In Defense of Together With Me

Normally, I don't like to write reviews until I've completed whatever I'm reviewing, but I feel like all of the negativity being thrown towards TWM: The Next Chapter is incredibly frustrating, unfair, and undeserved. I'm so sad to see it get such a low rating because it pursues a story line we don't typically see in BL dramas, and people apparently can't handle that. No, it isn't lighthearted and easygoing like other series out there; but it's raw and authentic and definitely deserves a higher score than what it's been given on here. I feel like the low score is because people went into this expecting one thing but got something different, and their disappointment has resulted in them closing their minds to what we're given. So now because of that this series is rated lower than dramas with worse script writing, worse acting, and worse production. The actors here are fantastic as always, and the writing is not terrible like some are making it out to be; clearly something's working because it's doing what a good story is supposed to do: it's making people react, it's evoking emotions.

So, the primary reason why people are canceling this show is because of the so-called abudance of cheating. Without getting too bogged down, I'll just say that I respectfully disagree with these assessments. People are acting like this season contains nothing but an endless stream of people having affairs, living hedonistic lifestyles with no regrets. But, except for Farm and Bright's story (which is essentially Farm giving Bright a taste of his own medicine), this isn't true. Both Yihwa and Korn (the two "cheaters") are placed in situations that test their feelings and relationships. Korn's is induced by mounting pressure from his conservative, overbearing father to denounce his homosexuality and the strain this puts on his relationship with Knock (which causes them to fight about other little things as well), while Yihwa finds herself being seduced by her senior and boss. They're conflicted and act out of moments of weakness. Korn has ONE sexual encounter with his boss during a night of drinking and commiserating. Yihwa, beginning to feel conflicted and confused about her feelings towards Cho in light of the flirtatious attention from her boss, decides to take a break from both and figure herself out. And that's it! Afterwards, both are torn and devastated and yes, they do suffer tremendously for their conflicted feelings and mistaken actions. Forgiveness from their partners is far from automatic, and it is not coming easily.

Individuals in Yihwa's and Korn's position are not automatically bad people because of what they did or how they feel. Nor do their actions/feelings mean that they don't love their partner. Yes, it's unpleasant watching couples we love go through such hardships, but as a viewer and fan of the show, I have to believe that this will only make them stronger in the end.

That aside, I'm loving Farm and Bright's story so far, but I do wish that their story got a bit more attention, as they are my favorite couple in this universe. I found it odd that Farm's character did a complete 180 in terms of appearance and personality (it's like he was fused with Phu) but I warmed up to it really quickly. And I like that although he has Bright wrapped around his little fingers, he still shows a softer, affectionate side towards the doctor as well. Feelings are still there, and despite what Bright did to Farm in TWM, I'm rooting really hard for them to end up together. Rit, Farm's little boy toy that he's using to make Bright jealous, is cute, but he's rather dull and boring. Not a lot going on. Farm has much better chemistry with Bright, which just radiates off the screen.

Bottom line: People aren't black and white. They are complex, driven by a range of passions and emotions. You can't fit them neatly into precise little boxes. Life isn't always rainbows and sunshine, and the events that happen in this season happen in real life. Of course they don't happen in *every* relationship, but they do happen. The writers chose to explore these themes in this season, and all of the actors are doing an amazing job portraying their roles. Please don't let all of the negative comments, complaining, and undeserved low rating discourage you from watching this season. Go in with an open mind and understanding that humans are complex, especially when it comes to feelings of love and attraction, and this series explores that beautifully.

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Maybe Not for Everyone, But I Really Liked It

STORY:
The show has a cool, hip vibe that I really like and that I think will appeal to those who like more mature themed dramas. Like others, I was initially interested in this show because of the BL part, but I became hooked on all of the characters’ storylines from the very first episode.

