Nice first try, lovey-dovey, but boring and with many mistakes

Caution: a very, very long review with, unfortunately, a lot of criticism.

As a normal series I would give it a 4 or 3 out of 10, but as in Thai BL-GL industry series I would give it a 6 or 7 out of 10. Frankly, I wouldn't dare give it less because I SERIOUSLY want more GL's to be made, I seriously want industries to know that there is enough audience to start GL's. But that doesn't mean it's okay to accept anything without any criticism. I find it really a shame, but often the first products of something are generally bad. Not to mention the first GMMTV BL's, which were, and I'm sorry, trash. So, don't get me wrong: if we compare this with Love Sick, 23.5 is pretty a masterpiece.

Things I liked: The color palette, View as Aylin (although I didn't really like how the subject was handled) and the acting of Milk and Love. Milk and Love's performances are incredible, they really shined. I particularly liked that Sun has a very thick accent, a way of speaking that Love created for Sun's character (that's great!) Milk is not far behind, her dramatic scenes (both comical and sad) could really produce feelings in the viewer. She took the center stage and never let it go. Milk and Love have my full support. But I think that is all. Sorry, I have a complaint to every element of this series.

Things I didn't like:

I didn't like the camera direction and the pacing. Too slow for so little story being told. I really don't understand why they didn't use the most used and obvious resource to show the passage of time, which is to record several takes in different spaces and with different costumes in different contexts. The series lacks the "show the passage of time" factor. Why is this important? Because it not only shows the quantity of time, but also the time they have to known each other. Although the viewer would feel that Ongsa and Sun had only known each other for 3 weeks, suddenly Sun was blindly in love with Earth (same with Ongsa, ngl). On the other hand, the Aylin - Luna couple, although they are cute and their lovey dovey scenes are adorable, I felt like they hardly knew each other until they "fell in love" as deeply as they did. They practically didn't even take the time to get to know each other. From my point of view, everything that happened in the series could have easily happened in 2 months, and it's supposed to have been just under a year.

The chemistry between Love and Milk was lacking, I felt like they had more chemistry when they were Ink and Pa in BB than here. But I don't rreally blame them, maybe it was the script. As the series progressed, I also felt some discomfort seeing them together. Like I know I have to feel like they have chemistry, but I can't feel it, which is frustrating.

The radical change in pacing between EP 1 and the rest of the episodes is dramatic and a terrible move. The first episode was incredibly dynamic, loaded with jokes, a hilarious Ongsa and loaded with action. However, that episode is behind us and the pace slows to the point that it produces a yawn. Why did they give so much emphasis to Tinh and Chaoren in the first episodes if they were then completely forgotten in the others eps? Why this change?

GOD the infinite shots. They could record just a character's face without any expression for 10 seconds. What does this say to me as a whole? That they had no more story to tell but they had to reach 45 minutes per episode. That's so frustrating. It's like stretching out flavorless gum until it becomes a thread.

It lacks a soundtrack. Scenes without any background music + a story in which essentially nothing happens couldn't be a worse combination. The lack of dynamism could have been compensated with a strong soundtrack to enhance the scenes. But long, boring scenes, no story, MORE silence? It is a combination that induces drowsiness. (Also, too many comical sound effects that after insisting stopped being funny)


Although P'Ton was the character that I liked the most (not saying much, because neither character was developed enough for me to be interested in any of them), or rather the one that made me laugh the most because he is extravagant, his time in screen with Mawin was a mistake. God, why so many scenes of them that led to absolutely nothing? Do you know how terrible, how frustrating, how annoying it was when MAWIN interrupted Aylin in her confession? God, what is he doing there and why did he interrupt her? Why is he on the scene? I repeat, the importance they gave to his character along with PTon's was a complete mistake. Having cut out all the time the pair takes up on screen, easily could have put in the scenes of Aylin Luna getting to know each other.

Something that was mentioned a lot on Twitter, and it's true, is that Sun seems like a secondary character. She seems to be as secondary as Aylin or Luna or P'ton. We don't know anything about her and until episode 10 she had no dreams or flaws at all. She was perfect the entire series. She wasn't a real person. Ongsa, although a little more faceted, we don't know much about her either. We know that she likes dogs, likes astronomy and that she has social problems (and that she is extremely coward). And that's it. The only characters who have distinctive traits (things we know they like) are Chaoren and Aylin. Luna? We know nothing, absolutely nothing about Luna. We know more about Alpha than Luna, and Luna is part of the secondary couple.

