Fish Upon the Sky (2021)

So cliché it's good

I wasn't expecting much going into it, watched it after Never Let Me Go so the transition was a bit rough

I gotta say it's so cliché, sweet and overdramatic it's good, they knew what they were doing even risking to go with such an overused plot but the delivery is there, it's funny, it's enjoyable and overall very nice to watch

If you haven't watched never let me go yet I'd say to watch fish upon the sky first, so you can appreciate the evolution of Pond and Phuwin between these even if obviously there's no comparison, it's very different shows and both deserve a watch!

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Super fun but kinda boring

As a rather new PondPhuwin stan, where else would I start but their debut drama, FUTS? I'll admit, it was a bit of a chore to get through this series, and I had almost no incentive to watch it because of the boring plot. Additionally, a lot of Mork and Duean's actions were kind of unacceptable (Mork was kinda manipulative and Duean lied a lot) BUT I didn't really mind them because this drama is supposed to be unserious anyways. There was a lot of secondhand embarrassment and cringe lines, but overall, the humor throughout the series was very unique (in a good way), especially Duean and Mork's scenes. I love Duean's dumbass snarky attitude xD and Meen is hilariously adorable.

Overall, I loved watching young PondPhuwin and NeoLouis! They were seriously so cute and they've obviously grown so much from this series. This series was nothing extraordinary, but I will prob revisit it for a good laugh.

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cute but not memorable

Full disclosure, there were two reasons for me to finally watch this, the first being I love Neo Trai and I wanted to see him opposite Louis Thanawin again (I watched The Eclipse first). The second reason is I'm trying to watch Never Let Me Go and I wanted to see Phuwin Tangsaky opposite Pond Naravit in different roles.

This show is cute, but not attention grabbing. The whole changing-yourself-for-others is a trope that could be considered over done in heterosexual media so I was hoping that this would feel a little different, but it really didn't. Pi was extremely unlikeable as both 'a geek' and a 'hot guy'; I know it can be argued he was only that way because of bullies, but he was just a rather unkind character and I have no idea why Mork liked him in the first place.

I know Duean and Meen were comedy side characters, but I really did feel like I only kept watching for their story; it felt a lot more realistic (for a bl drama) than the main storyline and characters. (I know these shows aren't very realistic in general, but you know what I mean.)

It's a good time filler if you're not too fussed about becoming attached to the characters, and I personally didn't find any re-watch value in it.

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One of the funniest BLs out there but is actually deeper than what it seems

I think it was unfortunate that this was the follow-up to the masterpiece that is ATOTS so it did not have the kindest reviews and flew under the people's radar (including me lol), but after watching this I can confidently say that I enjoyed it way, waaay better than I expected.

First I really liked the comedy in this one. This is the only BL where I've laughed audibly every episode and it's not just the humor, but the acting and the chemistry between the cast. You can tell that they are all comfortable with each other and are probably friends in real life and it shows.

Next is the acting is surprisingly very decent! Hats-off to Neo as Duean, his character can easily be annoying and unbearable if not acted well, but his portrayal made Duean very lovable and his acting contributes to 90% of the show's comedy. And coming off from 2gether, I was ready to turn off some braincells for Pond's acting because he was pretty stiff during the first episodes, but man did he improve a lot as the episodes went by! He is so convincing in showing that Mork is so in love with Pi, and even in his microexpressions toward critical scenes. I won't say he's outstanding, but he's very decent and has a great potential in acting.

Okay but what I really love the most is the characterization. Pi and Mork are very different people. Mork grew up as a popular kid so he is very confident in who he is and he has been surrounded by friends who are also proud of their own skin, so while he empathizes with people who aren't like him, he doesn't really completely understand them. Thus he may come off as pushy. Pi, on the other hand, was bullied his whole life and his kindness was abused. His self-esteem was at rock bottom and even after his transformation and booming popularity, his insecurities still creep up and he is not used to this new noisy life where he is the center of attention. Now they stay consistent with these characterizations and these become the main driving force of the conflicts in the story which makes it realistic, instead of shoving the leads in impossible situtations just for the sake of "drama".

All-in-all, this is a really good show and is actually deeper than the silly comedy it shows on the surface. I could wish for more things like the disappearance of the shippers in the plot and the plot twist with Bam in the end, but I like that while this show is light and stress-free, it actually packs a lot of punch that will just hit you when you look deeper into the characters.