What starts out as a relatively lighthearted theme quickly turns more serious and conflict-driven. Some of the conflicts are ones we don’t see a lot of, whereas others are more common, but for the most part all felt very organic and natural to the plot and characters. A good chunk of this drama focuses on the breakdown of relationships and ensuing aftermath, working through the pain to try to get back what was once had, so if you’re looking for a fairy tale romance, this might not be for you. Infidelity is another prominent theme in this show, which is an apparently a pretty divisive topic. But, in my opinion, infidelity isn’t always a black and white issue, and those who commit it aren’t necessarily nor automatically bad people; they can feel remorse and sometimes deserve second chances. It’s a complex issue, and I think the writers and actors did a really nice job portraying this, as they did for other grey areas in the show. The drama itself touches on a lot of difficult and unpleasant things that can happen in life and relationships in a way that feels authentic. The conclusion/resolution was short, taking up only one episode, and a bit glossed over, but I felt like all of the important points were hit and we were left with some level of closure. Compared to how in depth the conflicts were, though, the resolutions could have been explored a little bit further.

Heavy stuff aside, the plot was dynamic and interesting, and I was invested from beginning to end, which made for what felt like a quick journey: one minute I was watching episode 1, then I blinked and was suddenly at episode 12. A good sign in my book, as I clearly wasn’t bored; I can’t say that for every drama I’ve watched.

ACTORS/CHARACTERS:
I was really impressed with all of the actors. Major and minor roles were played very well, the acting felt very natural, and the characters were multidimensional (i.e., for the most part they didn't feel like stock characters). And despite some moments where I wanted to shake some sense into a few of the main ones, I liked all of them and thought that they kept the story interesting and thought provoking. Especially loved (1) the strong female leads (Am and Boom in particular, but I liked Boyo too, despite her flaws, and thought she had some noteworthy moments) and (2) gay characters who were comfortable in their sexuality and not stereotyped or exaggerated.

MUSIC:
I thought the music fit the show very well: again, young, hip, and fresh. Also, this is one of the few (perhaps only) shows where I actually don’t want to skip the theme song (and opening in general) because I like it so much.

REWATCH VALUE:
There aren’t too many dramas that I can truly say I’m interested in re-watching, but this is definitely one of them!

OVERALL
I don’t think this is for everyone, but I thought it was a really great release from GMM. I’d recommend, especially if you prefer dramas that are more serious and mature.

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Sweet and Understated

STORY:
Though this drama doesn't really bring anything new to the table in terms of story, it has a sweet, understated vibe to it that made for an enjoyable watch. And while it premiered in 2021, I felt like I was watching something from five or six years ago, but the warm feelings of nostalgia were nice and comforting. Second Chance brings not the annoying ex-girlfriends, obnoxious fujoshis, and slapstick sound effects that seem to inundate more recent Thai BLs and instead takes us back to that feeling of discovering one's self and one's first love in the midst of emerging adulthood.

There are three main stories here: Paper and Tong Fah, Chris and Jeno, and Near and M, with the main focus being on the first two. I do think the writers were ambitious in attempting to deliver so many plots given the number of episodes, and, as much as I adore Near and the actor who plays him, I agree with others who said that his and M's storyline could have been left out due to the miniscule amount of screen time and development, in favor of advancing the other couples' plot lines. But that said, although some parts of this drama felt rushed and/or underdeveloped (and at times I felt like I had missed something), there wasn't a lot of filler fluff, and I do think the writers tried to devote every minute they could to advancing something, for which I'm appreciative.

I also just need to point out that the scene in episode three where Tong Fah and Paper are dancing in one of their bedrooms is one the best I've seen in a BL. So raw and vulnerable—got me all in the feels—and I applaud the actors in evoking those emotions.

ACTING/CAST:
The cast overall did a nice job portraying their characters, some better than others, but none were terrible. Each character was charming in his or her own way. Even the antagonist was devilishly alluring and made me really intrigued to know his (and Jeno's) backstory. The actors had good chemistry with one another, both as friends and love interests, and there was a natural ease about their interactions with one another.

