look, I love TutorYim, but if this is art, I should really hang on to more of the stuff my toddler brings home…
TutorYim are spicy and fun. But I did not mention either of them as artistic elements. Why? It's hard to tell what their characters are thinking/feeling because TutorYim are both mad chill... their facial expressions remain pretty much the same for every emotion. I would bet that's why the editors added so many sound effects as cues. Fun to watch but the acting needs time and practice.
The theme of a movie is always spoken at the 20-minute mark. In EP1, exactly at the 20-minute mark, Intha says, "Let art be art."
If you are struggling to figure out the point of this series, it is ART. For contrast: The series 'Burnout Syndrome' was about art but it was 'high concept', meaning, absolutely anyone could understand it. This series is 'high art', meaning, intellectual analysis and specialized knowledge is required to understand it. (I have to Google most of the Thai cultural references... but I'm learning.)
What makes a story? The interplay of opposites. How does that play out in ChermChey?
Visuals = High art: Cinematography is guru level. Sets are masterpieces of design. Wardrobe emphasizes the underlying concepts of 'opposites attract' as well as the opposition between their outward appearances and internal personalities.
Dialogue = High art: At least 70% of the 'meaning' lingers in the air of what is NOT said out loud. That's why the pacing feels a little bit off... slow, maybe? Because the audience was given a few quiet moments to interpret what was said in order to understand what it meant.
Humor = High art: Low-concept sexual innuendo is contrasted against high-concept love. Every interaction contains adoration, affection, devotion, compromise, honesty, healing, protection, safety... everything except the words "I love you", which are essentially meaningless without all of the other things.
This series has to be savored, slowly. Like putting a piece of chocolate on your tongue and letting it melt. Intha never devours his Little One without tasting it first... be like Intha.
Folie à deux is French for "the madness of two". The main characters are two sides of the same coin, similar to the leads in the movie 'Double Mint'.
The story is about obsession. "Love" is not the story. If you're looking for a toxic BL, this is not your jam. This is something else.
What causes obsession? Chemical reward loops in the brain. The nearly unbreakable bond between a psychopathic sadist (Lu Feng) and a codependent masochist (Cheng Yi Chen) is maintained by high intensity "loops". Their relationship repeatedly swings between extreme emotional states... fear/safety, bliss/despair, isolation/reunion, etc./etc. They are hooked on the highs and willing to endure almost anything to get back to that place.
Yi Chen is right where he wants to be, even when it terrifies him. Read the novel. Then, come back and watch the drama. The drama fails to convey Yi Chen's thoughts, which are a critical part of understanding the mutual nature of their obsession.
Every character is a villain, including Yi Chen. Cowardice hurts people, too... lying to conceal real emotions, ghosting to avoid ownership, breaking promises to avoid difficulty. Some characters are definitely more extreme than others but no one's hands are clean.
really frustrating , all scenes only prove both lead have only physical desire means no emotion no true feelings…
They were very much in love with each other. Both were too afraid of getting hurt to be honest with each other. They pretended to be unbothered, trying to manipulate the other person into reassuring them emotional expressions. Both of them ruined the relationship by not being honest with each other. She assumed he didn't really love her because he wouldn't just say it directly. When in fact, he showed her in 100 different ways how much he loved her. He tried to keep her both times but she left him twice, which broke his heart. The poor man cried real tears in the end.
The series masterfully (mis)leads us to believe this is just another bad boy trope. Nope, keep watching. Fearful avoidance, deceit, and misdirection presented a lesson in self-sabotage and mutual destruction. Vulnerability is scary but both of them were absolutely terrified of feeling an emotion. Watch Ureshino's face during the last episode, especially during the last 10 minutes. It will shift your entire perspective about both characters and challenge everything you thought you knew from the previous episodes.
A wet paper towel could have played "Lalyn" better than the Discount LaLisa lookalike. How did she get through casting? Every scene with her was so painfully bad it left a mark.
Talking stage?? Bro, what? How many levels are in this stage? Can I get a syllabus? DQ already checked off every relationship-coded thing except joint adoption of a shelter dog. Come on.
