puwupy
Doesn't even come close to the current standard for BLs
I chose to give the series a 6 instead of a 5 because, at the end of the day, I was able to watch the whole thing. I want to list the things that I liked about it in case you're undecided but you're looking for reasons to start watching.
- The main characters look good together. I felt that their scenes were pretty cute, enough to keep me engaged. I also heard that Max and Hao are an actual couple in real life (cmiiw): if that's true then watching the series is a good way to support queer representation from people who are actually queer themselves.
- The story is straightforward and there's no risk to lose track of anything going on. The episodes are also about half an hour each, so it doesn't take too long to finish either, in case you're looking for something that isn't too demanding.
- In case you're a fan of Taiwanese BLs, you can find a few cameos from different BLs, more specifically: "Be Loved In House: I Do", "HIStory 3: MODC", and "HIStory 4".
Unfortunately the good things I can say about this series end here. Now, for what I found disappointing:
- The plot. The main trope is "childhood-friends-to-lovers", which is a very popular trope, but I believe that one can easily work with the most popular trope and give a creative spin to it. This doesn't happen in P&M, where it looks like the writers just filled the story with tropes and clichés and expected them to work on their own, without proper writing. The events arrive one after another without any sort of smooth transition, build-up, or even logic. I felt like I was watching a live-action fanfic, and I'm not talking about the good kind of fanfic.
- The two main characters are supposed to be best friends, but to be entirely honest they looked more like colleagues who get along. Their so-called chemistry was nowhere to be found, unless you consider cheesy set phrases and kisses "chemistry". The development of their feelings and thoughts is not there either, so I felt confused the entire time about whether they actually liked each other or not, since it looks like they're just going with the flow.
- The secondary couple, if possible, was worse. I felt like they could have been replaced by two mannequins, and the plot would still work somehow. As crazy as it might sound, I thought that Li Gong and Ze Shou's fathers were a better romantic couple than them, without even being a couple in the first place.
Overall, it felt sloppy. I can see the potential in a story like this one, so I don't believe that it's complete rubbish, but the result overall feels undercooked. If refined and taken proper care of, it could be MUCH better. As it is, I can't bring myself to recommend it.
- The main characters look good together. I felt that their scenes were pretty cute, enough to keep me engaged. I also heard that Max and Hao are an actual couple in real life (cmiiw): if that's true then watching the series is a good way to support queer representation from people who are actually queer themselves.
- The story is straightforward and there's no risk to lose track of anything going on. The episodes are also about half an hour each, so it doesn't take too long to finish either, in case you're looking for something that isn't too demanding.
- In case you're a fan of Taiwanese BLs, you can find a few cameos from different BLs, more specifically: "Be Loved In House: I Do", "HIStory 3: MODC", and "HIStory 4".
Unfortunately the good things I can say about this series end here. Now, for what I found disappointing:
- The plot. The main trope is "childhood-friends-to-lovers", which is a very popular trope, but I believe that one can easily work with the most popular trope and give a creative spin to it. This doesn't happen in P&M, where it looks like the writers just filled the story with tropes and clichés and expected them to work on their own, without proper writing. The events arrive one after another without any sort of smooth transition, build-up, or even logic. I felt like I was watching a live-action fanfic, and I'm not talking about the good kind of fanfic.
- The two main characters are supposed to be best friends, but to be entirely honest they looked more like colleagues who get along. Their so-called chemistry was nowhere to be found, unless you consider cheesy set phrases and kisses "chemistry". The development of their feelings and thoughts is not there either, so I felt confused the entire time about whether they actually liked each other or not, since it looks like they're just going with the flow.
- The secondary couple, if possible, was worse. I felt like they could have been replaced by two mannequins, and the plot would still work somehow. As crazy as it might sound, I thought that Li Gong and Ze Shou's fathers were a better romantic couple than them, without even being a couple in the first place.
Overall, it felt sloppy. I can see the potential in a story like this one, so I don't believe that it's complete rubbish, but the result overall feels undercooked. If refined and taken proper care of, it could be MUCH better. As it is, I can't bring myself to recommend it.
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