OVERALL:
Do I recommend? Yes, totally. It's short and sweet and hearkens back to the BL days of old which was (perhaps surprisingly) a nice break from the more loud and chaotic Thai BLs we've been seeing lately. This gives me vibes of Love Sick and I Told Sunset About You (note, for the latter, I said vibes, not production quality, so don't compare it on that end lol), and if you're a fan of those and the feelings they give you, I think you might like Second Chance.

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Cringey Leads With No Chemistry and Rather Forgettable Plot

STORY:
The plot was basic and nothing new or unique. Long-time BL fans have seen this done (and done better) a thousand times before, and I felt like nothing new was added to the genre. The pacing was severely rushed in the first episode, as if the writers wanted to cram in as much from the book as they could (read: quantity over quality) but to its credit, the pacing and scene selection did improve as the series progressed. I understand that the writers only had four episodes to work with, but that makes it all the more important to carefully select which scenes from the novel to adapt, make sure the writing is super tight, and that every single word and interaction has meaning behind it so that not a second is wasted. I also felt like episode four could have been cut completely and we wouldn't have missed anything, since the climax and resolution occurred in episode three. The series overall gave me the impression that the writer (of either the novel, screenplay, or both) cherry-picked their favorite scenes and attributes from other, popular BLs and dumped them all into this story, leaving me feeling as though I watched a low-budget, fan-made homage.

CHARACTERS/ACTING:
This is where I had the biggest issues (and if you've read my comments, apologies for the repetition). Oh, where to start? The main leads had absolutely no chemistry together whatsoever, and that made their "love story" very uncomfortable to watch. Gun was gross, cringey, a creep who had no respect for Bar's boundaries at all. From the very first episode, we see Gun constantly force himself into Bar's life, touch Bar without consent, control who Bar can and can't speak to, and proclaim that this is all in the name of love. Meanwhile, Bar responds with looks of disgust, discomfort, and flat-out refusal, until halfway through and he suddenly does a 180 because how else can they end up together? The problem is that Bar never indicates he enjoyment of this attention from Gun; he doesn't flirt back, and he always looks sour when receiving it. Even when they became a couple, he still looked uncomfortable with Gun's "affection," leaving me confused as to why these two got together in the first place. I think that for a character like Gun to be portrayed successfully, the actor needs a certain charisma that Win unfortunately did not possess. I also needed Folk to deliver something in the emotions department that his character was into this courtship from Gun, but he failed to deliver there as well. The relationship left a very sour, toxic taste in my mouth.

As for the other actors and characters, nothing to write home about. They, like the plot, felt like stock characters that are used in just about every BL, and none really stood out as distinct and memorable.

OVERALL:
Some really enjoyed this. I clearly did not. I can handle worn tropes, low budgets, less than stellar acting, and subpar writing--to an extent. But I need something special to make up for those shortcomings, a spark that just wasn't present in this story. I can't say I'd recommend the series, mainly because I got more disgusted by Gun the more I watched, but it's only four episodes and a rather quick binge, so if you're interested, why not? I'm left hoping that the next two installments of this franchise won't leave me quite as disappointed.

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A Fun Revisit to Some Favorite Ships

So just as an initial note for anyone unaware/confused, this is not a continuation of Love by Chance, which is why the characters have different names and for the most part different mannerisms (Plan and Perth seemed very similar to their respective LBC character counterparts). There are, though, some playful allusions to LBC and the fandom, which I thought was a cute touch. As for Phun and Noh, this felt more like a slice-of-life additional chapter to what we’ve already seen (kind of similar to the compilation Our Skyy) but not necessarily a continuation of their story either. Overall, this project was designed to be more of a fun treat to give fans.

That said, I think fans of those shows will enjoy this little project, provided they keep in mind that it's its own separate work. It's great seeing some of the most well-loved Thai BL pairings back together, and New really is a talented and fantastic director. It feels like you're watching a crossover between the two universes (though, again, not technically so) which added a fun little dynamic.

