A simple story of two people finding happiness in good food and in each other

This has to be one of the coziest dramas I have ever watched. It's calming and slow-paced without ever becoming uninteresting or boring. It also made me incredibly hungry every time I watched an episode, but that is only to be expected from a Japanese series centered around food.
I also really enjoy the was the show emphasises the importance of female friendship, of finding companionship and building a life that makes you happy despite the myriad of little rules society loves imposing on its members, specifically on women.
Furthermore, I find Yuki's slow realisation and exploration of her feelings towards Kasuga incredibly well done and I'd love to see their relationship evolve further.
I will never get enough of love stories (be they romantic, platonic, or otherwise) told through the medium of good food and I simply can't wait for season 2.
Do yourself a favour and watch this show. Do prepare some snacks first though, you'll probably need them.

Leia Mais

Aromantic or not, I fell in love with this show

I cannot begin to describe the feeling of seeing myself represented on screen this way. I have never seen a show featuring aro-ace characters that are central to the plot, much less a show where they get to be main characters. I am so insanely grateful for this drama's existence and even more grateful to see all the aro-ace people in the comments finding joy and solace in this story just like me.

The way the writers portray the leads is simply excellent as well. They both have distinct personalities and interests and their character arcs don't simply evolve around their sexualities. It's made clear that their identities are an important part of their lives, but certainly not the only part. Seeing the two of them grow and evolve as people over the course of the show is a genuine pleasure to watch.

I will say that quite a few of the side characters annoy me immensely and I don't enjoy how some of their storylines were handled. Some plot points felt a bit unnecessary or out of place to me as well. However, all in all I still feel that the good of this show far outweighs the bad.

There is no singular aro-ace experience and the series doesn't try to pretend that there is. It offers a glimpse into the lives of two specific people in a way that will feel familar to most aro-ace people at least to a certain degree and which will give others the opportunity to learn just a little bit about one of the least well known sexualities.
For that alone I highly recommend you give this show a shot.

Leia Mais

A genuine treasure

God but this one sucker-punched me right in the gut. Trans representation in film is still difficult to find, much less good trans representation. So imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon this absolute masterpiece of a show.
It's a riot from start to finish and is as wildly entertaining as it is sensitive and touching. It tackles the realities of living as a trans woman with great incisiveness and care and, most importantly, with deep respect.
Rather than having Miki be a flawless, picture-perfect lady that even the most conservative of viewers would have difficulties finding fault with, she is allowed to be imperfect, messy, and deeply human.
She is head-strong, bitchy, confident, insecure, caring, and cynical all at once. She's sometimes wrong about things, sometimes right, and sometimes lands somewhere in-between. The show's approach to her character reminds me of Imogen Binnie's landmark novel "Nevada" in a way. Both main characters have an incomparable fierce, joyous, and messy approach to life that I love.

Another aspect of the show that I love is Goto's storyline. Not only is his character development lovely to see, but he also serves as the perfect counterpart to Miki. She is often cynical and scared of the future, and with good reason. But Goto slowly brings her out of her shell just a little bit and allows her to become a bit softer, a bit more vulnerable, and a bit more trusting.
I won't lie, it did make me tear up a couple of times, especially during the last episode.

I do have some gripes with the show, specifically Mini-sans character whose inclusion I found unnecessary at best and extremely bothersome at worst. And the most obvious flaw, of course - Miki not being portrayed by a trans woman, but by a cis man. It is truly the eternal curse of queer stories being told by straight people.
Nevertheless the writing, acting, and story are brilliant and left me feeling very positive about my own transness, which (as someone quite wise once told me) is honestly always a good metric to judge queer media by - how does it make you feel about your own queerness?
Good - is the answer here. Understood. Appreciated.

In short, I highly recommend this show to anyone looking for great queer rep in general or great trans rep in particular. I would also recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining yet down-to-earth slice of life drama with a big focus on friendship.
Oh, go watch it already, it is absolutely worth it, trust me.