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Romantic comedy it is...and its by gmmtv so what more could you ask for?

So just like i said it is a romantic comedy..from the very first episode is already filled with clichè story line but they really took it to the next level with its comedy parts...like how could you stop laughing with their plots and acting...even the supposed to be cringy scenes are funny to watch🤣🤣and to have neo as a big brother oh my god🤣🤣🤣 i really love the part where phuwin got splashed with puddle water by the motorist over and over again and he compared it to getting showered with holy water for finally to fell in love at first sight but it got too much to the point he himself cant take it anymore and he was already soaking wet🤣🤣

This series have a pretty typical and clichè storyline, just how phuwin started to fell at first sight on another boy(mix) but eventually fell in love with the man's bestfriend(pond). (Ps: im telling earth about this mix was flirting with phuwin towards the end🤣🤣)Typical college bl stories but i really admire their acting...even though it is cringy but the comedy part just compesated it and make you forgot about the cringiness..the frustrations and intensity of this drama is also pretty annoying with all the egos and communication problems between the leads and typical indicisiveness..but yet again it was saved by the comedic parts...like you want to hate it because how plain the story progressions is but you cant because they just managed to make you laugh again and again after every frustrations they gave...if you want to watch a typical bl drama but with upgraded level of fun then watch this...it wont stress you out too much and can be watch with ease...and you have neo as big brother here how can it not be funny when he just totally being himself here like does he even need the script?🤣🤣

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I loved it...

Wow...... I must say that this was an great drama. This was an perfect example of what a ROMCOM should be. The actors were amazing and oh so handsome. There were so many funny yet heartwarming scenes. I seen some familiar faces and I loved it. There were alot of sweet and cute moments.

The overall message from this drama touched my heart. This drama actually cheered me up. I have been seeing so many negative things about the BL genre all week and this pick me up was much needed. I give this drama a 10 out of 10. It's a must watch. I suggest you watch it for yourself and not trust some of the reviews. That was my problem the first time i watched it. Go with your gut feeling an give it a try.

The opening song was so catchy I cant quit humming it!!!!!!!! I hoped this helped someone.. Enjoy

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Romanticizes (cyber-)bullying

Oof... I don’t know.
People keep saying that it deserves the popularity that 2gether has, but the thing is: yes, it’s entertaining, but whereas 2gether was boring, FUTS was toxic in how they dealt with serious matters, especially when it came to Pi’s insecurities.

First of all, he was bullied pretty much all his university life (and perhaps even before that). Then he gets harassed again after having changed into a "hot guy", yet Mork still cannot accept that. Y’all be calling that love? That is stubbornness, not love. He kept pressuring Pi into making the relationship public, even though Pi several times stated that he doesn’t feel comfortable about it. When you were bullied and harassed, you can’t just miraculously move on from that. Things like these take time; and Mork really wanted to rush things.

Overall the series feels like a mix of 2gether and TharnType. 2gether is the main vibe, but with the toxicity and being dealt in a wrong way from TharnType – also romanticizing toxic behavior.

The only characters that kept me going was Duaen with his gang and Meen. The gang is friendship goals, and Duaen is the best brother ever. And MeenDuaen were at least a healthy couple.

I really want this to have a higher rating, but the way they dealt with these serious matters really isn’t acceptable. The actors delivered well, as expected from GmmTV, but the writers should’ve dealt properly about it, instead of romanticizing it once again. :/

-29.11.21

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BL cómico, fresco, desternillante!