In terms of plot, there's a story there. The main one is simple and relies on the oft used theme of misunderstandings and ensuing jealousy, but it kept me entertained and wasn't bogged down with unrelated filler. The secondary one gives us an earnest Mean trying to win over Plan’s moody heart, and I enjoyed seeing them act with different personalities. For consisting of only three, short episodes, ReminderS did a nice job of giving us a lighthearted, complete little one-shot, but I wouldn’t expect anything less from New.

As far as acting goes, I first have to say that Perth really impressed me with how far he's come since the first few episodes of LBC, and I think Captain has improved since his Love Sick days as well (and looked damn fine too, might I add). I loved the dynamic between all of them, as friends, enemies, lovers--they worked really well together which made this special all the more fun to watch.

The music--man I just have to say that the first and last minutes or so of episode one gave me all the nostalgic feels, and I was definitely here for it. Such a good move using those songs as the opening and closing themes! It really set the tone beautifully and having it interspersed throughout the other episodes as well added a really nice, sentimental touch.

Overall--really enjoyed it and of course recommend. You definitely don't need to watch Love Sick or LBC first to understand and enjoy ReminderS, so no worries if you interested in this one and haven't seen the others--totally fine to watch this one first.

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Great Potential But Suffered from Slow Pacing

STORY:
My initial excitement for this drama fell by the wayside as the series progressed. Although the writers presented several interesting and unique concepts, they suffered noticeably in execution. As a result, the series became somewhat of a mess that left me wanting more. The pacing was horribly slow, with lots of silence in each episode, creating a very stagnant story line with very little plot development. I don’t mind a bit of silence as a creative decision to set the tone, but if you’re going to do it, then I need both the silence and every bit of dialogue to be important and push the story forward significantly. I didn’t get that with this series. And I know that with tight, skilled writing, a lot can be said in a small period of time, as I’ve seen fantastic dramas with half the number of episodes able to deliver rich, compelling stories (Obsessed, Right or Wrong, Boundary Crossing, Gay Ok Bangkok, etc.). The story here wasn’t terrible, but I just feel that with 12 episodes at their disposal, the brains behind My Dream could have given us a bit more.

Next, although some parts of the fantasy story line were fleshed out (albeit not nearly enough), the main story between Runway and Dream took a back seat to everything else in the drama, which was a bit surprising given the synopsis. In addition, some scenes that seemed important lacked sufficient exploration; there were also scenes introduced that had no apparent purpose other than filler, because they certainly didn’t aid in progression of the story.

The romance grew tedious and a bit tiresome because the characters were just running in circles every time.

Overall, with some tighter writing, this could have been a beautifully complex, multi-dimensional story. As it is, I think the writers got in over their heads and lacked a clear vision and the drama suffered for it.

ACTING/CHARACTERS:
Most of the actors and actresses did well in their roles. The one that just did not do it for me Taro, who plays Tanai. Bless him, he seems sweet, but his acting was incredibly stiff and he couldn’t really deliver expressions very well, which was off-putting as he was a main character. Best, who played Runway (again, another lead), though better, still wasn’t as strong as some of the side characters. But other than those two, I thought the cast did really well in their roles, though conversations at time felt a bit stilted and awkward. I wish they were given better material to work with.

MUSIC:
I overall like the OST. The opening theme especially is beautiful, and it complements the fantasy theme nicely.

RE-WATCH VALUE:
I may re-watch it once, a long way down the road, to see how the story feels when the next episode can be watched without waiting a week. But due to slow pacing and an under-developed plot line, I probably wouldn’t re-watch it more than once.

BOTTOM LINE:
I went into this drama with high expectations but was ultimately let down. It was okay, with some entertaining parts, but definitely not the best drama out there. I’m kind of surprised to hear that SS2 is coming (as of right now anyway), but I’ll probably watch that one as I’ve already committed to the story. For this drama, not sure that I’d recommend it, but if you’re curious about it I’d say give it a try.

