WingedBean

I understand the hype

Tbh, had this show not turned up on Netflix, I probably wouldn't have watched it.

When the show 1st aired and the people were talking about it, I chalked up the conversations and excitement to fandom hype. I thought the people were lying because
a. I had tried watching Pit Babe before. A show that till date, somehow trickles its edits to my Twitter algorithm, and let's just say that it wasn't a good base to start from.

b. The show was unfortunately airing alongside another drama that I was watching/preoccupied with. One with a huge ship fandom who kept hyping and praising the drama when in truth, -and my opinion is truth in this case-, had a really bad plot and very mediocre acting.

Because of this, I unfortunately judged too soon, and perhaps too harshly, and chose not to watch it.

But then, I finished rewatching 'Khemjira' on Netflix and watched both seasons of 'The Believers' on the same platform. That sent me down a mini spiral where I wanted to explore more thrilling Thai stories based on religion. Thus, I gave this a chance. I am very glad that I did

What I Liked
1. The horror aspect - They said it was scary and meant it. Don't tell anyone, but I watched all the episodes during the day😅.

2. Religion/Folk Tradition/Occultism - I've recently learned that I find other religions fascinating. Not in a 'dig up the tombs in Egypt' type of fascination, but something more along the lines of 'what do they do in this religion, folk tradition, mythic, etc., that's different from what I know or have been exposed to in my religion and culture?

I know what Christianity says, I know Catholicism, and I know things from my culture's traditional beliefs. But how about Buddhism? Taoism? Hinduism? Korean shamanic practices? Chinese mythology? etc. I wanna know. And shows like this one give me a glimpse into it all. It's all so interesting. Scary, as all religions lowkey are, but oh so interesting.

3. Production Quality - *A hand of applause for everyone involved in the absolute masterpiece that was the cinematography*

4. Chemistry - So, when this aired, I saw on my feed fans complaining about how little NC was in this show. Especially considering the previous two BLs that this ship had been in. From those comments, I thought that that'd be to the detriment of the drama, but... I actually liked it. I feel like the fade-to-black scenes allowed them to build and show the sexual tension in this couple beautifully. I would like to highlight Pavel, especially in this one. He knows how to portray desire in his eyes really well.

PS. I am officially a fan of the Muscular Uke Association ( I always was, actually). Pavel and Poom (My Stand In & Love of Silom), for the win. Somebody direct me to more muscular Ukes. Actually, you know what, give me all the ships that go against the standard we are used to. Muscular ukes, shorter tops, age gaps with older ukes, etc. Give them all to me

What Could've Been Better/I Didn't Enjoy

1. All the doubts surrounding the occult angle of the murders - I made sense for Singha and Sey (they are the biggest culprits) to be doubtful of the ghosts in the beginning. I'd be doubtful too. However, after multiple episodes and run-ins with things they could not explain or see, straight-up evidence that there was something otherworldly connected to this case, their doubts felt annoying and frustrating. Especially with Sey constantly basically gaslighting Darin that he was imagining being haunted.

2. The plot from ep 9 - Things started getting shaky, and logic started leaving the building the minute Darin goes to pray in the very house that their team was investigating. With so many temples in Thailand, why choose the one place that's directly connected to an ongoing murder?

Why did the team members suddenly start doing things without informing at least one other person? Why go out by themselves? Why separate when tailing a suspect in abandoned areas? So many decisions did not make logical sense as we started heading to the climax of this story, which was more than a little disappointing.

The plot also felt slower from ep 11. The pacing till ep 10 had been fine, but something fell off after that.

3. King's characterization - It was so very inconsistent that I could not understand who he was supposed to be. A corrupt cop like his dad? An arrogant ex partner come to steal glory once more from the people he fucked over before? A jilted lover who wanted his ex back and was willing to do anything to get him back (even fram current ex's lover over trumped-up drug charges)? A good cop with an overbearing butthole of a dad? A misunderstood good guy? A combination of all? The man had so many switches in personality and end goals that I got whiplash.

4. Some of the acting could be better, especially in the more emotionally intense scenes.

Conclusion: While the show isn't perfect, it is far better than some of what we are exposed to out here. The romance, while not the focal point of the show, is very sweet. The show shines in its production quality, pacing in the 1st 8-10 episodes, and portrayal of the horror of occult practices.

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Exploring The World of Thai Dramas Past BL Continues 2 Be Worth It

My experience with Thai shows has largely been through their BLs. However, if my experience with this drama, as well as Zomvivor, and Dalah: Death and the Flowers, is anything to go by, I think their thrillers are something to look into

At the beginning of this drama, I was convinced that maybe I needed to start scamming as a side hustle. By the end of it, though... yeah, I'm not cut out for this shit. Let me keep fighting for my life through my 8-to-5 job, before I achieve my dream of living the digital nomad lifestyle.

