Long-Awaited Seduction Into A DARK CONCEPT !!

Exceeding Expectations. And Then Again Disappointing. It´s wild.

This painstakingly created series is expected to be one of the most controversial, hardest and longest emotional rollercoasters in 2022 and it has also been highly awaited by the entire LGBTQI+ film community.

However, if you easily feel offended by toxic tropes then I recommend you reconsider watching this series !!

Production / Music >> 9.5 >> 9.0 >> 8.5
As already seen in the first trailer – deleted by now – KinnPorsche has always been visually incomparable to other series. Even with their delay in airing and producing, the fandom has been faithfully waiting for this visual masterpiece to finally air. Given the second trailer and after watching the first episode, I know that KinnPorsche will lift the visual standards of LGBTQI+ shows to another level. Additionally, for those who don´t know me, I am a sucker for dark concepts and for what has been displayed so far with the lighting and colouring, my eyes are blessed and my creativity is exploding.

Combined with the series' soundtracks – e.g.: Slot Machine´s “Free Fall” – this entire show seems so unreal in quality, especially since it has a heavier and more challenging plot and concept than most LGBTQI+ series in the past. Therefore, I think they can still fail in the execution of a good story, but they have lifted the standards for the cinematography and consequently, I´ll predict this to blow up and get at least an 8.0 rating on MDL - excluded any crucial errors such as misrepresentation of fundamental issues, e.g.: LGBTQI+, toxic relationships, abuse, etc. I, however, doubt they will fail in the portrayal of those.

Let´s especially praise the Cinematographer (Maneerat Srinakarin) and the Screenwriter (Pond Kritsada Wittayakachondej), for perceiving the possibilities of this concept's aesthetics and implementing them successfully, as well as the Editors and Production in general.

Plot / Story >> 7.5 >> 8.5 >> 9.0 >> 8.0 >> 7.5
So far, I´ve been satisfied with the introduction to this series and its concept. However, even though the plot is exciting and thrilling, "it is not that innovative yet and therefore I need more episodes to change my mind and give it an 8 or higher". At some points, it was just so random, and the entire mafia thing got a bit laughable.

BUT Then I continued watching and changed my mind A BIT. Despite the aspect of some lack in the stories innovation, I am a total sucker for these sorts of concepts, and in the past, I´d just blindly give it a 10 BUT I´m trying to not let my excitement take over my rationality. However, if my rating was based on my own excitement, this rating would surely have a different outcome.

Cast >> 9.5 >> 10.0 >> 9.0
The entire training the actors have been going under in 2021 has finally paid off and the series successfully cast very talented individuals for each role. Especially Apo has been well chosen as Porsche, his personality finds shelter and rises like “The Phoenix”. Mile takes our breath as toxic-tinged Mr Kinn, who exudes a bold and decisive charm like Mile himself. The result is well-cast Main roles.

However, I will not forget to give the supporting cast all the praise. It´s just that I could write so many paragraphs about them - trust me I did that - but I´m trying to keep it short. Honestly, Bible did not only put effort into acting out Vegas but he also committed a lot to the KinnPorsche Story by translating Daemi´s book. I´m happy to see that the involved people also enjoy being part of this huge project. Love it!

Rewatch Value >> 9.0 >> 9.5 >> 9.0 >> 8.0
So far so good. Since this sort of concept is always extremely pulling me in and my disappointment in “Golden Blood” is heavily weighing down on me, I am quite sure this will be one of the shows I will come back to at least twice, if not more often. Therefore, my overall rating so far is a solid and well-deserved 8.5 and had chances to be a 9.0 if they had increased the story's uniqueness and matched it to their incomparable cinematography/ visuals.

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This Drama Has Changed My Life

Once you´re at the end, you´re at the beginning.

Thanks to the Novel, "Mo Dao Zu Shi" by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, this masterpiece was produced and released early enough to cure depression. Due to the 50 Episodes, it might seem like a long way to go but don´t be hasty with your judgement because your decision to not watch it, will leave an invisible scar in your creative mind. Not only are the actors superb - I am not only talking about the main cast here - and reliable in their execution of every scene, but also the plot is unique and will keep you wanting for more.

Initially, I wasn´t that excited to watch this series and spend 2.250 minutes in total watching it. If back then I only knew how wrong I was. Presently, I think I spend even more time being obsessed with it. Once you´re at the end, you´re at the beginning.

Starting off with the novel has about 130 chapters and thematizes the origin and the hardship of the "friendship" between Lan Zhan and Wei Wuxian, which was implemented so well in the filming. (Once you read the novel, you get what I mean) While the original web novel depicted an explicit romance between the two main male characters, the adaptation was censored with homoerotic subtexts instead due to China's ban on LGBT portrayals in films. Nevertheless, it was portrayed well enough to not be disappointing, since the actors put a lot of effort to show their feelings without the need for physical touch.

Besides the tragic main plot of Wei Wuxian’s search for himself and the sacrifices he has to make, there are also side stories that make the Drama definitely worth watching. Especially the tragedy of Yi City. You just have to watch it.

