Good start to a drama that lost the pacing war
I had such high hopes for this drama. The first 3 three episodes were genuinely so intriguing and the cinematography was and honestly still is (they were consistent in at least that) stunning. The colouring was warm and nostalgic, the quiet closeup shots were visually pleasing and the overall scenery was actually nice!I gotta say, this drama could've been so much more than what it ended up being. I thought I was in for an emotional ride with a genuinely captivating storyline and good pacing. Well, at least the first part was true, it was definitely emotional. Unfortunately the storyline that started so good with a sorta-enemies-definitely-strangers to lovers kind of trope set in the 2000s, which sounded like something that was right up my alley, got lost somewhere on the way as there were a ton of unnecessary fillers: the psycho classmate, a slice of family drama that didn't fully go into depth (nor did it actually get resolved?) and ten thousand side quests at university.
The characters that were actually the most memorable were Ouyang Han and Li Ming. They had good chemistry and were actually interesting characters and not as bland as the main couple.
While I appreciate that they really tried to give us a romantic 2000s gay love story, it just didn't give me the feels and was unnecessarily draggy. Also: the whole "I love you like a friend, I'm your bro" thing is OUT. Like, come on, Yu Lei, you didn't have to take THAT long to figure it out and get over yourself. I thought we finally moved on from that brotherly bond type of love. The last episode just felt like a mess, a futile effort of giving us a grand, dramatic finale while tying up all the loose strings and somehow it was anything but satisfying... *sigh* the premise was so good and the filming too, they just couldn't keep it that way.
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Slice of life with lessons on the side
I think this drama is not supposed to be anything grand. I think it gave us what it advertised in a very sweet little packaging and although there were angsty parts, it was still easily digestible. Essentially this is about two struggling people, trying to figure out their current situation and eventually their future. They're grappling with themselves and doubting their purpose in life, all while in the beautiful backdrop of a small island. After both ML and FL suffered losses that had huge impacts on their lives, they find and heal each other, relearning how to enjoy a simple life. The drama offered a few beautiful quotes and sentiments about forgiveness, self growth and expectations from others and oneself.Although sometimes it felt like there were quite a few filler scenes with food, the core story about finding back to yourself and realising what truly makes you happy in life and being content, is truly heartwarming. Sometimes I struggled a little with the FL's attitude or some directorial choices that were made, but overall the characters were likeable.
If you're looking for a story about people who are not perfect and are trying to stay afloat amidst their worries, helping each other out, paired with beautiful cinematography and food scenes, then this is for you. It's calming and quiet, not too draggy and perfect for a breather and early summer!
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Light-hearted GL with just a pinch of nice character development
I think for a bubbly, cute rom-com in the backdrop of rural Thailand, Hometown Romance did exactly what it set out to do: deliver a fun, refreshing GL that is uplifting, with loveable characters and lots of comedic relief. For what it is, Hometown Romance did well. They never promised any deep drama or anything too serious; it's still supposed to be a countryside rom-com and I think the outcome fits the bill.It's fun, it's colourful and the chemistry is great. I didn't expect anything too deep; they still gave us a lovely bit of character development.
LMSY delivered an amazing performance as always!
While there were some sequences that felt a bit too rushed or perhaps the villain arc was a bit shallow, I think that doesn't take away too much from the series overall.
So, I think this is for everyone who wants to enjoy a GL that is a bit different, refreshing and fun, or perhaps someone who is looking for a drama with beautiful countryside shots bc there's LOTS! I know all the LMSY fans don't even need convincing for this one :)
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High School BL with heart and a twist
Contrast, while following one of the oldest and possibly most formulaic tropes in BL – the high school romance with Popular Guy x Quiet Smart Boy – managed to break free from certain stereotypes tied to the trope. Instead of giving us the same old recycled gay awakening with unnecessarily long pining arc plus slapstick comedy shoehorned in at every opportunity, Contrast gave us a refreshing spin of the old, beloved BL high school concept: a closeted gay guy and an emotionally burdened popular guy who find solace in each others' company.Akira's storyline was accurate in terms of authenticity when it comes to being closeted and dealing with the frustrations and self doubt that comes with it. His obvious struggle was so emotional and hit so hard precisely because it represents the reality of many young queer teens. It made me cry crocodile tears tbh. I really appreciated the fact that they included this aspect of queerness.
