Sotus S (Season 2): Thai Drama Review

The Gist: Kongpob (Singto) is now in his third year at college, and is reforming the SOTUS system as the head hazer. His long-term boyfriend, Arthit (Krist), is beginning his post-college career at the company of his choice, but in the procurement department instead of his preferred production department. Kongpob and Arthit navigate how to maintain this next phase of their relationship while dealing with new friendships and interactions in their separate environments.

Additionally, M finally pursues a relationship with May and Tew grapples with a new freshman to try to get him involved.

My thoughts:

So, I have lots of feelings about this show. The first season was almost perfect in my opinion. Many of the same things I enjoyed about that season, I also really liked about this one. The representation is great and the romance is sweet (if not extremely slow burning - like extremely, get to episode 9 my darlings).

With that said, I think the central relationship loses some of relatable situations with its time jump. Arthit is clearly grappling still with announcing that he is dating a man to those who aren’t close friends. Even Kongpob has been keeping this a secret from his family over this time. With that said, Arthit still seems so uncomfortable in his relationship with Kongpob. If this had picked up right after Kong’s freshman year, I would have bought it. But how many people are dating for two years and don’t kiss each other good-bye in the morning? I love that they casually stay over at each others’ places, that is very college life to me, but at 7 episodes into the show, I was still waiting for a kiss ( again, get to ep 9!). For this relationship to be this longstanding, Kong shouldn’t be begging for a kiss here and there. I understand with the stigma that Arthit wants to keep it low key, but when they’re alone, we should see them closer. As Arthit was the one who took more time to adjust being in a homosexual relationship, it makes sense that he’s the one lagging, but after two years, to me, it just doesn’t seem believable that he’s still like this.

Speaking of slow going, dear lord my little M and May. How have you both not figured it out yet. May is clearly long over Kong and they’ve gotten so close, it just defies all logic that they aren’t dating at the beginning of this show. It seems that the writers slowed their relationship down a lot so that the viewers could see the confession scene. Yet, the buildup for that wasn’t intense, so it’s harder still for me to think that they’d gone two full years without having that conversation.

Jumping back to Kong, my sweet angel of a confused boy, he really messes up in the middle of this season. It is one thing to want to be close to your boyfriend, it is another to intern at his job and move next door in the same day without asking him how he feels about it. What really grinds me about this is that there’s not really a believable reason for him not to talk to Arthit about it. Once he explains it, Arthit understands, so there’s no point in having that conversation afterwards rather than before. It seemed uncharacteristic for Kong and somewhat like manufactured drama. I will at least concede that this is a really new situation for all of them and with Kong not getting the closeness of the relationship he’s looking for, it kind of makes sense that he overcompensates. With that said, I’m glad Arthit gets mad about it because that is not a healthy way to interact with your significant other and is somewhat manipulative by backing them into a corner. Since we know Kong’s intentions aren’t so sour, I’m willing to forgive it, but I would be extraordinarily unhappy in Arthit’s shoes.

In short, the central theme of this season is Arthit becoming comfortable in being who he is. This is such an important story to tell because anyone in a non-traditional (aka straight) relationship has to keep coming out to everyone they meet ever. Coming out is not a one-and-done. There will always be more people to tell, more reactions to anticipate. So, even after two years, Arthit is facing the same crisis he did in the first season: is he confident enough in his feelings for Kong to tell everyone about it. As in the first season, the answer was always going to be yes, but it was important for them to get to this point. In one of my favorite Japanese dramas, Mischievous Kiss, there is this one scene I adore where the wife has to finally break down and say that she's the only one who is chasing after her husband, he never comes after her. This unbalanced love is what's been happening to poor, sweet Kong and he finally has to give Arthit the ultimatum. Kong can't always just be the one chasing and by the end of this series, their relationship is more balanced.

I am going to talk about the side characters for a bit. Earth is my favorite. She comes off cold at first but is a great ally for Arthit. I was so worried about a love triangle between her and Arthit, but she catches onto his feelings for Kong immediately and that's what makes her a great friend. She supports them, but lets him come out to her in his own time. I also love her relationship with Tod, which builds slow, but is very cute.

Yong and Nai are probably my favorite side couple. Yong has that same great longing that Kong is always able to portray. You can just tell how happy he is being near Nai and how preoccupied he is with Nai when they're apart. I think these two had fabulous chemistry and I really wished for slightly more concrete resolution between them.

Tew really gets a chance to shine in this in his relationship with Day. The progression is a bit odd, Day really flips from super not interested to totally sweet, but they work hard to get to know one another. Again, I was waiting for a blunt confession, but it goes a little under the radar.

Also, my favorite Prae gets a hot girlfriend. It's a quick scene, but I appreciate the world letting me know she is loved because she deserves everything!

So... I think this show had a less clear trajectory than season 1, but the great chemistry between Kong and Arthit continues to carry this show. Kong is so bold its like he is a lion hunting down a wounded Arthit. Arthit doesn't stand a chance. Arthit continues to be shy and adorable.

I will also say the flashbacks to their intervening school years are a true delight. It's great to see how they got comfortable in their relationship. I love it when Kong can't concentrate on his studies because he is so obsessed with Arthit and when Arthit carries Kong on his back.

My biggest gripe about this season is that the show takes the time to get Kong's father to like Arthit, but they never come out to his family. Kong is so close to his family and this is such an important step for queer youth, but they never tackle that hurdle together. By the end of this, they are still lying. This is totally understandable and again, very relatable for these types of experiences, but I would have liked to see that resolved before the end of the show.

So...

So, I felt a little like the show ended too quickly and then I discovered Episode 5 of Our Skyy. Our Skyy is a BL (Boy's Love) anthology that does a special episode for many BL couples. This is truly where I feel like we get the closure. Spoilers and please do yourself a favor and find this episode for yourself to finish up watching this. Kong gets accepted to his study abroad program in China. The two are finally living the way you'd expect, lovingly and in sync. This is clearly a huge hurdle for them to tackle and while Arthit wants Kong to follow his dream, it makes sense that this is a painful time for them both. I love that the show finally gets Arthit to deal with being shy and kiss Kong in public when it matters. When Kong pulls out those rings I nearly died. More importantly, I don't have to worry about my boys because they get through the separation and are together again. I truly feel at the end of this episode that my boys can conquer anything.

