WHAT THE F*CK!
What the Duck should have been titled What the F*ck!This whole series is filled with a lot of 'what the freaking f*ck' moments.
I had high expectation for this series, after all its only one of the few that's not set in high school or university. In paper, that should have been a refreshing change, but instead what we get are bunch of cliches and annoying characters all rolled into one annoying series. Let me break it down by the shows couples (or triple).
First is Pop and Mo and Oat. Pop is a vain and an obviously gay guy but with a mustache of a martyr gf in Mo, who followed him in his dreamjob which he failed to get so he went for a catering job instead. This is where he met this despicable guy Oat, and because this is a BL series, of course he would fall for Oat even if nothing about this guy is worth adoring - not even a dose of redeeming quality. The fact that he dropped Mo's ass like its nothing and chose Oat is just a lazy storytelling.
Second is Pree and Rambo and Pent. These 2 (err 3) are so sexy and their sex scenes are just so hot that i wished they just made this series a soft porn movie with these 3 and remove all the other things, then id rate it a 10. Alas, they just have to give these guys speaking parts but all i can remember Pree and Rambo did was cry, cry and cry. I should mention that this couple ended their relationship because Rambo was supposed to marry this girl and Pree was so self-righteous that he cant see beyond his reasons. But then later, it was revealed that he was still inlove with another guy and is willing to pusue/steal it from his sister! And then he got the audacity to be more pissed off when he found out that Rambo had sex with other people while they were broken up. See i told you another 'what the f*ck'!
Third is the 3 stoogees. Like honestly, do they need these 3 stupid guys just to drive the plot? Their attempt (and the show's) to be funny always ends flat and these guys are really just annoying and nuissance. After watching the first two episodes, it took me months to move on to the next episode because i am just so annoyed by these 3 (and those bitchy flight stewards) that the thought of continuing watching this series just made me cringe everytime.
Did i mention that Pop is ready to give up on his dreams just because of a guy?
It is also worth mentioning that sitting through 20 friggin long episodes is just so hard to do because nothing really happens throughout. They could have condensed it to 6 or 8 episodes without losing its essence. Oh, and they left Season 1 without really finishing any storyline, meaning they are forcing you to sit through another 8 episodes which to be honest, is just so hard to do (Im trying and i really cant even finish season2's first episode after 6 tries)!
Ok, i already said way too much and i can probably say a whole lot more bad things about this series, and i guess no one would read this anyway, but if you are, and you are thingking of watching this, do yourself a favor and stay away. Just watch a rerun of Love of Siam.
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This review may contain spoilers
Since the series ended I will give my honest review on this drama. Long post ahead *warning: Spoilers*WTD really is WTF but in a good and bad way. This story was entertaining while at the same time frustrating. IT;s the kind of drama you watch when there isn't anything else going on, but still find yourself enjoying it. I will admit that I wasn't going to give it a chance but I changed my mind when I watched the second episode, only because it felt refreshing and the actors were so good with their chemistry. It's a must watch in my opinion if you want to take a break from Thai BLs that focus on school boys (I want to burn those darn blue school shorts I swear) and watch something where the actors are age appropriate and totally believable.
Lets talk about the Couples:
Pop and Mo: The same trope in many BL-specially in Thai BLs. Where we have a couple where the girlfriend is annoying or totally incapable of accepting the reality that the relationship she is in, just isn't working and instead of letting it go on good terms, they want to force it. AT first I kind of like their relationship and totally understood why Pop wanted to keep his relationship with Mo going. He truly cared for her and she for him, no doubt about that. However, once their feelings started changing, Mo should have taken a hike and saved her self some headache---She even had a prince waiting for her (that is his name LOL). It's hard to let go of a nearly 4 year relationship, but they were not in the same boat after each had their own careers to think about.