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Left Underwhelmed

I was excited to watch this movie after seeing its praise and hype continuously pop up in my news feed, as well as in light of the many prestigious awards it's won. However, having finished it, I must say that I am firmly rooted in the camp that's left a little underwhelmed. I found the movie entertaining and remained interested until the end, but for reasons stated below, I couldn't bring myself to rate it as highly as others have.

Perhaps the best thing about this film are the actors. Each one was amazing, performing incredibly well in his or her role. That said, the characters fell flat for me. All of them were stock characters: one-dimensional creations that lacked depth and complexity. The plot left me feeling like little was accomplished, and story lines felt under-developed and rushed. Certain scenes seemed to be added only for the sake of shock value; they added little (if anything) to the story and didn't, in my opinion, serve much meaningful purpose. The theme of class warfare, which has been highly praised as one of the film's accomplishments, was superficial and shallow, relying on stereotypes to portray a message that could have been explored more deeply had more time been spent on it.

Overall, it's a decent movie, but I wouldn't call it a masterpiece. For as many awards as it won, I wouldn't say that this is the best Korea has to offer (which is what I'd expect given the number of accolades). It's not that I don't understand what the writer and director were trying to accomplish and portray; it's that the message got lost in one-dimensional, stereotypical characters and situations, as well as scenes that added little to the story beyond gratuity and cheap thrills.

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A Bit of A Mess

STORY:
If you’re looking for a series with an intricate, thoughtful, developed plot line, then you might want to skip this as I don’t think it’ll be your cup of tea. However, if you don’t mind a bit of nonsense, silliness, and fluffiness, then I think you’ll find The Best Twins enjoyable. I’m on the fence about this one, finding it funny and endearing at times but frustratingly stupid at other times. Some would argue that the point of the show is that it makes fun of stereotypes, fantasies, and fetishes, and that the writers don’t intend that this be some deep masterpiece. I totally get that. It’s pretty obvious from the first episode that the writers aren’t taking themselves or this show too seriously. But it doesn’t change the fact that the series is poorly written and virtually lacking in plot. There’s a way to provide smart, satirical commentary, but The Best Twins does not do that.

More specifics: First, the writing could have been tighter. A lot of the scenes contained nonsense that dragged on without really advancing the story, as if the writers wanted to include silliness just for the sake of being silly (which I found tiring). Second, lot of the humor is very obvious and slapstick, and I prefer more subtle, clever humor. Finally, I found the endless playing of sound effects whenever something was funny a bit grating. However, I know that all of these are techniques often used in comedies (which aren’t my favorite genre to begin with), so these may not be as huge of an issue to you as they are to me—I do think it’ll come down to preference.

Humor aside, I also didn't like that so many side characters were introduced, but for what purpose? They were given virtually no story arc at all—and anything that was there was incredibly shallow. Moreover, some storylines seemed to be dropped after just a few episodes. As a huge a huge fan and proponent of Chekhov’s Gun, I found these things frustrating and a waste of time and material.

ACTORS/CHARACTERS:
The actors were kind of hit or miss. The ones who really saved this drama for me—and the ONLY reason I continued watching—were Mild and Pak (acting as Pond). I’d only every seen Mild in What the Duck, where he played an adorably awkward minor role, so I wasn’t too sure what to expect from him going into this. I fell in love with him almost immediately. His character is so sweet and endearing, so easy to empathize with him as he yearned for Pond. Also, the chemistry between him and Pak was so good—they made my heart melt in every little scene together. They get a 100 out of 10 from me. Seriously, their dynamic is one of the best I’ve seen in Thai BL, and I’ve definitely found a new ship.

As for the other characters—shallow, two-dimensional, stock like. Their roles and story lines weren’t given enough time to develop, so I didn’t really care about them at all. They were just there for filler I guess.

OVERALL:
I know this will come down to personal preference, but overall I don’t think I’d recommend The Best Twins. Without a doubt Mild and Pak (and their amazing chemistry) were the ONLY saving grace for me; without them, I probably would have dropped this drama. There were parts that made ma laugh and parts that made me go “aww” but I just don’t think it can hold a candle next to some other Thai BLs out there (and yes, this is taking into consideration the fact that it’s a comedy).

