This review may contain spoilers
Tharntype 2.0
If I had known this story was written by the same author as tharntype, I would have never even gave it a chance. What even is going on in this show... If you're looking for fluff, consensual relationships, non-toxicity, and a strong plot? Sorry, this ain't it. If you're looking for some good steamy scenes then this might be up your alley if you just ignore everything else wrong with the show!
To start off with the plot? There is none. If that's the kind of show you're looking for I'd advise you to skip this. Outside of the romances there is absolutely nothing going on, well besides the occasional bad guy that usually then gets involved in the romance plot. Dare I say the show is just complete fanservice, and cringe (not the good kind).
The one thing I'll give this show props for is the intimate scenes, they were well done in my opinion. However, when given the context and consent status of these scenes...
NO MEANS NO
STOP MEANS STOP
That's right about where my nice thoughts for this show ends.
The beginning of this show truly got me hyped, there was something so good about it that got me hooked in, and almost immediately all my interest dropped. It's like they spent all their time on a really good hook for their essay and didn't know where to go after that. And yet again this show delves into the galaxy of dub con and non con... they can't keep getting away with this. Whether including this is realistic or not, the problem is that non con is not dealt with the way it should be. It should be criticized and shamed on, but here it is romanticized and sexualized and there are no reprecussions for the perpetrator. I'm seeing some say that Phayu touching Rain without consent was okay because he didn't go the whole way?? If someone doesn't want to be touched, then you don't touch them, that's that. Now how does this show THAT DEALS WITH A CHARACTER WHO HAS BEEN SA'D simultaneously have dub con and non con?? It's just not adding up and giving me flashbacks to Tharntype that did the exact same thing.
Albeit that I did technically stop watching every second legimately at episode 6, I skipped around a bit having some hope left for this show. So maybe I don't get to have a say about this show because I didn't fully watch each and every single episode, but I also know right from wrong and how you should treat another HUMAN BEING.
1ST COUPLE THOUGHTS
For the first couple, they honestly didn't interest me. The first few minutes of the episode intrigued me and got me excited for them and that was about it. The chemistry between them was palpable (and i dont necessarily mean this about the actors) and got boring around episode 6 like im not getting concerned for Rain getting kidnapped like I should be.
I dislike the "I'm not gay, I like girls, oh but I'm gay for you" trope. People can question their sexuality and not be sure about what they're into, but I just think Rain's switch from saying he's not gay to falling in love with Phayu so short after that is too fast. If they hadn't had made the 2nd couple a sole focus for the other half of the series, they could've made Phayu and Rain a slowburn. Then again would I really want to see that.
2ND COUPLE THOUGHTS
I was really intrigued by the second couple for the longest time because I really liked Sky and their story didnt even start until ep 8 I think...? So, I watched that episode only to be imensely disappointed that Sky was essentially blackmailed by Pai to have a one night stand, consensual or not you don't have the right to have sex with someone just because you helped them....
Some more skipping and stuff, Pai not knowing what the word "no" means... I saw all of Sky's trauma and past in ep 13 and I honestly was about to cry at some point, this guy has been through a lot and deserves much better (and when I say this I AM INCLUDING PAI too, boy needs therapy before he gets into another relationship honestly...) and when Pai comforts him saying "I'd never do those things to you." ... Good for you Pai, good for you being able to do the bare minimum in a relationship, however instead of saying YOU would never do those things can you just comfort your boyfriend who is currently reliving, and willing to tell you, his trauma..
It's just so conflicting cause they can present good examples of a healthy relationship and comforting your partner who's been through trauma, such as the "tell me when you're ready", but then they mix it in with this weird shit that's just manipulative and while what they say is nice, I guess, I feel like it's just not the right time to say those things.
I GOT SO MAD WHEN PAI SCREAMED AT SKY. This poor guy is reliving his trauma and shaking and you got the fucking nerve to think he's cheating on you?? I completely understand that Pai didn't know the situation at this point but he can also read a room RIGHT?? If I see that my partner is literally shaking and about to cry my first thought isn't going to be to yell at them right in their face. I would also just like to add that Gun didnt get hit nearly enough times.
