This review may contain spoilers
Still disappointing even when I didn't have any expectations
(English is not my first language so please excuse my mistakes)When I started this BL, I didn't have high expectations. But still, it was disappointing.
- Tine and wat had more chemistry when they were fake dating than when they became boyfriend. Everyone can agree than you don't need to portray explicit sex scene to showcase love between to person. But they are some thing that have to be "de facto" when people are in love. When moving together in a house with only one bed, and you're a couple, I highly doubt that you will just be on your side, back facing each other, with all your clothes on. Especially when you're young (they must be like 19 yo men), at that age with your partner this is NOT a realistic portray?? And even watching the star together there was no sign of romance at all ! This lack of romantic interactions (I'm not asking for hot bed scene) is so frustrating as it's repeat all along, during 13 episodes. Because of that it was so hard to see them as lovers, they looked and acted more like brothers or buddies...:/
- The story and the plot had potential, I liked the idea of fake dating, it could be fun. But it was toxic asf. Something that come back a lot in Thai BL drama is the lack of FREAKING COMMUNICATION. Every argument is almost the end of the relationship and small thing cause huge and disproportionate arguments. I'm tired of this. They never want to listen what the other has to say for their defense just because they "saw" something that can mean nothing.
- The use and portrayal of girls/young women : they are only portrayed in cliché and annoying ways : a bunch of crazy girls screaming over hot guys ; the "ex who is still in love and come back just to screw everything up, even when knowing that wat has a boyfriend but still comeback because director wanted some drama but didn't want to think to much and were lazy" ; the girl that tine like and want to date who is only use to show Wat's jealousy because it's "cute omggg look he's jealous he loves tine so much ahah XD ". The only girl I appreciated was the one playing guitar in the music band (but see I don't even remember her name (X ).
Anyway...
- side story/realtionship: not gonna lie I kinda skipped a lot of those scene cause it was just boring and not interesting. They were just here to show that "everyone is gay and end up with a boyfriend and oh that's so cool".
- Dim and Green : one word : TOXIC and ABUSIVE relationship (well that's 2 sorry XD). Not even funny or entertaining, more like cringe.
- Man and Type : what the heck is that : man's behaviour isn't cute and romantic. He's just a creepy stalker. I didn't like how they ended together, don't understand how type fell in love.
- Mil and Wat's little brother (sorry I don't remember his name X/ ) : it was weird as hell, I don't like how mil treated WLB, who seemed to be just a second choice after he FINALLY understood that Tine doesn't like him. Plus there interactions seemed off to me, it was unnatural especially the "pat pat" thing. (Spoiler season 2 ) at the end of the 1st season I thought that they ended up together but it seems like no because at the beginning of season 2 they aren't, it's just WLB who tries to seduces mil and is frustrated. I was completely lost.(end spoiler S2)
- characters didn't have any evolution, they were still the same at the end of the 13th episode, nothing new also in there archetype. Tine friends are just here to roast restaurants and get drunk til morning to the point you can't remember anything after that and give a tiny piece of advice sometimes. I just liked Fong. He was nice. But that's it.
-the sorry doesn't make sense either : one good exemple is that now tine doesn't need wat, he just quit the music club. ????
If I had to name one good thing it would be the music : one of the rare Thai BL which has a not cringe ost and music in general. Scrubs' music is very nice ! However if we could get a music BL were the instrument is NOT guitar for once... I'm getting tired of this :')
I almost forgot one thing : the choice of music for some scene. SO BAD. When Tine is crying and you put a happy and lively music on top of that??? So many moment like that, supposed to be sad but are ruined by the stupid choice of music.
(This is my first review on MDL I hope it was not too bad XD)
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This review may contain spoilers
Finally an other BL calling out problematic stuff in the Industry
First of all, I'd like to mention bas's acting who was phenomenal. It was so realistic, makes me want to cry every time. It was so good that it kinda makes others acting not so memorable...Marco : a lovely character, we can feel he has a crush on James, it is obvious. I like him ! However I would like to see a bit more but I think we are gonna have this in S2, given how S1 ended.
James : the main character, director, who fell in love with his actor. It was okay ; what I mean by that is his acting was not phenomenal but neither cringe or boring.
Ait : .... It's the kind of character who makes me go crazy and scream on my pillow and smash my bed because it's supposed to be "cute" and "lovely" but I found just this cringe as hell. I can't stand this "cuteness" in BLs, too much for me. Also I don't get why he becomes jealous when Marco is around. It's james' best friend and even if Marco had feelings, you can't prevent him from having feelings for his only best friend who took care of him for 4 years, thought him Thai ect... I found this very selfish of him.