Pop and Oat: These two were seriously cute from the beginning. Oat was at times such a jokester and annoying, but underneath all that was a very sweet boy who didn't have a clue what love truly was and falling for Pop was the best thing that happened to him. Through his weird friendship with Pop, he was able to right his life in a way and redirect his focus from gambling to other things. While their sweet moments were few and slow, I liked the progression because it felt natural instead of forced. Pop still isn't sure about his feelings for Oat, but he knows he feels something for the big jokester. With that said, be prepared for a SLOW progression of their so called relationship*you've been warned*
Pree and Rambo: Talk about dysfunctional relationships! These two take the cake. I have been very critical of these two because I allowed myself to be annoyed by fans of Art the actor and how they think his character was being "used and abused" and it was really disappointing to see how people can't differentiate between fiction and reality. Art may be the cutest thing on this earth, but the character he plays is one of the most manipulative childish characters I have ever seen. He not only did not stand up to his father in order to save his relationship with Pree, but he also went onto sleeping with different people and later exposed Pree to potentially transmitted disease and to top it off continued to lie about it to Pree. I have said that I live for messy relationships, but I ain't going to lie and say I liked this one too much. What I did like about their relationship, is that this happens way too often in real life and many BL dramas don't even bother touching on these issues. Pree is not without faults, but in this relationship, he gave Rambo lots of chances to not only come clean about his cheating, but also with saving their relationship. Some people commented on how he was a "fault" for his failed relationship and I just didn't see it that way. Both had faults, but
Pree and Pop--while I may be in the minority here (I do like them as an end game if that were to be the case), I don't think it should be right for Pree to go after Pop since Pop dated his sister. I understand that Pree was in love with Pop first, but it was his own fault for not taking a step in confessing at the time. Still, a tiny part of me would love to see Pree happy even if it isn't with Pop. If Rambo gets his act together *which doesn't seem to be the case based on that last episode*, then maybe I might root for them to get back together, but as it stands, Pree is better off alone and trying to find what it is he wants in a partner.
All of the cast had great chemistry .
Music: I really really love the OSTs...The beginning song is so beautiful when the actor who plays Oat sings it in the last episode. His voice is quite pleasing and the slow take on the song was a nice arrangement. The ending song is also really beautiful and has such a sad melody that you know it will probably foreshadow the real ending of the series. *If you have read the novel or seen the spoilers, then you know what I mean*
Scenery, themes, etc...It was so nice watching a drama that wasn't in a school setting or in dark apartments.
There is more I want to say, but I'm going to watch the two last episodes again cause I know I missed some things.
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The main reason I got curious about it was all the fuss around MewArt (that I adore so much, as a couple and singles too) and also because of the work of Lazy Subber whose commentary made me laugh like nothing else xD
I will recommend this series if you're into something romantic and intriguing, but at the same time funny and easy (nothing too serious).
Also, this is way more explicit than half of the BL Thai dramas I've seen so far, at least in terms of physical interaction.
The age focus is also different: all the characters are already working and out of school/university.
However...
- the acting is so so. It aches me to say, but some scenes are not believable at all. I love all the cast, but they could have done way better
- the reasoning behind some characters choices is simply stupid and even though I loved the easygoing feeling of the main couple (Pop-Oat), i didn't get some part at all... and it wasn't because of the translation or a cultural barrier... it was just absurd.
- my full and total love goes to some sexy scenes (kisses and stuff), but I agree with some other opinions: it may seems fake. For me it wasn't the case, cause i was really involved and totally enjoying it xD (I sound like a pervert)
- I wish they spent more time on preeBo, analyzing Rambo's behaviour and Pree's one sided love for Pop better (they just threw facts at us, not giving any clear explanation or character analysis)
- I skipped many parts out of boredom (conversations between Pop and Mo)
- I hate Pent so much. I know he's a funny character, but I can't stand it... especially when he's with Rambo.
I must say I loved the bickering between Oat and Pop, and their story is very cute. It made me feel warm and cozy.
I'll not miss season 2, because I really hope the characters would grow and I'm so curious about the 2 couples.
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Now, after watching season one and patiently waiting for season two to be release soon. I regret judging the series from someone else's point of view because I really enjoyed watching it. It was hilarious, cute, and it had me going "WTF" from the first episode to the last. The original name of the series "What The *uck" really suits the show because the are lot of WTF moments that would leave you speechless. You know, the one that gets your fan-girl/boy heart melting down to the one that have you crying with tears.