The most interesting gift that this series gives you tho, is the ability to see through a monotone facade of "... is evil" or "... is good". I would say it is a life-changing and instructive drama than most of the dramas I saw. It will give you insights into the life of a wrongly accused soul, fighting their way to survive the hell of prejudices/being a villain. On the other hand, we have a killer, whose murder impulse got triggered by the unloving and mean environment.

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Bumped Into This Series By Chance -

A flame ignites as two FLAWED men cross paths, leaving chaos behind them and many RED FLAGS.

Story >> 7.0 >> 5.0
Plotwise, it´s not that convincing for me yet but I think that there was a lot of potential to make their story more interesting and captivating, and by that I mean not with the number of sensual scenes but a deeper dive-in into the morals and flaws of each character. In the end, I hope that "Fahlanruk" will spread an example / be a lesson for the viewers.

Acting/ Cast >> 7.5 >> 6.5
I´m aware that most of the actors have little experience in acting and I am, personally, fine with watching it nonetheless. I also think that there were some admirable shots that took me by surprise. However, it was not totally convincing.

Music >> 6.5 >> 5.5 >> 4.5
I was not okay with the choice of background music because I didn´t find it catchy or captivating. Especially in more sensual scenes was the choice of music rather anti-climatic, felt more like a hassle. Like, who was in charge of the audio?! lmao

Rewatch Value >> 3.0 >> 2,0
Nothing intrigued me as much as I´d like it to for me to rewatch it.

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Somebody: "You mind saying that to me again?"

This Netflix series is definitely not easy to swallow but can become very intimidating if you pay attention to how it unfolds. So basically, I will say this series is a really nice piece of cake for those who love observing how good, complex, and CONSISTENT vicious characters can be written, without getting boring. The consistency in character is what I really liked about this series. This is what makes "Somebody" quite an interesting show for me, who loves dedicating their free time to analyzing the beauty in human grim. You don´t have this evil scumbag who suddenly changes for the Female Lead. You don´t need a detailed background to show that sometimes evil scumbags are just evil scumbags with no remorse. Sometimes there is nothing that anybody can do to prevent these "natural killers" from being born. They exist like hunters in the wild. Yuno´s life consisted of this side of him that just felt alive from hunting and IT. STAYED. CONSTANT. UNTIL. THE. ALMOST. VERY. END.

For those who are not invested in villainous characters like Yuno, 6.9 stars is a solid average. I can totally understand that a majority will not like or enjoy this piece of art. Even for me, a hunter for series like this, it´s hard to explain. On whatever thread I am on, I always try to analyze behavior that is seen as vicious, grim, weird, and unlogical. The point is, humans are led by emotions, these, however, are often perceived as irrational, while often they aren't. They are a direct response to a certain trigger, for a reason!! What makes arguments f.e. irrational, is when the base facts are not able to be proven right. And Yuno was most certainly led by his uncontrollable impulses, which would not stop, even if he met Kim Sum. Even if he "loved" her. He didn´t manage to control these impulses before, maybe never wanted to. So I don´t think that the series necessarily lacked logic in the world they created, but maybe it lacked context and depth.

I also really want to highlight the variety of this series in terms of characters: A disabled police officer, a shaman, and a main character with Asperger Syndrome. In a thriller/horror/suspense series! Really loved to see this. LGBTQ+ representation in K-dramas, especially in suspense dramas, is not common.

YUNO (Yun O/ Yun-O)
He doesn´t really change throughout the entire series, however, Kim Sum does have an impact on his behavior. As she was not harmed in their first meeting because he might have either grown interested or thought of a better way to torture her before death by using her vulnerability, always being excluded because of Aspergers, against her. Or BOTH? He is not the most strategic killer you´ll see in a drama, but one of the most active and creative ones. Using the app, pretending to be nice, doing background research (not shown), trying hard to set the right fake Ambiente, and killing depending on the situation. He always adapted his torture to the victim, sometimes didn´t even kill at all - aiming for the highest of emotional damage. So, to point this out, his killing itself is not the consistent part, as he not always kills his victims (right away?).

And this consistency made the ending so interesting. The viewer could not tell what he was planning on. Did he really want to live with her? Did he really love her, like how he said when he was choking on his own blood? Even if he did, did he still plan to kill her (and him?)? Building such an architecture for her, was the clue that he did indeed like her the most. I think that all this emotional insecurity makes the ending so intense to watch. I had to fight this weird urge to feel bad for him because his situation and ending were so pathetic. And kind of sad... and kind of righteous. The crew and editors really dedicated themselves to showing us a twisted scene where they confront the viewers with a serial-killers last vulnerability, his mortality, and exceptionally and almost unexpected fast death. (What I mean is, he had no unrealistic luck in surviving, he just died) LIKE ANY OTHER HUMAN BEING. No exception.

KIM SUM
She definitely took her part as the main character and also stayed somewhat consistent. The interest in murder was in her, from the start. She also did not become more vicious. She just behaved and stayed consistent. JUST that she initiated the kill was something that we could not get a hold of entirely. It made sense, it matched the series. But not quite predictable, as she really liked him. Just her outsmarting him was somewhat predictable. I loved how they managed to include SOME ONE :) in the dynamic, without making it awkward or weird to watch.