As for Kanata, his image of Popular Confident Heartthrob makes the reveal of his insecurities and detachment all the more surprising but adds such a nice layer to his character. This is something this show has managed to achieve with the main characters: instead of keeping them one-dimensional, it allowed flaws and gave them real struggles.
I truly enjoyed the bond between Kanata and Akira, you could feel how much they care about one another. They were very very loveable.
The relationship between Akira and his tutor left a bad taste in my mouth, despite appreciating the honest, open conversation they had. It just didn't sit right with me. They could've kept the tutor as an emotional pillar, a supporting net for Akira, if you will, but adding that physical aspect to the relationship was not it for me.
Still, the rest of the show and the remaining side characters, such as Mizuki with her caring, supporting nature, were definitely likeable (I just love Mizuki, she's so sweet). The pacing throughout these 8 episodes was definitely to my taste, they didn't drag it too much, although I would've liked a little more time at the end to see Kanata and Akira moving forward academically, as well as with their new status as a couple; the ending felt a bit rushed.
Overall I really liked the storytelling of Contrast. The premise was nothing extraordinary or particularly catching, but just intriguing enough and the storytelling felt open and to the point. I can confidently say this drama is a nice watch for anyone who enjoys high school love with a tad of emotional drama, but nothing too heavy or serious. It's simple in its structure yet nuanced and well done.
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A CINEMATOGRAPHIC MASTERPIECE
ITSAY is true art. I don't even dare to confine it to the genre of BL since for me, this is more of a queer coming of age story. Boss Kuno and the whole cast knew EXACTLY what they were doing. This drama shows raw emotion, the fallible nature of teenagers in love and denial, as well as the effects of cultural intermingling in the parent generation on the child's upbringing.Someone on social media phrased it in a really funny but insanely accurate way: Boss Kuno's shows dare to ask the question "what if you were seventeen, gay and also a major fucking loser." And I think that sort of encapsulates how Teh moves through the majority of this story. He is a mess. Let's be honest, he is. But he's also a teenager. The bond between him and Oaew runs deep and they get caught in their emotions, and their expectations of each other. It's a roller coaster of INTENSE emotions. Sometimes it drives them (I'm looking at you Teh) to do insanely stupid things out of desperation and it makes one cringe while watching but at the same time it's so beautifully authentic. Billkin and PP Krit really delivered OUTSTANDING performances. I'd trust them with anything they decide to star in. Their ability to express the characters' inner turmoil and conflict is truly admirable.
Let's talk about Boss Kuno's incredible storytelling. The pacing of this story is zippier than other Thai dramas, which I really appreciated here. Still, nothing was missed. Boss Kuno told this expertly, I'm still in awe, how he created such an organic, tender and heartwarming story while also managing to authentically portray the everyday life of these characters and its impact on them by weaving in cultural aspects such as immigration (see old part of Phuket). It gives deep context and explains the boys' upbringing and the importance of Chinese culture in the story. It aids to make us understand the familial bonds of Teh, his brother and their mother and Teh's difficulty to deal with his feelings for Oaew, a boy.
Beyond that, the shots are stunning, the colouring gives the scenes a nostalgic, wistful summer feeling. Boss Kuno also managed to include and incredible amount of symbolism through colours, specific objects etc. and if you're able to catch on, it adds more depth to the relationship dynamics of the main and side characters. This is expert, artistic storytelling and I will never not watch anything directed by Kuno. That man creates magic on screen.
In short: IF YOU CARE ABOUT WELL WRITTEN STORIES WITH MULTI-DIMENSIONAL CHARACTERS AND CAN APPRECIATE ARTFUL CINEMATOGRAPHY AND EMOTIONAL DEPTH IN A DRAMA, WATCH! THIS! PLEASE!
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