This review may contain spoilers
Based off my personal rating criteria specifically made for BLs
1. Characters 9/10+ I cannot express how much I appreciate the narrative consistency of Pran and Pat as characters. It felt like all their actions were extremely true to themselves as characters and they always felt like real people
- The friends were very much put on the back burner making them extremely insignificant by the end
- I understand the need for flawed characters but I don't think I can ever get over Wai's actions (I also hate the absolute childishness of Pran-Pat's parents)
=> the main characters themselves were everything I could ever ask for
2. Shipability 10/10
+ Their competitive dynamic throughout the entire show made for some intense tension that not only made me love to see them together, but also always put a smile on my face because the show made sure to show how much they cared for each other
+ Ohm-Nanon literally creates fan wars for a reason. I think their chemistry is unrivaled (let's forget about First-Khao for a moment) and they really sold just how much they love and care for each other. Seeing how much Pran-Pat loved each other made it impossible to not love them as a pairing
=> I cannot imagine any aspect of their pairing being better than it already is
3. Plot 9/10
- I personally feel like the faculty feud was excessive bordering on unnecessary. I get that it was the conflict to push the story along but I personally felt like it overstayed its welcome
=> overall, this is one of the best portrayals of the Romeo-Juliet trope I've ever seen
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This review may contain spoilers
Based off my personal rating criteria specifically made for BLs
1. Characters 9/10+ They made Lee Hyun into such a bright and adorable cinnamon bun while still actually giving him depth
- I personally do not like the character of Maru. Partly because there are 3 couples in this show, I feel that Maru did not get enough time to give him the redemption the writers may have wanted. I feel that to the very end, I was not a fan of him
- Ultimately, most of the characters suffer from a lack of characterisation due to the large cast and time constraints
2. Shipability 10/10
+ Personally, I love everything about the Juhyuk and TA couple. I feel that it was a fairly interesting and accurate representation of how some relationships happen. I was on board for the way Juhyuk knew exactly how to hook the TA and everything about their dynamic
+ I like that they showed Kim An as broken as had Lee Hyun be the person who taught him to smile again. I really think personality-wise, the 2 characters are perfect for each other
3. Plot 9/10
- I really don't like how the toxic guy (Kim An's "brother") just left without much resolution
+ But I do concede that the portrayal of the toxic relationships with all the gaslighting and love bombing was very impressive
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This review may contain spoilers
Based off my personal rating criteria specifically made for BLs
1. Characters 10/10+ The characters felt like real people who could exist
+ They made Baram into such a likeable cinnamon bun. It become really easily to make a dislikable character if one is too passive and soft but I feel like they made Baram into the perfect balance of agency while still being vulnerable
+ I like the consistency they gave to Hantae where he truly runs head-first into everything. And showing that there are both pros and cons to this behaviour is extremely realistic
2. Shipabaility 10/10
+ I really enjoyed how they became friends. Sometimes when you're sad, you really do just need someone to barge into your life regardless of what you want at that point. I feel like their relationship perfectly encapsulated this idea
+ Their dynamic is really comfortable and the fact that they showed us them living together from the start is really a plus
+ I think the show did a fantastic job at showing us from beginning to end the sheer amount of love and trust they have for each other
3. Plot 9/10
- I feel like the argument that occurred before they got together lasted longer than I'd like and edged on annoying
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This review may contain spoilers
Based off my personal rating criteria specifically made for BLs
1. Characters 9/10- I feel that for short series such as these, it is obligatory for me to acknowledge the lack of time for characterisation
+ However, I feel that this was thoroughly overcome by the amazing job they did in making every frame count. So much characterisation was achieved without dialogue that it felt like I did know the characters at the end
2. Shipability 10/10
+ I typically do not enjoy enemies to lovers but even in their initial fighting stage, the attraction and tension could be felt
+ The on-screen chemistry really felt impeccable. Every time they were together it truly felt like I was looking at 2 people in love
3. Plot 9/10
- I did not particularly enjoy the misunderstanding troupe that occurred during the dinner stage
+ I do feel that they did a fantastic job weaving in the flashbacks in a manner that gave us information when we needed it but always making us curious to know more
+ I also enjoyed how they made the idea of Dohyun being Dongwook's insomnia cure work. I feel that if they had made this a soulmate kind of scenario it would have needed a lot of explaining. The lack of explanation actually helped in moving the story along in a more natural manner.
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This review may contain spoilers
Based off my personal rating criteria specifically made for BLs
1. Characters 9/10+ Tinn-Gun pairing is actually mature and communicates way more than the actual adults in other shows
+ Tiw served as such a fantastic bestie and wingman
=> ultimately, the characters felt like they were real, lived beings who well fleshed out and each had their own quirks and personality traits
2. Shipability 10/10
+ Good tension was built with the one-sided enemies/love dynamics
+ Gemini-Fourth has fantastic chemistry
=> it felt like they completely captured the essence of what a good high school love is
3. Plot 8/10
- The Hot Wave goal felt a little contrived. I was ready to put the "no dating rule" behind by the pre-beach episode
- The acting & overly dramatic emotional beats of the ep 11 fight felt like it was created solely because of the "ep 11 curse" and for no real plot significance
=> while the romance itself was good, many of the story beats of conflict felt forced at times
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