What I really found the most interesting, is that she was aroused by his behavior. Because these dark fantasies had built up inside of her and he was the personalization of what she always wanted to do to the people who treated her like a monster? This series has really overwhelmed me in some points, like no other. It also made me self-reflect about why I like what I like.

IM MOK WON
She/ They were a bit of a confusing variable. I really liked her character, just that I could not quite understand her role in this scenario. Was she like a medium between evil and good? Or a medium between chaotic evil and chaotic neutral? Or just the messenger between all the characters? Then she was basically just being used for communication. Her romance faded into nothingness. Her character depth was a bit unfulfilling.

YEONG GI EUN
She is a cop, but still managed to get into deadly situations in the same pattern. One time not knowing she will meet somebody with ill intentions and one time EXACTLY knowing what evil person she is dealing with. Both times she gets outplayed in a similar and cruel way. But why would she do it in the first place? Curiosity is not worth your death. She could have gone back once she noticed her wheelchair was not made for the place she was at. He was revealed as a killer by then. So she basically reached nothing but to risk her life and, which to be fair IS important, revealed the location of another victim of his.

Overall I really had an intense watching. It made me think and reflect and even shed a few tears. But I agree and acknowledge that this series is a special case and surely confusing and unenjoyable for people not obsessed with twisted characters and villains on a daily basis. They made the best they could and shared the story of a colorful trio in a small series consisting of only 8 episodes. "SOMEBODY" doesn´t have much left to offer but observation of a FOR ONCE almost entirely consistent serial killer in a K-Drama. Also, his visions, fast adaption, and grim creativity made YUNO an interesting persona to watch.

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Insight With Stimulus To New Perspectives On "BL" shows

Y this series surprised me: bravery in displaying what many want to be left unseen.

While the portrayal of real issues isn´t something I´d necessarily "enjoy" watching, because it stirs guilt and doubts in me, the entire show should be considered a gift of insight to us. By making me question the industries, I also focus more on what I want to support in my feature, which is definitely not this type of working environment, hence, I will inform myself more of what I support with my views as a consumer. It is also nothing that should be left unspoken that is why I give the ...
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Story >> 8.5
... however, I still have some trouble looking past some coincidences and plot twists. Do they make sense? Definitely. Are they too much sometimes? Yes, but just a little. Portraying fates, that are close to what must have been happening behind the scenes of some shows, is a real challenge and I´m honest with you when I say they did an outstanding job. The excellency would have been if they kept their feet of realism firmly on the ground but they slipped into a more melodramatic direction, which is perfectly fine because it's a drama and not a documentary, I am just being a bit picky about that.

New Ship >> 9.0
The tragedy and dilemma of this story are not easy to bear but it´s definitely worth watching. It gives different POVs into the controversy behind the scenes of some Thai "BL" shows. And the truth hurts. A LOT.

The War of Manager>> 8.0
Similar to the first story, obviously because of the same environment, but also different in the base of the main characters and their significant differences in personality and behaviour compared to "New Ship". At some point, I was in denial that those kinds of greedy people exist in our world, but unfortunately for some actors/humans, they do.
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Acting / Cast >> 9.0
I really hope that Seng gets the credits he deserves for his acting, which was one of the best performances I have ever seen in my time as an Asian drama geek. His portrayal of Pan really hit me on many levels and I really can´t think of anything to criticise. Billy´s performance was also praiseworthy and I won´t forget about those two for some time. It´s just that all actor's performances combined I found some things I found somewhat irritating, thus giving Acting a 9.0.
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Music >> 7.0
I´ll leave it like this for now, because I am not really tempted by the music yet but I also don't find it disturbing or incorrectly matched/selected.
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Rewatch Value >> 4.5
This may not be easy to follow up after I highlighted how good I find the actors and most parts of the plot but because it is tough, me rewatching it will be unlikely. HOWEVER, this doesn´t change the fact that it is an incredibly executed series that I didn´t expect from a Y series, to be very honest.
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Overall >> 8.0

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Peach of wasted potential BUT nonetheless enjoyable

Well-deserved 7.5

The major criticism that this show got is because it seems rather flat on an emotional basis for the story that it carries and delivers to the audience. Miscommunication and regret are two major subjects of this series, but it has not been brought up sufficiently. It was not easy to emphasize with the entire story, I still enjoyed it though.

Production / Music
Music was well implemented and a good aspect of this show. The aesthetic of this drama was solid, especially the scenes at the café. Personally, I think the overall cinematography of this show has met my expectations and they did a good job in the casting too. Jimmy fits into the role as Peach, visually, and Jae Hyun portrays Yoon Oh well. The ending scenes were also edited enjoyable and reminded me a bit of the older K-dramas.