This drama is a riveting watch. It does falter a little in the middle, but the overall concept is enough to keep you watching. Scamming through religion is a thing we all know happens, but we've never gotten a look behind that proverbial curtain. This drama helps us see what that potentially could be like. It is also (I think) a bit of a fascinating study in marketing and running a business

The characters:
1. Win - I find him incredibly unlikeable. He is brilliant, yes, but he is self-important, doesn't communicate well with others, and is a terrible friend. Given his behavior, you'd think he was the only one in his friend group with family issues. His story with his mother gets the biggest spotlight, but as we can see with the other two, Game and Dear don't have it easy with their families either. Yes, they have more money than him, especially Game, but as we see, money isn't everything.

2. Game - The idiot with a heart of gold and terrible decision-making skills. I could go on a rant on how he handled that situation with Taeng, but I will not. What I'll say is, based on the fact that they had a loan shark blackmailing them for money, threatening his family, he should have thought twice before indulging Taeng beyond that initial 500k. How in the hell do you hide a fugitive in a building with your family name on it? Come on, man.

3. Dear - Naive, sad, overlooked, and overworked. I got so mad every time she was alone working late, lugging boxes, files, and shit. She needed to get those two men to lug around those files, boxes, and planning things with her.

4. Monk Dol - The surprise character for me. I fell in love with his story. His doomed love was heartbreaking, yet interesting to watch. It loved watching a religious man battle with his earthly desires. It's not often that we see this.
What makes this side plot such a good watch is that it's not framed in a horny/salacious way. It's so pure and heartwarming, yet heartbreaking. As the audience, you know he wasn't out here always having innocent 'hand-holding at the beach' thoughts about Dear, we know that. But I like that it's not framed that way.

His story sent me down a mini rabbit hole into monkhood. Growing up Catholic, I knew that once you're in it, you're in it for life. It turns out that Thai monks don't have to stay monks forever, even when they were ordained at a young age. I also learned interesting facts about forest and city Monks.

5 Ekkachai - You snake

The overarching plot, from a simple scam (if we can call scamming over 45 million bhat simple) to now dealing with big-time corrupt political officials and drug cartels, makes me interested in watching the 2nd season. Hopefully it holds up. And Monk Dol has his happy ending. I need bro to go back to his forest monk ways and live peacefully and quietly 😭.

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To Think I Started This Coz of Pursuit of Jade...

Tbh, when I heard the premise of this, I wasn't sure I'd tune in. From how the people on Twitter described it, it sounded really dark. I'd just gone through the roller coaster that was 'To My Shore'. I needed to put myself in timeout before I picked up another dark show.

Then I watched 'Pursuit of Jade,' heard the drama that happened to He Chang Xi (he plays He Chu San in this), and decided to tune in out of pure spite. That was a brilliant decision on my part. Despite what the Twitter folks said, this drama isn't dark. In fact, I think it deserves a comedy tag on. The 1st couple is hilarious.

🔪Watching Chu San grow from a nervous (but very horny) kidnapped student/scriptwriter to a devoted, slightly manipulative, yet still very horny grown-up was a delight. I love how Liu Yi doesn't fit in the typical 'BL bottom' mold. He's neither dainty nor pale, naive, nor scared of everything.
While we don't see much of his mafia life, we know from the bits that the story shows us that he is indeed a very capable mob boss. He might be a little dumb in his relationship with Chu San, which honestly makes for some hilarious interactions, but outside of that, he stands well on his own.

The actors also have fantastic chemistry. And I don't just mean this because of that beautifully shot, legendary kiss scene in ep 5. Idk how best to explain it, but they play off each other really well on screen. Watching these two slowly fall in love was an amazing experience

Truly, I think the best-selling point for this show is their love story. Everything else takes secondary position


👮🏻‍♂️The 2nd couple with their morally upright cop and conniving investigator (honestly, idk what position Lu Guang Ming held) is an interesting dynamic. However, their story didn't grab me with the same intensity as the 1st couple. They are simply dropped in, in the middle of the story, with little to no background info given about them. The pieces of their story kept moving, but I remained confused till the last episode when the reveal happens...and then the drama ended😭

💬The story being dubbed in Cantonese was a nuisance - like a pesky mosquito-, but not enough to keep me from watching. I grew up watching Spanish shows dubbed in English. I simply needed to dust off the ability to ignore the fact that the mouth movements didn't match what I was hearing, and I was good to go. I will say, though, that

1. Training my ear to work with Cantonese was a bit of a challenge. But in the same way that it was a challenge to train my ear to hear and work with Thai and Mandarin. I quickly learned to hear Korean and Japanese. But Thai, Mandarin, and now Cantonese required a bit of work

2. Cantonese sounds very 'sing-songy' to me. It is so interesting to me. None of the languages I speak nor the ones I've encountered (but cannot speak or understand) come close to this.