Wasn't Sun the most popular girl in school? Why does she seem like just another ordinary girl? Why on her birthday did no one but the protagonists say happy birthday to her and only a few went home to celebrate if she is supposed to be popular? Why does Ongsa have so many social problems? What was her life like before moving? Why did she move out suddenly? What was her relationship with her parents? Why does it seem like she barely knows her mother and is there a latent discomfort in all of her scenes? Are they blood family or are she and Alpha half-sisters? There couldn't be less chemistry between her and her parents. Through the screen, it is as if she has been living abroad and only in the recent year has she returned home. There is no family dynamic or chemistry, they are characters that were created, completely artificial and empty, placed in EP 1 to conform a family.

That's what this series is: hollow. It is somewhat hollow. Not completely, but enough to make it frustrating to watch the series.

Is really no one, no one going to mention the hair color change in Luna's hair? In a single episode, she had light brown hair in some scenes and dark brown hair in others. GOD, why haven't I seen anyone mention that blunder? Why they did that? I can let it go (although it bothers me) the change in haircut or hairstyle (particularly in men) because it is a mistake that its made in almost every series. But the hair color, really?

Do you know why I criticized the series so strongly, even though I waited for it to come to an end? Because I was waiting for this since 2022, and because the news that it was the first GL from GMMTV, the largest BL's company in the world, was exciting news. But here we are. And I'm so, so sad. I really wanted to love this show.

Nice try, really. although I am currently very frustrated, I appreciate all the love put into the series. Thank you very much for finally taking into account the GL's.

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A fervor that leaves you breathless

I'd be lying to myself if I gave it a lower rating. I really liked this movie a lot, and it's kind of funny since I've never seen Unintentional Love Story (I watched it on sept 11th halfway through to learn more about these characters). With huge expectations, one would fear the disappointment, but it's quite the opposite. I was expecting a lot and they gave me everything I expected. I like it so much that I'm making an FMV, and this gave me a lot to analyze. Let's see!

▸I don't think we give enough credit to the photography. It could be overlooked, but if you look at the movie/series carefully, the photography is beautiful. The colors are enveloping and so captivating. I loved the transitions with the whales and nature. I loved the montages, the scenography. Visually this movie is a pleasure. Seriously, PLEASE, appreciate those visuals, the color management, they are a delight to see. Honestly, this production has a lot of work behind it, more than one would think.

▸ While the soundtrack is not outstanding and there are no memorable songs, I really liked that they didn't put music in the romantic or tense scenes. They let the performances speak for themselves without any accompaniment that forces us to feel something, this intensifies everything. The music distribution is really smart. As its name says, "the time of fever" or "I feel your warmth", it was ESSENTIAL to let us hear their agitated and sonorous breathing to demonstrate that desire and nervousness of the first love.

▸The performances, phenomenal. At no time did I feel the actors acting, I only saw the characters. The chemistry they share is undeniable, one of the best there has been in k-bls. Not to mention the kisses, because they are, again, one of the best kisses in k-bl. I love that reflected intimacy, it feels very real. God, I loved how much DongHee conveyed with his eyes, I couldn't help but draw them. His eyes said so much without words and it's fascinating to see.

▸While the story itself is not that great, just a first love romance with a childhood friend, they did what they could with what they had and executed it well. I know many were disappointed bc there was no "closure," but you have to understand that this is a spin-off. I don't really feel the movie is the problem, but rather the series, which didn't give these characters the closure as they should.

▸ I liked Ho Tae's character. He is a simple person and at the same time he's not. He is simple because his mind doesn't work with abstract ideas and he has a hard time understanding what is implicit, he feels comfortable with what is physical and tangible. However, because of this, he has a very hard time connecting with his own feelings and those of others. He has an even harder time handling them. That gives him quite a few problems.

▸Also, while it might feel like we know a lot about Ho Tae but little about DongHee, I think his actions speak for themselves. He is a character who, although he wants to protect himself, can't help but be selfless. He defends the fact that his father mistreats him because he believes that "he hurt him more." At first he wanted to distance himself from Ho Tae because of his "unrequited" crush because it is painful, but he couldn't help but connect with him and slowly became more hopeful.

Nevertheless, when he realized HoTae might feel the same way as him (or maybe he thought Ho Tae was just confused), he became scared because of his internal homophobia and the fear of others' reaction. He is so grateful to "his aunt" and loves her so much that it doesn't seem right to him to date HoTae. That's why he decides to go to Seoul, knowing that, and with his own words, he would regret it a lot. We can say that he had a bad time just if we consider that he did not even dedicate what he studied and returned to his city to open a coffee shop.

▸ My only criticisms, or rather, things that I didn't like, were the last two chapters, which naturally became somewhat tiresome and boring to watch. I don't blame them because it was inevitable. They are not together, after all. We lacked a protagonist.

In conclusion, a great movie! A worthy spin off, considering that ULS is not that great. They put love and attention into the production, and that is always appreciated.