Anyways, apart from that, the casting and music choice for this series was well thought out because everyone played their part perfectly. It was interesting to watch the relationship growth between the main couple and side couples. With every hug, fluff and kiss, my heart is at peace. I'm very happy to have given this series a try. The slow build and the cliffhanger at the end of the season is all worth it knowing season two is coming.
Please go try it out for yourself because you too will be going... WTF.
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At the beginning this seemed like a standard BL: full of the same tropes but a bit quirky and funny. By the end, it was such an interesting and complex study of relationships.
This was far more nuanced and sensitive than I could have originally foreseen, especially around the progression of the main OTP. By initially embodying all the standard tropes, it was so much more effective when the show basically upended them halfway through. I'm not even sure if Pop and Oat are going to end up together or even what "together" means. What is love anyway? seems to be the question the show is asking and it asks it in a variety of ways.
As a consequence of this more-nuanced storytelling, some of the humour of the earlier episodes was lost at the end and the anticipated Season 2 meant several plotlines weren't resolved. In fact, after 20 episodes, I was a little bit disappointed that the show didn't have an ending. It meant the final two episodes felt meandering and anti-climactic.
But for being so unexpectedly enjoyable to watch, this is a strong 8/10
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STORY:
- I found the main story between Oat and Pop to be rather dull. It had a slow start. I thought it would start to pick up at the halfway point, when the faintest hint of romantic sparks blossomed between them, but was quickly disappointed as the story continued to bore me. I think the major downfall (for me) was that their story was more character-driven, so I felt like we were mostly meandering aimlessly along with the two boys until the finale. Not a lot happened, yet they took up 20 episodes, so the story seemed very slow and static. It felt very slice of life, which I'm not a huge fan of. Unfortunately, I didn't get super into until the last few episodes, which was when all the drama happened.
- Pree and Rambo's story, and the other hand, was the motivation I needed to finish this series to the end, tragic though it was. It was dynamic, compelling, full of drama and angst. They gave me all the feels (both good and bad), and I grew impatient waiting for their next scenes. Their story actually had a plot line, with more dynamic obstacles, and I wish they could have had their own series to really flesh out what was given.
ACTING/CAST:
- Overall pretty good. Some of the minor characters were annoying, but I thought that the main characters did a good job.
- Again, Pree and Rambo were my favorites. The MewArt hype is well-deserved. Their chemistry was amazing right from the get-go, and they delivered the most scorching scenes in the drama (if you're looking for sexy, more mature romance scenes, they'll deliver). They made me fall in love and broke my heart. I also liked that, aside from Rambo's conflict with his father, both characters were unabashedly, unconditionally gay. Not gay for you, not confused about their sexuality, not ashamed of their sexuality: just gay. There's another character who fit this mold as well, which I also enjoyed. We don't always get this in BL dramas, so when it does show up, it's a refreshing treat that I take notice of. My only complaint is that we didn't get nearly as much screen time with them as I was hoping for, but I am happy with what I got even though it wasn't entirely filled with happy times.
- O and Strong performed well in their roles too. Of the two, I preferred Strong's character, Oat, who I found to be deeper and more complex. On the surface, he seemed like a happy-go-lucky goofball who didn't take anything too seriously, but we also saw some sweet, tender moments that tugged at the heartstrings as well. He has charm and charisma that made me root for him. Pop, though, I don't know what it was, but I just couldn't get on board with him. He was dorky and quirky and did have some cute, sweet moments, but there was just something about him that was off-putting to me and made it more difficult to truly care about him. He just seemed like a bit of a prat. As for their chemistry, for most of the series it felt very one-sided and bromance-y (in part because it was). But the few reciprocal romantic moments between them, as well as Oat's affection towards Pop, were very tender and sweet.
MUSIC:
- Pretty good. I'm not a music buff so I generally don't pay much attention to this. The only thing I'll note is that during some scenes the music was really loud, almost drowning out the actors.
RE-WATCH VALUE:
- The only parts I would re-watch are those revolving around Pree and Rambo (well, the early ones at least).
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This review may contain spoilers
I really, really liked this series. I don't know what made it stand out from the rest in my mind, but something about it just stuck with me, and I absolutely can't wait until season 2.Maybe it's because it doesn't take place in a school, or because the characters are all so unique and well done, or maybe it's just because of how in your face everything is, but I just really enjoyed every moment of this show. It is very funny, very authentic, but also tackles a lot of issues like bullying and consent and makes you feel a lot of things.