Speaking of my boys, I didn't watch the special episode at the end of season 1, so I went back to watch it at the end. Oh boy, what a delight! Singto and Krist are clearly very close, even in real life. You can tell that they took the time to get comfortable with each other and now like working together. All of the cast members talk about how there is no space between them and that is a real treat for the fans. I read lots of reviews saying that the chemistry between these two is one of the best. I haven't watched too many BL dramas (although now that I know it is a thing, I definitely will!), but I believe it. They worked really hard to bring this romance to life and I feel a little empty now that it is over.

Final Grade: A-

SOTUS the Series: Thai Drama Review

The Gist: When Kongpob (Prachaya Ruangroj) enters college in the faculty of engineering, he also has to undergo the hazing system at the school: SOTUS. The system is run by a group of third year students, lead by head-hazer Arthit (Perawat Sangpotirat). Kongpob immediately clashes with Arthit in defense of fellow freshman and the two start a longterm stand-off during their hazing session. Yet, Kongpob becomes attached to and concerned for Arthit, despite Arthit’s constant berating, as he begins to see that Arthit does have a good heart and has good intentions towards his cohort. Yet, does Kongpob have any hope that Arthit will return his feelings?

Love:

1. Kongpob

I am in awe of Kongpob as a character and of Prachaya Ruangroj as an actor. I was so excited to watch a drama with a queer romance. When every drama heroine is the same (poor, plucky, you know), Kongpob was a constant surprise and delight for me. He looked at Arthit with persistent longing that it was actually almost painful to watch, which is important for a show with rather low levels of skinship. The piece that really set him apart for me was the way he would come out and say the most outrageous things to Arthit with so much confidence, while clearly being so unsure of his relationship with him. The whole thing had me thinking, Kongpob is smooth as freaking silk!

Scene - Arthit gets a haircut
Arthit: How does it look?
Kong: You look perfect.
Arthit: You don't have to sweet talk me. This is serious.
Kong: It's so bad.
Arthit: What? Really?
Kong: Me. I'm so badly stunned.

Me: O.O I am also badly stunned.

I want to talk about the confession scenes because I think that Prachaya Ruangroj really shone in all of them with small but extremely effective choices.

Spoilers from this point on…

The first, when Arthit is staying in Kongpob’s room, Kongpob waits until he thinks Arthit is asleep and just pours his heart out to him. Prachaya Ruangroj does a great job of imbuing all of the pain, confusion, and hope when Kongpob is trying to explain this. This scene felt exactly like every first love confession, with just the raw emotion of fear but not being able to hide it all inside.

The second, when he’s on the balcony and Arthit finally calls him, Kongpob is squeezing his fist so tight, that you can tell it is actually physically paining him to get the words out. It was expertly done and when Arthit panics and hangs up the call, and all Kongpob’s worst fears come true, I was just broken inside.

Finally, when we get that long awaited kiss, Kongpob smiles so hard mid-kiss. The chemistry between these two just pops. Arthit does this little pleased, pensive v-shaped smile when he gets embarrassed around Kongpob. It’s all a great treat, but very relatable.

2. The Side Characters

I'm going to take a moment to love on Prae (Ployshompoo Supasap). She's a gorgeous, strong woman and as Kongpob is going through his whole love situation, she has the great courage to come out to her friends. I really think the nuance of this show's treatment of Prae allows this to normalize queer people for Kongpob. Not every girl within eyesight of Kong wants him. Prae has her own goals and is confident in herself and who she is. I have mad love for Prae.

M (Thitipoom Techaapaikhun) and May's (Neen Suwanamas) romance is also skillfully portrayed. May pining after Kong and M pining after May is just a circle of pain waiting to happen. Still Kong gives her a respectful if but firm no and M handles it perfectly. He is there to comfort her, let her know he's interested, but gives her the space to make her own decisions. It's all very healthy and still sweet. My only complaint about this pairing is that we don't really get to see them together. In fact, most of the girls are written off the end of the show. Still, it was great to see M overcome his shy side to make an effort for May.

Waad(Teerapat Lohanan)/Prem(Chanagun Arpornsutinan). After getting off on the wrong foot, Prem comes to Waad's rescue. They are so sweet to each other afterwords. I love the way their interactions change, however, it seemed to me a bit like they were flirting and the show never fully explores that. That really is the great thing about watching a queer romance: anything is possible. This is another thing that never gets explored much beyond surface-level, but was still a delight.

Knot (Ittikorn Kraicharoen) is the mature one of the group. He is a little underwritten early on, but is just a rock for Arthit while he figures out his romance. Knot doesn't let Arthit stew and in multiple scenes lets him know that he can talk to him about anything. And he means it! When Arthit finally takes him up on it, he is supportive and serious. He takes Arthit's problem sincerely and gives him excellent advice, the same way he would about a girl problem. Representation is so important in media and as it is in important for the gay teens specifically to see themselves represented, it is also so important to have representation on how to be an ally. People can't sort through life alone and it was great to see Arthit have someone he can lean on while he sorts out what loving Kongpob truly means for him.

3. Healthy Handling of Rejection

I will continue to sing Konpob's praises. As an avid drama watcher (obviously), I am used to the characters undergoing rejection to stop eating, fainting, making themselves sick, not taking no for an answer, and a whole other lineup of very unhealthy behaviors. When Arthit pulls back from Kong, he takes some time to cry it out and be depressed, before deciding that he needs to find a way to move on and respect Arthit's decision. But he also takes the time to respect himself. When Arthit comes back to him, Kong sets the boundary that they can't just be casual friends without giving Kong too much hope. I was so proud of him because handling heartache at that age is almost impossible (or you know, any age) and he was able to be respectful of his needs and Arthit's.

So...

I only have on real complaint about this show. It's that in the ending episodes when M tells Kong he didn't know that Kong liked men, he says he doesn't, he only likes Arthit. I feel a little like this is doing the characters a disservice. Bi characters don't really get the visibility they should and it seems that both Kong and Arthit are likely bi and I would have liked to see that more fully embraced. With that said, I bet this is a very real experience for some bisexual people, when they have their first realization that they are interested in someone in particular.