3. I don't think the people who dubbed this did the best job. They didn't portray the emotions well, which unfortunately made some scenes, especially the emotional ones, fall flat

🎭The acting was not the best tbh, especially with many of the side characters. But since they aren't the main event. it can be ignored

Like many here, I would love a 2nd season. The streets say that the director and two main actors may have alluded to a new season. While I would love to trust the streets, they are not to be trusted. I do, however, hope that the universe gives us that 2nd season.
There were so many things left unexplained, unsaid, and unexplored.
. I wanna see Chu SanxLiu Yi's couple era so bad.
. I wanna see how Xie Jia Hua and Lu Guang Ming's relationship will progress
. I am curious about the big bad boss behind all the murders and the mafia stuff
. I think the wto couples may eventually become friends. I kinda wanna see how that will happen
. Will Chu San manage to get Liu Yi out of the walled city and into legitimate business? If so, how?

Sigh... so many questions, so little hope of answers. I am tempted to read the novel, but lowkey I feel like holding off.

All this yapping to say, while, yes, the story does end in a cliffhanger, I still think it's a worthy watch. Especially to witness the hilarity and growth of the relationship between HCS and XLY

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Melancholy is thy name

Rating this feels wrong. Like, how do you rate someone's pain? Or rather, someone's journey through pain? To me, Odajima reflects what melancholy is. He looks cold and distant. He's also silent and obedient. But when you try to see past that, he's so scared and so incredibly sad. He moves through life like it's a burden to be alive, here with the rest of us.

And with good reason. His life, till he is paired with Kataoka, for this 'road trip' has been riddled with violence, pain, intolerable sadness, and disappointment. He also needs to kill Kataoka. But, what if your assignment, and the person you promised yourself you'd kill to avenge something in your past, is also your saviour? The person who pulls you out of the darkness that has been your life? Who makes you feel love again? How do you reconcile with that?

Kataoka is also a very interesting fellow. He comes off as abrasive and unserious in the beginning. However, as the story moves on, you and Odajima realize that beneath his loud self and lazy walk (he's also a pervert), lies a good, caring man - at least by mafia standards. He is such a light, which perfectly counterbalances the bleak abyss that is Odajima and his existence.

I think this is a simple yet very deep story. It's not a happy one, but it's not sad either. It gives off comfort slice of life vibes, but also makes you feel like you're grieving (Ugh! I'm annoyed that I do not have the vocabulary for what it made me feel). It's an oddly beautiful feeling.

My one gripe with the story is one I have with many Japanese BLs. The dramas all end as the couple's story is beginning. I wish there were a way (and a budget) to extend some of these beautiful bodies of work. Let me see them be in love for longer😭

PS. Four things I'd like to highlight

1. The cinematography - Beautiful doesn't even begin to cover it. It was done so well and is best highlighted when the OST plays.

2. Odajima's face in the NC scenes - Specifically in ep 2. This is going to sound cheesy (?), but his face during that scene made me understand the meaning of the word bloom. Specifically in the statement 'I bloom for you.' Kataoka and I were on the same boat. Mesmerized by how his normally cold and detached face changed when he was turned on. Hat's off to you, Takahashi Hiroto. You killed that shit.

3. The OST - I thought it was a fun little tune. And then I went and looked it up on YouTube. If you haven't, I urge you to look up the official lyric video on there. Those lyrics perfectly capture what this story is from Odajima's POV

4. I like the fact that being with Kataoka and leaving the mafia behind didn't automatically 'fix' Odajima. He doesn't suddenly become the happiest person in the room. He's still introverted and silent, and that sadness didn't fully go away. But looking at him and his interactions with others, he somehow feels lighter. He's cool being alive now; he's no longer walking into that abyss head-on. He's also awkward, which is really adorable

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Now this is how you do a bite-sized series

If you just heard someone scream, 'OMG this is so fucking cute!' It was me. This was indeed, hella cute. The plot is well-paced with no over-the-top dramatics or misunderstandings—just a simple, yet well-done enemies-to-lovers academic romance, with a little twist.

My only gripes would be
1. I wish is that we'd have gotten a little more time with them at the end. Like, have them properly establish the relationship b4 it ended.