For the record, I truly think that Sky should not be in a relationship for his own well-being, he's got some serious trauma that has been repressed and having this dependency on Pai is not healthy. I'm sorry it isn't like the fantasies, love does not fix trauma.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS
I really dislike the infantilization of some of the characters in this story, more specifically Rain and Sky. This is a weird trope that needs to die, and yes I completely understand that some relationships are like this irl HOWEVER when it is presented this way with every relationship in these bl shows you can clearly tell its a stereotype to make sure you know who's a top and who's a bottom. Like what even was that spanking scene with Phayu and Rain, I was uncomfortable to say the least. Pai and Phayu calling them "babies" irks me. You can't tell me there's not a power dynamic going on here, more specifically with the age.
Both couples were more likable when they were secondary characters, they seemed to act more normal, more human..
Phayu and Pai are walking red flags. Pai is literally a stalker, his actions in the beginning are unacceptable and he has little growth after that. Getting a spare key to his crush's room was not cute or sweet, it's an invasion of privacy. Changing sim cards everytime Sky blocked him.. Are we supposed to want them to get together or?? Pai was literally cuddling with that guy at the bday party, I'm not hearing it from ANYONE.. Phayu constantly forces himself onto Rain before they're in a relationship even as Rain has expressed his disdain. In the end Phayu always blames Rain for not behaving and that he was asking for it, EW.
Phayu being mad was supposed to be hot I guess, but I was left feeling uncomfortable and concerned for Rain's safety at times. His actor has charisma and yes is attractive, however it's hard to feel any positive emotions after the things Phayu has done.
Truly if someone has a hard time understanding why people are writing harsh reviews about this show then apply some of the things these characters do into real life. They would be penalized, and the problem is that the show makes it seems like their behavior is okay. I wouldn't have a problem if they made stories like these if they didnt romanticize the hell out of non con, dub con, and toxic relationships and rather they critiqued it.
Sorry for how disorganized this whole thing is, I've never written a review before but I had to let out my annoyance with this show.
To start off with the plot? There is none. If that's the kind of show you're looking for I'd advise you to skip this. Outside of the romances there is absolutely nothing going on, well besides the occasional bad guy that usually then gets involved in the romance plot. Dare I say the show is just complete fanservice, and cringe (not the good kind).
The one thing I'll give this show props for is the intimate scenes, they were well done in my opinion. However, when given the context and consent status of these scenes...
NO MEANS NO
STOP MEANS STOP
That's right about where my nice thoughts for this show ends.
The beginning of this show truly got me hyped, there was something so good about it that got me hooked in, and almost immediately all my interest dropped. It's like they spent all their time on a really good hook for their essay and didn't know where to go after that. And yet again this show delves into the galaxy of dub con and non con... they can't keep getting away with this. Whether including this is realistic or not, the problem is that non con is not dealt with the way it should be. It should be criticized and shamed on, but here it is romanticized and sexualized and there are no reprecussions for the perpetrator. I'm seeing some say that Phayu touching Rain without consent was okay because he didn't go the whole way?? If someone doesn't want to be touched, then you don't touch them, that's that. Now how does this show THAT DEALS WITH A CHARACTER WHO HAS BEEN SA'D simultaneously have dub con and non con?? It's just not adding up and giving me flashbacks to Tharntype that did the exact same thing.
Albeit that I did technically stop watching every second legimately at episode 6, I skipped around a bit having some hope left for this show. So maybe I don't get to have a say about this show because I didn't fully watch each and every single episode, but I also know right from wrong and how you should treat another HUMAN BEING.
1ST COUPLE THOUGHTS
For the first couple, they honestly didn't interest me. The first few minutes of the episode intrigued me and got me excited for them and that was about it. The chemistry between them was palpable (and i dont necessarily mean this about the actors) and got boring around episode 6 like im not getting concerned for Rain getting kidnapped like I should be.