Qin, what's the tea? You have no sound dampening tiles in your music studio space. But you have sound dampening tiles on the wall above the bed? Good boy.
Of course, can't forget the sponge bath. The Thai Y series sponge bath is the K-drama finger prick.
We have to wait another week for the Cherry reveal? I might not make it.
Had no idea what to expect but I gave episode 1 a shot. Was not disappointed.
Visually, it looked like a 48-count box of crayons projectile-vomited into a Kindergarten classroom. But it felt heavy and dark underneath. Dark humor. Dark night of the soul. Dark corners of the heart.
Not a single human emotion was spared. Dragged me through the entire spectrum. PerthSanta conveyed confusion and distress so well that I felt it in my chest.
The plot seems interesting. Similar to the 80's movie BIG?
Episode 2... Did you see the way Boston looked at Jack before they hugged? Watch it again at 0.5x speed. Only…
Rome is a red flag. Masks it behind a playboy smile to get what he wants. Aou does this thing with his voice/expression where he flips from dangerous to harmless, giving insight into the character.
Jack is a black flag. The way he tortures Dean and plays the victim is typical ASPD sadism. Uses flying monkeys to do his dirty work so he looks innocent. Knowingly manipulates everyone's emotions to fulfill his own agenda. The serial killer glasses are a HUGE clue (good choice, Costume Designer).
Did you see the way Boston looked at Jack before they hugged? Watch it again at 0.5x speed. Only friends my ass.
Arnold, I see you!! If you skipped the end credits with the JossGawin dance scene, please rewatch. Watch Joss' body language change over the course of the scene. Watch his face over Gawin's shoulder. The OF:DO crew gave us a masterclass in non-verbal emotional transition from hesitation, to acceptance, to bliss. So beautiful... I'm not crying, you're crying.
I thought about that but it still didn't quite check out. Screen auto-lock would have to be disabled after the initial fingerprint ID. Kelvin was opening the phone over and over. My phone will not allow changes to security settings without a numeric passcode.
Kelvin climbed that man like a tree. I would be impressed if it were not so traumatizing for the tree.
Rubbing saliva all over a person will not make them love you.
Vier explained this to you at least 7 kidnappings ago.
Kelvin, sex is not love. Are you taking notes??
Why can't the imitation LaLisa look-a-like learn her lines? Continuously looking off to the side for script cues makes it hard to focus on the scene.
The scene with Fort looking up from his book needed to be 25 minutes long at 0.5x speed. I don't mean to stare but... I'm staring. Am I allowed to bark in this context? Respectfully.
The madman thinks the prisoner needs a psychiatrist?? In a dungeon? With a bathtub in the middle of the room? Sure, why not?
The fake psychiatrist is extra sus. Lock him in the dungeon.
If you are struggling to figure out the point of this series, it is ART. For contrast: The series 'Burnout Syndrome' was about art but it was 'high concept', meaning, absolutely anyone could understand it. This series is 'high art', meaning, intellectual analysis and specialized knowledge is required to understand it. (I have to Google most of the Thai cultural references... but I'm learning.)
What makes a story? The interplay of opposites. How does that play out in ChermChey?
Visuals = High art: Cinematography is guru level. Sets are masterpieces of design. Wardrobe emphasizes the underlying concepts of 'opposites attract' as well as the opposition between their outward appearances and internal personalities.
Dialogue = High art: At least 70% of the 'meaning' lingers in the air of what is NOT said out loud. That's why the pacing feels a little bit off... slow, maybe? Because the audience was given a few quiet moments to interpret what was said in order to understand what it meant.
Humor = High art: Low-concept sexual innuendo is contrasted against high-concept love. Every interaction contains adoration, affection, devotion, compromise, honesty, healing, protection, safety... everything except the words "I love you", which are essentially meaningless without all of the other things.
This series has to be savored, slowly. Like putting a piece of chocolate on your tongue and letting it melt. Intha never devours his Little One without tasting it first... be like Intha.