Leia Mais

An action-packed rollercoaster of a rom-com

I absolutely loved this one.
It's surprisingly intense and action-filled for what could easily have been a fluffy slice-of-life story in a university setting which I personally feel adds quite a lot of excitement as well as space for interesting character arcs.
Yes, it does go to some dark places that I should probably have stayed away from, but all in all it manages even its more serious themes gracefully.
The characters, both the leads and the supporting cast, are endearing and I especially appreciate that the main couple don't quite fall into the stereotypical "Stoic hero" and "Bubbly damsel in distress" roles.
Instead, they both get to be badasses in their own right who also balance each other out nicely.
The romance aspect of the show is also very well handled. It's definitely up there among the most grounded and "explicit" (by censored C-drama standards anyway) love stories of its kind. The dynamic between the two mains is also just so goddamn sweet it gave me cavities, so if tooth-rotting fluff is your thing, you'll absolutely love this series.
In general I'd recommend this to fans of queer C-dramas and anyone looking for a fun, fast-paced watch with a certain off-the-wall charm.
Do be aware of some possibly triggering content, though.

Leia Mais

A solid romcom in a fun fantasy setting

Now, one could quibble over the definition of "rom-com" but that's what this is and I will die on that hill thank you very much.
While I personally don't like this as much as some other shows (The Vampires being my personal favourite), it's still a really solid watch.
The production quality is great, as is to be expected by now, the characters are interesting and lovable, and I actually found myself intrigued by the story line.
Usually these shows suffer a bit from having to cram an insane amount of plot into too short a runtime, but here I actually think the story is perfectly paced and easy to follow.
Sure, there is the odd plot hole, but nothing too grievous or which takes away from the enjoyment of the sapphic sword nonsense.
If you're a fan of C-dramas, or fantasy romance, or queer women in ever more fantastical outfits, then this one is for you.
I will also say that even if you're not hooked by the end of the first season I'd recommend sticking with it anyway.
The plot does pick up a fair bit in season two.

Leia Mais

I will never get tired of ghost girlfriends

This one was a lovely surprise.
Yes, it's fairly light and fluffy, but for how much of a feel good story it is and how short of a runtime it has it manages to deliver a surprising amount of genuine emotion and romantic chemistry between its leads.
I also really like its messages about art as a form of true self expression and the fine line between following a passion and being consumed by it.
By the end of the show I felt like both of the main characters had grown as people and influenced and learned from each other, which is more than some full length shows manage to achieve.
In short, if you're looking for a short pick-me-up with some nice messages and a good, solid romance, then this one is for you.

Leia Mais

I actually enjoyed it!

Listen, I know it's an ad but goddammit it was such an enjoyable one. To be fair I've only seen Zero: Photography so I can't speak to the quality of the entire thing, but what I did see, I liked.
I'm a huge Ink and Pa fan (and I can't seem to shake my eternal crush on both of them either, sigh) and I loved seeing more of them here.
The story line is absolutely insane in the best way, I mean come on, how can you say no to time traveling lesbians?
But, much in the way Bad Buddy did, this little special manages to actually tell a meaningful story through the medium of Patently Ridiculous Plot Points. There's an underlying theme of treasuring the people you love the most and the clear message that you should never take people for granted.
Zero Photography is about time travel, yes, but it's also a character study as well as a tale about the importance of cherishing the ones you love, not least by choosing them over and over again.
If you Like Pa and Ink give this a shot, you might just love it as much as I did.

Leia Mais

If I had the choice I'd do it all over again

My absolute favourite surprise hit of 2023.
This show could easily have used the time travel trope to tell another cliched love story, but what it did instead was combine genuinely charming and lovable characters with a compelling, character-driven plot which focuses not just on romance, but on more complex themes such as regret, loss and grief, the intricacies of friendship, the differences between the concept of an "ideal future" and one's actual, personal ideal future, and even alcoholism.
All of these topics are handled with sagacity and care and are woven seamlessly into the story.

The characters themselves are all flawed, yet sincerely likeable people who are allowed to evolve and grow not just within their romantic relationships, but outside of them as well. A perfect example of this is Pear who, rather than being sidelined as Kawi's perceived love interest and a simple obstacle on the path to "true love" between him and Pisaeng, is given a good amount of screen time which establishes her as an independent, multi-faceted character with her own motivations and idiosyncrasies.
Complex female characters who are central to the plot are still an incredible rarity in this genre, which makes Pear's addition to the show even more of a pleasant surprise.

Another thing the show does oh so wonderfully right is its approach to depicting queer characters. Not only does Pisaeng explore and question his sexuality outside of his attraction to Kawi, he also forms a bond which Max, who is not only a stellar supporting character, but also serves to offer a glimpse into the realities of being a young, openly queer person. The struggle of constantly having to fight for acceptance and equality, the internal battle for self-love, the fierce joy of being yourself, openly and unafraid.