2. The kiss scenes weren't it. They were giving dead fish, and me no like that. I understand that they are pretty young, and this is a high school series. Thus, I don't require them to be out there eating each other's faces. However, it doesn't mean you give me dead fish kisses. Nuh-uh. My School President has, I believe, 2 good examples of what I'd have liked to see.

PS. Thank you to that one babe with the BL account on YouTube. She kept mentioning her love for SeaKeen so much that I was like, 'Fine! I'll look them up.' I realised that I'd already added 'Weirdo 101' on my Plan to Watch list coz I thought the concept was interesting and cute. Now, after seeing them act, I'm even more excited for the series to drop. May GMMTV not fuck it up

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They had me until the last 40 minutes

I rather liked how the 1st half of this movie tackled the plot largely surrounding these two girls. From the struggles of identity, parental bullying (looking at you, Jane's mom), to the very difficult realities of friendships with large socioeconomic differences. I thought they did that so well. The acting was also good, and that underlying tension that was always present in the girls' friendship... Loved that.

However, once we get to those last 40ish minutes, they lost the plot, and me.

1. Tong - When he is 1st introduced, specifically when the badminton birdie gets stuck at his window, we get a sense that perhaps Ann likes him. That scene made me get this pit in my stomach. I really REALLY did not want the story to go that way. And for a while, they make you believe that they won't. Tong acts decently. He hangs out with the girls and Ann's siblings as an older brother figure would.

And then Jane sees them that fateful morning, misunderstands, tells her mother, and Ann & Tong say nothing....??? Why? Why did they decide that the plot of a teenage girl still in high school and the 35-yr-old man needed to be a part of this plot? Ann's mom tries to basically sell off her daughter to this man, and no one in the apartment says anything?

Are underage marriages an issue in Thailand? Because that's the only reason I could see for them to add this plot twist. It felt so random, out of place, and kinda just there for shock value. Like 'hey, Ann doesn't have quite enough to deal with, let's add this on there'. WTH??? To me, Tong never gave that predator vibe either, so... I'm disappointed that the story went that route.

2. Ann's conclusion (or lack thereof) - Like the scarf she was about to hang to dry, Ann left and was never heard from again. I understand why she ran. With a life like hers and especially a mother like hers, I don't blame her. However, my brain cannot stop wondering, "Where does a teenager go?" "Where does a young, beautiful, teenage girl, with no money, no relatives to turn to (that we know of at least) go in the Bangkok streets?"

At 1st I thought she jumped, but upon realising that Jane and the rest of the passengers would have at least heard the splash or seen her do it, I scrapped that thought. But where did she go? What became of her life? Did she even manage to survive out there on her own? The story just abruptly cuts off her story after that cruise ship scene, never allowing us to see her again. I don't understand the 'why' behind that decision.

3. Jane's dad's infidelity - Man, I'd even forgotten that Jane's mother was married. That's how little her parents' marriage was highlighted in the show. But I guess they felt the need to pick up that one detail they sprinkled back in the 1st half when they were having that neighbourhood party. I didn't see the point of that whole mini side plot. To show us that Jane could go through problems, too? You know, aside from her mother always insulting her and calling her fat? That her family (her mother, really) could be poor too? I cannot wrap my head around this

Other thoughts:
a. I hope Ann's mother rots in some very lonely type of hell. I hope her remaining children grew up, supported each other, and left her. Left her alone and never looked back. Seeing Earng become the new Ann and learning that her mother never tried to find a job but went back to gambling broke my heart.

b. I'm not sure I quite like what the story insinuated about Tong. Despite that random side quest with the relationship, perhaps not the relationship with Ann, I did quite like him. But that statement right before the end. The statement about being the lookout while the person off camera took the bet... I really don't want to think that he became a corrupt cop. Or perhaps started gambling like Ann's mom

Conclusion: I think had they just stuck to Ann and Jane and the navigation of their feelings, identities, communication styles, and socioeconomic differences, I'd have rated it higher

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Captivating Yet Frustrating

This 2nd installment both captivated and frustrated me to no end. Coming off the high of the 1st season, I was looking forward to this season. How could they outdo themselves from the absolute phenomenon that was the 1st season? Unfortunately, I was not impressed as I'd hoped.

🔬Fang Yi Jen - At the end of season 1, I was impressed by how he had changed, or rather, by the changes that he was making, especially with the people closest to him. His greatest desire was to have those around him understand him. By the end of that season, he had already started making steps to involve himself in their lives. However, in this installment, he seems to have reverted to his season 1, episode 1 self. Throughout the series, he doesn't talk to his friends. He remains closed off and keeps secrets, although those around him are actively trying to help him. It was frustrating to watch
Now, idk much about autism, so I cannot speak to how autistic people interact with those around them. So with my limited knowledge, I'll say this: it felt like the screenwriters didn't know what to do with Fang Yi Jen. They didn't know how to make him 'interesting,' so they stalled his character growth.

