This review may contain spoilers
Possibly intriguing premise marred by a silly twist
Perhaps I should start by spoiling the series because it can be quite confusing to talk about the series without spoilers, though spoilers might just show how messy it us instead of lessening the confusion.The premise is fairly interesting: a cafe that grants a wish miserable people. Of course, as with all stories about wish-granting, you can expect something to go wrong with the wishes made.
It is heavily suggested (though not confirmed till later) that the woman in the cafe, who facilitates the wish-granting stuff, is the woman in the scenes where a young woman gets pregnant only to be ditched by her irresponsible boyfriend. It seems that after wishing for a better life for her son, she is stuck to granting wishes in the cafe. (Again, it is not clear why this would be so until the final episode because the other people having their wishes granted do not seem to have to replace her role in the cafe.)
One thing I didn't like about the woman in the cafe that mysteriously appears is how the woman (now much older than the time she is pregnant) gives an evil laughter and an evil smile. In a way, the cafe does not have to be a sinister thing. This seems like a cheap way of adding tension to the story. After all, the cafe is largely a neutral wish-granting entity, and it is not like it is deliberately causing things to go wrong after granting wishes.
Here's the biggest spoiler (if the series is not already "spoiled"): The main story has two parallel sets of characters that turn out to the be same set of characters at different stages of their lives. The series feels at first like many BL series that shifts from the story of one couple to the story of another despite the lack of any connection between them except that the characters are roughly in the same place. Nonetheless, for me, the series does give a sense that the two sets of characters are the same people--so much so that it tries to get us to think otherwise with a supermarket scene that seems to feature Ryou and Phathit (Patis?) in the place at the same time although they are supposed to be younger and older versions of themselves respectively. There is no reason for using a filming/editing style shows the younger version and older version of a character in the same scene, so it's probably there just to tell us a lie that Ryou and Phatit are different people.
To make matters worse, Phatit seems surprised when he finds out that his friend, Naphat, likes him. If Phatit is indeed Ryou, then he should not be surprised that Naphat is in love with him because the same friend confessed to him years ago.
OK, let's not care for a moment about the wishes or the plot "twist" revealing that the two sets of character are actually one and just think of the series as BL.
The story of Ryou and Mai isn't very special though it can be likable in many ways. The love triangle (Nack is in love with Ryou too) isn't very intriguing . Things don't get better when the love triangle turns out to be love square ... basically everyone is in love with Ryou: Mai, Nac, and their female friend, Dena.
The story of Phatit and Thana also isn't very special though it is a tad more realistic. They obviously love each other, but Thana has issues about being not good enough for Phatit whereas Phatit is so busy with his work as a doctor that he does not have enough time for Thana. However, I don't seem why Thana would hide from Phatit the fact that he has resigned from his job (partly to get the severance money to help his mother financially. Also, why would Thana cheat on Phatit with another guy (I think he is high on drugs, but even then, event feels forcefully written into the story.)
The wishes, though, screw up the story even more.
First, Thana's wish: he wishes for a job. Lol. I'm not sure how that would solve his problem since he has had a job previously and has been feeling (or has been made by others to feel) like Phatit is too perfect for him. Why not wish for status, wealth, equality, a life of happiness with Phatit, etc? (Perhaps we can have a Season 2 in which another plot twist reveals that they cake and beverage the characters have to eat before making the wish has the effect of lowering their intelligence drastically.)
Next, Nack's wish. He wishes he can kiss Ryou. LOL! He's not wishing that Ryou would love him back or if that doesn't sound ethical, how about wishing that he would not be in love with someone who does not love him back? Anyway, this guy only gets his wish granted many years later when Ryou is no longer Ryou but Phatit.
Then it's revealed that Phatit has also made a wish (when he is still Ryou). His wish is for Mai to love him wholeheartedly, and he gets it. But does Mai even not truly love him to begin with? Mai is under pressure to behave in a certain way and is in denial. Anyway, Mai, who is leaving for another province with his parents, suddenly goes back to Ryou after the wish is made. I think Ryou has more than what he has asked for because Mai can simply love him wholeheartedly and leave for another province.
