Please Teach Me (2024)

enjoyable content but frustrating to watch

Overall: this was a well done short series but having to install an app which is not available in all countries and watch in such short chunks was frustrating (see different watch options below). Aired 64 episodes less than 2 minutes each. I watched episodes 1-5 on the TopReels YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9f1q9tF6gKx3gxFXFjxdfmSZtHIlrWDa&si=JmwUArr3ARBWhrBh (they also have episodes 6-9) and then the rest on the TopReels app https://topreels.com/

Content Warnings: non con picture taking/posting, stalking, blackmail, manipulation

What I Liked
- clear premise
- sweet moments
- mystery aspect
- production value (thought they framed things well for the vertical format)

Room For Improvement
- the addition of the (realistic) drama was good but too much time was spent on it, wanted more with the leads
- episode lengths were just too short for a drama, wish they released longer combined episodes or even a 2 hour movie version
- no or not enough consequences for two characters
- Siwoo had an odd lack of reaction to learning something about Doyun, wanted them to have even a short conversation about it
- the Top Reels app is likely not available everywhere in the world and it is kind of frustrating (see below), they should upload on their YouTube channel with geo restriction/set up a membership option for their channel so everyone can watch the series preferably with some or all episodes combined

TopReels Different Watch Options/Costs (as of April 2024), bonus check in/7 ads reset every day at noon EDT
All - watch the first 0-5 on YouTube or app which are free (can watch 6-9 on YouTube but will have to re-watch 7, 8 and 9 because you can't skip to certain episodes in the app). All paid episodes 7-64 cost 2900 coins in total.
1. $24.99USD - buy the 2500 coin and 1000 bonus, if the bonus isn't all given at time of purchase, you will need to watch a few ads or watch over 2 days
2. (1-3 days) $21.99USD - buy the 4400 weekly pass (2000 coins immediately and then 2400 with daily logins) to watch episodes 7-64, will either need to watch a few ads or watch over 3 days
3. (6 days) $7.49USD - watch episodes 7-16 for free with ads, do the bonus check in and watch the bonus ads to give you episodes 17-19 (then need 2300 coins), Day 2 do the bonus check in/ads 20-23, Day 3 same thing 24-27, Day 4 28-31, Day 5 32-35, Day 6 check in/watch 4 ads then watch episode 36, 37 then buy $7.49USD first time recharge to get 700 coins and 700 bonus to watch all the way to the end
4. (13 days) Totally free option will take you about 13 days to watch all 64 episodes, need to do the daily check in (unfortunately resets back to 10 after day 7) and the 7 daily ads every day, on the last day you need to check in and watch 2 ads in order to get enough coins to watch the final episode (assuming you've done the check in/ads every single day previously)

App Pros
- there is a totally free option, it just takes longer
- didn't need to create a login, remembered where I left off
- episodes remain unlocked once you have unlocked them so you can re-watch episodes
- episodes will auto-unlock/play once you have enough coins

App Cons
- the daily check in bonus resets after day 7, should keep it at 50 coins after day 7
- the 7 free daily ads and check in bonus were not enough, people should be able to earn at least 6 (I'd say 10) episodes each day since the episodes are so short
- you can't skip to certain episodes, must watch all episodes in order the first time
- have to wait 30 seconds in between the 7 daily ads
- it was a bit buggy, I closed the app a few times and re-opened it which seemed to fix the "ads not loaded" message

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This had no business being this good....

I went in with a chip on my shoulder, as the short vertical BL's I've watched in the past have been bland at best. It also wasn't an auspicious start, Top Reels dropped 5 for free, then the rest you needed to watch ads to get the coins, or just outright by the coins to finish. I ended up doing the ads for the free watch for about 5 days, then finally folded and paid to watch the last episodes last night.

No regrets.

For anyone who watches vertical cdramas with janky subs, you will be pleasantly surprised with the coherency of the subs, as well as the production value in the series (they had multiple sets of clothing!)

This had absolutely no business being as cute as it was, and having a plot? What was that? It had a coherent narrative, was not expecting that at all. It would have been better if they hadn't telegraphed the twist so eairly, but for what it was and what it did I'm honestly impressed with the production value, and the acting.

I wish it'd had a full release on a platform, I think the format and the labour/cost of watching will deter a lot of viewers.

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