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You just have to be IN to get the gem

This series is the kind of BL that deserves a review. I've seen dozens of BL's, but there are only a few that are worth talking about in depth. It's not perfect, there are things I didn't like, but it's definitely a positive point I want to continue talking about it after having seen it. So this is more rambling than a well-done review.

This series, although it doesn't touch on anything in great depth, brings to the table very interesting and noteworthy plots, making this series unique. Important aspects, among them would be the past of the protagonists, youth, adulthood and the bonding between people. It wasn't until chapter 6 I said to myself "ah, THIS is why this series is so popular." At first it's a bit empty or introductory, but as you progress you get deeper into this world and you get to some very nice places.

Let's see, should we start with the bad or the good?

THE GOOD BC I'M CRAVING.

—The past explored of Jian Tian and Cheng Wang. They both have a tragic past they have to share in order to break free from it. Something that connects them both is their shortcomings in their childhood, both share having suffered abandonment and extreme neglect by adults, causing them both to have exactly the same fear: abandonment. Each one expresses it in a different way. Their characters are incredibly coherent with the past each one has, that's special. I like they SHOWED this, they didn't told it. As a viewer one can infer many things, but they don't say anything explicitly.

—The range of characters: Something I LOVE in series is when they make me as a viewer remember the names of characters other than the main characters, I mean, they make me care about them. This series more than fulfilled that purpose. I was not only interested in Tian and Wang, but also in their parents, their friends, their teachers and their acquaintances, such as the shop owner or Tian's adoptive grandfather. They created a genuine world of their own I was genuinely immersed in. I loved Gao and his one-sided crush, I loved the teachers' dynamic, I loved Tian's mom. I LOVE when they do that, I love entering a new world. The only show I can remember now which did this is Sotus, oh, and My school president!

—The emotional scenes really moved me (except for the ending). When the parents had the conversation with their kids I literally broke down in tears. I really empathized with Tian's mom a lot, and her conversation with Tian broke me. Or the hug with the "welcome to home"? Beautiful. Almost all the actors in the cast are AMAZING ACTORS (especially the leads), and watching an interview with Tian's actor, I understand they were committed to their roles. It shows in the acting of many.

—I loved the slow burn. I admit, it drives me crazy, but I love they take things slow and build the relationships the way they SHOULD BE. Only then does it get so dramatic later. I LOVE they became friends and then brothers. They were never really friends-friends, there was always a “beyond” there between them, but it’s beautiful that superficially (because they both think it’s one sided their “weird” feelings) they formed such a strong bond without romance. It’s beautiful, I love it.

—Just a small point, but I loved the inclusion of the character "the mute uncle". I've never seen the inclusion of a character like that in a series like this, (and in Southeast Asia) and for him to just be there, exist, and be part of this world, is very special to me.

—I LOVED THE SOUNDTRACK.



NOW IT’S TIME TO COMPLAIN.

—It must be said, sometimes I felt like it was losing rhythm (in all chapters ,actually). I felt like some things weren’t necessary or they were dragging out others scenes too much (especially the gazes, you know what I mean). After a while you get used to it, but it is a little tiring to see after a while, I felt so uncomfortable. Its like "please, just stop" or "What was the point of showing this?" Tried to convince myself it was to show everyday life, instead of just being lacking in material.

—The fish kisses. Look, I can forgive the semi-kisses between the main characters, OK, they are young, and inexperienced and stepbrothers, BUT BETWEEN THE TEACHERS, WHO WERE IN LOVE FOR YEARS? I WILL NEVER FORGIVE THAT! I will literally never forgive such a horrible kiss. GOD, JUST CLOSE THE FKNG EYES.

I tried deeply to understand and empathize with everyone in the end, but I couldn’t do it completely, that makes me sad. Still, I really appreciate they kept the character quality. When Wang's exam came out, Tian didn't explicitly say anything, he didn't accuse him either, but WE know he thinks Wang is abandoning him and he feels genuine fear and frustration, he feels lonely and afraid of being alone again. Wang also doesn't openly say he did it on purpose, but WE as viewers know he was desperate and scared of his feelings and thoughts (as we see them). Wang never says anything, he just acts impulsively. Tian never says anything, he just walks away.

They left a lot of things open, but I understand everything was being left for a second season, almost taking it for granted. So many, too many things open. Tian's emerging feelings weren't explored too much. And if they put THAT scene in Tian's flashback, I interpret it will have to do with how Tian will have conflicts with his own feelings and sexuality. What happened with the teachers? What will happen with Wang? Will Wang stay in the same dorm or will he go home?

I REALLY need a second season, I beg the universe to let it come out this year. Please don't let this be a second Stay with me. That would be funny anyway, considering both shows are about stepbrothers.

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