ivini

First of all, I know I'll say things that most people aren't going to agree with, and that's fine! Everyone has their own opinions.

The first thing that's impressive about the series is that it's well made. And made with deep care. There are some beautiful scenes, and it's one of the most delicate series in terms of working with more than just words. A lot of BL series focus heavily on dialogue, making sure every point is made super clear… because, let's be honest, the average BL spectator isn't educated in audiovisual, which is fine, but they don't appreciate it as much when things aren't spelled out for them, when it's not screamed and handed to you. When it's not about NCs and boys making out.

TTH isn't like that… for me, it's about what's not said, it's about feelings, and there are some scenes with amazing photography and framing.

I think the visual language is the highlight of the series. Actually, thinking about it more, it doesn't have that much dialogue? Which is something I liked and, at the same time, didn't like. There are parts I would have liked differently, but overall, it's not something I can just call good or bad… it depends. I think it's definitely interesting, though, and very well constructed.

The directing is on point, that's not the problem for me here. The problem for me is more in the screenwriting. I didn't like the way things were organized… not exactly the development, because my problem with the development in the series isn't the narrative itself, it's more about the development of the characters. Well, not the development itself, LOL, but the lack of development.

I hate that we get to the last episode and Tanrak is still the same boy with the same questions… like, 30 years after meeting Barth and being together, he's still stuck suffering in his guilt? And Barth too?

I also don't like how the episodes were structured. In the last episode, a bunch of things happen. And from episode one to five, we have development in a proper structure, then we get to this last episode and it's just a bunch of scenes, time skips, and things happening, with a lot being left unsaid. I understand it's a stylistic choice, but… idk, it doesn't make sense to me. I didn't like it.

But the acting… Fourth, why are you the best of your generation? Gemini is also good and does wonderful work, but Fourth is extraordinary. It's insane. This boy is SO talented and he gets so immersed in his characters, he's so so so talented.

Overall, it's a good series, but I think toward the end they got a little lost in it.

An additional observation, and this one is very, very personal: I understand that this was a very personal work for Aof (the director), since he is Catholic and gay and still attends church. Of course, that's understandable… the whole point of view he's coming from. It's a specific and personal view. I just can't say I liked it, because I understand his point of having faith and hope, and it's beautiful and bright, I understand that he wants to lean more toward the cheerful, brighter side of things. It's just… utopic.

As a queer person who grew up in a Catholic church, in a Catholic family, it feels almost utopic to me… completely unrealistic in some parts. Some of it leans more toward propaganda, and I have strong, bad feelings about that. It was a beautiful, well-made series despite the issues I've already mentioned, it isn't a bad work as a whole piece, but this "detail" bothers me a lot. I can't ignore it.

But this is a very personal critique, because I also understand that it's a personal work he's doing based on his views and his beliefs, and he made that clear the whole time. I can just say I don't like this detail (it isn't a minor detail, but I do understand that it's a very personal point of view).

So… yeah.