📰Hsu Hai Yin - How she is listed as part of the main role in this is beyond me. Miss girl had so little to do with the overall plot till the last 2 episodes. In this installment, she gets a new job with the most suspicious guy ever and largely does nothing about it. Is this the same Hsu Hai Yin from the 1st season? The one with the inquisitive mind and tips and tricks to help her get to the bottom of all her cases? Where did she go, and who was this passive person who replaced her?
All she had to do was open her mouth, talk to Yi Jen, and this case would've been solved in 5 episodes. I wonder why she kept quiet. Part of me thinks it was to save her job. Because I refuse to believe that part of her saw the good and trusted in Ming Cheng. She didn't know the man, and she's not a very trusting person.

🫧Hsiao Meng - I liked her story arc in this. She facilitated death in the 1st season, but now, she's helping with the aftermath of it. It's also kinda nice to see real-life consequences of her actions. School is hard, and finding a job is harder after what she previously did. Her name and face were everywhere. Sure, she was manipulated before. Someone took advantage of her immense sadness to put her in the middle of all the murders in season 1.
But life goes on. And society isn't that forgiving, making it nearly impossible for her to integrate. I love that she found her way through it all, though. I was scared for a minute that she'd be taken advantage of - Thank God it didn't happen. The last two episodes gave us hope that she might go into the same field as her father. She has his smarts. Yi Jen has thoughts about it, even though he never quite voiced them

🔬📰Yi Jen & Hai Yin - I am confused by the relationship between them. In ep 2 (?) Hai Yin mentions that they aren't romantically involved, I think, because Yi Jen said that he cannot handle that. So.... what exactly are they?? She looks like she 'like likes' him. Their dynamic gives romantic, but their words said something different. At the end, once everything is sorted, they talk about their relationship. Saying that they are good now.... I just... somebody explain to me like I'm 3yrs old and tell me what's up with these two.

🔬🫧Yi Jen & Hsiao Meng - Their relationship frustrated me to no end. Yi Jen would not tell her that he was in trouble & Hsiao Meng kept lashing out and also not talking about her feelings. It was so frustratingto see. I just wanted them to talk. I had so much hope for them at the end of the 1st season, only to witness this. But at least they finally talked. Like in sn 1, I took something life-threatening to bring them back together. The end of the story shows how beautifully their relationship has grown and evolved. Hopefully, they don't argue again and wait for something life-threatening to bring them back together.

👮🏻‍♂️Chang Keng Hao - The following is what I wrote about him in my notes, probably 4 episodes in ' The prosecutor dude is being a POS to Fang Yi Jen for no reason. So far, we know he hated the old teacher. We don't know why, but he's clearly taking it out on Yi Jen. He tells Yi Jen of the coincidences in the teacher's cases, but when Yi Jen says he wants to investigate it, he shuts him out. Yi Jen has already been shown that he isn't the killer, so why does he keep nagging him about the teacher if he won't let him help? Out here being an annoying little bitch.'
Clearly, I wasn't a fan. With the end of sn 2, they seemed to hint at a 3rd season. This time, with Chang as the main character and the police force as the new victim of his hatred. IDK if I like him enough to watch him as the new protagonist.

The Murders
I liked the story in the 1st season more than this one. The murders are more gruesome in this installment, though. Something that I rather appreciated. There was this really disturbing beauty and precision to how they were done. Unfortunately, the mystery didn't hold till the last episode. I clocked the 1st murderer early, and they gave away the 2nd serial murderer too soon. All I'll say about these murders is that Hsiao Chia Ying was the real victim here. I don't like how dismissive she was about the death of the other boy, who was accidentally killed by young Ming Cheng.
The story says that the saddest part about her life was carrying her mother's secret about how she killed her father. It should've also been highlighted how hard it was to have to hide her love for her father and the parts of her that were like him, which were all good by the way. I understand her mother's feelings towards the dad, but putting such expectations on her child was terrible. The mother did so much to avenge her daughter and clear her name, but at the end of the day, she was the one who made her child run away, unfortunately putting her in that horrendous position

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An entirely unnecessary season

When season 3 was hinted at at the end of the second season, I remember being hella skeptical. I, like many others online, thought that Netflix would ruin a perfectly good story. And we were right. The plot in this 3rd season made very little sense, and the ruined beloved characters.

