The Trainee (2024)

it was sold as an OffGun rom-com vehicle but it was really more like an ensemble office dramedy - a very good one and a very realistic one at that. For those expecting a romance show, maybe it will help if you lessen your expectations and just enjoy the ride.

This is not a show about love - It is an inspirational show about people looking to find their path in life.

I also wouldnt classify this as a BL show, its just a series with LGBT characters and their romace wasnt even the central idea of the entire show. With the current wave of office-themed BL dramas in the past few months, this one really stands out among them.

What sold me from the beginning is how realistic and how good the execution of the script in an office dynamics. As someone working in a creative office industry i have related so much with this series and keeps reminding me of how my office interaction always is.

And oh my god the sets - the production design of this series is top notch and i am inlove with almost all their sets. And for a show that is centered around a filming industry, they have indeed used their resources well - the cinematography and color grading is amazing.

What may be a bit disappointing for me (and maybe to some other OffGun fans) is the amount of Off-Gun (or the lack of) in this series - because everytime they left a cliffhanger it revolves around them - clearly selling this as an OffGun BL show and banking in OffGun fans to come back for another week. Clearly OffGun is just 2 out of the hundreds other cast in the show. Dont get me wrong, the main cast all did a good job, and of course as a BL fan seeing Sea and Poon added to the enjoyment of the series.

Do I need to mention that 5 long year of absence? Yes, It was left too open-ended to be desired but it kind of worked for me. Ryan and Jane met at a time when they were both in a crossroads and before the end of the series they decided to step back from the relationship and support each other to find what they really needed and wanted to do in life. Its a move of self-discovery. When they met again after 5 years, both are in a better place and hopefully their relationship can and will work better.

If you check the directors' previous works, both of them hasnt really worked on BL before so that should have been a clear indication of what the show is going for. Also since this is a dramedy - there were a lot of office issues introduced but glazed over lightly. I wouldnt blame them for that, theres only so much you can fit in 12 episodes and i think the aim is not to make it too heavy.

With that said, and setting aside my BL expectation - i would rate this show a very strong 9. Is it rewatcheable? Very much so. Would i recommend? Definitely.

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a coming of age ensemble series (not a BL series)

Overall: I re-watched the trailer to see if my expectations were way off but the trailer was narrated by Ryan and showed mostly Ryan/Jane moments. While I enjoyed the quirky humor, the misleading trailer and writing was disappointing. Aired on GMMTVs YouTube Channel, playlist link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLszepnkojZI7b0q-zvdbbziNCv5VNDufI&si=t5Xhss_rfPl3ybkE

Content Warning: sexual harassment

Watch Suggestions (I don't have the energy to go back thru the first 8 episodes, here are timings to focus on Jane & Ryan's romance)
- watch episode 9 part 4 7:45-end
- watch episode 10 part 1 beginning to the credits then 8-end
- watch episode 10 part 2 5:20-end
- watch episode 10 part 3 beginning to 1m 10s
- watch episode 10 part 4 8:30-end
- watch episode 11 part 2 beginning to 2:30
- watch episode 11 part 3 4:45-end
- watch episode 11 part 4 2:30-3:45 and 6:30-end
- watch episode 12 part 2
- watch episode 12 part 4 1min to 2:55 and 15:30-the end

What I Liked
- relatable main character (not knowing what he wanted to do in life)
- editing style, not sure how describe it, really vibrant colors
- laughed a few times
- informational bonus scenes at the end
- good that they touched on sexual harassment and I think this series passed the Bechdel test
- characters apologized

Room For Improvement
- misleading trailer
- pacing could have been tighter
- disappointed with a character/pair arc
- not all of the humor worked for me
- a character said "never ask me anything" and later said "if you don't know something ask me"
- Ryan was too incompetent such as not knowing how to silence or turn off his cell phone
- underwhelming/camera blocked kisses
- in episode 12 the time jump was totally not needed, technology exists, they didn't need to write a pair's relationship in that way

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