(At this point this OST always pops up in my head: https://youtu.be/PUBlw65Xaa4?t=73)

Plot / Story
The idea of this plot was extraordinary and there was a lot of potentials to make this a top tier BL series. However, the implementation of this incredible idea failed once they took the “miscommunication and regret”-part, which I have mentioned before, too lightly. I understand why they tried to focus on the romance part of this story more, that is why I will show some understanding in my rating. However, it could have been a solid 8.0 if they focused more on the coherence of Yoon Oh´s existence and his potential for character development throughout the series.

Cast
I liked the collab between Thai and South Korean actors and I also think that the cast did well in their roles, especially Jae Hyun. Let´s make this clear, I think Jimmy is an angelic human being and he also frequently makes my days better. His acting skills did also improve but he failed a little in delivering the sentimental scenes. The cute scenes were of course, super cute. Tommy did also act acceptable, as always, and made me wheeze in his whole appearance. However, I understand the reason for his clothing, and I am glad they implemented it. Just again, the coherence of the existing thing… they did a few mistakes with Yoon Oh´s appearance there.

Misses
- Awesome idea that lost its potential because of the way it got implemented.
- Coherence of Yoon Oh´s appearance
- Delivering sentimental scenes

Overall
I think it was enjoyable to watch so I guess I will rewatch it again.
A light recommendation, since the story itself is very interesting. :)

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Controversial Concept Tomorrow

First of all, my respect to the writer/s of this entire story, it must not have been easy for them to publish the idea and they must have been meet with a lot of controversy, since the main topic of “Tomorrow" is suicide. With this focus it may gain a lot of attention and a higher platform to spread awareness for mental health, however, they will also be meet with a lot of criticism because these personal matters that affect everyone, will never be non-offensive. With this emotional and tricky concept it is very likely that some of those suffering from mental health problems such a s ST might feel heard but some people with ST might feel misunderstood, … . Is it a risk that should be taken? That is for you to decide.


Music/ Production >> 9.0
Personally, I like the vibes of the BGM and the OST tracks that are used to undermine the vibes of this series. Sometimes they’re upbeat, whenever the show has slight comedy, and the music can also turn dark in any second. Overall, I’d say it was a good idea to use various music types because it reflects our world, on which various people, personalities and emotional states states are daily and important to consider when choosing the OSTs.

Not only the music makes this series so acknowledgeable for their variety, but also the filming and editing crew are proofing themselves as truly capable. Starting from the smoothly filmed scenes, over to the well-chosen angles and perspectives and then to the outrageous editing, which not only consists of Inception-like VFXs but also talented coloring and montage techniques. If this series fails, it’s definitely not because of the after effect team.


Plot >>8.0 >> 9.0
Generally, I think the idea behind this series is a good one, but sometimes I think some comedy moments kinda feels off in a series with these concepts and topics. However, I enjoy how the characters are written and the direction this series is going. Especially choosing such a bubbly but pathetic protagonist definitely was a good choice to avoid the show being too dark and heavy. I can see a lot of possible character developments in all of them and the first episode had me hooked and interested in the main characters already. I really hope they won’t take this concept into the wrong direction and instead use the possibilities to spread awareness and destigmatize therapy. I personally adored episode 9 :(


Acting/ Cast >> 9.0
The grim reapers as well as the humans all deliver a solid performance.


Rewatch Value >> 8.0 ?
The concept is very intriguing + eye-opening to me, occupied my mind and may result in a deeper reflection of myself. However, I mentioned in the beginning that some people may not like the portrayal / the usage of this topics and stories to get cloud. Therefore I wish that this series will use their views to not only make money but also to raise awareness and change the mental health system, especially in Korea.

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In NO universe is this a FLOP - sponsored by LiN

Undeniably Controverse Series with an Attractive Implementation.

Any media that is about "verse-jumping", universes and especially parallel universes has faced a great number of obstacles during its production/ writing/ etc. and VICE VERSA has made the best out of it, despite the complexity of the universe trope. Sure, there are some black holes and too much product placement, but let´s be honest, who can fix plot holes about universes anyway? And does KFC have enough seasoning on their fried chicken?

Honestly, when I first heard what this series is about I got very sceptical. How will they be able to show off such a complex plot in only 12 episodes without losing half of the audience on their way? To my surprise and happiness, they have succeeded.

Story >> 9.5 >> 9.0 >> 8.0 >> 7.5
Honestly, the story is such a banger, I don´t even want to find other words for it. It is a bit dull in some ways because it´s obvious that they had to do "some" Product Placement but the fact that they question how one has to live another one´s life is a good point for me and is also dragging the end way too long. However, it´s sharing nice messages, such as respect for crucial decisions another person makes in their life and how any decision can affect more than one person.

Most characters have an immense impact on the story and the writers paid a lot of attention to making every single one of the characters palpable. I also like that even though this was not an enemies-to-lovers trope, the main couple has so much intellectual and romantic tension between them. They just belong together because they make each other happy. Not more, not less. If they had just made it a little shorter, it could have been much better.