👨🏻‍⚕️Arisu - He felt like the same person. Nothing about him was different. He was there to be his good guy, brilliant self, and that is what he did. Not even Kento Yamazaki's amazing acting could save such bland, boring characterization

🧗🏻‍♀️Usagi - They did her so dirty that it fucking hurts. I fail to understand the logic behind her trusting this random professor whom she met 2 weeks ago (as per the plot). I can understand her confessing her dreams to him - sometimes it's easier to talk to strangers about hard things than to do so with close friends or family.
But straight up trusting him enough to go away with him? To constantly protect him in the games and at times, pick his side over her husband's??? Hell nah. This isn't the Usagi we knew. She was loyal and trusting of Arisu. That's why they survived both seasons - because they trusted each other regardless of what was going on around them. This sudden shift, over a stranger no less, makes no sense

👩🏻‍⚕️Ann - Why was she here? To add another familiar face to the cast? She had no involvement in the plot. And it was never explained how she knew what was going on with the new borderland 'kidnappings', nor how she could see the psycho guy in blue.

🙍🏻‍♂️Psycho guy in blue (I forgot his name tbh) - His logic about bringing Arisu back to the bordelands was out with the birds. As someone mentioned, citizens do not participate in the games. Sure, some people stayed at the end of sn 2, but we never saw them in the new games, which suggests that they don't play.
If asked, I would say that perhaps they worked behind the scenes or maybe as plants in the games to further chaos - as we saw at the hotel in season 2(?). His whole thing with Arisu was framed as though he would actively participate in all games like the new borderland visitors (victims really). That doesn't quite work with the previous story and world-building. So, his whole plan to force Arisu to stay so he can be their entertainment was utterly nonsensical.

👨🏻‍🦽‍➡️Ryuji - And the award for the 'most selfish character goes to....🏆' *crowd boos*. His obsession had already led to the death of one woman. And now, he wants to drag another woman, Usagi, down with his madness. Also, can someone explain to me his weird attraction (?), obsession (?) with Usagi. Bro seemed like he was in love with her, and for the life of me, I still cannot figure out how that happened or why. Also, how was the man able to swim and even hold on to a struggling Usagi in such raging waters? My belief refuses to be suspended.
Another thing, when you think about it, his story doesn't quite add up. At 1st, we were told that he was obsessed with the borderlands. Then, towards the end, it changed to him being curious about the land of death, the land beyond the borderlands. This feels like terrible writing. Like they figured that they wanted to up the stakes afterwards and couldn't be bothered to make everything fit.
Also, if he was that curious about death, why not simply off himself? A smart person would know that once you truly die, there's no coming back. No coming to prove his research, receive awards for his studies... nothing. So what was all that for? Nway....The man who plays Ryuji is fine AF👀

The other new characters - I didn't quite connect with any enough to remember their names, but I will say that they weren't well-developed. Which is unfortunate, coz some did have great backstories. Namely, the drug addicted guy, the poor, bullied student, and the SAHM with the abusive husband.
The anime girl felt like she was there for the shock factor. Her backstory was confusing. The Mafia guy felt like he was written to mimic the guy who ran the hat shop with the friend, and the siblings were so badly done. The brother died for nothing

Final Thoughts
🃏What was supposed to be the message of this season? It felt like they were going for this profound message, but I for sure did not leave this season with an understanding of what that was😭
🃏They did hint at a possible fourth season in the finale, and I pray to God that that never happens. If you think I'm watching an American version of this, you're solely mistaken. I'm all for actors and people behind the scenes having jobs, but please not with this story. The people in those boardrooms and writers' rooms will continue to desecrate this story further and... No. Please, No.
🃏The games in this installment were also rather boring

Ps. I will say that it was nice to see the season 1&2 characters at the end of this season. If only they all remembered each other. I think that's the one thing I'm sad about. They all formed beautiful friendships during the course of those games, only to forget them😔

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Great start, mediocre progression and ending

The other day, I was scrolling Reddit and came across a post where the poster was making a list of dramas where the FL was just as into the ML as he was into her. The poster argued that their list stemmed from them being exhausted of dramas where the ML was always chasing the FL, while she all but ignored him or acted as a spectator in the relationship

Now, granted, the post was about straight couples, and the shows in question were Chinese dramas, but if the post were to encompass all kinds of dramas, this specific show would 100% be included on that list.

Shizuma spent so much of his time chasing. He is very much the devoted husband who will do everything for his partner, even though his efforts almost always go unnoticed and unappreciated. Minato kept running. He was so hot and cold. Even his confession to Shizuma in the 2nd last episode felt like pulling teeth.

You could argue that Minato did that cause of his trauma, and I'd argue back that in the year of the Lord 2025, therapy (actual therapy, using love to therapize yourself as this show does) is more accessible than it's ever been. Find that before finding a partner. As clearly shown here, skipping that very important step leads you to deeply or constantly hurt the other person.