In short, I simply adored this show. It was somehow short and also a bit of a slow-burn romance. This is the type of show you can easily watch in one sitting. The chemistry between Arthit and Kongpob was beautiful, sweet, and relatable and Kongpob was the best kind of protagonist. Looking forward to re-watching this and diving into the second season soon!

Final Grade: A++

CDrama Review: Well-Intended Love

The Gist: Young, aspiring actress Xia Lin (Simona Wang) is mortified when she is diagnosed with leukemia. Determined to not let this diagnosis prove fatal, she tracks down her only matching bone-marrow donor, CEO Ling Yizhou (Xu Kai Cheng) to save her life. He agrees, with one stipulation: she has to agree to marry him for two years. With no other options, she agrees. Although she tries to convince herself it’s only an arrangement, she starts to fall for Yizhou and the fairy-tale life he offers her.

OK. Spoiler time..

The Real Gist: Insane psychopath becomes obsessed with a girl who is nice to him one time, stalks her for several years, forges her medical documents to trap her in a marriage with him.

Yeah. Really. Which is beyond a shame because I actually enjoyed this show for the most part until this reveal. However, the depth of this deception totally undoes all the kindness he shows her. All of the rules he places on her, the contract he makes her sign, the loyalty of his friends, all suddenly seems sinister. I don’t mind a good psychopath, but let’s call it what it is. Ling Yizhou doesn’t just have some quirks, he has no real understanding of anyone but himself. 

To Xia Lin’s credit, she does not take this lying down. She freaks out and calls him out for every insane thing he has led her to believe and he traps her inside their home! He truly does not care for how she feels, only that he gets to keep her. I am so proud of her for standing up to him and not letting her feelings get in the way of the abuse he’s put her through.

Because that is what it is. Ling Yizhou stalks her and then gaslights her for her entire marriage. I was waiting for him to show some remorse, but he says he didn’t think through how this would affect her and then proceeds to tell her that he would do it over again given the chance. To me, this shows that Yizhou is a literal psychopath because he lacks the basic empathy to think from another person’s perspective (especially someone he claims to love). No one with any sense of empathy or compassion would be able to do this cruel chess game.

There is a huge issue here with consent and agency. Yizhou does not give Xia Lin any chance to make a choice with him. And the crazy part is, he didn’t even try to give her one. He is capable of kindness, and he’s good-looking, and rich and can even help with her career, but instead of earning her trust, building a relationship, and asking her out like a normal person, he forces her hand. It’s taking the hate-to-love relationship SO far. He doesn’t want to put in the effort to date her on her terms, so he plays house with her until she normalizes it.

All the sacrifices you think he’s making for her just aren’t real. All the teasing he puts her through is really just him controlling her. Honestly, this is the first time I am fully on the side of the villain. I am not going to watch this show long enough to figure out what his deal is, but he was in the right to let Xia Lin know that Ling Yizhou is not being honest with her with something as serious as her health.

Also, can we talk for a quick minute about how she bites him to get him to let her go AND HE DOESN’T. I think the writers were trying to make this seem romantic in that he would stay by her no matter what. But when it’s in the confines of her being held hostage, it’s honestly just scary. She is physically fighting against him and he does not let her go.

I don’t think all drama romances are healthy. Many leads behave irresponsibly and unkindly and childishly. However, this is beyond anything I have witnessed before and I just can’t personally forgive a character who is so morally reprehensible. Everything I thought I liked about him just seems distressing now. I’d prefer to finish this show thinking that she just left him because she deserves better.

Finally, he had a chance to come clean with her. That wouldn’t have really made it better, but it would have at least shown some ounce of self-reflection. If he eventually gets to that point in the show, I don’t need it. There are better shows out there with less toxic overtones.

And to think - I was actually worried about the amnesia plot. Ugh. No Bueno.

Final Grade: F

KDrama Review: Cheese in the Trap

The Gist: Poor college student Hong Seol (Kim Go Eun) just wants to live her college life under the radar when she makes a startling discovery: popular senior student Yoo Jung (Park Hae Jin) is faking some of his emotions and is causing discord between students behind the scenes. Unfortunately, Yoo Jung catches Seol watching him and sets his sights on making life difficult for her and when she can’t take anymore, she takes a leave of absence from school. However, when Seol returns to school, Yoo Jung seems determined to be nice to her (much to her terror). Can she trust that his change of heart may be genuine?

I am going to start this review by saying I am incredibly biased. I have a huge reserved space in my heart for Park Hae Jin. Besides being so gorgeous it’s distracting, I think he is an incredibly talented actor. I was impressed with his character in Bad Guys, as a psychopath you actually feel rather bad for. When I found out the lead in this show was a sociopath and it was played by Park Hae Jin, I knew that he could lend the complexity that this kind of character requires (prideful, victim, damaged, hurt, caring, and bold all at once). For this reason, I was always going to root for Yoo Jung, even when things got dicey.

In short, I am not a fan of Baek In Ho (Seo Kang Joon). I think there are legitimate arguments to be made from people who prefer to In Ho to Yoo Jung, as he is a much more typical drama lead and a more normal person. But, really, I disliked In Ho a lot so I’m going to start my review there.

I am also going to say that you have to spoil the ending of this show for yourself if you are going to have any hope of enjoying it. So, don’t worry about spoilers and let’s go.

Hate:
 
In Ha/In Ho

There is barely anything worth mentioning about In Ha. Growing up with her would make anyone a sociopath. She is totally despicable and even when she has glimmers of humanity, she is so selfish and out of touch and reliant on others, that it is impossible to find anything even quasi positive about her.

So, let’s focus on In Ho. The siblings have a complicated relationship with Yoo Jung, but In Ho just straight up pissed me off. I feel like there was a double standard with how this show treated In Ho and Yoo Jung.

While Seol ultimately forgives Yoo Jung for the one time he gets violent, In Ho handles all of his problems with his fists. Somehow Yoo Jung is painted as some psycho for beating up someone who threw Seol down stairs, but In Ho is just a scamp for trying to beat up her stalker? Not to mention, In Ho is the one who begins a fist fight with Yoo Jung. Yoo Jung shows incredible self-control around In Ho and In Ho just does whatever he feels like.

