant fall in love because they were always meeting up due to "work" circumstances but then they later revealed that all along, Vivi had a secret crush on Muk the whole time, it could have been cute. But this manipulation, driving Muk crazy with all the unnecessary errands is not for me. I skip their scenes, which is sad, cause I like the GL storyline in The Wedding Plan, so I was looking forward to this one.
Thirdly, no one recycles line more than MAME. The biting dog /woof line was HOT in episode 2, but the use it again in episode 3 made me roll my eyes. And then the thin walls line. That was just a rephrasing from LBC 1. And then the "do me" line from LITA also made an appearance. She didn't even bother to spread out the recycled lines. MAME, it seems, is getting a bit lazy with her NC scenes. She'll give you one original one, ie episode 2, but after that originality much need to tap out until the next series. 😂😂

This was the sweetest little drama! I'm going to miss Moo and Kang. I hope to see more of SeaKeen as I would love to see their growth in the industry. And Louder is quickly moving up the list as one of my favorite GMMTV songs. Keen needs to just ahead and join Gem, Fourth, Satang and Ford in the "real" singers category. I'll add Joong and Earth to this list, cause I LOVE Earth's song, Eyes Can't Lie. Anywhoo, this was a great series and I am really going to miss it!

I am still liking it so far. The acting is still giving newbie, especially, surprisingly from Bank, who has been in entertainment longer. But I also can't decide if it just appears that way because of his character. I think Bank's character wouldn't come off weird, if he had said any words at all about the whole situation with Sun being the president of the company. I simple, "Sun, I do like you, but I hate that you lied to me. I need time to decide if I want to continue to build this relationship." Or hell, yell at him and cuss him out. I cliched slap would have been better than to simply act like a robot in that scene or the balcony scene. That would have been a perfect place to show some emotions, like when the text came through, a tear, a middle finger, a hair pull, cause Lin just doesn't know to do. But something. Cause other than the crumpled post it notes, we have zero clue what he is thinking during this time. I do like how soft Mos is playing Sun. It is very different from his character in Big Dragon, which I like that this is showing off his range. I will say, their scenes together, especially the hair drying scene, are so MosBank coded. When Mos moved his hand up Banky's thigh, I half expected Bank to swat at Mos and call him Ter! 😂😂 They do have amazing chemistry together. And Man, I said it last week, but Mos was always handsome, but Sheesh he is really handsome in this series. Looks like next week we are getting our first kiss. I am looking forward to the sweeping off the feet that the trailer promised.

I was proud of Joe in that car scene. He finally stood up to Ming and I truly believe he would have walked away, if Ming had let him go. My poor Joe, it's so evident that he still loves Ming and we all know that he is going to forgive Ming eventually but I do feel bad for him. Wut is right, no one should have to go to their own funeral. Sol was the Man in this episode. I have always liked him, and in theory it would be great if Joe liked Sol, but it is soooo clear he has zero feeling for Sol outside of friendship. Poor Sol is shooting his shot again, with the hopes that he will finally get Joe, but yeah....that ain't happening. I am wondering if we are going to find out that Tong had something to do with that bolt breaking on the set Joe died at, cause he seems to in deep with the shady folks. I knew he was a scumbag and that he definitely manipulated lots of things, but I didn't suspect he was behind Joe's actual death til they showed next weeks episode.

Episode 2 explains why FortPeat have been so clingy lately. These NC scenes are wild! I can usually tell if the NC scenes in a series is going to be good, based on how affectionate the ML's are toward each other during and immediately after filming. And If MAME is going to do one thing well, it's going to be an NC scene. As long as she has actors who are willing to "go there", she will always be the Queen of the NC scene.
NC scene aside, I love how soft Mut is with Rak. Fort's smile is lethal and I can see why Tongrak is having trouble keeping up the tough guy front. He resisted waaaayyyy longer on the beach than most human beings would, so for that he is to be commended. It will be interesting to see how they fall in love.
As for our GL couple, so far I am not into them. Mook is annoying as a character and so is Viv. I get she has a crush, but making Mook be a servant is not a good look just to spend time with her. If she was trying to come up with ways they could get together as friends first, that would make better sense. And the kiss on the forehead, would have been sweet, if we had had any indication that Mook actually liked Viv. So the hallway scene didn't do anything for me.