Also, the show kept hinting at this huge secret about Minato's background (and thus his trauma) only for the whole thing to be sorted in like half an episode. All that buildup for nothing. You couldn't even feel the impact of it because of how quickly they 'resolved' it.

All in all, the show had a great premise, but it was unfortunately ruined by a lack of proper direction. Once Shizuma finds out about the whole bet thing, everything falls apart. I'd say the show tried to do too much with too little

📷The 2nd couple... eh🤷🏾‍♀️ They are very forgettable and don't add much to the overall story. If I had to define their role in the story, I'd call them 'explainers.'
📷The kissing and NC scenes... *insert deep sigh here*

Random question:
Uhh.. does anyone else get bugged by the fact that these characters wake up with perfectly styled hair? There is no bed-head with these people.

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Chaotic & Humorous... If Only The Ending Was Different

I have loved how consistent this story has been for the last 4 seasons. Mob does not want to be in a BL pairing, and he does all he can to avoid it. It's straightforward — they tell you what you're getting, and they stick to that. As a BL reader, watching all the tropes I've read about for years come alive on screen was such fun. And Mob's way of avoiding all the tropes/cliches was often hilarious and at times, absurd. But that's who Mob is, a funny, weirdo.

While I've enjoyed all four seasons, I'd have liked a different ending. The story says that he 'defies the world of BL'. He's been consistently doing that all along. I'd have liked an ending where the conclusion was that he actually managed to do it. Despite all the flags around him, some of which he had accidentally raised himself, he succeeded in staying 'unpaired' to the end. He finally won against the world of BL.

I feel like they used the author deciding his fate as a cop out. I felt that back in was it season 2 or 3 at the airport with Kikuchi, and I feel that now with the Hatano ending. For a character who was so smart and always thought things through — even though most of them were about how to escape all the romance — that ending with Hatano was lackluster.

How do you rationalize him avoiding him all this time, never showing any inclination to liking him, them having zero chemistry, then suddenly Hatano falls into his arms, and he agrees to wait for him for 3 years? Yeah, nah. You could argue that this is BL logic, and if it were any other character in the show, I'd have agreed, but not with Mob. That type of logic does not fit the type of character we know him to be.

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*insert face-palming here*

Fort carried the show. It was quite fun to see him as a house husband from his role as playboy-rich kid-CEO in Love in the Air. I was surprised at how good he is at the emotional scenes as well. Big kudos to him.

Peat... well, as a tsundere black cat, he's pretty decent, but for the emotional scenes - Lord Jesus, no. The man cannot act in emotional scenes. Whenever it comes to scenes where he has to panic or worse, cry, everything goes straight to hell. He cannot do it. We saw it in Love in the Air, and it repeats itself here. I'm not one to support typecasting, but he needs to stick to the cold tsundere roles for now and enroll in classes to help with the more emotional scenes.

Side note - I'd like to see Fort in 2 other types of roles - As a mafia daddy (the man is hot when angry), and as the emotional, crybaby, golden retriever top. Not only does he do well in the emotional scenes as mentioned, but his smile is beautiful and would work perfectly in a golden retriever role.

The GL couple was a good addition, but they weren't consistent, especially with Mook. From the get-go, Vie was into her, but Mook wasn't presented as gay in the beginning - just as a bullied, confused, clueless, and overworked assistant. I think if they became an official GL couple, they'd do well with a better storyline. The girl who plays Vie is a good actress - the girl who plays Mook needs a different role for me to judge, but she's really cute. Loved how they dressed her.

Actually, everyone but Peat was dressed/styled really well. Whatever they were trying to do with Peat's styling didn't work, especially the tucked-in look at the beach. No. Just no

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Made me wish that I too, was in love

Did I start watching this because someone over on Reddit referred to it as 'School Trip over Flowers'? Yes, yes, I did. I've never watched 'Boys Over Flowers' and I never will, but I've heard about it — and that reference made me laugh so hard I decided to start Ep 1.

The story in this is nothing new or groundbreaking. It's a cliche we've seen hundreds of times before — two high school boys falling in love. One is hella popular, and the other is an awkward loner (kinda, Hioki isn't a loner per se, he just didn't have friends in this specific new class).

However, what makes this story stand out from the rest in this sea of high school BLs is how beautifully it's done. I thought I'd have to deal with miscommunication, or the utter lack of it, but that wasn't the case here. Sure, they (largely Hioki) get all up in their heads sometimes and overthink things, but they are promptly dealt with. That helps keep the story at such a great pace - it's also great for my blood pressure, but that's neither here nor there.

