...I'm 100% staying out of the AouBoom/KlaoWarich tag on Twitter for a day or two seeing how people were talking about Warich already lmao (I legit get anxious when there are characters/relationships like this because I know most takes will lack nuance. And knowing Boom has seen what people have been saying makes it all the more awkward for me - though tbf I can never tell when he's serious because when he jokes he's SO deadpan, not to mention speaking a language I'm still not that familiar with)

Anyway. Onto the review, in which I write an essay about the side characters. Again! (Please note that I'm writing this at 2am with no filter and that this is mostly for me to get my thoughts out!! It sounds very very critical, but I'm just working through what's going on in my head!! I don't want to rain on anyone's parade or anything)

I think they're both at fault in different ways (like Klao storming in and yelling at Warich more than once is NOT cool, but slapping your boyfriend is mega MEGA not cool, even when he's just punched your ex!!! And they both SUCK at communicating) and I get what they're going for with a couple of things, but I don't think some of it is translating that well? Especially with how I get the idea Warich feels guilty and protective of Yotha, and hugely responsible for the trouble Yotha keeps getting into, and he is trying to make amends and alleviate that guilt by being (perhaps overly) friendly, but I think a lot of people are missing that. And, this time, I get why! I mean, I could be wrong with his motivations, ofc, but I don't think it's coming across clearly enough, and idt it's the acting so much as the screentime (which I repeat in the next section because I wrote it before this)

(Nothing to do with the acting because Aou and Boom are brilliant, but I think their relationship is too complex for the amount of screentime they have. Now, I know they're side characters, and therefore will have less screentime and be less developed and often be there to serve the progress of the main characters' plot. And that's fine! That's what side characters often do! But! That's kind of my point? I think they should have a less complex story between them - or maybe have it told in a slightly different way - so that it feels like a complete story still? IDK if that makes sense. [Like PondSand in the first part compared to ArcArm had a fairly simple story and I thought it complemented the main story well, even if I wasn't personally invested] And I know I'm biased, but then I wasn't that frustrated with JengPok's screentime in Hidden Agenda, though some people were, so I don't think it's *just* that they're my fave?  It's kind of like the second couple in Boys Be Brave! The tone of their relationship was quite different and was just as complex as the main couple's and so it felt... odd. And I didn't even care for the second couple there tbh. I DO think Klao and Warich were better integrated this ep because of the fight, though! And with the bar scene where Gun saw Yotha kiss Warich that preceded it.)

Btw, I don't want to diss New or the rest of the crew or anything! I like New's series a lot and he does what he does well! And I think he's handling the heavier tone of their scenes really well too! I just... I don't know. Maybe it IS that I'm biased and just want to see more of my faves!! Or that I'm not vibing with PerthSanta, despite them being really good. I'm going to regret posting all of this because it's incredibly nitpicky, I just need the thoughts out of my head

Anyway, I still want a whole like... IDK 6-8 ep series just of Klao and Warich and their incredibly volatile relationship :P

Some other random notes:

 I thought the fight Klao got into was *with* Yotha!! Which... technically I guess it is! But he fought FOR him!! I love that! And I loved his look when Warich was like 'why did you help him?'
FAIFAAAAA!!! I LOVE Junior and I really love Faifa

Santa was REALLY good this ep - I do think he handles those heavy emotional scenes better than the comedy, but that's just me!

However, I'm still frustrated that I'm not Feeling the Feelings with this YothaGun part - the acting is fine to really good, the characters are compelling (in theory), the dynamic is compelling (in theory) but I'm feeling almost nothing! I really felt the difference when Arc and Arm were onscreen and also when Bookie was being silly with Gun, I was just so much more pulled in?

Aou's little crying face broke me ;__;

Boom with the cigarette under the neon lighting??? he would nail playing a legit ~bad boy type. (And Lmaoooo @ Boom's tweet saying I'm sorry mum when Warich was smoking ) seeing him like that, and seeing Aou in some other scenes, I SO badly want them to play more 'grown up' for lack of a better term (I know we have Memoir of Rati, but I want something kinda modern and grungy too). But still happy! Must always have a happy ending :P (idk if MoR is going to have one though...)

I thought they filmed a hospital scene with these outfits but either I was wrong (and it's another ep) or they cut it to switch with the bedroom scene instead (talking about KlaoWarich here). If that's the case, I'm fine with it because I liked the bedroom scene! Warich saying Klao is his whole world??? ;__; gosh, Aou and Boom look SO good together!

(Also, wait, Aou and Boom were wearing these outfits on set on Aou's birthday - actually, same with everyone else at the bar - *and* Aou had the bruises... Did they literally film the bar and fight scenes 11 days ago????? That seems really quick, but I don't know much about TV)

...Boom's hands though???? https://x.com/besevboom/status/1880986425560363091

Oh, I am 100% going to regret posting this in come morning lmao