Acting/ Cast >> 9.0
Jimmy totally caught me in this role, as if it was written inspired by his visuals. He fits so well into the role of Puen. The same goes for Sea, though it is my first time seeing him in GMM25 and so I can´t really judge based on other performances. Honestly, I think GMM25 did a great job in casting their actors for each role. Not to forget all the support roles - I especially love to see Neo, he just makes me happy. In general, I think their performances as actors are very solid and only on rear occasions did I miss some intensity of gazes and some emotions. In my opinion, there is not much to complain about.

Music >> 8.0 >> 7.5
The used music and soundtracks, as well as the outro and intro, fit the entire theme of the series well and they leave a certain imprint on my mind as a viewer. However, the music is nothing that specifically stands out nor something that causes inconvenience. To me, the songs and other music scores are very well chosen and implemented into the series.

Rewatch Value >> 7.0 >> 5.5 >> 5.0
I rarely rewatch the series even though the chemistry between Sea and Jimmy was just too mesmerizing to just forget about it. However, the product placement was just too much over the top.

Overall >> 9.0 >> 8.0 >> 7.5
As I have seen it in other reviews as well, this series is a precision landing on 8.5 to me. The series totally caught me and kept me in suspense, so I can leave this good rating with a clear conscience. (at least until episode 9 hehe).

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Unrushed & Well-Paced Highschool Romance

GMMTV did not disappoint with this heartwarming high school romance. I think what the GMMTV/ Thai LGBTQIA+ audience can agree on is that "My School President" is one of the most respectful and unrushed series that was produced in the last few years. I feel like they are really taking our critiques to heart and trying to improve the delivery of these sorts of stories without including UNNECESSARY toxicity - let me clarify that some level of toxicity is always needed for a show to be realistic because that is what our lives look like. The extent and amount are what´s important and of course the circumstances. (e.g. The story of Kinnporsche was built up in an already toxicity-thriven environment and therefore there was a higher level of toxicity)


PRODUCTION / MUSIC 8.5
Let´s start with the production and filming/ writing of the scenes. Throughout the entire series, there were a lot of detailed and heartwarming scenes. The screenwriting was overall extremely satisfying, nothing felt rushed. Maybe sometimes I felt like the pace got a little slow, but they managed to not make it uncomfortably slow. One thing is certain, professionals are at work. Both the filming and editing, but also the individual usage and choice of (self-made) music are very unique. I am fond of the OSTs and the MV - GMMTV really thrived to surprise us here.


STORY / PLOT 7.5
As I said before, besides a few slow-paced moments, the story is entertaining and heartwarming. I have rarely come across a series that thrived on so much positive talking-phase energy. It felt not rushed at all and the respect for boundaries was really something I have been waiting for a long time. They gave their love time to prosper, and neither Tinn nor Gun forced their tempo of opening up to each other. It made me happy (and a little bit proud in my cheap seat at home).

'My School President' is also one of the first series besides 'Bad Buddy' that had me mainly engaged in the main couple. Don´t get me wrong, the second couple did not disappoint me, I was just not as hooked with them as I was with Tinn and Gun.

ACTING / CAST 9.0
With incredible visual and performance chemistry, Gemini and Fourth really rocked their roles as Tinn and Gun. When I saw their age, despite having a quick existential crisis, I was so overwhelmed with my respect for them. Who would have thought that they would nail every interacting scene so professionally intense that my own heart began racing? Everything I was hoping for in an acting performance in the main lead was right there. Just some of the side cast slightly bothered me to give the actors and their performance 9.5 or higher.

REWATCH VALUE 6.5

OVERALL 8.0
In a nutshell, this show is everything and more the LGBTQ+ film community has ever wished for. The story is respectful and unrushed, the actors are outstanding and the edit is pleasing. The use of self-made music has been merged with the entire awesomeness of this show. Every expectation is being met and it´s honestly nothing you should miss.

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CONTRARY: Between Reality and Fiction

Let me start with a quick rant over some of the reviews:
First off, I´m all aware that reviews are very subjective, and so are opinions and tastes. Honestly, I don´t get any of the lower ratings. (4 and lower) Even if the story is somewhat critical, how could you let their acting and the production/ cinematography drop into a negative light as well? If you review something, you sort of have a 'responsibility' to consider all aspects of a show. A show is not only about the story. Despite being the main aspect, the story can´t portray all the functions of a series alone. How many good stories have failed in their execution because of bad acting or bad production? Taking this into consideration and then watching "Between Us", how is it a 3.5-star series? I just don´t get it. Is it because you were hoping for something less troublesome and simple, or were you hoping for more tension? What is it exactly that made you drag a solid show down to this level?

I´m just sad that people tend to be so impulsive in judging a show just because they had high hopes and huge expectations. It could not meet what a 3.5-star rater had in mind?`Okay. Does it mean the show is necessarily one of the worst and most unpleasing shows to watch out there? No. Can they still rate it that bad? Yes. Why? Everyone is allowed to have their opinion. Can I still feel offended by this harsh rating? Yes. Why? Read below.

STORY / PLOT 5.5
Having said that, I had my issues with the screenwriting as well. There were some aspects that could have been executed better if they had paid more consideration to it. However, considering that this is a Spin-Off of "Until We Meet Again", one of the most famous Thai LGBTQIA+ shows, I think they offered us a solid series with deep emotional insights into the vulnerabilities of people that one might not see at first glance.

