The most inconsistent BL show ever

This show starts out rough for me, so much so that I put it on hold for a while after the first two episodes. It goes heavy in the romcom genre direction, and does it poorly; particularly on their use of 'shouting = funny' and crude bottom of the barrel jokes. But then after the second episode, the show completely switches tones as they start to focus on the couples, and they ditch the romcom writing and editing (which is ridiculously heavily dependent on sound bites, some of the most egregious use I have seen to date) and go full drama. Thank Christ they do, because from episode 2 onward the show dramatically increases in quality (until the last three episodes: I'll get to that later). If I had to give a numeric score to the first two episodes I would give it a 3.5. But episode 3-11, I would average the show at a 8. Let me tell you why.

THE ACTING AND CASTING for the main couples, particularly P'Fighter and P'Tutor, are great. The two actors have amazing chemistry together, and do a tremendous job making their scenes believable and emotional. The story between the two is an incredibly basic and by the books rivals to lovers trope, but it's done well; very well. The secondary couple, P'Zon and P'Saifah are also well cast, and the actors do a good job with the script they are given. But unfortunately I feel like the script and plot for this couple is weaker in general to their counterparts. While this couple too is a rival to lover trope, the characterization for the characters is weaker, particularly for P'Saifah, who has a strange character change a few episodes into the show (Which may or may not be in relation to the strange meta plot they have going on? I'll address this later) . Honestly, if someone asked me to say a few of his character traits, the only thing I could really say is that he is confident and likes to play the guitar. That's it.

As for the supporting cast, it's quite strong too. I couldn't pick out any one actor as being unbelievable or poor. They all do a good job. However, the supporting cast is related to an issue I have with the show, specifically the plot bloat which is VERY apparent in this show. They have a handful of ships in this show, some of them only get a few scenes throughout the entire series. They really should have cut a few of the ships and had just one or two in addition to the main two, so they could have been fleshed out better. In particular I really liked the lovingly termed 'Cat Couple', who only ever get a few scenes, but steal the show with how unbearably cute and odd they are during those scenes. To give them more scenes, I would have cut the Blue/Dew/Champ love triangle ship, which is just... really not my cup of tea. (They expect us to ship a couple, where in one of the first scenes together one of them tries to physically beat up the other for a small mistake, and then never address this behavior or have the other apologies ). It kinda felt like they were trying to set up a spin off show between these three if I'm being honest Lmao.

I also have to give this show credit for missing some of the pitfalls (at least in episodes 3-11, I'll get to the final episodes later) of Asian BL dramas; particularly sexual assault between couples. The two main couples didn't at any point during these episodes make me uncomfortable or mad in relation to this, and they portrayed LGBTQ folks in a good light. It's sad that I have to even praise a show for this kind of thing, but unfortunately Asian BL still has a long way to come in this regard.

Oh, and the music is pretty good. Really catchy and fitting to the mood and scene; mostly Thai vocal tracks. Considering how many BL's get their music editing horribly wrong, I was pleasantly surprises with this show's elevation of their scenes using music.

Okay, ON TO THE BAD. The meta plot like, WTF is this show even about? The first two episodes heavily set up this super meta plot line in regards to the main character P'Zon having broken a vow to his sister which plunges himself and his friends into her BL story. I thought this show was going to take the micky out of common BL tropes, and subvert our expectations based on this. It was a big gamble doing this kind of plot, because done well it can be really funny and amusing (as we've seen in other shows which have done this kind of plot) or it can bomb HARD. Unfortunately, this bombed for me. They play into the plot line SO heavily at first, but then completely forget about it for the majority of the show, only occasionally bringing it up again closer to the finale. And the show never uses this concept and plot to do interesting and new things, the show still falls into so many BL trope pitfalls; and most certainly does not subvert ANY expectations. When you start watching this show; you know exactly where it's going. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's just I expect more based on a promising concept such as this.

The second issue I have with this show is TONE and EDITING. This show flip flops tone so often and on multiple levels. First off, with something I have already mentioned; genre switches. The show starts off like a romcom, but then descends into a heart clenching melodrama. It's a strange switch and confusing. Secondly, the tonality between the two main couples is so different. P'Fighter and P'Tutor's story line is this heavy dramatic story line with lots of angst and crying, and then P'Zon and P'Saifah's story line is whimsical and child like. Having both of these tones in one show is fine, but they splice together in editing scenes of both couples often throughout each episodes; suffice to say, it's tonal whiplash. They also splice in light hearted 'couple getting to know each other' quirky moments of the side couples between heavy scenes of the main couples crying and having breakdowns. It's odd.

Onto, THE FINAL THREE EPISODES. Sigh. This show really messed up in the final episodes, particularly episode 12 and 13. I know Covid messed up their production, but this feels like a script issue which would have been present regardless of production disruptions or not. My main problem with these final episodes has to do with P'Fighter and P'Tutor's story line, the writers, not knowing how to have a conflict in the latter part of their story so as to stick to the rigid plot structure graph they were taught in film school, decided to do one of my most hated romance tropes; having P'Tutor break P'Fighters heart by pretending to cheat, because P'Fighter's father asked him to. It's such a frustrating trope not only in BL shows but romance in general. Why is basic communication so hard? Why doesn't a partner respect their significant others right to be informed and make choices themselves? Why does every damn love interest have to be a martyr?

Anyways, something else which bothers me about these last few episodes, is the weird sexual assault scene between P'Fighter and P'Tutor. Fighter literally forces his way into the others apartment, pins him down and starts undressing and groping him. And to think I was praising the show for not doing this sort of thing before hand. It makes rooting for the couple once they inevitably get back together in the final episode difficult and uncomfortable. Oh, well.

TO CONCLUDE: Poor first few and last episodes, but great from episodes 3-11. The script is weak and bloated, but heavily propped up by some great actors with some of the best chemistry in the genre. Overall, I would recommend watching this if you have the patience to sit through the weak episodes, and if you are a lover of the rival to lovers trope.

I understand my opinion might be controversial, because lots of people love this show. I don't mean to offend with this review, just put my thoughts to writing, is all. Thanks for reading :)

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