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STORY:
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This is definitely not a linear, progressive story-telling... Or is it?
Confused? That is the general approach in its story-telling. It will not serve you all the details in a silver platter, the build up is a deliberate messy like from episode to episode just when you have a theory in mind, it gets thrown off the window on the last scene of each episode. You will get that feeling that you know what is the story but somehow it does not fit watch you are watching and yet you keep watching it?
That is the allure part. At the end of episode most probably you will be scratching your head. You might been tempted to watch episode 1 again to check you are watching the very same series. It just makes no sense, and you will be left wonering: Have I been click-baited? But that is the beauty and originality of this series.
This is a jigsaw puzzle where pieces of it are given to you in terms of what is being said, how they dressed, and even the hairstyle. It is all in the details.
Episode 5 is the big reveal. If you are patient enough and reach that episode, you will get an idea what has been happening all along. Both Rossi and Meen raised their acting level skill here, especially the former. Been a while since I felt what they are feeling. Watch out for that runny nose and teary eyes!
Alas! The finale. It will not only play with your head but also with your heart. But after that roller-coaster episode 6 ride, your heart can take it easy.
ACTING/CAST
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Rossi as Mork - His main asset is his eyes, there are moments that as if they are the ones talking to you. This is not his first project with MindTrio and if you got the chance to watch "Once In Memory". There are 2, each short movie showing one side of the characters. Rarely I watched those kind of series/movie. It is such a breath of fresh air.
Meen as Tiew - Don't be fooled with this classy clothes, captivating smile, as it can break your heart in an instant! He started in Calculating Love a 2020 project of MindTrio and when this aired, he also appears in Oh My Sunshine Night. Honestly, I can not remember his part in the 2020 series either his role was not this significant or I was too focused on Quin and
New - got to watch this fellow also in Calculating Love, the curly hair, imperfect teeth, who acts awkwardly and yet you can feel his confidence does not scare to bare it.
MUSIC
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Nothing significant that could stick to the mind
REWATCH VALUE
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For a mystery type of story, once you figure the answer, then it is no longer a mystery. You might watch to check if there were hints and pieces that were given away early on. But I generally do not re-watch.
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STORY
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It is actually more than an HIV story. It tackles not only the prevalence in the Philippines, but also other like it shows how normal having an extra-marital affair is, getting pregnant without being married, substance abused, making ends meet. And Kalel's father. These social issues are more rampant in the poorer sector of the country, but it ain't exclusive to the sector.
This film shows a slice of each to the social issues mentioned above. Raw, unadulterated, rustic way by the use of black and white color scheme will give you a sense of how grim, dark, challenging a person needs to go through every single day. It able to show and concentrate on Kalel, both the protagonist and antagonist, as he make his way through a teen life full of hardships and uncertainty. Why is he the antagonist? You can clearly see how conflicted he is, how inconsistent magnified by having the disease. Until in the end, he succumb what he needs to do to survive.
The film depicts from Kalel's point of view. No heartaches and heartbreaks. Just pure struggle. I heard and know similar stories, but with different circumstances, all with different outcomes.
Make no mistake, this ain't your HIV advocacy film per se. It shows one of the many faces of a Person Living with HIV (PLHIV) in the Philippines is like. The struggle, the stigma, having a sense of dignity, of what left of it, for having the disease. Raw, unadulterated, rustic.
ACTOR
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Elijah as KALEL - definitely hold his own here despite being supported by 2 of the most decorated and veteran in PH entertainment industry. He definitely deserved to win the Best Actor.
MUSIC
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Is there any? Or am I just focused on the story too much? I guess it doesn't need to as Kalel is not the music type of guy, it will be off to include one. There is no heartbreaking scene as well.
REWATCH VALUE
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I am the type of guy that rarely do a rewatch, not unless it am dying of boredom. Even I'm in that mood, this won't be the top of my list to rewatch.
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First and foremost, there are two kinds of a basic robot, one has the capacity to learn and grow (AI / Artifical Intelligent); the other operates on a pre-set and non-learning program. The former is the robot here.
Another first plot for a Taiwanese BL, they are really breaking grounds.