All in all this is a truly wonderful show with a lot of heart, good music, and many interesting things to say. I'd recommend it to anyone who has ever struggled to find themselves, anyone who has ever wondered about the different roads their life could have gone down, or anyone who has ever had to fight to walk their own path.
I'd also recommend it to anyone who is simply looking for a good queer romcom.
Oh, just go watch it already, you won't regret it, I promise.

Leia Mais

Hop on, I'll take you anywhere you want to go!

This show was such a delightful surprise.
Many Thai dramas tend to fall on the raunchier side of the spectrum (which is not necessarily a bad thing, mind you) so this story made for a delightful change of pace. It is almost entirely character driven rather than plot driven and really takes the time it needs to develop everyone's personal character arcs fully, never rushing yet never slowing down either.
There are no sudden plot twists, no dramatic misunderstandings (at least none that don't get resolved almost immediately via the revolutionary method of Clear Communication) and at 10 episodes the story is perfectly paced.

I especially loved the show's varied depictions of queer people's lives. This is the first time I've seen an elderly queer couple depicted in a drama and I am so grateful for their inclusion here. Not only do those two serve as an endless well of support and advice for Mork and company, they are also plenty fun to watch just on their own.
Mork's tentative steps towards exploring his sexuality are incredibly lovely to watch and pleasantly devoid of any "gay for you" nonsense (although I did at one point find myself swearing at the screen for someone to just say the word "bisexual" already)
I also deeply appreciated the show's approach to Tawan's character who, while entirely comfortable and certain in his sexuality, is still new to relationships and physical intimacy and refuses to do anything but going at his own pace.
Given how, in depictions of relationships where one person is just discovering they may not be entirely straight, it's usually the openly queer person who is more assertive and sexually experienced, this was a refreshing twist on a well-established dynamic.

In short: If you're looking for a calm, low-drama show with good acting, a great cast of supporting characters, and a pleasantly diverse range of queer characters, then this one is for you.

Leia Mais

Charmed the socks off me!

I started watching this after a long string of incredibly written and mature K- and J-Dramas and was immediately reminded of why classic Thai dramas hold such a firm place in my heart.
This show is zany, over the top, and filled with an irreverent charm that leaves you wanting more at the end of each episode.
It has an interesting plot but keeps its focus firmly on developing a slow and gentle romance, allowing the characters all the time they need to grow both as people and as partners to each other, which lets the viewer form a closer bond with the characters and lets them (the viewers) get invested in these characters' lives which makes the whole story, ridiculous as it may seem on the surface, a lot more grounded and makes every single emotional scene all the more impactful. This is still quite a rarity in queer dramas and makes for a refreshing change of pace.

Now beware, slight spoilers ahead.
Some personal highlights (aka Things I Loved):
- The loving attention to detail the writers and directors clearly paid while designing the alternate universe. These details range from the simple (e.g. cone bread), to the hilarious and silly (e.g. off-key singing as an art form), to the genuinely meaningful (e.g. the legalisation of same-sex marriage) and cheekily remind the viewer every now and again to expect the unexpected and stay on their toes
- The bond shared between Puen, Talay, Up, and Aou, and later on Kita and Fuse as well. They are the boys, the lads, the gang, utterly inseparable and always, always there for each other. I'm a sucker for good depictions of (queer) friendships and these fellows delivered big time. This show says hug your homies, hold their hand, kiss their cheeks, tell them you love them, let them know how important they are to you, and they are so right about that actually! I will die on this hill!!
- The pacing and development of Puen and Talay's relationship. As I already mentioned the buildup to every major step in their relationship is very well handled and given ample time to unfold at a slow but steady pace, but it's not just that. The way the show approaches their connection to each other hit me like a thousand bricks and made me shed actual tears a lot more often than I'd like to admit. From almost the beginning of the show these two are incredibly fond of one another and their friendly bickering becomes increasingly gentle and tender until it becomes a dynamic of "I love you so much, so there, take that you idiot, I'm expressing my genuine affection for you, suck it nerd!" at which point I think I lost my heart to this show for good.
- Dol and their understated defiance of gender norms and expression. Dol may not have been explicitly written as a trans character, but their character serves to gently question what gender identity really is and what it means for our lives but also to us personally. I absolutely adore them and wish we'd gotten to see more of them, although they do play a significant role in developing several important plot points.
- The show's approach to love in all its forms. This story boldly and deliberately blurs the lines between platonic, romantic, and queer love and emphasizes the importance of true human connection over trying to force a relationship along a predetermined course. Sometimes love means getting to know somebody over the course of several years until you've come to adore every single facet of their being and it doesn't even matter what type of love you're feeling for each other as long as you get to stay together. At the same time love can also mean the specific labelling of feelings and relationships and the boundless joy and excitement that come with being officially "in love" or "best friends" or "the most important person in each others' lives". This show says "No matter what happens, I'll go through it with you". "Remember, where there's you, there's me", it says, "Thank you for teaching me not to be afraid of tomorrow".