Tee was an odious, execrable and hateful character whereas Jun was so funny ! I really liked her.
Story
For those who have watched Lovely Writer : Call it what you want has the same vibe (calling out the BL industry) but LW made it a bit lighter than this, focusing more on the relationship VS the fan.
CIWYW took this in an other direction, focusing more on the relationship VS the company and the restrictions applied in the contract only made to restraint actor's lives. It was way more serious and sad, especially with bas's story. I think there is even more shit going on under the surface that we don't know, but this kind of story is refreshing, dealing with important issues that need more attention.
Also don't get crazy over the car's scenes. I wanted to laugh so bad everytime. And unfortunately I didn't get use to it 😭
I would say it's a good BL, but it needs its season 2 ! For those who liked lovely writer you will like this (disregarding the car's scenes lmao)
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One of my favorite ennemies to lovers
(English is not my first language so please excuse any mistakes)I've watched this one year ago and I decided to watch it again so I could write a review on MDL. Well my vision of this BL didn't change. It is still one of my favorite ennemies to lovers.
It wasn't a format as long a Thaï BL which last around 1h/episode so I was afraid, with only six episodes of 30 minutes, I would be frustrated, and the story not well developed. But I was extremely surprised, in a good way, how well the story was told, and how natural it seemed for me to perceive how Shu Yi fell for Gao de. When watching BL I often question the plot, the directing, and the actors because it seems that one of the protagonist suddenly fell in love with the other and we don't understand why. However it is not the case here, we can clearly see Shi Yi fall for Gao de.
Acting is not perfect ofc but it's definitely very good and nice to watch.
I'd like to mention one thing which I kinda disliked : the scene on the bridge, when Shi Yi confess his love, Gao De tell him : "I thought you didn't like boys". And SY answers this "only because it's you".
Which means that Shi Yi "is not gay he has just fallen for a man".
Ofc, you can fall in love and don't care about the gender, but I don't like how in some BL drama the "straight guy" is still straight and just fall for a man because that's life who wanted this to happen. Just my personal opinion but I'd like to know what others think about that "issue".
Apart this little thing I totally recommend it! Now I'm gonna rewatch season 2 to post my review on MDL!
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Nice topic brought into highlights
(English is not my first language so please excuse any mistakes)After I finished it for the first time, I found it was a simple a short little story to bing watch, nothing Extraordinary, with actors who do their jobs and that's it. ( I reviewed it 7.5/10/
I decided to watch this series again few month after. And omg. Was i stupid or what?? This BL is absolutely incredible ! I must have been blind because it actually deals about toxic masculinity and the pressure and social judgement based on your looks in such a wonderful way ! Actors aren't just "good" they're fantastic ! Especially Eun Bin (si won) ! The scene with his mum is heartbreaking and I cried because he really touched me. Just thinking of it makes me emotional. Yes the format is still very short like a lot of Korean bl but I think it actually fits really good. Ofc I wouldn't have mind a bit longer episodes but I still totally recommend it !!
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This review may contain spoilers
What can I say except that I LOVED this?
(English is not my first language so please excuse any mistakes)Where to begin... It was my first ever BL series and damn it was amazing. (I'm writing thing months after so I've watched lots of BL in the mid time and also rewatch it several time)
Acting was on point, it was not cringe (expect maybe the "I'm gonna pat pat you as a reward" but 'll let go this)
The story isn't very original (a university plot, 2 guys forced to work together and who end up to like each other) but it was somehow addictive ! Idk if it's because of the actors, the way it was filmed but after 5th time I watch it I'm still not bored, I still enjoy every minutes, never skip anything (something that I do a lot when I don't like soles scenes) !
I've read the manhua and I must admit that I preferred the drama : it was way softer but we still had amazing kiss scenes and romantic scene at the final episodes. Rye jie ( I think it's her name ?) Is cute and for once portrayed a girl not in an excessive way: she understands that Sangwoo doesn't like her and decide to let it go.
I found this drama just so realistic, so plausible, convincing.
As an artist myself, I really enjoyed that side of the drama, because for once we don't have the same university faculty represented. (Hum... Engineer...hum...)
Also can we talk about the MUSIC. It is AMAZING. the best ost drama I've ever heard and one of the rare one I added to my playlist. It is so good !
I think this drama will stay as one of my favourite for a long time
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