And finally, the most bizarre wish of all is Dena's. Just what on earth is going on in her mind? It seems that she cannot wish for Ryou to love her (why not, if Ryou can wish for Mai to love him?) and so she wishes for the four of them in the love square to be remembered not as Ryou, Mai, Nack and Dena, but as Darin, Phatit, Thana, and Naphat. Wait, what???? Is she wishing to rename everyone? Is she, in some sinister and sadistic way, wishing to write everyone's fates? (The dark twist in her character, in the revelation that she is the one who locks Mai up in the locker room despite seeming like a supportive friend to all the other three characters is probably is most interesting twist. So maybe she is capable of something truly sinister.
Did someone manage to find the cafe in real life and make a wish to get away with making a BL series that does not make any sense?
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This review may contain spoilers
THE TITLE IS CONFUSES THE STORYLINE : THERE IS NO SOLUTION AT ALL!!!
First of all I only watched this series because of Bhu which by the way is one of the most underrated Thai actors in BL series.Secondly, what is wrong with all this producers and directors!!?? You keep on making new BL series just because its a hype or a trend without even thinking about the story or chemistry between actors!!?? BAD SERIES EQUALS BAD REPUTATION FOR THIS ACTORS I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT!!!!
You make this bunch of nonsense, useless and baseless series without putting any thought in it just for the sake of money?? SHAME!!!
6 episodes.....6 episodes OF WHAT?????? confusion!!! annoyance !!! god!!!
ALL I GATHERED FROM THIS 6 USELESS EPISODES IS WAYS TO CHET ON YOUR BOYFRIEND, USELESS DIALOGUES, AND CRYNGE WORTHY ACTING!
WASTE WASTE WASTE OF TIME!!!
I HOPE BHU WILL BE ON ANOTHER BL SERIES AND THIS TIME HE WILL BE THE LEAD WITH GREAT STORY!
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Interesting premise but poor writing
I was looking foward to this series because of supernatural element but it fell short of my expectations. Main reason being poor writing. Side plot of the cafe lady felt unnecessary. Our main CP arent likeable (i can understand that they have been together for soo long , so their relationship is bond to have troubles) but i don't hold that against the series. It redeems itself through the side CP (Ryou n Mai),they are soo goddamn CUTE!!!!!. I assure you that the series is worth watching just for them .They are my favourite part of this series. Also I actually liked the plot twist but it was really poorly done. Only if it had been written well ,it would have been brilliant. Another thing i dont like about this series is that they didn't dwell much in the supernatural aspect which made it kinda confusing to say the least.Was this review helpful to you?
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It wasn't horrible but I didn't like the ending.
I'm not really confused on anything except for wondering (I could've missed it but Idont think I did) what Nack wished for, because I expected it to be about Reaow loving him but his feelings didn't change at all.I know the ending was sorta a happy ending with the couple ending up together in the end and the lady getting to see her son again but I didn't really like the ending. I wish they could've worked stuff out instead of him wishing but it is what it is. I'm not really sure what else to say about it. I guess I also wish that Mai would've actually have gotten with reaow honestly instead of the wish as well but yeah.
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Be careful what you wish for!
The original plot, no unnecessary time consuming side pots, cute actors (except for one), lovely music and a short duration was what kept me hooked on this drama when I have been dropping recent thai bls like they were hot potatoes!The main problem this drama has is the casting and it is twofold! Firstly: Why would anyone give Gun a main role is beyond comprehension: he cannot act and even though he managed to tone down his ugly grimacing, it is still there and going crescendo as we approach the last episode! Secondly: Is it really so difficult to find actors who look alike for the characters' young and old versions! Just watch japanese dramas: it is uncanny! Their ability to find similar looking actors is amazing!
Gun with his overacting has ruined the enjoyment of this drama. But not so much as to drop it as I have been doing a lot recently with thai bls! This drama has an original plot idea which was unfortunately undercooked!
It is a story of a magical cafe that appears before you when you are the most desperate and offers to fulfil a wish. There are three at first unconnected, stories being told here. The first one is a woman abandoned by her boyfriend when he discovered she was pregnant. The second one is about Reaow and Mai, a new student in his high school. The third follows a longtime couple whose relationship is starting to fall apart because of work and lack of communication.
The pacing of the drama is a bit off: draggy for the most of it, it feels rushed in the last episodes with all the revelations coming out at a breakneck speed. But they managed to explain the majority of questions we were asking as we watched. I wished that the fantasy element had been more present in the first episodes which looked mostly like a mash up of two dramas: a school BL and an adult bl with a weird cafe owner(she was extremely weird, cackling and laughing like a maniac!) thrown randomly in between.
