Best idea for series promotion ever

When the cast is what initially attracted you to a series, having said cast react to the episodes is probably the most ideal concept imaginable. Praise be to the person who came up with this! I enjoy watching these reactions almost as much as I enjoy the actual series. Such fun and you get insights into the making of the show, the cast and the characters that you wouldn’t otherwise get. It’s wonderful!

I love seeing how these guys perceive their own work as a finished product and seem to enjoy and become immersed in it as a viewer. It’s cute when First gets all embarrassed about his love scenes and how they all good naturedly tease each other. They are very entertaining, talented and oh so cute!

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I’m so impressed!

I started watching this for entertainment and to enjoy the cuteness of such an attractive cast. However, I’m more and more impressed by this series. I find it so much better in terms of writing, acting, effects, music, and characterization than any other asian BL drama that I’ve ever watched.

I’d even say it’s rather progressive without being on the nose. Fiat is a (previously) promiscuous character and, while this causes issues in the series, him pursuing Leo and being open about what he wants is not shown in a negative light. I love that. He is who he is as far as sexuality goes and his growth as a character is more about learning to trust and communicate and become more mature. It’s really great.

Leo is already as close to perfect as you can get so I’m not sure how much room there is for growth. I’d say his singular flaw is that he takes not being allowed to be the perfect boyfriend in the face of his partner’s emotional turmoil personally. Like, let’s not make this about you! But this kind of thing does make the character feel more real. Not entirely perfect after all but close. And I think I’m in love with Ja. What a beautiful man and he plays the best boyfriend in history so well. I’m just praying (uselessly) that Leo doesn’t get hurt by the end of this series. Obviously, he will, but so far Leo and Fiat’s relationship is astonishingly healthy. It’s supportive and these two actually communicate about all kinds of things from their worries to their sex life. Very refreshing! I especially love Leo letting Fiat handle himself when Fiat expresses that he can, and by Fiat handling things beautifully. It’s not always about swooping in to save your partner but about trusting in his capabilities as well. The chemistry is real and the intimate scenes are A++.

I even love the side couple and find all characters at least somewhat interesting. That’s quite rare. Usually there’s at least one character or storyline I’m not into. Not with this series.

I’m also taken with how at least some notable antagonists, while perhaps super creepy and abusive (which is a feat in good writing all on its own), were not entirely demonized. Nuance in writing is great!

The acting is also on point. I’ve found Fiat’s crying a bit over dramatic before but it was convincing in the latest episode. And what a punch in the feels with Leon and Pob. This is not just entertaining, cute and sexy anymore. I was getting choked up in the latest episode. 🥲 Can’t wait for the finale but I don’t want it to end!

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The idea of the red thread behind this story makes this so much more than a simple romance.

Love stories in general can be beautiful, tragic, heartwarming etc. This story somehow manages to be everything. The concept of the red thread brings a whole new layer and depth that allows for exploration of topics such as death, mourning, atonement and regret. It gets quite heavy, but all of that is beautifully balanced by the promise of a kind of do over. Korn and Intouch’s story just broke my heart but Dean and Pharm’s put it back together. What’s more the families are healed to the extent they can be. I really loved that. This show handles it’s dark subject matter very skillfully. I cried watching this and that doesn’t happen to me often.

The characters are all fairly easy to like. My heart went out to Korn especially. What a difficult life to be ostracized among your peers for your family’s bad reputation, to suffer your father’s expectations to do something you deem immoral, to have siblings you love and worry about only to have them be used against you, and to find someone who brings you happiness only for the most influential people in both your lives to forbid your relationship and hurt him in the process. I can’t say I blame him for seeing no way out.

The only character who at times got on my nerves was Pharm. The shyness was cute at first but his negative attitude toward Dean’s displays of affection and attraction was troubling. A couple mutually in love should be able to be demonstrative without being made to feel like a pervert for feeling up your own boyfriend’s behind. A lot of times I felt Dean deserved better. He’s a rare gem. Apart from being the sweetest, he also surprisingly delivered some of the smoothest lines ever.

The pacing of this series was quite slow but that was only an issue for me at a few points along the way. For the most part, it has enough going for it to hold your interest.

Finally, Ja as P’Sin was still damn hot, wig and glasses and all. 😍

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