FINALIZADO (OPINIÓN AL FINAL)
Mi opinión después de ver los últimos capítulos de este BL thailandés es muy diferente a cuando acabé el segundo capítulo. Estuve a punto de dejarlo. Después de Thousand stars, un BL de lo más clásico y romántico, no me esperaba esta historia un tanto absurda, con un humor desenfadado y descarado, que cuenta la vida amorosa de un estudiante de odontología gay muy friki y patito feo que para intentar acercarse y conquistar a su gran amor cambia su look y se atreve a enfrentarse al que considera su rival amoroso, un atractivo estudiante de medicina. Para tener éxito en su propósito contará con la ayuda ( o no, jajjaj) de su hermano mayor un "super" senior muy mal estudiante, perezoso y vividor que ayudará al protagonista en sus lios amorosos mientras que él mismo cae en las redes del amor.
Mi impresión después de los primeros capítulos fue bastante mala: repetición del tema universitario (otra vez), el chico protagonista demasiado tsundere, el top muy guapo pero previsible, situaciones más bién cringe, ruiditos en todos los momentos cómicos que te ponían nerviosa, la publicidad dentro de la serie de lo más descarada y sobre todo, un estilo narrativo con voces en off en la narración de las locuras del hermano mayor que me resulto irritante. Había algunas cosas que me gustaron: los actores principales son guapos, actuan bién y tienen química, la producción está bien hecha, la música es bonita, pero no creía que fueran razones suficientes para engancharme.
Y entonces en el tercer capítulo es cuando las cosas cambiaron porque lo cómico pudo conmigo y mis reticencias. Esta serie es pura comedia y si lo aceptas como la parte principal de la historia entonces todo cambia y te desternillas. Es diferente a otras series bl universitarias. Es menos dramática y más desenfadada y sobre todo muy ORIGINAL y divertida cuando nos cuenta la historia del hermano mayor: si, tengo que reconocer que lo que más me irritaba al principio ahora es lo que más me gusta: Duain está tan loco, es tan tonto y pelmazo que o lo amas o lo odias y a mi me ha ganado su locura y también su corazón tierno. Su historia con el dulce e inocente Mean puede ser de lo más cuqui !!!!
En cuanto a la pareja principal aún cuando su trayectoria supongo que será más cliché que la secundaria me están gustando cada vez más. La devoción de Mork por su amado Pi es inagotable, su amor es generoso, sus acciones son bondadosas!! Puede llegar a ser (si Pi lo acepta y se lo permite) el novio más perfecto que existe y el actor novel que lo interpreta lo hace muy bien. Y qué decir de Phuwin Tangsakyuen como Pi, después de ver los 6 capítulos, creo que hace un recital interpretativo y cada vez se le ve más cómodo con su personaje deleitándonos con multitud de expresiones faciales que van de lo cómico a lo dramático.
La recomiendo muchísimo para pasar un buen rato!!
ACTUALIZADO Y FINALIZADO: Después de ver los capítulos finales de Fish upon the sky, me reitero en mis palabras. Este BL me ha gustado mucho, y creo que se le debe dar una oportunidad!! Las dos parejas protagonistas son de lo más tiernas y encantadoras, y aúnque pueda parecer un pelín cringe al principio en seguida el tono de comedia se vuelve más suave y resulta una historia muy dulce, muy bonita, con una química romántica destacable y con un buen final que deja bien calentito el corazón! Para curar depresiones y malos momentos la recomiendo totalmente, te cambia el "mood" en tan solo unos minutos!!

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Much, much better than I expected

Sometimes, something just defies your expectations and this series did that for me.

Because, being honest, this is another BL series set in a university with white shirts and black trousers and grown adults acting like they never heard of sex; and fundraising fairs and camping out visiting impoverished areas; and medical students and engineering students and freshmen with ties; and scooters and high end cars and huge houses that you would swear should have at least four bedrooms, but only seem to have one or two; and let's not forget the male character with darker skin (because colourism) with the high pitched voice and the limp wrists who ships the ML's.

This is, almost beat for beat, the same plot as every other Thai BL. All the stereotypes are here, all the clichés and tropes are here.

Except.....there's some differences.

The attitude of one of the MLs to the toxic and dangerous behaviour of the shippers, their page and their 'fans' is refreshing. Pi bluntly declares he feels unsafe with the way Mork keeps encouraging said behaviour in his attempts to woo Pi. And well he should, because these 'fans' not only butt into Pi's life, but drag his brother, his mother and his father into it and even threaten to invade his home to take pictures of his bedroom!

At one point, someone starts filming them without permission, and posting it online. At another, someone else has clearly been stalking them because pictures get posted of Pi standing on the balcony of his house.

This series comes down hard, and not even subtly, on the invasive and toxic social media culture that seems to permeate much of the world nowadays.

Pi breaks my heart several times during this series. He's a truly sweet, kind and caring young man who does not deserve the bullying. I can't help feeling that Mork should have opened his mouth and stood up for Pi a lot earlier. I also think that if Mork had given Pi that umbrella, then maybe things would have proceeded differently as well.