The two love stories were interesting though nothing new. The final episode twist, which I frankly did not see coming (bad casting!!!!) put a damper on the teen romance and it changed my appreciation of the characters (Reauw unexpectedly turned actually to be an ambiguous and grey character). The teen romance was well presented and Mai's questioning of his own sexuality in spite of his macho upbringing (there is apparently a wrong translation in the crucial scene: he does not say "I am straight!" but he says "I'm a man. Men don't cry!") was very convincing. Are you strong enough to go against your parents when you are 17?
The adult romance was ruined by bad acting and the lack of chemistry though the premise was interesting. Thana has been with his high achieving doctor boyfriend for ten years and the cracks are starting to show in that relationship because he does not seem to be able to keep up the pace with the successful doctor and they do not seem to talk anymore. He meets a young man in the neighbourhood and they hit it off famously: they seem to be on the same level, they seem to understand each other and they definitely have better chemistry.
I really liked the drama a lot and I am a bit disappointed because it could have been something exceptional with this original plot, better writing, pacing and not casting Gun: the rest of the actors were excellent! The cinematography is rich, soft and sparkling. The background music and the final song about forgetting were very nice and fit the drama perfectly.
There are plotholes (how does the café really work?), there are inconsistencies but they just made me go huh! And they were not bad enough for me to drop this which is a good sign! The ending is open and not what I hoped for: I did not want for Thana and his doctor to stay together. In spite of all the attraction they felt for each other, the whole relationship was built on a lie (a wish!) and should have crumbled when the truth came out.
I liked this drama a lot: it is different from the unwatchable fluff and soft porn thai producers seem to be churning out at a scary speed and that I keep dropping even faster! It has an interesting plot premise and I wish they put a little bit more effort into writing and casting which would have made it perfect!
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Underestimated
I'd agree with a lot of others commenting the show being somewhat confusing, and some acting that could be improved.After watching through a second time it was definitely easier to pick up on some things that would have been overlooked, sometimes making some questions there aren't answers for... but overall still pretty enjoyable.
I think this is a overall pretty heavy BL in the grand scheme of shows to date, and I think they did a good job telling the story they wanted to. Lots of emotion they did a good job of portraying, some they could have done better. Overall was pretty impressed they story line seemed to stay consistent within all that was going on.
Overall would highly recommend to any other avid BL watcher.
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разочарование
Хм, сюжет не обычный, но запутали очень сильно, отсюда потерянный смысл, так как пытаешься понять что, куда, зачем и почему. Очень понравилась игра Бэнка. Я не узнала его. Да и играл превосходно. Сценаристы, конечно умные ребята и долго делали "две" пары, которые в конце концов оказывается одна. Нет, не квартет, а прошлое и настоящее. Понравилась операторская работа. Освещение, съемка в разных местах, с разным светом - шикарно. Музыка и музыкальное сопровождение были в тему и к месту. Особого ожидания от Таиланда в последнее время я не испытываю, что здесь в очередной раз мне и показали. Поэтому не расстроена от слова совсем. Хотя нет, есть огромное расстройство игрой Гана. Нет, ну правда. Я думаю, да даже уверена, что в жизни он очень обаятельный и милый парень. В первых ролях - очарователен, эмоционален, но вот начиная с "Золотая кровь" и вот сейчас , такое впечатление что забивал на все уроки актерского мастерства и прогуливал, но тогда какого его брать на главную роль? Не видели или что? Вопрос к тем кто проводил кастинг - прошлое и настоящее, ничего что дети до безумия разные с взрослыми? Ну да, мы все растем и меняемся внешне, но не до такой степени разницы. Очень порадовал Миг. И первая главная роль - с дебютом, было здорово наблюдать хорошую игру. Дом Воранат - я скучала. Не играл - жил. Спасибо. Бэнк и Тонтэ - отлично. Очень достойно.Сериал на раз. Для меня плюс - это игра актеров которых выделила. Слава богу 6 эпизодов, а не затянуть эпизодов на 12 и больше. Тай штампует не думая, какой рейтинг будет. А жаль, раньше хотя бы был смысл.
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