Second, the way he has this tell it like it is attitude, that is actually just him being an enormous jerk. Yeah, Yoo Jung isn’t always honest, but In Ho is off-handedly hurtful without even trying. When you finally find out the reason Yoo Jung is made at him all these years, my heart just broke. For someone In Ho ostensibly sees as a brother, he bad mouths him without even trying. Worse than that, I’d have to think of how In Ha would be if In Ho didn’t degrade her constantly. From their youth to adulthood, In Ho tells her she isn’t talented, while he’s a genius, and that she has no prospects in life. Of course she is a dependent psycho, he doesn’t care about her at all. And then he just leaves her! Yes, I get him not wanting to stay in the house after his accident, but he doesn’t give a passing though to what that would do to In Ha. Of course she’s attached to Yoo Jung - he has to defend her to In Ho and is not outright cruel to her. Honestly, In Ho managed to seriously damage both Yoo Jung and In Ha, without being able to process FOR YEARS, why they might be angry with him. Don’t get me wrong, Yoo Jung has problems, but he at least understands why In Ho is angry, he just doesn’t think he’s right.

What really was the nail in the coffin for In Ho in my esteem is the piano stuff. I had some measure of sympathy for In Ho after learning about his accident because I thought that’s why he wasn’t playing piano… and then in the middle of the show, he just decides to play again. WHAT? WHAT? WHAT? So, instead of taking the time to heal and get back to what he cares about, he sulks for years and picks it back up when it suits him, while blaming Yoo Jung all this time. At some point, at least, he realizes he’s been wasting years he could have been pursuing this, but I’m with Yoo Jung on this one, he is drawing out something bad that happened to him and using victim mentality to prevent him from doing something he cares about. That lost him all credibility for me. I’m not saying what he went through wasn’t bad, but I thought he was robbed of piano playing forever and he wasn’t. Then, to satisfying his own feelings, he beats up Yoo Jung even though it damages his hand. I mean, how thick can you be?

Let’s also not forget about the way he clings to Seol. Yes, he is allowed to have friends. But seriously, in the whole wide world, he has to cling to her? After he figures out Seol is Yoo Jung, he is again, not mindful of hurtful things he says about either of them and their relationship. He knows this is going to put her in an awkward position, but doesn’t ever leave her alone, after it’s clear that she is not leaving Yoo Jung (not that that should have mattered). She’s a big girl, she can make her own decisions. They should have had a passing wave at most. But he sticks around until she considers him a friend, going as far to work at her parents restaurant (seriously? I mean, I know he needs money, but that seemed so tasteless to me. Go work at your enemy’s girlfriend’s place. Classy). And he has some audacity to feel bad when he starts to like her, even though she made her feelings clear long ago. It really validates how uncomfortable Yoo Jung is about him hanging around Seol. In Ho really does just feel entitled everything that Yoo Jung has. It’s gross.

At the end of the day, I was just bored with In Ho. I found Yoo Jung to be a unique and complex character and In Ho was just so… ordinary. Once we got into his piano stuff, I just started skipping his scenes and the drama didn’t suffer from it at all. Again, I know I’m biased because I love Park Hae Jin, but I didn’t even feel conflicted between the two of them. Thumbs down from me for In Ho.

Love:

Yoo Jung and Hong Seol

I think these two were perfectly cast and played their characters beautifully. I love that Seol is so appropriately wary of Yoo Jung at first (smart girl), but she really works hard to understand him. I like the moment where he stays over and they actually kind of see each other for the first time. Yoo Jung needs an incredibly understanding and forgiving girlfriend and she is that for him.

More than that though, I feel like he supports her in a way that others don’t. One of my favorite embodiments of this is when she overhears her parents saying they’re going to take her tuition to pay for her brother’s school when he doesn’t want it and she runs out, and even though they’re fighting, Yoo Jung is waiting there for her to take care of her and understand what she’s going through.

Let’s talk about Yoo Jung. I was really wary about starting this drama after reading the reviews, but when I decided to, I imagined that Yoo Jung was going to be more…evil. Really, I feel that You Jung is a mirror. He is ruthless, but he doles out what has been dealt to him. He never attacks innocents (now whether or not he is attacking at the level they deserve is an interesting question), but always sees people for what they do. Which is why Seol is a good match for him, she is like a sponge. She never hits back (until she learns when she needs to). He helps her stand up for herself and she helps him absorb more. But really, the big thing is there is just nothing for him to lash back at her about. She is a truly kind person and on some level, they both recognize in each other that they are constantly bending over to keep others happy (family, fellow students, even friends) and that makes them kindred spirits, so that they don’t just have to bottle up how they feel anymore.

Honestly, what gets me most about this romance is just that it is bizarre. I love that they are overcoming unusual problems. Do sociopaths not deserve love? Even when they feel bad about it and are trying?

I’m going to say that, yes, he way crossed a line with the stalker situation.  That was upfront just despicable what he put Seol through sicking that guy on her. But I appreciate that she really corners him about it and makes him face what he’s done to her. In that Yoo Jung is a mirror, him caring about Seol, actually gives him a real chance to confront himself.

And on some level, that is why the ending works at all. He realizes that he is putting way to much on Seol and while he needs her, she can help motivate him to change. There is something really amazing about the growth he works towards in this show. When he realizes that he is still pulling the same shit and Seol will stand by him, he knows he has to take responsibility. I really admire that he recognizes his own victim mentality.

While we are talking about the ending…

Mixed Feelings:

Again, I do not think you can truly enjoy this show if you don’t know where it’s going. If you’re an In Ho fan, you should know now that it can’t be him. If you’re a Yoo Jung fan, the ending is going to feel a little unsatisfactory. I think he was right to break up with her, but I have two problems with the ending.

First, is that she just seems like she’s miserable and has been for years without him. Yes, she has some friends, but even In Ha gets her love story and Seol is just waiting. Is it good to Yoo Jung to change? Yes. Is Seol happier with him changing without her, leaving her alone, than she would be if he worked through it with her? I don’t think so and in that the breakup suddenly doesn’t make as much sense. I think he leaves her alone for too long. Now, he does sometimes do things to help her that are at the expense of others and he needs to knock that off, but I think this show made a good argument for the two of them together and yet he leaves and In Ha stays??? It’s so bizarre.

