Do you know that feeling you get when you have just finished a really good book or series and you are just left feeling empty, like there is a void that needs to be filled, and only the memories you have created over the last few hours can soothe the emptiness inside? This is how I feel right now.

The redemption arc written for Ming is the best one I have ever witnessed in any BL. I love how they did not make him turn over a new leaf out of being sorry but instead made him suffer through love and feel its merciless assault on the soul. They gave his character a rebirth through hard grief. I call it hard grief because knowing someone died and seeing a body is one thing, but not knowing if someone is dead or alive and no body to see, well that is hell on earth.

Watching Joe mourn his old self was so moving in a way I have never considered. I saw a quote that says "Many people die at 25 but are buried at 70." This quote came to mind because here Joe is mourning the loss of his body and old self, but still having a second chance. There are people who have lost themselves for whatever reason and are not really living; they are surviving for the sake of various reasons. My point is when you are lucky enough to get a second chance do not let it slip away, and if you do not get one then make one because you will only be in this life, this moment in this space only once.

When Ming let go of Joe, but could not stand it for even a second and ran to him, wrapping his arms around him; refusing to let him go. Now, that is romance, heartbreak and love all at once. Writing this now, one couple comes to mind and it is Lu Feng and Xiao Chen from A Round Trip To Love. Those two were "desperate love" personified. I always say that for me Chinese BLs and writing are above the rest, well tonight, Thailand hit the same level for me. I have only ever experienced this type of portrayal of desperation and love from a Chinese BL. Well done Thailand.

Ming waited at home cooking for Joe for two years; fulfilling Joe's dream as if calling him home is one incredible act of love.

I am still amazed at how well Ming's character was written to sway the audience (me) so well. I went from hating him to rejoicing in his torment, to feeling my gut move with grief, to finally loving him. The fact that his character alone told a whole love story is just writing at its best.

Joe is a fool for love. The way he folded so quickly when Ming started to make it up to him lol. What I truly love though is that apology Ming gave him. I think it says a lot that even though all was basically settled they saw it important for that apology to take place. That scene in itself is a 10. I think oftentimes people forgive and move on and words cannot change anything, but those three words, "I am sorry" can shift so much in a person wronged and even in the one doing the apology. Apologies are best given in this life because the next life perhaps is not so accommodating or does not even exist, so apologise in the life you are sure of.

I kept putting off watching this series for months. I would come in here frequently and say I am going to start this series but for whatever reason never got around to it. Here I am now on the eve of 2025 completing it and giving it a 10. Closing off a year that for me was full of successes academically and occupationally. I will not forget this one anytime soon. My Stand-In: Uncut 10/10 one of my favourite and proudest 10. This is how you close off the 2024 BL season in style.