neverneverfall
This review may contain spoilers
You hate it but you love it
I still wonder how LBC and this got so popular despite being SUPER problematic. Hell how did the original novel get so popular considering (from what I've heard) it's about 10x worse??
Anyway, TharnType was doomed from the start with the plot it has but somehow they made it work. At the end of the day when you watch it, you actually enjoy it, and you actually LIKE it, despite how messy it is.
I'd say this, the acting and chemistry carried this show on its bare back. The direction also needs to be praised coz the way the plot and character development was showcased is pretty good.
Now for the stuff we all hate:
1. The plot promotes rape culture. It's actually a pretty common "trope" (so to say) in both het and gay media: if the person you like doesn't like you back you should just keep pushing, invade their personal space, even molest them into liking you. Coz that's basicallyMew is charming enough to make Tharn look likeable, and the plot makes you feel bad for him, but realistically he's abusive. Not only that, his behavior stems from the abuse that was inflicted on him - his brother's friend "convinced" the "small and cute" 14-year-old Tharn to have sex with him (that would probably be considered statutory rape) and it was a pretty scarring experience for Tharn. Further on this note
2. The plot heavily dilutes the seriousness of rape. On one hand you have your friendly neighborhood Tharn molesting a rape survivor, on the other you have Tar's rapists and blackmailer/mastermind getting off scot free (Lhong even got a "redemption arc" imagine that). Then there's Tharn's own abuser who comes home for tea every other week and even tries to interfere in TharnType's relationship, and what he did is?? Never really addressed?? Won't get into Techno and Kengkla here, but No deserved so much better than being shipped with his rapist.
3. The (pseudo?) incest. Idc if they're not blood related its still weird for Tum to be into his brother. Why are all the ships in this universe so weird?
4. Regarding the flow of the plot, there are some aspects that feel a little too dragged out or clickbait-y compared to their actual relevance in the story. Or looking at it in another way, the plot points are kinda left as loose ends or snipped too fast after dragging it out. For example, the Type dating Puifai drama was pretty stretched out, but then it just resolved it two seconds and we don't even see her again. Then there's P'San, Type makes a whole mess being jealous, but in the end San just ends up being a "teaching moment" character with no actual purpose in the story.
5. Sideships/characters that are just... there. What was even the point of making Khlui and Seo a thing when they end the series exactly how they started? Also Techno/Champ is such a missed opportunity ugh why would you choose to write a fcking rapistxvictim plot instead of that wholesome and cute duo?
Now for the good parts.
1. The cast. THE CAST. Like literally every one of them is a gem, but especially Gulf, Mew, Kaownah, and Mild. The acting is one of the biggest pros TharnType has over LBC and boy does it carry the show. Seriously the only reason the show is tolerable is coz the actors make it.
2. The characterization of Tharn and Type is actually pretty good, especially Type. The whole brash exterior but soft interior thing was really well pulled off - again, props to Gulf. Initially I kinda hated Type's characterization (I mean... the homophobia? The ill-temper? Take your pick) but then as the plot progressed he kinda unraveled into a more well-rounded character with both rough and soft aspects, especially those little transitions into softness whenever Tharn did something sweet. With Tharn... well, the character makes you wanna root for him. If you leave aside the creepy parts, he's the perfect pining, sad protagonist you're supposed to root for. His shittier actions are overshadowed by the "nice" things he does. Hell, putting them in one frame he seems like the "saner" one. That also plays into the rape culture aspect - him being pushy and creepy is portrayed as being "playful" and "flirty" and "dedicated" and coz Type is shown to "like" it, we're supposed to as well. It's honestly not that different from Kengkla and No after all. To get to the point, I initially liked his character and if I watch it again I'll probably still end up liking him, but he's basically the "Nice Guy" trope personified - Mew just pulls it off well and the way he's portrayed makes you forget that. I'll still put that as a pro for characterization coz they made him likeable.
3. The Lhong as the villain plot twist and Type's whole plan to take him down was pretty good. But unfortunately the retribution seems painfully less, you just see him crying to three different people and then Father Thorn "forgives" his sins. Yeah as if he didn't get a kid gangraped, blackmailed and traumatized him for years, and tried to murder Type.