Second, they don’t show him coming back!!! AH. I would have even taken a Goblin-style starting at each other ending (although a kiss would have been better). While, I like that they hint that he’s coming back to her, after three years, he needed to get his rear in gear and go get her.

Actually, I also have a beef with the ending that isn’t about Jung and Seol. I can’t believe after all of that In Ho just leaves. Like he hangs around long enough to just make it impossible for everyone and then he finally does the right thing and bails. I feel like at that point, he should have made some sort of effort with Jung and In Ha. If he was just going to leave again, he should have just done that to begin with. I know then it wouldn’t be a show, but I just am so over In Ho.

I think if you’re prepared for this ending, you can appreciate it for what it’s trying to do. It’s an unusual ending for an unusual romance. I think if I hadn’t known it was coming, I would have been DEVASTATED.

So…

So, I think this drama was worth watching. I think In Ho and the ending are both kind of so/so (though many watchers appear to really like In Ho, which may also make you feel mixed about this show), but I think that Hae Jin and Go Eun have spectacular chemistry and I like them both so much. I really found myself rooting for their romance, even when things got complicated. It was funny to watch this show right after Love 020. It’s like this show was making up for Love 020’s total lack of conflict, but having SO MUCH CONFLICT. I will also say that this show has a very engaging and strange pilot/first episode. I loved it. It’s not perfect, but I am glad I watched Cheese in the Trap.

Final Grade: B

Thai Movie Review: Yes or No

I’m abandoning my usual format for this review as I can’t quite seem to organize my thoughts into neat “liked this” and “didn’t like this” boxes. I’m just going to talk about this.

Let’s start with a note about terminology. The subtitles on the version of Yes or No that I watched referred to Kim as a tomboy. I feel like this is not a totally accurate translation, but as I don’t speak Thai, I have to use context here. Tomboy in this movie, seems to include concerns about her that range from her being gay to her being transgender. I would say that Kim dresses more androgynous more than butch (which is what I originally pictured when reading the review of this movie) and is very adamant about being a girl. Regardless of what she wears or who she loves, she embraces being a woman. While we do know by the end of the movie (or reading the summary) that Kim is ultimately gay (or bi at least), she doesn’t seem to fully understand that herself at the beginning, so the way she dresses or presents does not appear to have much influence from that side of herself – at least, not consciously. All that is to say, I am going to keep using tomboy as the term to encapsulate all of this when writing this review, understanding that it’s a bit different from how I would normally use it.

In short, this movie is about roommates, Pie and Kim. Pie is conservative and therefore concerned when she meets tomboy Kim. Even though she wants nothing to do with Kim initially, the she warms over time as they develop their friendship and ultimately, their relationship.

In watching this movie, I was most profoundly moved by the vulnerability Kim shows. I somehow expected that because she is a tomboy, she’d be forcing a strong façade, but Kim never shies away from showing her insecurities. Whether its fear of the dark or her own feelings, Kim is constantly opening herself to the others around her, in spite of the fact that people treat her poorly. Although Pie is cruel to her for a long time, Kim waits her out and never lashes out at her. Sadly, this does seem to speak to how much she deals with this, but more than that, it speaks to her bravery and strength. Kim seems almost childlike, she wants acceptance and approval, which makes the way people behave towards her even worse.

In this regard, it is much harder to feel for Pie. She starts this movie at a place of ignorance and fear and it is really only through jealousy that she notices her feelings for Kim may be more than friendship. Between the two, Pie displays more outward confidence, but behaves much more cowardly when it comes to Kim. Yet, coming from a religious family, knowing that level of judgment so close to home, it actually takes a herculean effort to accept others and yourself when you’ve been told that it’s not right. In that way, I think Pie actually deserves a bit of slack. It takes her long than the viewer would like to be upfront with herself and others, but she does a good job of being honest with Kim about her fears. Kim, more than anyone, should know what signing up for a romance with her will mean. It’s easy to say that love will win out, but that can be impossible when the world is tearing you down and apart.

On that note, let’s talk about Jane. Jane owns her sexuality, but that’s really the only positive thing about her. Jane’s painted as a drama queen and it is heavily implied that she jumps rather quickly from girl to girl when it comes to love. There is some blame to be laid on Kim, who is not upfront about the fact that she is not interested in Jane until it is way too late, but Jane can see what is happening between Pie and Kim and constantly interferes. While she doesn’t explicitly know the extent of their relationship, it is not OK to just come into someone’s room and kiss them when they can’t see you. I have no sympathy for Jane (which is probably intentional) and waited for her to realize that what she did was wrong, but her own selfishness really makes any redemption for this character almost impossible.

On the flip side, there are supportive characters. The people that Kim is surrounded by are truly heartwarming. I love that Auntie Inn is very upfront with Kim and helps her work through issues that are difficult for her to handle on her own. Furthermore, we don’t get to see Kim’s father much, but his immediate acceptance of Pie is a nice balm on the wounds that get torn open at the end of this movie.

In terms of bravery, this movie embodies it just by existing. As far as I can tell, this is one of the first movies with these themes in Thailand. It is important for people of all kinds to feel accepted and seen and representation in the media is an important part of that. For all the dramas I watch, especially those with the cross dressing, seeing those with true LGBT representation is rare. Especially, all things considered, at its heart this movie is just a romantic comedy. The chemistry between our leading ladies and a script with vulnerability and heart made this a lovely watch.

Final Grade: A-

CDrama Review: Love 020

*Available on U.S. Netflix Streaming*

The Gist: If you are looking for a show with misunderstandings, love triangles, rich moms who think no one is ever good enough for their sons, drawn out fights, and lots of suspense… Love 020 is not the show for you.

When computer major and department beauty, Bei Weiwei (Zheng Shuang), is approached by a talented player in her online game to be her new in-game spouse, she accepts, not imagining that the one behind the character is campus celebrity Xiao Nai (Yang Yang). Xiao Nai, though, fully understands what he’s doing, having seen Weiwei play in a cafe and admiring her instantly. After getting to know each other their game, eventually the draw to meet is too strong and they must take their relationship offscreen.