Some personal lowlights (aka Things I Didn't Like):
- How quickly Talay manages to resolve all the problems Tess created after returning to his own universe. I'm glad there were no great, drawn-out conflicts, but I did find myself thinking "Boy that was fast" every time Talay magically fixes whatever Tess broke. A very minor gripe in the grand scheme of things.
- How unresolved Tess and Tun's story felt by the end of the show. I know they weren't the focus of the show, but all the plot threads of Tun's unrequited love for Tess, Tess and Tun's reconciliation and subsequent separation in the alternate universe, and Tess' eventual return to his original universe, were all just barely touched on before being dropped completely. I know they play relatively minor roles in the story as a whole, but given the interesting dynamic that was hinted at between them and how solid the chemistry between Ohm and Nanon (their actors) is as we all know, I wish we'd gotten to see just a little bit more of these two.

In conclusion: A slow-paced, charmingly written and acted story about love, love, and once again love. If you want a show that provides a window into the lives of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances who come to love each other deeply and fully while tugging at your heartstrings with how achingly gentle and real it feels, then this one is most definitely for you.

Leia Mais

An understated landmark in queer Asian cinema and here's why

Now let me start off by answering some questions you may be asking yourself: Is this the greatest story ever told? No.
Is there anything particularly standout or special about any of the plot points, or characters, cinematography, literally anything at all? No.
But what makes it so incredibly enjoyable (and honestly objectively good in my opinion) is the way the show chooses to engage with its own genre. The whole things starts, as we know, with a fairly ridiculous plot by the university head to blackmail two of her students into producing shippy BL content and promote the university. This could have easily been stupid and downright problematic (kind of, more on this later), but the show holds absolutely nothing back in showcasing exactly why and how the entire thing is awful and problematic. Literally both goofy-ass, idiot main characters listen to the university head inform them of her plan and immediately go “Mam this is unethical as all hell”, with one main point they raise being that these sort of publicity schemes do nothing to actually help queer people or further queer liberation and both of them take issue with that big time.
This theme of calling bullshit on the fetishization of queer lives continues throughout pretty much the entire show, with a highlight being a montage of the two main characters working their way through a list of cheesy cliches to make content out of except every sappy and ridiculous moment devolves into all-out war (read – a slapstick level of physical violence) every time the camera turns off, funny and an incredibly clever and direct interrogation of almost every stupid, contrived trope this genre has ever seen.
The show also emphasizes the importance and beauty of authentic queer relationships by very deliberately juxtaposing them with the over the top, manufactured ship nonsense the characters have to crank out and they keep those themes going solidly even after the whole “we must make this BL content” storyline ends, which is fairly quickly (which I personally also found quite refreshing, I generally felt the pacing of the show was very well done)
Now why was I so blown away by this? Haven’t other shows done this exact thing except better, more in-depth, and more central to the plot? Why yes, they have, but the reason why this show sticks out is because a thoughtful analysis and deconstruction of a serious issue isn’t central to the plot or the themes whatsoever. What these showrunners have done is put all their energy into making a classic uni setting comedy-drama and then just casually tossed in some incredibly succinct and nuanced commentary on the realities of queer love in a time where such love is frequently and almost gleefully exploited for financial gain.
Combine that with some of the best and healthiest depictions of (queer) friendship I’ve seen in a long time (seriously, all six main characters support the hell out of each other and actually teach each other how to communicate, how to set boundaries, how to figure out who and what you want to be. They feel like real people with real thoughts and opinions who have things to say, want to learn and be better, and also happen to care about each other deeply. I may or may not have teared up a few times) and what you’ve got is a whole new standard for queer dramas going forward.