🚌Stand-out episodes for me were episodes 7 & 8🚌

Episode 7 - Here, we get Watarai's backstory of how he fell in love with Hioki and the confession scene. Watarai fell for Hioki in such a simple, slow, and pure way — simply because Hioki saw him as a regular dude, contrary to what he'd experienced most of his life. It was gratitude and curiosity about Hioki that eventually turned into love

I also appreciate Hioki's reaction to Watarai's confession. It's common to see the person confessed to in BLs be dumbfounded. They remain silent and will often avoid the other person as they try to make sense of the confession and their feelings towards the other person. Or even sweep the whole confession under the rug, pretending it didn't happen, till something eventually down the line pushes them to acknowledge it. I despise that trope. I 100% expected that this would be the case here.

To my surprise, it wasn't, and thank the Lord for that. Not only does Hioki acknowledge the confession, but he also tells Watarai that there's nothing wrong with him liking another boy. And that he'll genuinely take the time to consider Watarai's confession. That consideration was very heart-warming to see. Hioki is such a cinnamon roll - an easygoing and warm soul

Confessions are hard as it is. Confessing to someone of the same sex without knowing if they are of the same orientation in a society that's still very much against queer people..... Oi (I'm not pointing a finger at or highlighting Japan here, just the world in general. It isn't all that kind to queer people). The fact that Hioki rushed after Watarai to speak to him after the confession really stood out to me

Episode 8 - This made me fall even more in love with Watarai's friends. Not only did they accept that 'hey, our friend is bi', something they didn't know about before, but they also do their best to bring these two together when they sense that something's wrong.

Their teacher was right in that final episode. That friend group will probably last forever. They were so genuine not only to each other but to the new face in their group, and later to Hioki's friends. Hot, popular guys that don't fall into the asshole/bully/playboy tropes... Hallelujah. More of this, please!

🚌💐🚌💐🚌
All in all, this is a cute, long angst, low drama, slice of life story that's very easy to revisit and rewatch.

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So Darn Cute - A Review For The Re-Edited Version

The story is generic - a bit of 'enemies-to-lovers' with a bratty, entitled idol & a straight-by-the-book couldn't-care-about-idol's status stuntman. The episodes are short, and the overall vibe is very soft, slice of life. And that's the beauty of it. It's uncomplicated, sweet, and straight to the point. Very calming and cozy.

The main actors have good chemistry with their interactions and their banter, and the side characters also did a good job. I wouldn't say I saw any cringey acting in this one. I will say that the 1st episode was a little shaky for me. The editing was abrupt, but I think that's because this was in reel format before. However, after that, everything is done well, and the story follows beautifully.

Also, a side note, Lee Tae Hyung, the actor who plays Gu Jae Yeon in this show, his ears remind me of Wonho's ears

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Low stress and funny watch.

My fave couple was the youngest sister and her husband. Loved how she beat the shit out of him and his aunt. Unfortunately, I didn't like the forced angst in the end with the separation.

After that, the 2nd youngest sister and her husband. For once, the amnesia plot worked well for the plot and the relationship. Love that she was smart and helped deal with the court cases. Plus, they dealt with their issues with the quickness.

The story with the 3rd eldest sister was good, but they also got annoying at the end with the angst.

I shall not be talking about the eldest sister, coz she most certainly got the short end of the stick with her husband. Definitely my least favourite couple

Comic relief from the 2nd eldest sister and her husband was gold. We didn't get much from the daughter-in-law and the son who came back after they thought he was dead, but that's neither here nor there

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Loved Loved it.

💑1st Couple - loved the angst in the main couple. While their story was sad, it wasn't overdone or dragged out. The fact that the younger one - Hyun - was the pursuer and he kept being lively despite the older one, Kim A,n ignoring him at 1st helped not make the story too angsty/annoying. Their story with the stalker wasn't the best, but... What can we do?

💑2nd Couple - Maru & Minwoo - Another dose of angst. Had me out here wishing Minwoo would disappear and that someone would slap Maru upside the head. Thankfully, Minwoo's plan to pretend he had a gf worked in getting Maru's head out of his ass. Their kiss scenes - esp the one Maru initiated in... was it ep 7 or 8... That kiss was fire.

💑3rd Couple - Joo Hyuk & Sung Min - They were the highlight of the entire thing for me. They were absolutely hilarious, esp the 1st meeting after the 1 night stand n when Joo Hyuk was playing hard to get. Loved that the younger one was pursuing the older one. Also, his aggressive style of pursuing was funny. PS. their NC scenes - the one in ep 9 - Holy Jesus. That was so well done and shot. Perfection

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