My frustration tolerance for this series nearly exhausted. They make this huge plot driven BL but why is the plot so messy and the characters so pointless? Mark is just standing around in pretty shirts with no function whatsoever after he joins Tattoo. Pee is dug up from god-knows-where every few eps, Lady Boss is acting all mysterious puppeteer and then folds at the first sign of opposition. How does Jack manage to pay off other people's debt but barely his own? How is it lucrative to kill off you debtors? how did Daddy go from 'once a thief-always a thief' to 'you're awesome, son!'? There are plenty of things I love about this series, but the plot and 75% of the characters give me whiplash.
At ep 13 now and checking the comments here to see if I should finish. This progressively hard to watch. I am trying hard to overlook the level of unprofessionalism shown by everyone and just to enjoy it as a cute romance, but it's getting damn near impossible.
This episode was everything, and I’m really loving how the show is taking its time building up their relationship…
Exactly! The way the show is taking their time is agonisingly great! It's a nice change from the usual fast lane stories that sort of bypass plot and just use the most popular scenes to get to the snogging asap. Those feel cheap by comparison to the tender relationship we see developing here. And they still manage to make every episode super exciting! And I am so psyched by a series that shows off their acting skill. I know everyone is talking about War, because the character of Joker is hugely challenging and he kills it every time, but can I just say that Yin is just as epic at portraying Jack who is not as showy or extroverted but just as complex. I also thought his character a bit bland in the first eps but he really gets to show off now!
Yeess! I also got some Arun/Tattoo vibes.
Not sure where they are going with Hope's love life, though...I thought they were painting him as the cruel psycho, but he gets a lover & even some funny lines now...
Very true about the socio-economic perspective and the way morale becomes very greyish when someone is at rock bottom- his character gives a lot of food for thought.
I think the main problem with the series is that it tries to be too many things. Is it an intership experience with comic relief? Well done ep 1-4. Is it about a couple re-orienting? Bahmee possibly falling in love with someone else ? (it happens, no matter how nice the current partner is) well done ep 6 Is it falling in love with your colleague? tbh it seems Ryan liking Jane is more admiration for a senior but ok, they have so much chemistry from way back that I can overlook the total lack of actual romantic indicators in the series. Or is it about trying to find oneself ? Ryan not knowing what he wants to be would have been sufficient as a plot but that sort of becomes irrelevant when he starts making mooneyes at Jane... I agree with many others that the office romance is problematic. If it had been the sole focus maybe they could have approached the problematic aspects and made it work. Alas there is too much going on plotwise so I doubt it will happen.
sarcastic comment bc I can't help it: 'They made this bc the regretted not casting Yang Yang in 'You are my hero', right?" lol. It's too similar XD But that aside, I really liked Xu Qin's character and her indecisiveness, being incapable to choose between her adoptive family and her love. That rang really authentic and I could emphasise with her very well. I think the way her character is written is truly what makes this series special. I had to get used to Wang Chu Ran, and it takes a while to understand that the way she portrais Xu Qin, is really plausible. I know most people are probably in it for Yang Yang, and he is great and portrays great character depth, but in this one, I actually think the series is carried by the unique characterisations and personal struggles rather than the love story or plot.
finished. naaahhh, not really. MAME does not own abusive relationships nor did she invent them. Sky's background story is nothing but a plot devise (and to be honest not a very good one. If people can't even take that much plot, they are better off watching cutie pie). MAME's MO (and what most people dislike about her writing) is that she writes imbalanced relationships for the main couple. But she didn't even do that here. Maybe she's becoming mainstream. Rain & Storm's story is so bland it just lives off of Payu's looks. And Sky's background story is just a harsher version of Pete's from Love by Chance, damaged by a past relationship and saved by a palladin. Nothing new here.
So sue me, I was excited to see another MAME adaptation. I am a fan of her brand of relationship depiction. I am at ep 4 now and a bit disappointed. This is not the toxic cruicible I was waiting for. So far it's tame and reminds me of a patchwork of what we've already seen in 2022: bikes and mechanics (not me) & doe-eyed puppy love (cutie pie). On top, it's not like MAME is famous for intricate plots, but this one is not as coherent as that of her other works. Boss was cast very well (very drool-worthy - the director obviousy also thought so, bc we see him in profile a LOT), but we have a bit too much 'in-your-face' obviousness in his character and he is a bit UBER: A-grade student, successful architect, co-owns an elite car workshop, where he is also the best mechanic, seems to not only work as a mechanic on illegal mafia bike races but also somehow is far enough up in the ranks to be responsible for organising them & always looks like he just came from a photo shoot. PULEASE.... I am just waiting to see him play the piano and we have modern prince charming bingo complete.
I just have one concern about Shi Zhen. She is supposed to be the accomplished, smart, independent female that young girls should aspire to - but she cannot hold a job for longer than a few months. Does this ring alarm bells with anybody else? What kind of unsteady life and personality is that? I know there are explanations for all of the 4 job switches she does over the course of 1(?) year... but seriously... there is is some underlying issue there.