A quick list of negatives:
- As much as the show calls out the actions of the university head as being problematic, she still faces essentially no consequences in the end, and after she lets the boys off the hook and doesn't force them to produce more content for her, everyone just sort of has a collegial chuckle, going "Oh you, what a little scamp you are, uni head" and that's that. Compared to how well the aforementioned themes are handled during the rest of the show this just falls really flat for me.
- The show's one grand pitfall: the dreaded separation. Why do we still choose to do these, they are godawful, they make no sense, can you tell I'm just personally salty about it

In conclusion: An entertaining and sweet standard university drama that packs a little extra punch. If this is an indicator of what the average queer romance drama will look like from now on, then the future of the genre looks bright indeed.

Leia Mais

I'm not trapped in here with you, you're trapped in here with me

What an absolute thrill ride. I went into this expecting a fun, romantic romp disguised under the thin veneer of an action thriller and boy oh boy did I get more than I bargained for. What should, by all accounts, have been a slightly over-the-top, fanfiction-esque (which is not a bad thing, by the by, just a comment on the suspension of disbelief needed to enjoy certain types of stories) plot, somehow evolved into a fairly grounded and serious exploration of familial bonds and how they influence our lives, the concepts of forgiveness and betrayal, and the quiet deceptiveness of unsolicited acts of love. All this without ever losing its charm and comedy or its heartfelt, upbeat core message.
And now off we go into the (mild) spoiler territory.

Some personal highlights (aka Things I Loved):
- The relationship between Shao Fei and Tang Yi. This may seem like an obvious one, wow you watched a romance show and liked the two main leads, what a hot take. But what makes these two so compelling and sympathetic to me and what makes their dynamic stick out against many other pairings in romances, is how honest and direct these two are with each other.
From the beginning there is respect and fondness between them, buried under a healthy amount of animosity though it may be. That fondness and respect grows and evolves as the show goes on, developing at first into unconventional but genuine friendship and then into a mature and, dare I say it, healthy relationship. As soon as Shao Fei realises his feelings he is upfront with Tang Yi, pursues him openly while still respecting his boundaries and giving him time to reciprocate or pull away. There is no dramatic jealousy, no endless waffling about, no will-they-won't-they. These are two people who decide to love each other and support each other and damn everyone who tells them they shouldn't, destiny is what you make it and problems are best tackled together rather than apart and I am so on board with it.
- Jack and Zhao Li An. While I do have some personal gripes with Jack (such as wanting to come after his kneecaps with a baseball bat for the way he sometimes acts but we're letting that go for now) I do find him a very interesting and compelling character (morally grey, true neutral bastard my beloved) and I absolutely adore his relationship with Zhao Li An. Their dynamic is funny, charming, and their connection seems genuine. I do wish we had seen a bit more of their character growth during the last episodes but I still feel the two have been set up for a happy future in which they can grow together.
- The ending. A happy ending that feels truly earned and makes a point about the importance of facing up to past mistakes and choosing to move forward together with your partner. That is pretty much all I have to say about that.
- Tang Yi's relationship with his fathers. I can't go into detail at all here or I'd end up spoiling big parts of the show, but whoo boy was that whole plot fascinating and the way it all wraps up gave me goosebumps with how serious and just plain good it is.
- Zuo Hong Ye. An interesting female character with a rich and complex inner life who is absolutely badass but is still allowed to be a real human being, warts and all, in my gay romcom?! It's more likely than you think.

Some personal lowlights (aka Things I Didn't Like):
- Gu Dao Yi and his whole plotline. To be fair this isn't so much a "thing I didn't like" and more of a "thing I liked sometimes and then disliked sometimes and felt neutral towards on the whole". I appreciate the important part he plays in driving the plot forward and enabling Tang Yi to have some character growth but something in me just does not like this man.
- Some of the more explicit scenes are a bit gratuitous and unneeded in my opinion, but for what it's worth these two do have great chemistry and the intimacy between them feels both touching and real.

In conclusion: If you are looking for an intelligent drama that explores some interesting and somewhat dark themes but won't drag you into any pits of despair and tragedy and will even make you laugh sometimes then you should definitely give this one a go.

Leia Mais

It didn't stick the landing

Boy oh boy but do I have some conflicting feelings about this show!
I went into it with some pretty strong reservations given how viscerally uncomfortable power imbalance and consent issues in relationships (no matter how fictional) make me, but I decided to give it a go anyway because of the screenwriter and directors' involvement in shows like Jack o' Frost and Old Fashion Cupcake, both series that I absolutely adore.
Given that initial hesitancy I have to say I was both positively and negatively surprised by Taikan Yoho.

