> excellence in storytelling (character development)

Character: Type Thiwat Phawattakun

Type is a controversial character, but I find his character transformation to be a masterclass in character writing. He has such a unique and believable struggle, and one that he is so personally invested in overcoming. It has been pointed out that the character transformation is so extreme it completely changes his appearance in the way he holds his body, and it's true. It's a genuine joy to watch unfold.

Character: Lee Dongsik & Han Joowon

It's so rare for a show to balance two leads, much less give them equal development. I absolutely love watching the way these two characters bump up against each other and shape each other and offer each other absolution. Rather than change, there's a wonderful sense of unveiling who these people really are underneath their circumstances.

Character: Sugihara Kohei

There's a multitude of good characters with excellent development here, but no one quite tops Kohei. All he needed was for one single person to see him, and that was enough to break him out of his shell and make him see that it was worth putting himself out there. The way he reaches out to Maya and brings her along wins my heart forever.

Character: Tian Sopasitsakun

As a character defined by his guilt, Tian is one of the best. I particularly enjoy the way that Tian has a palpable desperation to make his life worth something, and how much he struggles to understand what he truly wants now that he's no longer dying. Watching him learn to stand his ground and have confidence in his direction is very touching. While the resolution of the transplant plot undercut his character slightly, the bones of the story was still exceptional.

Character: Cha Siwon 

I latched onto Siwon, as a character, instantly. I find his entire story very relatable and interesting. I love how few of his issues are resolved by the end of the film, having just jostled his insecurities and only starting to grow. It's perfect for such a young character, and doesn't diminish the story at all. A character as tightly wound as this one is always so much fun.

Character: Ritsu Kusakabe

I remember watching this live and seeing, in the early episodes, that Ritsu was representative of the literal Devil. And, in that lens, I think The End of the World With You has flawlessly executed a genuine redemption arc. Ritsu's journey to forgiveness is nothing less than beautiful, and truly shows a genuine desire to change. I particularly enjoyed the way he struggled with his guilt not only once the meteor arrived, but his whole adult life.

Character: Ming and Joe

This is a really, really solidly written story and love the crossing paths of Ming and Joe throughout the episodes. I love the way Ming learns to listen to Joe and be yielding without losing his charm. But I especially love the way Joe learns to stand up for himself and stake his claim in his community. It's been really satisfying to watch.

Character: Jim Jaruek Nueangna-uam

Despite the faults in this story, Jim's narrative as a man who has settled into his life being forced to pursue something new is truly, truly beautiful. There is a real presence to the weight of his financial struggles and the pandemic and how this has stagnated his dreams. His conflict with his sister and Li Ming flesh out his character wider than a simple love story, and the quiet resolution is perfect for the tone of the series.

Character: Han Jiwoo

It's so rare that the whole breakup is rightfully dumped on one character, and this one is honestly hilarious. Jiwoo has a lot to unpack and grow from throughout the season, and it is a pleasure to watch him struggle. I think his self-knowledge, at the end, is really quite endearing, especially when he knows how unfair he has been to Seojoon.

Character: Nont Nontnapas Saktawee 

This character has an immensely special place in my heart. His dedication, grief, and betrayal leaps off the screen in every scene. Watching him slowly spiral deeper into this mystery and become consumed by the realities was heartbreaking and thrilling. The moments where this character was shown raw were some of the strongest points of this series and still stick with me. Truly tragic characters are rare in BL, and Nont is a shining example.

Character: Achi Achirawit Jittawisut 

There are many stories that try to be about the transformative power of love, but few of them accomplish that so well as Cherry Magic. What I particularly like about Achi's character is that it is not Karan that fixes him, but rather a desire to be a better partner and person that motivates Achi to push beyond his comfort zone and discover he was always a capable person. His quiet confidence glows by the end of the series.