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STORY:
For a mini-series, the writers did a really nice job of creating a story that evokes nostalgic feelings of first/young love. It’s overall cute and fluffy, but has just enough angst to fuel the series’ plot and create the story’s climax, though it does rely on tropes we’ve seen before. The ending is ambiguous and open, but it think it leaves the viewers hopeful. The series kind of has that “promotional” feeling, like these are idols or up and coming actors and the management/production company wanted to create something small to introduce them to us. But, it’s still a nice little filler when you need something sweet and light. I also think the cinematography was really well-done and of higher quality than many other Thai BLs.

ACTORS:
Kind of what you’d expect from relatively unknown actors. Not terrible, but a bit stiff and awkward at times, and I felt like some of the facial expressions needed work.

OVERALL:
Cute and light and not a huge investment of time. Enjoy Thai BL? Go ahead and add this to your watch list!

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Cute & Light

STORY:
Nothing intricate or complicated here, but that's not a bad thing! Descriptive words that come to mind are lighthearted, fun, silly, and over the top. I laughed several times while watching this series, and it put me in a good mood. That plus the fact that the episodes are so short (around 7-10 minutes) makes this a great series for lazy afternoons or when you need some filler in between dramas. The production value and filmography impressed me as well! Not sure what the budget was, but even if it was small you wouldn't be able to tell from watching.

A note for anyone curious about the BL: It's there, but it makes up a relatively small portion of the show, which focuses more on the relationships between the mother and her children. It's still a fun and entertaining series to watch, though, but don't go in expecting this to be primarily a BL story (but what we did get was really cute!).

ACTING/CAST:
Loved all of them and they all did a really great job. Like the story, they were silly and over the top, not taking themselves too seriously, but they have some sweeter, more serious moments as well (without being too heavy). I thought the ladies were a tad stronger (and I freaking love Erica!); the guys were good, but I did notice that some of their delivery was a tiny bit stiff (like they were just saying the lines and going through the motions but not really acting).

MUSIC:
No complaints here. I liked the opening theme and thought it set the mood for the show nicely.

OVERALL:
If you're interested, go for it! This was a nice little break and I thought the producers and actors did a really good job with this web series. I would love for them to make a follow-up season so we can see more of the relationships that developed near the end.

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Based on the summary and cover art, I was super excited going into this drama. Unfortunately, it fell a bit flat for me. Although I liked the subdued, almost lazy tone of this series, the plot itself was too slow-paced for my liking and didn't do the "big reveal" justice. I feel like the plot twist, which is revealed in the final episode, is really the crux of this story, and all of the events leading up to it don't have much meaningful significance until the twist is revealed. As a result, it kind of feels like we're meandering along without a clear end-sight in mind. The final episode, to me, was the most interesting and, after I finished it, I was left wishing that the same energy and dynamic there had been applied to episodes 1 through 5 as well. Moreover, the story line I was most interested in (Ma Ri's) got the least amount of time devoted to it, and I couldn't really get into the other ones. All in all it was a dull lead up to a great climax that left me wishing the set up and execution had been sharper (though I know it's based on a book so I guess there's only so much the screenwriters could do with the story line).

As for the characters and acting, I thought all of the actors did well in their roles. I do, however, agree with someone's comment below that the two romantic interests had no chemistry whatsoever, so I found it a little hard to believe. While it kind of makes sense once the reason for the strain is revealed, I do wish that the actors had been able to portray a little more interest or *something* to make the relationship feel less sterile.

Overall I wouldn't say this is a bad drama, but I guess I went in with too high of expectations and came out feeling let down. Having only 6 episodes at about an hour each, it's not a huge investment of your time, but it wouldn't be the first drama I'd recommend.

And for anyone curious/hesitant about the horror tag: Aside from one or two quick jump scares, I didn't find it scary at all. It kind of gives me a Ghost Whisperer vibe, so I think it'll be okay for those who are interested but not into the scary stuff (which I'm not really into either).

