Sequels are Challenging
This series came into being with a challenge. The first series "Until We Meet Again" was a great yet complex script with masterful direction which made it easy to keep the time shift between past life and this life organized for the viewers. This series has much of the same cast, the scripting is very weak with slow-moving progress in each storyline. The delayed rollout onto other platforms such as iQIYI was probably not the best strategy for this series. Had there never been “Until We Meet Again” this series may have had an easier sell to a wider viewership.
The secondary couples are what draw you back for follow-on episodes. When Samantha Melanie Coates (Manow) is in a series, she always brings fun and sunshine to every scene she is in. Her partnership with Bosston Suphadach Wilairat (Pruek, the third swim coach) is a very innovative (almost unexpected) match and one that I hope appears in a future series (not a third season of this current story thread--- let's end this here). Sood Yacht Patsit Permpoonsavat (Tul, a member of the swim team) and O Puwanai Sangwan (Wan, Win's older brother) are lively in interviews with a very cool vibe.
Benz Panupun Vongjorn (Prince) and Tae Weerapat Toemmaneerat (Bee/Bumblebee) the final secondary couple started out slow, but their momentum shifted in an un-noticed script transition. Prince introducing Bee to skin beauty products---well just too fun. If you haven't seen Benz Panupun Vongjorn Duean (Prince) in the series “Coffee Melody” (2022) it is well worth your time. I probably would have missed it but as we* were researching for other roles the secondary couples were in, we* started through his portfolio of work.
Much to our delight, when we* were seeking expanded portfolios for Born and Zee (from Cutie Pie and many other options) we* watched the comedy “Rose in Da House”, with Born and Zee plus others you will recognize from BL dramas. It was hilarious. We* rounded out our search last week by watching the "Be My Boyfriend 2 " concert. Both Boun and Zee were performing with 4 other BL stars in "boy band mode". Boun has a great voice. Seeing these actors in expanded performance roles makes you appreciate the full range of their talent. Today, someone sent me the trailer for the 2023 “Zomvivor Series”…another comedy with BL stars including Boun and Zee. The trailer was funny…mostly to see these actors as themselves in comedies is such a change…just watching their antics makes you laugh out loud.
Bottomline…we* got to episode 10 and will certainly see it through to the end, but unlike “Until We Meet Again” this won’t be a “re-watch” for us. Let me be very clear….this is just our view (and we review dozens of projects a quarter). This is in no way a criticism of the actors (which we like and now have viewed most of their full portfolios of work). In today’s marketplace, there is so much competition for a viewer’s time (and we are often asked “what have you watched lately you would recommend”. We* recommend what we have seen that felt at the end of the series/movie that it was time well spent. NOTE: This is one reason we* took the time to seek out the full portfolios of these actors. We* wanted to be able to make recommendations from their portfolios to give them continued visibility of their work.
*We clarified: Usually there is a small group who gets together for “viewings” of various types of movies/concerts/documentaries etc.*
The secondary couples are what draw you back for follow-on episodes. When Samantha Melanie Coates (Manow) is in a series, she always brings fun and sunshine to every scene she is in. Her partnership with Bosston Suphadach Wilairat (Pruek, the third swim coach) is a very innovative (almost unexpected) match and one that I hope appears in a future series (not a third season of this current story thread--- let's end this here). Sood Yacht Patsit Permpoonsavat (Tul, a member of the swim team) and O Puwanai Sangwan (Wan, Win's older brother) are lively in interviews with a very cool vibe.
Benz Panupun Vongjorn (Prince) and Tae Weerapat Toemmaneerat (Bee/Bumblebee) the final secondary couple started out slow, but their momentum shifted in an un-noticed script transition. Prince introducing Bee to skin beauty products---well just too fun. If you haven't seen Benz Panupun Vongjorn Duean (Prince) in the series “Coffee Melody” (2022) it is well worth your time. I probably would have missed it but as we* were researching for other roles the secondary couples were in, we* started through his portfolio of work.
Much to our delight, when we* were seeking expanded portfolios for Born and Zee (from Cutie Pie and many other options) we* watched the comedy “Rose in Da House”, with Born and Zee plus others you will recognize from BL dramas. It was hilarious. We* rounded out our search last week by watching the "Be My Boyfriend 2 " concert. Both Boun and Zee were performing with 4 other BL stars in "boy band mode". Boun has a great voice. Seeing these actors in expanded performance roles makes you appreciate the full range of their talent. Today, someone sent me the trailer for the 2023 “Zomvivor Series”…another comedy with BL stars including Boun and Zee. The trailer was funny…mostly to see these actors as themselves in comedies is such a change…just watching their antics makes you laugh out loud.
Bottomline…we* got to episode 10 and will certainly see it through to the end, but unlike “Until We Meet Again” this won’t be a “re-watch” for us. Let me be very clear….this is just our view (and we review dozens of projects a quarter). This is in no way a criticism of the actors (which we like and now have viewed most of their full portfolios of work). In today’s marketplace, there is so much competition for a viewer’s time (and we are often asked “what have you watched lately you would recommend”. We* recommend what we have seen that felt at the end of the series/movie that it was time well spent. NOTE: This is one reason we* took the time to seek out the full portfolios of these actors. We* wanted to be able to make recommendations from their portfolios to give them continued visibility of their work.
*We clarified: Usually there is a small group who gets together for “viewings” of various types of movies/concerts/documentaries etc.*
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