We have to understand that the basic of a robot-AI is that it is like a child starting to learn on top of the what was initially designed/uploaded into the system. Yes, there will be awkward acting because of this; but it is cuuuuuuute! Early on you can see who got into who first, but the question remains, can it be reciprocated, returned? Robots' based on the action and reaction on their programming and it learns from the action and reaction of the people it interacts with. It also learns from the situations and it experience it.
To a degree, this is a late coming of age story. LOL
As for the story itself, when a man who is used to be alone and doing stuffs by himself suddenly had a companion, an AI. For someone who is not used being taken care of, it is very easy for him to think of the AI more than its purpose. Be that as it may, the question now is, can the AI learn to feel anything? Is it even part of its programming? That is the allure of this series, the questions.
Visuals of the actors cannot be denied; couple with the aesthetic interior and architecture make things way easier to the eyes.
As this plot is something new, expect that this will not be perfect and will be opportunities to improve. But like I said earlier, this is another first for Taiwnese BL.
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It does not refer to a height of a man but a euphemism of his "manliness".
STORY
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Funny and cute. Not a second is wasted in the 15 minute run. The progression of the story is on point. It didn't dwell too long for a certain topic. The transition from insecurity to overcoming to reconnecting with someone in the past. ALL IN 15 MINUTES! But what I really like about this is how it ended. You decide what Hsuan Teng future will be. It didn't even explicitly say Teng's sexuality which obviously will depend on the viewer what will he be.
Ultimately, what I think will affect your decision for the ending is on the saying "Size does matter".
ACTING
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ADAM LIN (Hsuan Teng) - did an exceptional job for showing multiple of emotions. From the start down to the last scene. From experimenting look, to being surprised, then cutely sulking, next is a second guessing one, another is a scared cat, enjoying a companion, hesitating and lastly a contemplating Teng. That speaks volume of this actor's acting skill.
PAUL CHIANG (Sam Lin) - a look the suits a devil's advocate. One would ask for more of his background, HOWEVER, he is not the "little man" in this short. So to add his history will be a waste or a deviation from the focus of the story.
NOTABLY though, I couldn't see any awkwardness between Adam and Paul like they are friends in real life for quite some time now.
HUANG GUAN ZHI (Fong) - is the most adorable character for this short. So cute that I could pinch his cheeks all day long! However, the charactert's despite his innocent looks, there lies an agressive one, or should I say a desperate one. It is pretty understandable why is desperate though.
SONG
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Not much songs involve but more on the quirky sound effects that makes this short leaning more to comedy.
REWATCH VALUE
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This is a nice 15 minute de-stressing short. The downside is, it is too short! On the flip side, you'll spend roughly around 10 minutes laughing.
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This is a complex story, so complex that it needs a slow burn. What? A slow-paced series and stil a complex one? Yes. Two reasons, the director wants the viewers to immerse themselves on how each of the character feels. It won't be easy for someone that is not an empathy, or somebody who can related easily with other's emotions. The other is the time travel is what make things a lot complicated.
A viewer needs to understand, and feel, how an older person will get involved with someone younger. It is easy to forget that the young person is the other's first love. And coming from the future with an uncertain tomorrow, the older person is feeling both relieved and sacred. Despite what is inevitable in the timeline, you will cherish, protect and live in the moment. For the younger person, it is feeling of familiarity, as if he knows the older one somewhere, sometime.
The laying the groundwork to the youngers' timeline is exhaustively portrayed, much more than needs. Yes, much more than it needs. The director's thought process though if for the viewers to have that gut-wrenching emotion that you will be torn apart every single moment. Torn apart between interfering or letting things as it is, or it was?
It will take 5 episode to tell the "prequel" to Episode 1.
Keep in mind that there is one theory in time travel called butterfly effect. This concept is about changing something so small in the past can have a big change in the future, a snowball effect.
This is a make or break story for Thai BLs.
As for the actors, I only knew Mix from Until We Meet Again as Dean's younger brother, and he is an excellent freestyle dancer. Aside from, I knew Ongsa parents as the mother appears also a mother to Peeranut of The Miracle of Teddy Bear. While the father appeared in a lot of BL series as well.
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