Well, to conclude... if you haven't watched it, I'll probably say don't watch it. But at the same time, I actually did enjoy watching it despite how messed up it is.
Anyway, TharnType was doomed from the start with the plot it has but somehow they made it work. At the end of the day when you watch it, you actually enjoy it, and you actually LIKE it, despite how messy it is.
I'd say this, the acting and chemistry carried this show on its bare back. The direction also needs to be praised coz the way the plot and character development was showcased is pretty good.
Now for the stuff we all hate:
1. The plot promotes rape culture. It's actually a pretty common "trope" (so to say) in both het and gay media: if the person you like doesn't like you back you should just keep pushing, invade their personal space, even molest them into liking you. Coz that's basicallyMew is charming enough to make Tharn look likeable, and the plot makes you feel bad for him, but realistically he's abusive. Not only that, his behavior stems from the abuse that was inflicted on him - his brother's friend "convinced" the "small and cute" 14-year-old Tharn to have sex with him (that would probably be considered statutory rape) and it was a pretty scarring experience for Tharn. Further on this note
2. The plot heavily dilutes the seriousness of rape. On one hand you have your friendly neighborhood Tharn molesting a rape survivor, on the other you have Tar's rapists and blackmailer/mastermind getting off scot free (Lhong even got a "redemption arc" imagine that). Then there's Tharn's own abuser who comes home for tea every other week and even tries to interfere in TharnType's relationship, and what he did is?? Never really addressed?? Won't get into Techno and Kengkla here, but No deserved so much better than being shipped with his rapist.
3. The (pseudo?) incest. Idc if they're not blood related its still weird for Tum to be into his brother. Why are all the ships in this universe so weird?
4. Regarding the flow of the plot, there are some aspects that feel a little too dragged out or clickbait-y compared to their actual relevance in the story. Or looking at it in another way, the plot points are kinda left as loose ends or snipped too fast after dragging it out. For example, the Type dating Puifai drama was pretty stretched out, but then it just resolved it two seconds and we don't even see her again. Then there's P'San, Type makes a whole mess being jealous, but in the end San just ends up being a "teaching moment" character with no actual purpose in the story.
5. Sideships/characters that are just... there. What was even the point of making Khlui and Seo a thing when they end the series exactly how they started? Also Techno/Champ is such a missed opportunity ugh why would you choose to write a fcking rapistxvictim plot instead of that wholesome and cute duo?
Now for the good parts.
1. The cast. THE CAST. Like literally every one of them is a gem, but especially Gulf, Mew, Kaownah, and Mild. The acting is one of the biggest pros TharnType has over LBC and boy does it carry the show. Seriously the only reason the show is tolerable is coz the actors make it.
2. The characterization of Tharn and Type is actually pretty good, especially Type. The whole brash exterior but soft interior thing was really well pulled off - again, props to Gulf. Initially I kinda hated Type's characterization (I mean... the homophobia? The ill-temper? Take your pick) but then as the plot progressed he kinda unraveled into a more well-rounded character with both rough and soft aspects, especially those little transitions into softness whenever Tharn did something sweet. With Tharn... well, the character makes you wanna root for him. If you leave aside the creepy parts, he's the perfect pining, sad protagonist you're supposed to root for. His shittier actions are overshadowed by the "nice" things he does. Hell, putting them in one frame he seems like the "saner" one. That also plays into the rape culture aspect - him being pushy and creepy is portrayed as being "playful" and "flirty" and "dedicated" and coz Type is shown to "like" it, we're supposed to as well. It's honestly not that different from Kengkla and No after all. To get to the point, I initially liked his character and if I watch it again I'll probably still end up liking him, but he's basically the "Nice Guy" trope personified - Mew just pulls it off well and the way he's portrayed makes you forget that. I'll still put that as a pro for characterization coz they made him likeable.
3. The Lhong as the villain plot twist and Type's whole plan to take him down was pretty good. But unfortunately the retribution seems painfully less, you just see him crying to three different people and then Father Thorn "forgives" his sins. Yeah as if he didn't get a kid gangraped, blackmailed and traumatized him for years, and tried to murder Type.
Well, to conclude... if you haven't watched it, I'll probably say don't watch it. But at the same time, I actually did enjoy watching it despite how messed up it is.
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