Love:

1. Modern/Unique Relationship

I love the premise of this show. There is something so modern about a relationship that begins by gaming together. As someone who games with their SO, I know how fun and engaging it can be to get to know someone through playing together. I like that this show never looks down on gaming, but uses it as a unique framework for developing this relationship. I love the costuming and looks of everyone as their characters and really enjoyed the gaming sequences. I was even pleasantly surprised at how good the effects looked.

But beyond that, this relationship is portrayed really differently than a lot of drama relationships. There is a tinge of her snagging the  celebrity and the whole world is jealous, but that’s not really what this show is about. This show is more about the small things: getting to know each others’ friends, supporting each other through work, meeting the parents, planning a future together, and above all else, trust. The amount of trust in this relationship is staggering. You get used to the usual misconceptions and self-doubt that dramas normally portray, that this is a total breath of fresh air. It’s actually a fairly relaxing watch because you know that no matter what problem arise, what mischief gets thrown at our character, they are always on each others’ side, unconditionally. They believe each other first and foremost and tackle their problems together. These are the types of relationships that should be role models for young girls (and boys) out there.

2. Bei Weiwei

Oh, my love for Weiwei knows no bounds! While I will always love a show with a poor but plucky protagonist, it’s nice to have a girl who is respected in her field, considered skilled and talented, smart, capable, and pretty. I know that last one seems petty, but shows are always trying to convince me that pretty girls are ugly (like Love 020 does with Weiwei’s roommate Erxi), that it’s nice for once to have one just come out and say, yes, she’s gorgeous! Because she is!

But, I think what I love most about Weiwei is that she handles her own problems (and Xiao Nai encourages her do so). When rumors float around about her, she faces them directly and head on, even though she is a quieter personality. She is no damsel in distress and does not need her boyfriend to fight her battles for her. He always supports her, but the one time he does confront someone for her, he apologizes for it.

I love Weiwei and her and Xiao Nai have such amazing on-screen chemistry together that every scene between them feels effortless. I love that she is never jealous of how much he works, but just tries to support him as much as possible. I think despite how shocked she is at first, she is a very confident person in herself and her relationship.

3. The Cao Guang Problem

Let me start off by saying it’s been a long time since I disliked a character the same way I disliked Cao Guang. He contributes to rumors and thinks he has some right to Weiwei. Even when she is very clear with him how she feels, he does not accept her answer. Even when she start dating Xiao Nai, he doesn’t totally let go. He’s not above using her friends to get at her and is all around just problematic and incredibly selfish.

For a show with minimal conflict, his behavior is the catalyst for probably the largest issue. All of this led me to have some amount of dread about his interactions with Erxi (Weiwei’s roommate). She likes him, but I felt like he is in no way good enough. That was something I was just prepared to not like about the show.

Spoilers to follow: Yet, I was pleasantly surprised how they handled this situation. Having Weiwei confront him was insanely satisfying. He totally deserved to have someone ask him genuinely what is wrong with him because he’d been behaving like a spoiled, hurt child. And you know what? He gives both Weiwei and Erxi space. He apologizes and makes things as right as you can with Erxi, but then he backs off. This is especially meaningful because that’s the biggest mistake he makes in the first place, is not backing off when Weiwei says she’s not interested.

I like that the show time jumps a bit because I think the only thing that really redeems him is having time to change. If this show had moved right into a romance with Erxi, I would have resented it as everyone was hurt by what happened. Ending this show with a hint of a relationship to come for them was the right flavor and extremely tactful. They say time heals all wounds and if Cao Guang used his time to learn how to treat people, then I’m all for some redemption for him.

4. Meng Yiran

Ostensibly, Yiran is supposed to be some sort of love rival for Weiwei, but she never stands a chance (at all). Yet, Yiran is not really the villain of the show. Her friend Nana is horrible and constantly giving her bad advice, but I’d say Yiran’s biggest flaws are jealousy and listening to people who don’t have her best interests at heart.

Some more spoilers - ultimately, I like Yiran. Unlike Cao Guang, for the most part, she accepts at a certain point that Xiao Nai likes Weiwei and lets it drop. She really only comes back in when she legitimately thinks something is wrong. Her friends go out of the way to bully Weiwei, but Yiran doesn’t really. By the end, I did just kind of feel bad for her and for that reason I was happy when she realized she wanted better friendships and a sincere relationship. She makes things right with Weiwei before heading off to a fresh start. I think that’s about what this character deserved, so I thought it was well handled.

5. K.O. and Hao Mei

I was totally stumped at the beginning of this relationship. I could not figure out if K.O. was something nefarious (and I mean, he kind of is?) or why Hao Mei liked him so much. I really was just confused and constantly, wondering… are they going to…? will they? won’t they? Because let’s face it, asian dramas are not on the forefront of LGBT representation, so while the show left it kind of vague, the two of them are definitely starting some kind of relationship by the end of the show. There is a closeness that is very cute between these two. K.O. is not expressive, but is constantly taking care of Hao Mei and Hao Mei is jealous of other people interacting with K.O. and is proud of him, not to mention K.O. protects him. Essentially, while I would have loved for this to sprout to full blown romance, I am happy at the groundwork laid for a relationship for them.

6. Let’s Talk About That Ending

Spoilers, obviously. So, this show has always been incredibly grounded and the ending is no different. Much of the last episode is dedicated to Xiao Nai getting Weiwei’s parents’ permission to marry her and then bringing their families together. I didn’t even mind that we didn’t get to see the wedding because the scene where Nai is helping her put on her wedding dress is sensual, intimate, and just touching. Not to mention, her dress is a red gorgeous thing that instantly brings back memories of her character’s red outfit, reminding the audience of the roots of the relationship. She looks all at once not totally done up, because she’s at home freshly showered, and so authentically beautiful and happy, that it’s a lovely wrap to the show. The two of them are building their home and life together and you get to see just enough of it to feel satisfied. Finally, it was a joy for him to bring him back and walk her through where he first saw her. They muse on how they may have missed each other and it really is such a wonder that there relationship worked out the way that it did.