The story is everything but light. There are a lot of mature topics and struggles that the characters have to deal with. Dealing with Trauma is suffocatingly exhausting and therefore does not contribute to a hoped-for "Coming Of Age" story. Also, I think Win´s struggles were very much justified and realistic. There are people with avoidant attachment styles on this earth that have a hard time opening up to the idea of being in love and dependent on another person. Saying that this is cliche and a bad plot extra leaves me irritated. Criticizing his behavior is, of course, not wrong at all. After all, you can not be okay with characters/people's behavior. However, there is a big difference between criticizing behavior and criticizing a show for PORTRAYING that behavior. One should not confuse these two aspects.

I think that the dialogues were top-notch and the discussions they stirred. Watching this, I feel like other viewers could also step into adopting more consent and consideration for others in their daily lives. Not everything is visible on the surface.

ACTING / CAST 8.5
I´m really surprised by the few people who criticized the acting. I wish I could be more considerate and understanding of this view because to me their - main couple - performance was very satisfying to watch. They executed EXTREMLYdifficult scenes and touched my heart. Of course, there is room for improvement for the supporting cast but Boun and Prem did NOT disappoint! Don´t confuse acting skills with an unpleasing plot. A bad plot doesn´t necessarily make the acting bad.

REVIEW VALUE 5.0
I was not disappointed with "Between Us", however, the story was quite heavy, and even though I tend to prefer watching darker, heavier more mature content in series, I rarely rewatch them. So I am just being realistic here.

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"Have a safe [emotional] flight"

Impression engraved in my mind of a series with a rather calm plot but in return, the script and acting concede the points to make the series a bit more exciting.

Production / Music >> 8.5 >> 6.5
The light concept of this series is not only introduced to the viewer with solid storytelling, superb colouring and smooth cinematography but also with the uplifting background music, thus the series is enabling the audience to be more laid-back while watching. However, it´s not memorable.

Plot / Story >> 8.0 >> 6.0
Even though a story that has "skipped" the first encounter seems to be more of a challenge, the writer(s) introduced a rather light love story to the viewers, also not that memorable, but cute.

Acting / Cast >> 8.5 >> 7.5
Joong and Dunk convince us of Nuea´s and Khluen´s story with good acting, which is displayed through a lot of eye-work and expressions rather than through words. The supporting cast is solid but not outstanding.

There is still room for improvement but my overall impression of this series is that it is watchable.

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“You will fall in love [with Cutie Pie] just the way I do” [Maybe]

“Don´t be like everyone else, just be yourself. I love you just the way you are,
my Cutie Pie!” -

In terms of cinematography, Cutie Pie is a hazardous new standard for all the upcoming series. They made my heart burst with excitement and "second-hand blushing":

This has been the best introduction to a story that had many risks to portray the wrong message. I am so overly satisfied with how they wrote the entire show to be this non-toxic, or at least they tried their best to make it the least toxic. I remember a few scenes that are misleading f.e. when Nuea asked for help in the club. However, these types of stories tend to be even more toxic so I think they have done a good job of minimizing the triggers. Think about it, Lian, a rich guy and his compliant lover, Kuea, who tried everything to not offend "his Hia/ Lian" and even denied his own wishes and identity for Mr Wang/ Lian? That screams to have a high risk of selling another nonsense toxic relationship to the fandom, but it did not. On the contrary, I think they deliver a heartfelt message to the audience. Hear me out. <3


Production / Music // 9.5
Aoftion Kittipat Jampa, one of the creators of DoMundiTV, made another LGBTQI+ series glow up. He is best known for his screenwriting of WHY R U and with “Cutie Pie” he exceeded all my expectations! This man is such a blessing to the film/ entertainment industry and an idol of mine.

The introduction of New to the DoMundi / Mandee family has been such a blessing to everyone. Let´s also agree on the fact that all the DoMundi guys are extremely appealing to the eyes and were well cast for each role, delivering all the vibes and aspects demanded. The entire aesthetic fits the vibes of this story and undermines the characters and the inner colours of each and every one of them. It´s breathtakingly beautiful. The production team and the cast gave their best and put a lot of noticeably effort and affection into this series and it paid off. I especially highlight the arrangement and screenwriting of each scene! Nothing seems unfitting or out of context.

The music is as captivating as the series and the use of each piece fits the overall mood of “Cutie Pie”. I even saved some of the songs to my playlist, which I rarely do with OSTs from romance series. Some of you guys know I am a sucker for thriller/ horror OSTs, so as you can see, even though the soundtracks are the opposite of what I normally prefer, they still caught my attention, nonetheless.


Plot / Story // 8.0
When DoMundi and Mandee channel were releasing information’s about the plot a few months ago, I got worried. The risks this sort of story carries is still quite bothersome, and it can totally shoot in the wrong direction. Nobody needs/ wants another BL that is indirectly glorifying a toxic relationship. Nonetheless, they deliver this story with perfection and casually introduce a beautiful message to the audience:

“Be Yourself” “Don´t sacrifice yourself/ change your identity to be liked by someone” & “Don´t be someone you´re not just to satisfy others” - similar to the lyrics of NuNews OST of Cutie Pie.