On the one hand it is technically excellent - the cinematography is brilliant, the editing and pacing are well though-out and cohesive, and the performances are stellar.
There is also the fact that the main characters' relationship, unhealthy and co-dependent as it may start out, seems to improve significantly as the show goes on, so much so that I became genuinely invested and was even sold on the idea that yeah, these two do love each other in their own, confused way don't they.
The intimacy the two share feels natural and believable even when set against the backdrop of so much emotional turmoil and denial.

On the other hand, all that promising build-up pretty much goes out the window with the final episode.
To explain:
I was surprised by how many similarities Taikan Yoho has to Utsukushii Kare, at least where the main characters' dynamic is concerned.
It's clear from the start how terrible both Mizuki and Yoh are at communicating (Yoh being especially guilty of this) and how much of their issues stem from the deep insecurities both of them seem to harbour about their relationship. But instead of making use of this premise and actually developing the characters (rather than just explaining their motivations), the show completely shoots itself in the foot by veering in distinctly the wrong direction, in my opinion.
Because rather than showing the characters taking steps towards a more even footing with one another, which is exactly what makes Utsukushii Kare work so well, they settle even more into their respective roles with Mizuki becoming uncomfortably domineering and essentially none of their misunderstandings cleared up, which makes any progress the two previously made feel completely inconsequential.
And kind of heartbreaking, too, given how Mizuki previously indicates he loves it when Yoh doesn't simply obey blindly but also shows his wants and needs.
Putting that aside, I don't even think the show works properly as a depiction of a healthy D/S dynamic.
Granted, I am not particularly well-versed in the subject so take what I say with a grain of salt (a much more reliable and in-depth analysis on the topic can be found here, should you be interested: https://www.tumblr.com/lutawolf/725726059919736832/my-person-weatherman-or-taikan-yoho?source=share), but I do know that what's most important in such relationships is communication and clearly drawn boundaries. And while Yoh's and Mizuki's relationship does bear many strong resemblances to certain types of D/S relationships, those vital features are clearly missing from their dynamic.

I don't regret having watched the show, nor would I discourage anyone else from watching it, but I do think it's important to be aware of the series' short-comings, especially where delicate but highly important topics like consent and power are concerned.
I also can't help feeling disappointed that the story didn't live up to its potential but rather falls prey to some of the most egregious cliches of the genre, especially with such a talented production team and cast .

Leia Mais

Not quite 1000 stars

So I finally got around to watching this classic recently and it was... fine. It has parts that I loved, parts that I hated, and on the whole I feel surprisingly neutral about the entire thing.
It starts of really well with great performances, solid cinematography and editing, and an interesting premise, but unfortunately loses its way somewhere towards the end.

The climactic conflict centers around the difficulties of living life on your own terms but rather than actually making a compelling point about self-determination, the story inexplicably does a hard turn in the opposite direction and completely muddles its message.
I strongly dislike characters martyring themselves for one another but here it could have worked really well if we'd gotten to see Phu and Tian communicate with another and actively work to resolve their problems both with one another and in regards to their respective personal circumstances.
The dreaded 2-year separation cliche could even have fit perfectly for the story if the whole thing had been Tian's choice, but no.
Instead we get a lot of incredibly hollow feeling rhetoric about valuing and living life for yourself all the while watching everyone around Tian make his every decision for him, often going against his explicit wishes.
The fact that Tian's parents face zero repercussions for their actions and that the damaging effect their behaviour has clearly had on Tian's mental well-being is never once addressed honestly made me so furious I couldn't even really enjoy the final episode, despite how delightful the ending is.

Mostly I'm just disappointed with how little this feels like a P'Aof show.
His projects usually skillfully address themes of class difference, privilege, and the everyday struggles of queer people, but here these themes are barely present, if at all.
There are also barely any female characters and those that do appear are pretty much exclusively used as plot devices before being discarded. (Poor Torfun deserved better)
There's also an incredibly off-putting scene in which the characters spy on a young couple during their wedding night which feels entirely unneeded and out of place.

I wouldn't go so far as to discourage anyone from watching the show - for what it's worth the first 7 or so episodes are genuinely enjoyable and are objectively quite good, both from a technical and a story-telling perspective.
As a whole, however, the series feels sadly hollow and lacking. Sort of like shiny, appealing packaging wrapped around an entirely empty box.
I'd recommend maybe watching it once if the premise particularly appeals to you, before moving on to other, better pieces of media.

Leia Mais