Zee is quite possibly the only thing at the moment that makes this watchable. I have no idea what the point of…
Don't remind me of Saint. I am really trying to give New a chance, but I weep for the SaintZee chemistry we are missing out on. *sigh* New just can't keep up with waves of sex appeal radiating off of Zee. He's too ... shall we say 'marshmallow'? to pull off the double lifestyle convinvingly.
This is just OK for me. This ep was more enjoyable for me than last ep, but the characters are too unnatural for…
Zee is quite possibly the only thing at the moment that makes this watchable. I have no idea what the point of the NatMax couple is, or why their dynamic is like that. This feels too much like a fanfic written by a twelve year old and the directors decided to keep it that way. Plot? character depth? anyone? The premise is cute enough - it carries the series for very benevolent watchers (at least for a while) until you notice that if they couldn't find a better cliffhanger than Zee looking at you like he will eat you right up for 2 eps in a row, they really really really had nothing to say.
If they came clean then there wouldn't even be a story. Literally the web of lies is the only thing holding the…
After yesterday I thought: If you can't find a better cliffhanger 2 eps in a row than Zee looking at you like he will eat you right up, you really really really have nothing to say. *sigh* The premise is valid and cute enough, but please make it plausible.
I think maybe I had expectations for this that were too high, but I was disappointed. Except Zee's shower scene.There's…
True true. Usually, abs before ep 3 doesn't bode well for the plot. Seems that's true even if they are Zee's :( I did end up skip-watching a lot, as familiy history is not how you hook an audience. Most of your points are fact- especially where the behaviour of New is concered. The role *was* written for Saint, and I weep that this did not happen (he would have looked stunning on that Ducati). But I suppose New does his best despite having much less experience and I mean: Zee would have chemistry with a tree. I did think the production crew should have spared some of their budget to invest in a tripod for their camera though... some of that shaking made me dizzy ;)
Guys, that was really dumb - this is getting too silly. What was the point of testing Black if they were just…
You have a point. Although I must admit, it doesn't really bother me too much (personally). The day GMMTV makes a BL with a profound and well-structured plot will be the day I eat my hat (I will buy one just for the occasion) - so I never really expected them to have a completely coherent logic. I also agree with Asheazi.S. Nadoma - they are a very naive group in many ways. So I don't mind that their plans and some of their actions are stupidly whaky.
There are plenty of things I love about this series, but the plot and 75% of the characters give me whiplash.
Yeess! I also got some Arun/Tattoo vibes.
Not sure where they are going with Hope's love life, though...I thought they were painting him as the cruel psycho, but he gets a lover & even some funny lines now...
Very true about the socio-economic perspective and the way morale becomes very greyish when someone is at rock bottom- his character gives a lot of food for thought.
Is it an intership experience with comic relief? Well done ep 1-4.
Is it about a couple re-orienting? Bahmee possibly falling in love with someone else ? (it happens, no matter how nice the current partner is) well done ep 6
Is it falling in love with your colleague? tbh it seems Ryan liking Jane is more admiration for a senior but ok, they have so much chemistry from way back that I can overlook the total lack of actual romantic indicators in the series.
Or is it about trying to find oneself ? Ryan not knowing what he wants to be would have been sufficient as a plot but that sort of becomes irrelevant when he starts making mooneyes at Jane...
I agree with many others that the office romance is problematic. If it had been the sole focus maybe they could have approached the problematic aspects and made it work. Alas there is too much going on plotwise so I doubt it will happen.
But that aside, I really liked Xu Qin's character and her indecisiveness, being incapable to choose between her adoptive family and her love. That rang really authentic and I could emphasise with her very well. I think the way her character is written is truly what makes this series special. I had to get used to Wang Chu Ran, and it takes a while to understand that the way she portrais Xu Qin, is really plausible.
I know most people are probably in it for Yang Yang, and he is great and portrays great character depth, but in this one, I actually think the series is carried by the unique characterisations and personal struggles rather than the love story or plot.
MAME's MO (and what most people dislike about her writing) is that she writes imbalanced relationships for the main couple. But she didn't even do that here. Maybe she's becoming mainstream. Rain & Storm's story is so bland it just lives off of Payu's looks. And Sky's background story is just a harsher version of Pete's from Love by Chance, damaged by a past relationship and saved by a palladin. Nothing new here.
So far it's tame and reminds me of a patchwork of what we've already seen in 2022: bikes and mechanics (not me) & doe-eyed puppy love (cutie pie). On top, it's not like MAME is famous for intricate plots, but this one is not as coherent as that of her other works.
Boss was cast very well (very drool-worthy - the director obviousy also thought so, bc we see him in profile a LOT),
but we have a bit too much 'in-your-face' obviousness in his character and he is a bit UBER: A-grade student, successful architect, co-owns an elite car workshop, where he is also the best mechanic, seems to not only work as a mechanic on illegal mafia bike races but also somehow is far enough up in the ranks to be responsible for organising them & always looks like he just came from a photo shoot. PULEASE.... I am just waiting to see him play the piano and we have modern prince charming bingo complete.
The premise is valid and cute enough, but please make it plausible.
I did think the production crew should have spared some of their budget to invest in a tripod for their camera though... some of that shaking made me dizzy ;)