I really liked this first episode. Story wise and acting were great. I actually liked Big Dragon, despite it's flaws. But if you read the book they did the best they could. 😂😂 But this was a great first episode, and I am excited to see what happens next. Mos is even more gorgeous in this series, and I'm not sure how that is possible, but he is. I really like how soft he speaks as Sun to Lin. Anyway, looking forward to next week!

GMMTV has now decided since we cracked the code for episode 11, that we will never know when they will leave us weeping into the void at the heartbreak our boys are displaying on the screen. I was soooo unprepared for any break up scene let alone THIS breakup scene. Moo dropping to his knees begging Kang not to let go of his hand was devastating. I really hoped that in the year they were apart he wrote a BUNCH of angsty, sad love songs to get back at his company and honestly the crazy fans. Why do fans care so much about who their favorite celebrity is dating? Can't we just be happy they are happy?! Man, this was a painful episode. And having to wait a whole week is also painful. And the fact that this next episode is the one before the last episode is top tier painful. Man, I hope they get back together next episode.

I'm not a fan of Tongrak yet, but that was the writers fault. If they had spent a few minutes explaining why his friend Connor has the power to send him on a trip to write and Rak just had to follow the instructions but under duress, his attitude when he arrived on the island would have made better sense. Also, it would have help if on his trip to the island a million things went wrong, so that when he finally arrived and had to then wait for Mut, his being an ass would also make sense. Not going to lie though, Mut doing every thing he could to get under Rak's skin was annoying as well. That being said, FortPeat have amazing chemistry together and Fort's cockey swagger is irresistible, so I am here for this show. I do NOT think I will be here for the side GL couple. Once again, the characters are unlikeable, so I'm not really interested. Although I liked Aya in Wedding Plan. Like almost all of Mame's characters, she starts them off being so unlikable, you cannot imagine rooting for them to get together, but by the 3 episode you are on board and it's always worth the ride. So we'll see what Mame does this time.

I think the craziest thing about this story is that it isn't really a romance. I have zero desire for poor Joe to end up with psycho Ming. But I also know that Ming loved Joe from the beginning, even if he didn't realize it until it was too late. I'm here to see Joe get just for all the crap that has been heaped on him in his life and now in this life by both his old life and second Joe's old life. Poor Joe!! Having to still deal with his own crazy ex was bad enough! Now he has to deal with second Joe's crazy ex!? He cannot catch a break! The poor guy just wants to work, pay his debts and take care of his not mom. Why is all this happening to him!? 😂😂
On another note, while I have not too much sympathy for Ming, seeing him realize he has ALWAYS been in love with Joe was kind of devasting. Up did an amazing job with that scene. You could see his heart breaking at the realization that had he treat his Joe right, he would have had everything he wanted. Although I cannot wait to see next week how they all react to Ming ruining that very expensive film scene! 😂😂😂
I am going to be on the struggle bus waiting for the next episode. I just want to know where is Joe's original body, will he ever go back to it, if it's like in some hospital in a jungle some where? And I need to know if he is going to end up with Ming or will he get a better future for himself, cause there is not universe where Ming is a good idea for a boyfriend.

I loved all the gooey romance in this episode. If they had jumped to straight "I love yous" it would have been based on mostly sex. That is the basis of their relationship until this episode. You add the splashes of friendship they have shown and it would not have added to I love you. But this episode showed them getting more time together out side of the apartment, out side of trying to get the scholarship or getting Taem to notice Yak. It was just the two of them. It was ooey and gooey and I loved it. That chin kiss was precious! We still got some spice, but it showed that it was no longer just lust but the beginnings of love. Now I want to see what Yak saw when he closed his eyes. Did he see Wandee?! When is he going to realize he don't like Taem that way, cause if he did, could he sleep with Dee like this!? If he could, that would make him an awful human being. So I hope he realizes he wasn't that into her just by the fact that it took very little for him to jump on Dee.

I was scared for a second that they were going to give us yet another romantic/NC scene with Oyei and Cher and they weren't going to kiss. Have you noticed that this episode is the first time they showed them kissing? I just figured that Fluke must be underage and they couldn't show him kissing Thor, but then they started the NC scene and I was like wait, so they CAN kiss?! How weird that it was the first one. Them not even doing the tiniest of pecks despite all the references to them going to "bed" was throwing this side couple off.
I am glad, though, that they are finally telling us why Oyei has been acting weird and distant around Cher. I hope he confesses soon, although, I imagine it won't come out until the fight next week, where it looks like Yak loses but he gets a kiss from Wandee.