7. Xiao Nai

This seems a little low down on my list and that’s only because Xiao Nai is the closest thing this drama has to a trope. He’s not overly rich, but he’s well off, and he’s gorgeous and great at everything from IT to basketball. Yet, despite this, he seems incredibly grounded. He doesn’t care that everyone is looking at him, isn’t embarrassed by how much he likes Weiwei, how inexperienced he is at romance. He has a great balance of dry humor, he loves to mess with just about everyone, and sincerity, so that Weiwei is never left doubting his feelings for her. He cares about whether her friends are taken care of and that her parents like him. He works a lot, but makes sure that Weiwei is never feeling less than cared for. Most importantly, though, we come back to the trust issue. When anyone casts doubt on Weiwei, he stands by her, forever, and that is what truly makes him gorgeous.

8. The Support Systems

I love the friends on both sides of this show. Weiwei’s roommates are totally her number 1 supporters when she gets with Xiao Nai, rather than being jealous that he wants her. They care for each other and watch each other’s back. Erxi and Weiwei do have some issues to work through, but the sincerity of their friendship is evident and you can see how important it is to both of them. Likewise, Xiao Nai’s friends are loyal and funny and they immediately embrace Weiwei as family. There, again, is barely any jealousy, but good natured love for each other. I like that Weiwei and Xiao Nai take the time to get to know each others’ friends (OK she gets to know his friends more, but still). This is something I feel like gets overlooked in a lot of drama romances - they’re so concerned with developing the relationship that they don’t incorporate their lives together. It’s one thing I like particularly about Meteor Garden and Love 020 does it better.

Hate:

OK, there is one single, solitary thing that I really didn’t like about this show. It’s small, but this show is so flawless that is stuck out to me. Tiny spoilers ahead. There is one conversation in episode 23 that grates on my nerves. Erxi and Weiwei have a falling out after Erxi realizes what’s been happening between her and Cao Guang in the game. In the attempt to comfort her later, Xiao Nai tells Weiwei essentially that she shouldn’t feel too bad because Erxi is just a small part of Wei wei’s life and he is her everything. It’s played straight, but that’s horrible advice. I think they were trying to get at the fact that he is a constant to her, but it ends up sounding like he is the only thing she needs… which isn’t right. It’s important for people to have strong friendships outside of their relationships. It’s even weirder for Nai to say that when his male friendships are so strong and important. He really should have said that they’d work it out. I did like him encouraging her that the two of them (Nai/Weiwei) wouldn’t need to fight in the future because they have other ways to solve their problems, but I wish he hadn’t followed it up with something so… immature. It also sticks way out because Nai is otherwise so reasonable, that it just tanked that scene for me.

I will say that this conversation is redeemed in the fact that he tells Erxi how much Weiwei misses her and how happy they’ll be to make up. I’m hoping something is lost in the translation of this scene, because I know he doesn’t feel like their friendship isn’t important (he even threatens Cao Guang about messing with their friendship), so it just seemed like a weird thing to say. But, I am dwelling on the tiny, tiny piece of an otherwise stellar show.

So…

Can you tell that I loved this show? Have I been holding it in? Yeah, it’s obvious, this show was a home run for me. I like shows that are happy, fluffy, and this one was totally different than the things I have been watching recently. I am actually feeling a keen sense of loss at finishing this show because I was enjoying watching it so much (I actually forced myself to space out several of the episodes so that I could savor the experience). I plan to actually watch the whole thing over again as soon as possible - the 30 episodes seem to fly by. For a show whose main characters don’t meet for 10 episodes, it sure is awfully compelling. It’s sweet, it’s healthy, it’s inspiring, it’s warm. Perfect for a winter night watch.

Final Grade: Super Double A+ Perfection

CDrama Review: Meteor Garden 2018

The Gist: F4 are the handsome, rich, smart, quartet of bridge players at Ming De University. Poor but plucky Dong Shancai (Shen Due) is thrown into their path when bad-tempered leader Daoming Si (Dylan Wang) crushes her phone accidentally. Rather than offering to pay for the damage, Si brushes Shancai off, forcing her to take drastic action. Si’s never had a girl quite like Shancai stand up to him before and the more time he spends with her, the more he softens. But Shancai is looking towards another member of F4, Huaze Lei (Darren Chen), who is much gentler and much quieter. When both start to fight for her affection, where will she land?

Side note to get started, Hana Yori Dango, the Japanese live action drama based on the the source material for this drama was my first live action drama, so this has nostalgia for me but I am also critical that it gets done right. The KDrama version has so many missteps and Meteor Garden 2 is one of my least favorite dramas of all time, so I was skeptical going in. I must say I am really pleased with this incarnation, so let’s get into the specifics.

Love:

1. The Casting

I am floored by how pitch perfect the casting for this drama is. Shen Yue is excellent as Shancai and I had already loved her in A Love So Beautiful. Still, I think the boys are really where this drama shines. Daoming Si has the perfect balance of sweetness and temper (which was the right note in the original MG). Lei has the gentle, sleepy vibe down pat, where it felt more like he was living the part rather than acting it. Even the side characters, Si’s fiancé Xiaozi and Shancai’s friends are pitch-perfect, supportive but not static. It took me a little bit to grow on Xiaoyou, who seemed overly quiet at first, but she gets fired up as the show goes on. Most importantly, Si and Shancai do have great on-screen chemistry, which only gets better as the show progresses. This is a great reinforcement of the development of their characters as they get more comfortable (and more desperate) with each other.

2. Toned-Down

While I do love the basic core premise of this show, there was always something sort of inherently despicable about F4. In the source material, they use their wealth and power to bully the students at their school, actively encourage, nee ordering students to attack each other. The Korean version starts off with Jan Di stopping a bullied student from committing suicide. YIKES.

MG18 took real effort to tone down the harshness of these characters. F4 is still popular and unattainable and Daoming Is still has an attitude problem, but they’re not monsters (like hire-someone-to-assault-the-girl-you-like monsters; still looking at you original Si.). I was also skeptical about making them bridge players - it was just more surprising and didn’t fit with my preconceived view of them than anything else - but it makes sense to give them a framework to challenge people. It makes sense that they get card challenges, they’re card players. Makes more sense than the F4 death threats.

Another tone-down I really like is with Shancai’s classmate, Li Zhen (Dong Xin). Minor spoilers - so Li Zhen’s character in the other versions is so obsessed with Daoming Is that she is willing to hire and beat up Shancai to get what she wants, and is really just pretending to be a friend. Li Zhen in this version does take some unpleasant action against Shancai, but it is out of frustration with their friendship, which has its problems. More than that though, Shancai forgives her and she becomes a good friend throughout the show. I love redemption and it was nice to have a version of this show that finally gives her a chance.

