The Rebound (2024)

a missed slam dunk?

The Rebound is a disappointing Thai BL drama that fails to deliver on its potential. Despite featuring a talented cast and a promising premise, the series suffers from a messy storyline, inconsistent pacing, and underwhelming performances.

The series' focus on basketball and the challenges faced by student athletes could have been a compelling narrative. However, the lack of depth in the characters' personal lives and the inclusion of unnecessary subplots detract from the overall experience. The gangster arc, in particular, feels forced and out of place.

Additionally, the pairing of Meen and Ping in this drama initially didn't generate much excitement for me, as I had similar reservations about their chemistry in Ai Long Nhai and after watching My Dear Gangster Oppa.

While the cinematography is commendable, the acting performances are uneven. Meen's monotonous delivery and Ping's awkward expressions hinder their ability to connect with the audience. The supporting characters, such as Atom and Shogun was underutilized and fail to make a lasting impression.

The series' focus on multiple couples is a missed opportunity. The lack of depth in the relationships and the rushed pacing prevent the audience from fully connecting with the characters.

The final bed scene, intended to salvage the series, falls flat and fails to compensate for the shortcomings of the storytelling.

The Rebound had the potential to be a slam dunk, but it ultimately misses the mark.

The series could have benefited from a more focused narrative, stronger character development, and a more compelling exploration of the challenges faced by student athletes.

Despite its flaws, The Rebound offered a glimpse into the world of basketball and its challenges.

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a strong start that doesn't quite nail the landing

I've been following MeenPing since AiLongNhai and this is, without a doubt, their strongest show yet. I love seeing them more comfortable and natural in their acting with experience, and I think P'Golf's style really suited their strengths. The plot was goofy and outrageous, but mostly very, very fun. That said, it kind of fell apart at the end and crashed into a rushed and unsatisfying ending. I wish the last few episodes had managed to maintain the pace and charisma of the first.

-The Full Review-
STORY:
As an All For The Game lover, I have absolutely no room to speak on loving dumb gay-mafia-sports plots. I don't really have any issue with the pacing--as I think making "the big game" more important than the mafia reality is always a stellar choice, especially for less serious shows. I also didn't really mind the throuple-baiting because it was funny! And I will let shows get away with a lot if it's entertaining, even if it feels like a missed opportunity to do something more daring and interesting.
My only real issue with the plot of the show is how it lost focus on the team and then shoehorned back around to The Team Above All. I love Frank, and Atom is an interesting character, but I think a strong version of this show focuses on Ryu and Zen's relationship with their team and their coach. Most of the team was benched after a couple episodes, which made the family scenes at the end fall pretty flat.

ACTING:
I was very pleasantly surprised! It's really been a treat to watch Meen and Ping grow over their careers, and I think they are starting to making some really good choices in their acting. There's a playful banter that they hadn't really nailed yet in their previous works that helps carry the relationship now. Aging them down, surprisingly, also brought out a lot of depth in the characters--especially when we got to see their idyllic, sweet middle school bond. I still don't think we've seen the best of them, and I look forward to seeing what they bring next.

PRODUCTION:
Honestly? I think the production design was so good. My honest to god only complaint is the Tharntype-like room design (Do you think they like basketball?) and the pretty sloppy SFX wounds. The tone brought out by the lighting and soundtrack felt so nostalgic of early 2000s American sports movies and really made such a unique experience in BL. The colors and costume design where vivid and purposeful and really hit the mark. I love P'Golf's bright and neon worlds so much.

INTIMACY:
I didn't expect to like this one as much as I did. MeenPing aren't usually very high heat (or when they try to be, it... gets a little shaky). But I thought the casual intimacy, especially through athletics, really, really worked for this show. Every time they reconnected mid-game and fell back into sync was genuinely moving and natural. The way they orbited each other really stood out and built a very strong foundation for their relationship. I liked it a lot! I don't wish to talk about the finale. I am pretending that one didn't happen.

In all, MeenPing still have me in a completely inexplicable choke hold, but I am happy to be here! I love seeing their progress with each new series and hope they continue to improve. I will be watching whatever comes next. :)

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Dos historias en una

The Rebound es de alguna forma dos historias en una. Por un lado, la historia de un joven que se dedica a jugar partidos de baloncesto callejero para una mafia. Por el otro, la historia de un equipo escolar que quiere trascender, pero que ve cómo su propio centro pone todos los palos posibles en las ruedas. Y, aunque el equipo de guion hace todo lo posible para introducir la primera historia en la segunda, la verdad es que cuando la trama de la mafia termina, la historia crece en todos los sentidos. O puede ser que yo lo que buscase ver fuese una versión BL de Kuroko, eso nunca lo sabremos.