Differently, but for the better? Who knows? ::shrug::

I also liked the fact that Mork has pictures of Pi on his phone before his 'makeover' and that he liked him just as he was before Duen and his friends got involved. It would have been so refreshing to see Pi stay that way, but gain confidence as his relationship with Mork grew and let that confidence make him more attractive, rather than going for the 'ditch the glasses, get ride of the braces, fix the hair' kind of makeover that was used.

I really liked Bam. I thought she was cute and bubbly and fun and supportive of Mork....and then they had to ruin it with the stunt she pulled at Mork's birthday party. Why? Just why? It completely ruined her character for me. For god's sake, please stop doing this!

I also liked Muang Nan. Whilst it was clear he didn't like Pi the way Pi wanted him to, he wasn't cruel about it and he kept subtly pushing Pi towards Mork. He also had some good advice for Mork, which Mork should have taken. The cheeky reference to Mix's series 'Tale of a Thousand Stars' was amusing.

This even gave me pause when it came to my favourite pairing. A lot of times, in BL, I'll find myself preferring the secondary couple over the main couple, but here I found myself cheering for both of them. Duen is a great brother and a genuinely funny and likable character. His character grew over the course of the twelve episodes and I loved his fourth-wall breaking.

Meen is a complete cinnamon roll without, thank goodness, the childishness that often goes along with that kind of character in Thai BL He's a bit child-like, but not childish. He stands up for himself and tells Duen exactly what he thinks and feels and doesn't let Duen get away with shit. I approve.

The acting in this is good, especially by Pond, Phuwin and Neo. The editing is also good. The daft sound effects are still there, but are considerably toned down (thank goodness) and the product placement is still very obvious but also toned down considerably.

The only negative, really, is the scene with Duen dressed up as what I assume to be his idea of an Indian holy man. I didn't notice it until someone from that culture pointed it out and talked about how uncomfortable it made them, and I can completely understand why. it was only a brief scene, but it shouldn't have been there.

Also (and this is not a negative) I was confused by the ending. It supposedly takes place 2 years later, but how had Meen not seen Duen and Pi's room at this point? And have Pi and Mork just been abstaining from sex this whole time? It was just....baffling. Although the scene itself was very funny.

I really enjoyed this series overall, and I'm happy to recommend it and, since I'm re-watching it whilst I'm typing up this review, I state without hesitation that it has high re-watch value too.

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Worth it for the cast chemistry

I think Fish Upon the Sky is an easily digestible BL to get through because of the cast chemistry. Both Phuwin/Pond and Neo/Louis pairings look great together and are played wonderfully. And because all four of these characters are completely different, the pairings almost feel like you're watching two completely different shows when the stories aren't interconnecting (which they rarely do for majority of the show). That's probably why Duean and Meen's stories were told with a different aspect ratio but that honestly came off as an afterthought during editing. Some of those shots were an eyesore. But despite that, I still enjoyed their storyline a lot. I actually liked it more than the main plot.

While the panicked gay vs confident gay trope never gets old, the forced conflict trope does. Pi/Mork just couldn't get their act together until the very end because of issues that I wasn't buying. Pi was hung up on Mueang Nan for way too long for merely existing. Nan never showed as much interest in Pi as Mork did, or interacted with him as much as Mork had; yet, Pi was still rejecting Mork because he couldn't get over Nan. If Pi was meant to spend so long having feelings for Mueang Nan, I wish the dilemma would have been written in a more believable way. His obsession with Mueang Nan was creepy if not completely nonsensical.

Duean and Meen's development was written with a lot more nuance. Duean starts off as a jerk but as the episodes go on, he becomes gradually more tolerable. I loved their slow burn romance that always seemed to hit the right checkpoints. Duean becomes a better person and Meen learns to not be a pushover. They really bettered themselves because of each other. It's unfortunate that Neo was forced to play him so off balance with the rest of the cast. Duean is a 4th wall-breaking character so he never gets a chance to be really vulnerable during a scene that had potential to be really emotional. Every time he apologizes to Meen, it feels goofy and it lacks the drama that Pi/Mork's journey had.

And Pi/Mork's relationship feels very rewarding in the final episode. I LOOOOOVE how natural Phuwin/Pond look onscreen together as a couple. Other dramas should take notes; Pi and Mork kissed more than once. It's crazy that I am genuinely astonished by more than one kiss in a Thai BL episode.

Fish Upon the Sky is not a must-watch but it is far from unwatchable.

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