Speaking of classmates, I could not stand Qinghe in the original Meteor Garden. He is over the top and kind of useless. I liked that they toned him down in this version and while he still loves Shancai, it doesn’t impede the progress of the story. I also like that they strengthened their friendship. They stayed good friends through high school and now college, rather than reconnecting in the middle of the show. Qinghe is a best friend to Shancai and this version really sells that.

3. HURTS SO GOOD

So, fans of the original storyline will know that things were always going to get worse before they got better. Somewhere around episode 27/28, things are going totally sideways and while I longed for the happy ending, I loved the tears and the drama. More minor spoilers. I am obsessed with the rain breakup scene outside of Daoming Si’s house, I am obsessed with him throwing the necklace into the water and Shancai having a hysterical breakdown searching for it, and I am obsessed with Si’s drunken laughter turning to full on sobbing before a straight cut to credits! Just carve my heart out. Not to mention the heartache that both Lei and Meizuo go through in the course of this show. Some of the best moments of this show, I was sitting on my couch, tearing up over my poor babies.

4. Good Character Development

With a show this long, it has a lot of time to develop its characters and MG18 does not waste that opportunity. The chief among this is always going to be Daoming Si. You can see his reactions to things changing over the course of the show. He goes from violent and demanding things to working at them and keeping his cool. While this is definitely evident in his dealings with Shancai, it is even more so in his dealings with Xiaozi and F4. He tries so hard to let Shancai go, but he is up front with Xiaozi, twice, when he knows that things can’t work with them. I love the moment where he tells her to go find a good man. He doesn’t drag her along but validates her feelings. Additionally, Lei and Si have a complicated relationship, but time and time again they try to make space and accommodate each other, even when their feelings overlap. They may flare up now and then, but overall their relationship is really sweet.

5. Episode 13

So, I know this seems weirdly specific, but this is the episode that really sold me on their romance. When Shancai wants to give up, Si gives her some tough love, but then they just spend some time unwinding together playing cards, drawing on each others’ faces, and sleeping (I mean cuddling!). Although they are still a long way off from being together, it feels natural for them with each other. There is also this really nice moment where Shancai closes her eyes and would let him kiss her, but he backs off and decides not to. It’s good to see her growing more towards him and him growing more patient.

6. NO AMNESIA

Enough said.

7. Cute Cameos

Fans of the original will find a few familiar faces (and they're not very subtle about it). The mom in the original is the restaurant owner in London. It was so nice to have a few nods to the original. I also thought it closing out on the original theme music was a nice touch.

Meh:

1. Product Placement

So, I am not so naive as to thing a big show like this one won’t have product placement, but they really are hitting you over the head with it. I don’t know what beverage they are drinking, but boy are they drinking it always and always and always (and now I want one - so I guess I get it?). Also, they’re sure to talk about perfume and skin care. I understand what’s happening, but it would take me out of the moment every time.

2. Caina

OK, so this is not nearly as bad as all the side characters of the original Meteor Garden, but boy did we spend a lot of time on Caina. Play-boy F4 member Meizuo finally falls hard for someone and labors at winning her over, even though it’s immediately obvious that she’s totally into someone else. I really felt for Meizuo and this was good growth for his character, having him really experience heartbreak for the first time, but letting her go to be happy. Still, there are a lot of scenes between China and Terrence and I just did not care. I only cared about her in regards to Meizuo and that made all of those scenes painful. I admit, somewhere around the middle of this situation, I started fast-forwarding through all of their scenes. There was so much else going on in the story, that I just felt like we were wasting time. I did watch the last scene to see their romance wrap, but I didn’t really feel like I missed anything jumping those scenes, if you feel like doing the same.

3. Too Long to Fall in Love

I get it. There are 50(ish) episodes to fill. I love a slow burn romance, but we know that Shancai loves Daoming Si way earlier than she is willing to admit to him. I understand there are some challenges to overcome, but she spends way too long not being honest with herself that it starts to impact the pace of the show. I had this complaint about the original as well so at least I wasn't surprised about it. The good news is once she does come around, it's so cute!

4. Ximen/Xiaoyou

First - small complaint. Why did Xiaoyou cut her hair?? It was so cute. But that's besides the point. I wasn't really sure where we were going with this story line. Their romance has a lot of different endings based on the version you watch. Some spoilers. While I'm happy their romance worked out, I don't think their chemistry is as good as other characters on the show. Additionally, I don't think Ximen does enough to prove he's serious about Xiaoyou. She works so hard for him and after he admits his feelings, he just takes her on the standard date that Meizuo did earlier. That wasn't exactly screaming sincerity to me. I am glad at the progression of this storyline, but I did feel that Xiaoyou is too good for him. At least he knows it.

5. The Wedding

Spoilers! Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled that we finally get a wedding! The original teases that story before bailing on the amnesia story from hell, so it is nice to get some closure. More than that, the wedding prep episodes were some of the cutest of the show (will I even get over Daoming Si calling Shancai's mom, mom? no!). There are some weird points. What was up with it being like a surprise wedding? Why weren't her parents there? Or his mom? What was up with the weird dancing, dream sequence? The whole thing seemed so silly for no reason in a series of events that were really serious. Also, let's talk about Si's mom. I love that we get some redemption for her, but we never see her really apologize to Si or Shancai before moving on. More than that, they're doing this dumb hunger strike when Daoming Si has a backup plan he just never gets around to mentioning to her? I know it makes for dramatic television, but that whole episode just felt force for me. Luckily them jumping ahead in their marriage a bit to them visiting Lei was a beautiful wrap up.

So:

So.... I think that despite some minor qualms with the show, this is as close to perfect as any of the versions of this story have ever been. It handles it's length well, subtracting and adding to the story just right. The friendships and romances were true joys to watch. The cast chemistry is excellent and I found myself really looking forward to episodes of this show. I was really worried about the amnesia thing, which basically obliterated my opinion of Meteor Garden 2 in the original series, but it pokes a little fun at this before moving on (thank god!). All in all I found this to be excellent and I was so happy to watch another, great version of this show.

Final Grade: A+