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Meh--Don't Bother

STORY
I was really excited for this because I love Ten and the series itself seemed pretty hyped (plus the constant push back of the international release date worked to drive the interest even further). I binged over the course of two days, finishing yesterday, but there was nothing special about it to leave a lasting impression. The biggest downfalls for me were (1) the sub-par writing and (2) the weak, basic, and severely under-developed plot lines. These two weaknesses I cannot stress enough.

There were several times throughout this lakorn where I found myself laughing due to cringeyness and uttering, "This is so stupid" (and not even in the cute, charming stupid sort of way--just flat out stupid). What makes this even more frustrating is that several characters (Claudia, Simon, Keaton, and, vis a vis his connection to Claudia, JC) had the potential for GREAT story lines, including backstory and growth! But time that could have been spent developing those was sacrificed for continuous plot repetition (seriously--each plot consisted of the same one or two ideas that were recycled from beginning to end), scenes that failed to move the story along, and a rather boring love triangle that was neither new nor groundbreaking (Eve, Danny, Lin--I'm looking at you here). And though the writers tried to throw in some more serious moments, they flatlined and got lost amidst the silliness and ridiculousness that was the rest of the drama. The dramedy genre didn't really work here.

There were some cute moments and times that made me smile, but all in all the script-writing felt very lazy and half-assed. It's a shame that these otherwise great actors were given such lousy material to work with.

Oh, and if you're interested solely for the BL, don't invest your time. There was next to none, the story line was basic and under-developed, and the series itself isn't strong enough for me to recommend watching anyway.

ACTING/CAST
The actors themselves all did really well in their roles. No stiffness, no awkwardness. I lowered my score though because the characters were all pretty bland and boring. Several of them felt stereotypical, stock-like, and two dimensional, and there were missed opportunities for meaningful character development. Nearly all of the "competing" love interests felt manufactured and were obviously inserted for no other purpose than to create drama. Though most of the main characters were likable enough, I didn't really connect with any of them, nor could I feel any chemistry between any of them (though I will say Ten, as always, does do a fantastic job at emoting this, and he didn't fail me here; there just wasn't a strong reciprocation). As a result, I didn't really care about them; I didn't share in their happiness or sadness. There were happy endings, but at that point I was beyond ready to move on to my next drama.

OVERALL (TL;DR)
There were cute moments, sure, but the writing and story lines were so weak and under-developed that I was left disappointed and wanting more. Safe to skip this one. Would not recommend.

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Note: This review is for the Thai version of the show.

STORY:
- I found the main story between Oat and Pop to be rather dull. It had a slow start. I thought it would start to pick up at the halfway point, when the faintest hint of romantic sparks blossomed between them, but was quickly disappointed as the story continued to bore me. I think the major downfall (for me) was that their story was more character-driven, so I felt like we were mostly meandering aimlessly along with the two boys until the finale. Not a lot happened, yet they took up 20 episodes, so the story seemed very slow and static. It felt very slice of life, which I'm not a huge fan of. Unfortunately, I didn't get super into until the last few episodes, which was when all the drama happened.
- Pree and Rambo's story, and the other hand, was the motivation I needed to finish this series to the end, tragic though it was. It was dynamic, compelling, full of drama and angst. They gave me all the feels (both good and bad), and I grew impatient waiting for their next scenes. Their story actually had a plot line, with more dynamic obstacles, and I wish they could have had their own series to really flesh out what was given.