The side story I could have done without, though. While it starts strong (and like, whoa, what an introductory scene) it sours very quickly and the remainder of their story is just so incredibly sad and frustrating. It's kind of an odd choice to pair such emotions with the almost lighthearted and sweet love developing between the main couple. It was barely tolerable, but the main storyline just had me at hello and there was no way I wasn't going to keep watching. Also, while their story was intense and heartbreaking, I think they also touched on a lot of topics and explored a lot of important things, even if it was while one or both characters were sobbing uncontrollably.
I guess overall it was a bit more mature than I have seen in the BL shows I watch, and the story was super complex and pretty well-written. It produced a wide range of emotional response and conveyed a lot of important messages and came to a really good conclusion.
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About oat and pop: i dont feel much chemistry between them and at first it was worse but later on it gets better, oat character is selfish and he is stupid sometimes. i dont like how he acted hurting mo's feelings. his selfishness was clear during many times that he did something wrong and asked pop what he had done wrong, as if he didnt knew. pop he is really confused about his feelings, he doesnt know who he really loves and during that he hurts mo's a lot as well. i dont know how she could stand all of this for so long. except for this, i kinda like him sometimes and i feel like oat gets less annoying starting from the half of the series on. they lacked on better acting skills.
Preebo: They were the only reason that kept me from dropping this series. their scenes were the best and its a shame they didnt get more screen time as they are more interesting and have more chemistry than the main couple. i hope they have a character development during the 2nd season because they really need to change, specially rambo and stop his self destructive behavior. i liked their acting best.
Mo: Preebo and mo were my favorites from this series. it annoyed me how much she suffered through this and its a shame they kinda forgot about her during the season as she didnt get much screen time.
The intro song is awful, it gets so annoying after you listen to it a few times, i always skipped it.
overall, i definitely wouldnt watch this again. i feel like this can the an option if you dont have anything else to watch and is looking for BL, but besides that i wouldnt recommend. i skipped some scenes that were too annoying. the series got better after the 12 episode, but it got bearable, not amazing. i will watch the second season because im curious about the development of preebo and i hope they get more focus.
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This review may contain spoilers
Not Bad, But Not Good
Where does one even begin with this series? I haven't seen a series shitted on so badly like I have this one. I can't even remember the countless number of people who told me not to watch WTD, but of course, that made me want to watch it even more. To my surprise, it wasn't bad at all. Does that mean it was amazing? Not necessarily. Does that mean it's the best BL ever? Very far from it. Was it terrible and the worst BL known to man? No, not even close.Let's dive in.
The overall concept of the series was different and one we hadn't seen played out before. Most of my fascination was from that alone. We didn't see the boring university get-up or the high school uniforms, and I liked their wardrobe for the most part. I wish this show didn't take its time in sharing Mo's story. I was so disinterested and bored with her plot, not even because it wasn't BL, but just because it was lackluster. Had she had less screen time, we could've seen other stories more, and a little less of the rush that I felt in the end. I will say that I enjoy seeing Mild and Sammy, but damn, was that a harsh pill to swallow.
Speaking of Mo, as much as I really didn't care for her character, I will say that I feel extremely bad for her. How could she have been in a four-year relationship and not see the signs that it wasn't working? I got shivers of pure disappointment when Pop explained that he's only ever seen her as a sister. Why was that not a conversation had years before? It plays Mo out to look like a naive woman when I know she's better than that.
I didn't a hundred percent love Pop and Oat, but out of the two couples we were given, they were hands down my favorite. While Oat's personality was a little off and a bit much, he makes up for it in the end. The number one reason I think I connected to this couple is that I understand how it feels to be mothered. To feel those moments when you just truly feel loved by your mother is something so different and heart-warming. The way Pop made Oat feel when he did a simple task that reminded him of his mom made my heart flutter. I could feel the build-up of their feelings growing stronger for one another. it was more evident as each episode passed by. It was probably closer to the end when I felt it the strongest. I thought we were going to have another situation of rape on our hands, but it was nice to know it was something else that was respectful and genuine. Honestly, their love story wasn't perfect, in fact, it was pretty all over the place, but it was nice.