En cualquier caso, ese punto demuestra que el guion tiene serias carencias y, los dramas existentes, no están repartidos a lo largo de la serie. ¿Alguien puede explicarme las motivaciones de Zen en el último capítulo —más allá de lo evidente de la abuela— si esas decisiones iban a durar tres minutos de metraje y encima no nos explican su arrepentimiento? ¿O era la forma de mostrarnos que Ryu se ha convertido en una persona sensible capaz de llorar? Pornografía emocional... sinceramente.

MeenPing tienen una muy buena química, me habría gustado que, quizá, se desarrollase un poco más todo en general... las motivaciones de una madre que actúa sin saberse por qué, el trauma del abandono por parte de Ryu... yo qué sé, ese pobre muchacho pone a todo el mundo por delante de sí mismo y le abandona hasta el apuntador.

Querría abrazarlo hasta que sepa que el mundo puede ser mucho más de lo que ha visto en ese microcosmos en el que le ha tocado vivir... ¡y eso que se supone que es un niño rico!

Con todo esto, se me hace complejo recomendarla, pero chica, le he puesto un ocho, tan mala tampoco será 😉

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The definition of Cuteness Aggression

It was cute and whimsical and all around cringe to the point that it gave me cute aggression... Def my second fave of Meen and Ping. I wouldn't say I like sports dramas usually, but I liked this one. It reminded me of all the high school romcoms I watched in the late and early 2000s. So, if you want something fun and cute this is it. I will say the only thing I did not like was Atom's character he just never gave up and it was starting to annoy me. I will also say I wish we got more of a redemption for Ryu's mom but I mean it's a 12 eps drama so there is that. Are we also never addressing the M-that happened or are we turning the other way because I guess Ryu's mom could make it disappear right?

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Basketball is so...2022 BL!

I wish I knew why I like Meen and Ping so much that I am willing to gobble up every bad drama they make with a huge smile. And ask for more! I fell for them in their first outing Ai Long Nhai which surprised me with unusual characters: Meen's was unapologetically adult and open while Ping's was cute and deceptively immature without being a doormat as ukes usually are! Through their subsequent two dramas they kept the characters just changed the setting (mafia, high school).

What I liked:
- the chemistry
- the players especially being supportive of Shogun
- the grandma
- the original title song which was so different from the usual funky fare
- basketball games particularly with the imaginary ball
- the poor third wheel Atom
- unrequited love by Que
- cinematography: urban landscapes and the rain were breathtakingly raw!

What I did not like:
- the setting: why high school and not the university: it would have made for a better drama
- mountains of plotholes and illogical events (they have money for the big houses and the latest flip phones but are struggling financially and need scholarships?!?)
- Lin: annoying busybody
- the mother: I still think she's the villain behind everything
- gay basketball mafia clan
- ridiculous last scene

Apparently there are more thing that I liked than those I did not but what I liked are just the details. The biggest problem is the writing which is all over the place. This is a kind of drama you watch while doing something else, stop to look at Ping's puppy eyes and sweet smile and basketball games for a couple of minutes and then go back to doing something else while this is playing in the background! It still is a fun summer watch....

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Le début

"The Rebound", une série que j'ai attendue et que j'avais hâte de regarder depuis que la bande-annonce est sortie. Mais j'ai évité de placer de trop grandes attentes en elle, de peur d'être déçue....et ce ne fut pas le cas. Car pour l'instant, cette série est mon coup de coeur du moment: scénario fluide, générique, personnages attachants, l'univers sportif très présent et représenté sous deux facettes différentes, et surtout la backstory de Zen et Ryu qui m'intéresse énormément, avec la backstory de Ryu et Que. Malgré quelques petites incohérences (comme dans l'épisode 1: le fait que Zen ait réussi à tracer Ryu....???) Et les temporalités dans les épisodes pas souvent claires (genre, dans l'épisode 2, il y a une scène où Ryu se saoûle avec Que, et la scène suivante il est devant la maison de Zen. A ce moment-là, je me demandais: "euhhh....on est quand, là?"), "The Rebound" est un petit joyau qui brille peu à peu🥰💝

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