I wasn't originally going to watch this show because it looked like a style of humor I don't really jive with (and it wasn't really), but I was convinced by the gifsets of exorcisms. The first seven episodes of this series are absolutely heartwrenching--I cried every single week and came back ready for more. Even if I wasn't a huge fan of the slightly obnoxious comedy aspects, I really felt that the individual hauntings were so beautifully well done it was beyond worth it. However, once we left the ghost-of-the-week format to chase Home and Peach's stories... the plot got muddled, less sharp, and less interesting. I enjoyed my time with these characters, but it ended on a bit of a whimper for me.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
This story was at it's absolute strongest when it was incisive and political. The early episodes delve into important failings in society in a sympathetic and earnest way that I found very moving. Particularly, Ciize, Foei, and ForceBook's hauntings have really stuck with me over the weeks (although I liked the other ghosts as well). There was a true sense of justice and purpose in these episodes that hasn't been present in a lot of dramas lately.
But, as I said above, I was very disappointed in the end of Home's story. Rather than truly delve into the issues unpacked in early episodes, Home's entire family got off easy. The societal evils of capitalism melted away into a pretty trite family drama that wrapped up quite easily. It felt the humor became more and more forced, when the show had been successfully trending to something much more emotional and resonant.

ACTING:
This is a tough one. In those most emotional moments? This show is spectacular. Tay and New have an undeniable chemistry that makes their arguments feel very natural and high-stakes. Likewise, the moments intended to show off this growing family feeling are all so, so lovely and warm. Mook and Jan blend into this chemistry perfectly and it truly does feel real.
On the flip side... some of the "comedy" is borderline unbearable. Shrill, whiny screams, performative deliveries, and egregious over-acting with no charm riddled the "lighthearted" moments and felt considerably more amateur than I KNOW these actors are capable of. Perhaps it was simply not my style, but I rarely laughed at this "comedy."

PRODUCTION:
This production was pretty fun for GMMTV this year. While it felt a tad bit over-produced, it was still enjoyable and fun. In particular, the wound/ghost makeup was genuinely exceptional. I put me perfectly on edge of a little uncomfortable, a little grossed out, a little awkward that helped nail that emotional impact.
That said, I think it's a little ironic how curated some of the scenic design was, given that this was supposed to be a story about finding out what Home mean. It was a bit too... clean, by the end. I missed the hominess of Peach and Pangpang's original apartment. I would like to see GMMTV directors/designers be a little bit more intentional and thoughtful about how the look of the show reflects the themes and messages.

A NOTE:
At risk of becoming the too woke friend, I do think this show crossed a line of queerbaiting for me. I want to be perfectly clear: this has nothing to do with Tay or New (who were always clear it was not a BL), shippers promoting the show, or even a preference for it being a BL. This is about certain tweets from the director and official account, as well as "Easter eggs" for "bl fans" in the script left a sour taste in my mouth.
If you want the attention and energy of queer audiences, you need to actually engage with queer storylines and characters. I don't want clever references or teasing jokes that fail to come to fruition. This half-in-half-out style feels slimy and exploitative--just tell the story you mean to tell, whichever that might be.

In all, I enjoyed this show but it definitely still makes my ever-growing list of 2024 dramas that failed to stick the landing.