ACTING/CAST:
- Overall pretty good. Some of the minor characters were annoying, but I thought that the main characters did a good job.
- Again, Pree and Rambo were my favorites. The MewArt hype is well-deserved. Their chemistry was amazing right from the get-go, and they delivered the most scorching scenes in the drama (if you're looking for sexy, more mature romance scenes, they'll deliver). They made me fall in love and broke my heart. I also liked that, aside from Rambo's conflict with his father, both characters were unabashedly, unconditionally gay. Not gay for you, not confused about their sexuality, not ashamed of their sexuality: just gay. There's another character who fit this mold as well, which I also enjoyed. We don't always get this in BL dramas, so when it does show up, it's a refreshing treat that I take notice of. My only complaint is that we didn't get nearly as much screen time with them as I was hoping for, but I am happy with what I got even though it wasn't entirely filled with happy times.
- O and Strong performed well in their roles too. Of the two, I preferred Strong's character, Oat, who I found to be deeper and more complex. On the surface, he seemed like a happy-go-lucky goofball who didn't take anything too seriously, but we also saw some sweet, tender moments that tugged at the heartstrings as well. He has charm and charisma that made me root for him. Pop, though, I don't know what it was, but I just couldn't get on board with him. He was dorky and quirky and did have some cute, sweet moments, but there was just something about him that was off-putting to me and made it more difficult to truly care about him. He just seemed like a bit of a prat. As for their chemistry, for most of the series it felt very one-sided and bromance-y (in part because it was). But the few reciprocal romantic moments between them, as well as Oat's affection towards Pop, were very tender and sweet.

MUSIC:
- Pretty good. I'm not a music buff so I generally don't pay much attention to this. The only thing I'll note is that during some scenes the music was really loud, almost drowning out the actors.

RE-WATCH VALUE:
- The only parts I would re-watch are those revolving around Pree and Rambo (well, the early ones at least).

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In a Word, Amazing!

Period piece. Political conflict. Action. Suspense. Plot twists. Cliffhangers. And a dash of humor. This drama has EV-ER-Y-THING! Seriously, I cannot sing high enough praises for this drama. And this is coming from someone who is not into zombies (never really got the appeal; more of an Anne Rice girl myself). In fact, going into the show, I wasn't expecting zombies at all (yes, somehow I missed the giant reflection in the sword) and when it was revealed to be one of the premises, I was kind of "meh" and a little turned off. That lasted for about a millisecond. Not only were those chase scenes some of the most exhilarating moments in the show, but the interpretation and characterization of the zombies, as well as the role they played in the story was, I thought, cleverly done. Supernatural stuff aside, the political aspects of the plot line were intriguing; I'm really interested to see it develop further in Season 2. And the cinematography, scenery, and sets--breathtaking doesn't even begin to describe them.

With 6 episodes ranging in length from 40 to 60 minutes, this drama is short. However, the screenwriter did a fantastic job of fitting so much in and providing a solid first season. I wish there was a little more explanation and backstory on some things, but I'm hoping (expecting?) we'll get some of that in Season 2. Overall, definitely recommend! But be prepared for a major cliffhanger in the finale. Meanwhile, I'll be joining the fandom as we impatiently wait for Season 2 to be released.

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Cute, But a Bit Basic

How to describe The Tasty Florida? It serves you several overdone romance tropes in a bite-sized, visually pleasing palette cleanser. Like most KBLs, the unfortunately low number of episodes combined with their short length leave us with a story and romance that feels a bit rushed and under-developed. Backstories regarding missing/dead family members, childhood experiences, and that pre-relationship tension-building could have benefited from further exploration and exposition, but I know that having a healthy budget that would allow the time to really explore these issues in a Korean BL is hard to come by. That said, those would have been the main factors to distinguish this short BL from others, so the lack of focus on them leaves this feeling rather typical. Instead of being memorable for the storyline, this one (to me) will be remembered more for the setting and set.

That said, the drama was simple and sweet and had me smiling in I think every episode from all the uwus. The chemistry between the two leads was pretty decent. You could tell they were comfortable around one another, and there was a naturalness and ease about their interactions with one another. The acting overall was solid; I only felt like a couple of the supporting cast was a tiny bit stiff, but nothing terrible.

I really enjoyed the OST. The songs were catchy and light and matched the vibe of the drama very well.

Overall, I would recommend, especially if you need something cute and fluffy.

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