I dislike the "I'm not gay, I like girls, oh but I'm gay for you" trope. People can question their sexuality and not be sure about what they're into, but I just think Rain's switch from saying he's not gay to falling in love with Phayu so short after that is too fast. If they hadn't had made the 2nd couple a sole focus for the other half of the series, they could've made Phayu and Rain a slowburn. Then again would I really want to see that.
2ND COUPLE THOUGHTS
I was really intrigued by the second couple for the longest time because I really liked Sky and their story didnt even start until ep 8 I think...? So, I watched that episode only to be imensely disappointed that Sky was essentially blackmailed by Pai to have a one night stand, consensual or not you don't have the right to have sex with someone just because you helped them....
Some more skipping and stuff, Pai not knowing what the word "no" means... I saw all of Sky's trauma and past in ep 13 and I honestly was about to cry at some point, this guy has been through a lot and deserves much better (and when I say this I AM INCLUDING PAI too, boy needs therapy before he gets into another relationship honestly...) and when Pai comforts him saying "I'd never do those things to you." ... Good for you Pai, good for you being able to do the bare minimum in a relationship, however instead of saying YOU would never do those things can you just comfort your boyfriend who is currently reliving, and willing to tell you, his trauma..
It's just so conflicting cause they can present good examples of a healthy relationship and comforting your partner who's been through trauma, such as the "tell me when you're ready", but then they mix it in with this weird shit that's just manipulative and while what they say is nice, I guess, I feel like it's just not the right time to say those things.
I GOT SO MAD WHEN PAI SCREAMED AT SKY. This poor guy is reliving his trauma and shaking and you got the fucking nerve to think he's cheating on you?? I completely understand that Pai didn't know the situation at this point but he can also read a room RIGHT?? If I see that my partner is literally shaking and about to cry my first thought isn't going to be to yell at them right in their face. I would also just like to add that Gun didnt get hit nearly enough times.
For the record, I truly think that Sky should not be in a relationship for his own well-being, he's got some serious trauma that has been repressed and having this dependency on Pai is not healthy. I'm sorry it isn't like the fantasies, love does not fix trauma.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS
I really dislike the infantilization of some of the characters in this story, more specifically Rain and Sky. This is a weird trope that needs to die, and yes I completely understand that some relationships are like this irl HOWEVER when it is presented this way with every relationship in these bl shows you can clearly tell its a stereotype to make sure you know who's a top and who's a bottom. Like what even was that spanking scene with Phayu and Rain, I was uncomfortable to say the least. Pai and Phayu calling them "babies" irks me. You can't tell me there's not a power dynamic going on here, more specifically with the age.
Both couples were more likable when they were secondary characters, they seemed to act more normal, more human..
Phayu and Pai are walking red flags. Pai is literally a stalker, his actions in the beginning are unacceptable and he has little growth after that. Getting a spare key to his crush's room was not cute or sweet, it's an invasion of privacy. Changing sim cards everytime Sky blocked him.. Are we supposed to want them to get together or?? Pai was literally cuddling with that guy at the bday party, I'm not hearing it from ANYONE.. Phayu constantly forces himself onto Rain before they're in a relationship even as Rain has expressed his disdain. In the end Phayu always blames Rain for not behaving and that he was asking for it, EW.
Phayu being mad was supposed to be hot I guess, but I was left feeling uncomfortable and concerned for Rain's safety at times. His actor has charisma and yes is attractive, however it's hard to feel any positive emotions after the things Phayu has done.
Truly if someone has a hard time understanding why people are writing harsh reviews about this show then apply some of the things these characters do into real life. They would be penalized, and the problem is that the show makes it seems like their behavior is okay. I wouldn't have a problem if they made stories like these if they didnt romanticize the hell out of non con, dub con, and toxic relationships and rather they critiqued it.
Sorry for how disorganized this whole thing is, I've never written a review before but I had to let out my annoyance with this show.
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