The story is about obsession. "Love" is not the story. If you're looking for a toxic BL, this is not your jam. This is something else.
What causes obsession? Chemical reward loops in the brain. The nearly unbreakable bond between a psychopathic sadist (Lu Feng) and a codependent masochist (Cheng Yi Chen) is maintained by high intensity "loops". Their relationship repeatedly swings between extreme emotional states... fear/safety, bliss/despair, isolation/reunion, etc./etc. They are hooked on the highs and willing to endure almost anything to get back to that place.
Yi Chen is right where he wants to be, even when it terrifies him. Read the novel. Then, come back and watch the drama. The drama fails to convey Yi Chen's thoughts, which are a critical part of understanding the mutual nature of their obsession.
Every character is a villain, including Yi Chen. Cowardice hurts people, too... lying to conceal real emotions, ghosting to avoid ownership, breaking promises to avoid difficulty. Some characters are definitely more extreme than others but no one's hands are clean.
The suits: EPIC.
The story: BONKERS.
A wet paper towel could have played "Lalyn" better than the Discount LaLisa lookalike. How did she get through casting? Every scene with her was so painfully bad it left a mark.
1) Arnold's "pearl necklace" choker.
2) Boston's "barely a shirt" shirts. (All of them, always.)
3) Rome's candy-apple red "not enough shirt to be a shirt" shirt.
4) Raffy's "boyfriend material" borrowed shirt.
5) Jack's "GOD" complex shirt.
Qin, what's the tea? You have no sound dampening tiles in your music studio space. But you have sound dampening tiles on the wall above the bed? Good boy.
Of course, can't forget the sponge bath. The Thai Y series sponge bath is the K-drama finger prick.
We have to wait another week for the Cherry reveal? I might not make it.
Visually, it looked like a 48-count box of crayons projectile-vomited into a Kindergarten classroom. But it felt heavy and dark underneath. Dark humor. Dark night of the soul. Dark corners of the heart.
Not a single human emotion was spared. Dragged me through the entire spectrum. PerthSanta conveyed confusion and distress so well that I felt it in my chest.
The plot seems interesting. Similar to the 80's movie BIG?
Jack is a black flag. The way he tortures Dean and plays the victim is typical ASPD sadism. Uses flying monkeys to do his dirty work so he looks innocent. Knowingly manipulates everyone's emotions to fulfill his own agenda. The serial killer glasses are a HUGE clue (good choice, Costume Designer).
Did you see the way Boston looked at Jack before they hugged? Watch it again at 0.5x speed. Only friends my ass.
Arnold, I see you!! If you skipped the end credits with the JossGawin dance scene, please rewatch. Watch Joss' body language change over the course of the scene. Watch his face over Gawin's shoulder. The OF:DO crew gave us a masterclass in non-verbal emotional transition from hesitation, to acceptance, to bliss. So beautiful... I'm not crying, you're crying.
Who is Lavid?
Why does everyone's name start with "La"?
Which year are we in, right now? How much time has passed since the last episode?
Why is the GL always so freaked out during conversations about business?
Why is Vier discussing top secret business intrigue over text?
Everyone on Earth has a cell phone password except Lalit?
Kelvin climbed that man like a tree. I would be impressed if it were not so traumatizing for the tree.
Rubbing saliva all over a person will not make them love you.
Vier explained this to you at least 7 kidnappings ago.
Kelvin, sex is not love. Are you taking notes??
Why can't the imitation LaLisa look-a-like learn her lines? Continuously looking off to the side for script cues makes it hard to focus on the scene.
The scene with Fort looking up from his book needed to be 25 minutes long at 0.5x speed. I don't mean to stare but... I'm staring. Am I allowed to bark in this context? Respectfully.
The madman thinks the prisoner needs a psychiatrist?? In a dungeon? With a bathtub in the middle of the room? Sure, why not?
The fake psychiatrist is extra sus. Lock him in the dungeon.
Raffy served face.
Tua bought a sugar baby.
Dean brought enough audacity for everyone.