Pree and Bo get a gold medal for the best creative setup. While it was very vulgar and erotic, I will say that it helps to give us an understanding of how their relationship was with one another. As much as it was super cringey and uncomfortable to watch, it still was super natural and most likely what other couples do. The setup for this couple was probably the only thing I liked about them. They were both so toxic to each other, and are highly problematic. There was so much shit that went on between these two. At times, it was so hard to keep up with their drama. Bo was toxic and problematic cause while his boyfriend is ready to tell the world about their relationship, he wants to keep it a secret. While each person can only be ready on their own terms, it has to suck for Pree to have to constantly hide the truth from others. On top of that, Bo is worried he might have an STD after having sex with a random stranger, and instead of doing the right thing and getting tested, he just throws all morals out the door and gets intimate with Pree. As much as Bo sucked ass, Pree wasn't much better. Throughout the series we see him make moves and flirt with Pop. knowing damn well he was in a relationship. Does he have the right to not like that he has to keep it a secret? YES. Does that give him the right to cheat? NO. There wasn't a moment after the first encounter with this couple that I liked. By the next episode, I was fed up with them and ready to move on. When will someone give Mew a role where he doesn’t have to be the gay guy trying to find love with the internalized homophobic man, or even just a decent pairing where it’s not so toxic?
Overall, this show had its faults, and it had its share of mistakes, but for the most part, it was a fun watch and I liked it. So why is this show given such a poor rating and ugly reviews? Only one reason, the MewArt situation. Because of what the actors had going on outside of the show, people automatically labeled it the worst series ever, when in reality, it wasn't nearly as bad as everyone made it out to be. Most people were just bandwagoners. Some hadn't even seen the series and were promising that it was trash. Always go with your own intuition. While this series was far from the best, it was also far from the worst.
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so what the duck is divided into 2 couples and many pairing(interactions)
my favorite was oat and pop, both look about the same. they acted alright nothing special but i enjoyed their gazing and how fun their scenes were; for example at first oat was going in strong at pop but it was because he had no real "real" feelings but slowly he became very sweet and their chemistry is on point. i just in general kept on laughing at how stupid this two were... the bad stuff: Mo is a really good person great character but what the "d"uck is wrong with Pop and Oat she deserves more respect than she got. i understand why Oat was the way he was obviously jealous and those i had less trouble with because i found that funny. Also why would Mo stick stupid decisions all around.
Now for the couple that everyone loves :/
Ramboo and Pree both are really good actors man can rambo cry but this is also a complaint can this couple just hold their tears a little bit... their story is really unique and realistic in a way(not as in average but it can happen) i really enjoyed how it brought so many things into question i can't talk too much of it but trust me their is so many things that i would love to discuss. this is a toxic relationship people. i really hope they can do much more with them develop rambo more i really want to see him become better.
(a little more complains and stuff i find funny)
Okay so why it's a 10 for me. Oat is a genuinely funny, sweet and stupid character but smart at times when it's convenient. This reminds me of actual people which is super rare to find in dramas to be honest! (usually they are super perfect or stupid in a way too stupid way) but i mean he has so many faults and he rocks it he really really reminds me of most of my friends i could laugh at how stupid he was but also believe that he could think of plans that actually worked. (i fell in love with this character) and i just love how messy the process of making this show was. people leaving the poster being wrong promotion with other people, reshoots it feels to me like someone was constantly pushing them down and them standing again etc... so many problems so i'm glad it got made one story is fluffy and funny and the other is sad and very realistic there is something for everyone
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This review may contain spoilers
Hope one the character especially Art (Rambo) was given a 2nd chance. I don't want to see him cry. Everyone deserve a second chance right?.Just stay and be contented to the one you love.
Lot's people has their own best qualities, but if your happy, contented and respect/value your relationship. It will be last long.
For Pop and Oat will be stay funny and strong together.
Wish Oat will support Pop to follow his dreams everysince the start of the series Pop want to be a flight attendant.
For Oat, continue to become a better man not for himself alone but for their relationship.
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