Those messages may seem to be an obvious criterium for any show or even any life, but unfortunately, their importance is often not highlighted enough. “Cutie Pie” takes the portrayal of those problems/ issues to another level and even shows the development of a relationship if you start to be more honest and aware of yourself. With what you truly want. Nonetheless, it also shows the obstacles and issues that go hand in hand with being too full of oneself/ arrogant.

I personally just have my issues with the high society aspect, because that´s where those kinds of stories often fail to be realistic. In reality, the person you fake your identity for isn´t necessarily rich or someone with who you´ve been in love your entire life. It is not criticism towards the show, rather just a reason for me, why I don´t give the story aspect a 10/10, despite its very exciting and creative parts.

However, the portrayal of Hia´s observing character and him actually caring secretly without being toxic, rather just playful and ready to have a new start of their relationship and he´s ready to dive in deep with Kuea. Every detail they added, e.g. with the dismantling of the CCTV or that Kuea directly confronts Hia when he´s too full of himself, is beneficial for the overall message of this series and the pureness of their relationship BUT also beneficial if they want to leave a sustained impression on the audience - Admirable work!


Cast // 8.5
As I said before, New joining DoMundi has been such a blessing for everyone. He can act, sing, dance and on top of that, with everything I have seen so far, he seems to be such an incredible and angelic human being. Still, there is some room for improvement in his acting. Maybe it´s just the effect of being compared to Zee all the time, who has more experience.

And his partner in this series, be prepared, Pruk Panich the rising star of the MDL Leaderboards, a talented gift to the filming industry and a blessing to the eyes. HE DELIVERED AGAIN. How does he do it? I don’t know. He can “naturally/ realistically” adapt to all the various types of characters. How can I not be obsessed with his performances? The overall appearance of Lian matches the series in every aspect and I am blushing whenever he appears on the screen. It´s just hard to say if Zee and NuNew were matching because sometimes they did and in some scenes, they did not.

Nat and Max also hit it off, I admire their visual matching the most. They flourish in their roles as Yi and Kon Diao and the audience gets aware of their skills the more the story unfolds. Here I want to highlight Nat´s character as the most warm-hearted person I have come across in a long time and I can´t help but be taken aback by his overall performance. Amazing!

Perth, Poppy, Tutor and Yim don´t disappoint and they deliver them very well. Especially Poppy´s character, Lian´s secretary, was so hilariously relatable. Where do they always get such a talented cast? I hope they reward them well for their outrageous performance.


Overall // 8.5 !!
I feel like I can only loop around my praises for this masterpiece of a series. The storytelling, the screenwriting, EVERYTHING sums up and becomes this beautiful result of paid off effort. At this point, there is no border between the film industry and the LGBTQI+ film industry anymore, except for the fact that a lower budget was able to exceed most other series in visuals and delivery of emotions.

“If you were me, who gets to look at [Cutie Pie] all day, (…), you will fall in love just the way I [did]”

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Last Doubts Vanished: One of THE most meaningful LGBTQIA+ series

A mindful spirit, braveness, and an open mind are what it takes to possess the power to produce something meaningful. GMMTV has again gifted us with another meaningful, heart-wrenching, and impressive series called "Last Twilight".

The story, which evolves around the disability to see efficiently, dealing with heavy burdens like the suicide of a loved one and being reliant on others, is well-written and paced. Both Mohk and Day are realistically flawed characters and are also portrayed as such. I´m convinced this is one of the best series in the genre of LGBTQ+ in Southeast Asia to be released in 2023 and 2024.

STORY 9.0 >> 9.5
As I have already mentioned at the beginning of this review, the innovation and braveness to portray a story that evolves around disability - which shouldn´t be left out of the film industry as it is part of our world and nothing to be ashamed of or shushed about - has pleasingly surprised me. The issues that come with disabled eyesight are not coming too short and it doesn´t feel like the disability is only a tool for more views and attention, but honestly more as if GMMTV wants to raise awareness for and normalize the thematizing of disability in our lives, as well as showing what those affected by the suicide of a loved one go through. This series offers the possibility to reflect on our world and the entertainment industry, by raising awareness for both these crucial topics and also offering to witness a romance forming despite all the burdens faced by the main characters. Truly beautiful. Truly insightful. Truly inspiring.

I have never changed my opinion on the rating of the STORY to a better rating, UNTIL now. "Last Twilight" has convinced me to be one of the most time-worthy series out there to watch. I feel so blessed to be a witness to this tragic but beautifully written story between two young men trying to overcome this world's difficulties.

ACTING / CAST 8.5 >> 9.0
The chemistry between Jimmy and Sea is probably already well known among GMMTV viewers, but this series raises their bar even higher and makes me feel really happy and warm inside. I wonder what they´re doing in their workshops etc. to create such a natural tension. In "Last Twilight" they have gone over and beyond many bars I have ever imagined to see in the next few years. I am so happy they came this far and immensely pleased by the performance.

What I also like about "Last Twilight" is that the side characters have also become more meaningful for the main story and are not separately dragged along. Especoaööy since they don´t have "that side couple", but it´s focused on Day and Mhok. I´m very pleased to witness that this again proves that most series of GMMTV have improved their screenwriting, especially since I have been part of the journey for more than 6 or 7 years now.

MUSIC 7.0 >> 7.5
The music is usually what provides room for comic relief. With heavy topics as portrayed in this series, it´s unavoidable to provide uplift, as it can also help deliver a more meaningful picture of what it is like to live with a disability where life will most likely also have a shift of positive and negative events and feelings, as we are all are feeling humans after all.

OVERALL 8.5
Masterpiece. Over n´ out!

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The Post-Truth Review

FOR anyone who is a FAN OF SUSPENSE and has an eye for incredible cinematography, this movie is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Not a usual ending. "The Post-Truth World" is one of the best suspense movies I have watched in terms of production and screenwriting. I was hooked by the incredible shots that were taken and I wish I knew more about the production crew - I´d love to see more works of the same cinematographer - and it felt a bit like they were partly inspired by suspense Korean productions. The choice of music was more than pleasing and had me hooked even more on this tragic and unpredictable unfolding of events.

STORY / PLOT 7.5 >> 8.0
Honestly, there is nothing about this story that is boring to me. It was indeed quite unpredictable. During this review, I have actually come to terms to rate it higher because of this aspect of unpredictability. However, even though implemented well, some parts were a bit confusing. All in all, I think it contains great plot twists and the movie has a unique ending. Quite unconventional and it leaves you dumbfounded. Lovely.

ACTING / CAST 9.0
I have almost nothing to criticize here, rather I want to undermine the fact that Edward Chen and Joseph Chang deserve more popularity here on MDL as well as in the film industry. Their chemistry was dynamic and full of tension. They played the biggest part in delivering a nail-biting plot. Edward Chen´s performance was quite superb actually, he delivered all the pain and agony and left an impression on me. I also hope to see more of Caitlin Fang in the future, she´s got some skills and talent in acting.

OVERALL 7.5 >> 8.0
Again, there is no reason not to watch it. It is definitely anything but a waste of time if you´re fond of the suspense genre. Just rewatching something of which I already know the outcome is rarely on my To-Do List so I had to be a little realistic here. However, the chance I might rewatch "The Post-Truth World" in the future is not 0.

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If they had followed the original script until the end = Masterpiece

Black holds a high level of tension throughout the whole show. It begins with a thrilling introduction of the plot's framework. The decisive that really makes Black extraordinary is the fact that it closes most loopholes and leaves you satisfied. (Even though the improvised end is the exact opposite of satisfaction…)

Still, this doesn't affect my rating of the plot. It´s a 9.0 for me, with a friendly shut-eye on the ending. On top of that, the series should be watched carefully. If not one will get lost in the story and won't understand how one thing leads to the other. It is a crime series that's about to unwrap an enormous-twisted and tragic case. So, get ready to be enchanted!

If you already know Song Seung Heon from previous dramas or movies, you know that he´s doing an incredible job. He portrays Black, a cold-hearted grim reaper with the number 444. In contrast to the apathetic Black, Song Seung Hoon also takes the role of a confused and sensitive detective. The entire concept of his role is stunning, which the actor undoubtedly understood.

Go Ah Ra is portraying Ha-Ram, a young woman who had to face uncountable lows in her life by having gifted eyes which allow her to see the shadows of people who will die soon. Compared to the rest of the cast, she also presented an acceptable/satisfying performance. Although I wished that her character would have given more importance in the story and not only for being used as a means for the purpose of the story.

The supporting cast exceeded my expectations!

The second male lead, Kim Dong Jun, did a pretty good job in portraying the rich kid that had a miserable life and therefore searched for a chance to be recognized for his work. The twists and turns though will force him to grow out of the innocent perspective that had him put to the test.

Many police departments in crime dramas disappointed me in my life but the loser-team in Black is none of them. The whole team of detectives shines in bright colors in this series. All of them have a unique character and with their clumsy uniqueness and imperfections, they keep the audience entertained, both crying and laughing for this show. Therefore I want to give the "crazy dog" detective Kim Won Hae special credits for such a marvellous performance.

The rest of the cast was also doing a damn good job and I have nothing to nag about. From the grim reapers number 007 (Jo Jae Yoon) and 416 (Lee Gyu Bok), who keep their friend Black company in hard times, over to Leo (Kim Jae Young) a celebrity with dark secrets. Every character had their significant moments and purposes in the series.
I just don´t want to anticipate anything.

There are many reasons to love Black and I only gave you a glimpse of it.

One last thing that I want to add:
The soundtracks fit the atmosphere very well, especially the piano OST. Unfortunately, it wasn´t released yet. I am still waiting. Until this day.
(2020. 2021. 2022)

Enjoy Watching!

xoxo Lin

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