Started great, ended.....
Let me start this by saying that I was one of those fans that after watching Until We Meet Again, I (im)patiently waited for this story. Even while watching UWMA I felt more interested in Team and Win's story more than Pharm and Dean. But sadly, Team and Win as a main couple does not do it for me. There are many amazing things about this show, but considering the main plot and story being told, it is really hard to connect with. The cinematography was gorgeous and definitely something that caught my attention. The OST was nice, and well-chosen. Though that is probably where I'd end that list. I am a big fan of most of the actors in this drama, including but not limited to, Boun, Prem, Santa, Sammy, and etc. I really want to give props where it is due, Sammy and Santa embraced their characters fully and that kept some interest for the show for me.Now back to the storyline. There was a good amount of depth portrayed in Team's character. Though the way it was portrayed was something that made me feel a bit off. There isn't too much I can further speak on about Team's character, so I will leave it at that. I love Prem as an actor and I'm in no way speaking bad on his acting. He did really well. I just have some confliction about Team's character that I don't think I should get into on here.
Now that I'm thinking about it, there isn't much else to say besides by episode 8/9 I was almost tired of this show. I waited every week for the new episode, sitting on the edge of my seat. But at some point and I can't necessarily pinpoint when, it got repetitive and slow. Not that I would prefer the story to be rushed, but it seemed like I was just watching the same thing happening every week. Then at the point of episode 8, all the screen time the main couple had was the same thing happening. I don't know. There isn't much else I feel I should say. This started as an exciting show and was ultimately disappointing.
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Loved it
This was a show that made me anxious for every sunday to come. I spent all my weeks thinking about this (this rarely happens to me). Even though I'm not a fan of Until We Meet Again I absolutely LOVE BounPrem and their characters. The way they start from just being sex partners and then can't get off of each other was beautiful and exciting. They were able to make me feel very warm with their relationship based on support, since Team had an unresolved trauma. The way Win took care of him was really sweet, knowing Team was very stubborn most of the times. I sometimes had a few problems with unnecessary drama between those two, though. The side couples are very okay. I Honestly just don't like the fact that Manow is so annoying, everytime she said or did something I was so done with her. The couple BeePrince did not sell anything to me, it felt like they had 0 chemistry. I do love that Santa was in it, he's the cutest.Was this review helpful to you?
A beautiful, sweet series to watch with a nice plot and great acting.
I loved the cinematography and the way Between Us was shot, was beautiful. The sound effects added for comedic purposes were hilarious and never failed to make me laugh. The acting is amazing, everyone did a fantastic job and we get to see more of the characters, learn more about their backstory and see more of their relationship in Between Us.I loved watching the love story of Win and Team unfold as well as the other side ships. I enjoyed seeing how the other characters got their own happy ending and they weren't just there for the main characters to interact with; they had substance and a purpose.
The plot point of grief really got me. It starts subtle and then when you learn more about what happened and how it effected Team into his adult years. You realize how much grief can affect you in many different ways.
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It had it's moments
When this series was announced, I was so super ecstatic as this was one of two Thai BL series that i was waiting for to air in 2022 (the other one will be airing in 2023). And now here we are at the end of this series. And well...it had its moments while some parts I couldn't care less for.Story-7.5/10
This is the story of Win and Team which i have been waiting for since the end of 'Until We Met Again' in 2019. And... I actually liked their storyline. Yes, there were a few parts that was a wee bit draggy, but I still liked seeing their story unfold. However, what annoyed me was about two and a half out of the four supporting couples. I really did not care about the relationship progression of Pruek and Manow, Bee and Prince and later on about Dean and Pharm (they did not annoy me in the beginning). I did enjoy the supporting couple of Tul and Wan. So, I am glad that they got their happy ending. Also, while i don't like the introduction of the trio A, B, C, I guess they were there for Team to have friends on the swim team. As for that, I'm giving it a 7.5 due to Win and Team and Tul and Wan as I basically just watched this for them.
Acting/Cast- 8/10
The acting was actually kind of good for me. I felt that they were all able to portray their characters good. So for that, I am giving an 8.
Music-7/10
While the music is nice, i had to replay it again to remember it. and while it is catchy, I have to give it a 7 just because of the fact that I couldn't remember the music.
Rewatch Valu-6/10
While I will not be eagerly running to watch this series over again, I must say that I do see myself watching it again, or at least the part with Win and Team and Tul and Wan. So, for that, I will give a 6.
Overall-7/10
Overall, I give this series a 7. It is not one of New's best work, but I am glad that I watched it as I was able to get the story of Win and Team.
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If you're someone like me who likes interpersonal drama and a focus on romance you will likely enjoy Between Us. The plot isn't anything crazy but the show is well-paced and written, giving the lead couple a lot of time to grow into their relationship and overcome their difficulties. For some it may be a little slow, so if you're someone that prefers a lot of action and a quick plot this probably won't be for you, while no specific conflict is dragged out too long, the show has a very slow methodical pace that can turn a lot of people off. I'm happy with either so it worked quite well for me.
The lead actors have done a fantastic job, their characters work together so well and I found their relationship really compelling. The scene in episode 11 was so perfect and they really pulled out all the stops to tug on your heartstrings. I like how much they check in with each other, and how comfortable they are with each other even early on.
I watched UWMA right before and while I liked it well enough, this show was a much more enjoyable experience for me. I was really happy to see many of the characters again, especially since the friendships were one of my favourite parts of the original.
There were a few things that I didn't enjoy about the show, but they were minor enough that they didn't tank my enjoyment. IMO the biggest issue was the number of couples, while I liked all of them, the show was just trying to do a little too much and as a result the side couples ended up feeling a little rushed (particularly Waan and Tul) or underdeveloped, and having so many interruptions to the main story for so many short scenes affected the flow and pacing. I'd hate to cut any of them because I thought they all had interesting storylines and were all terribly sweet, but I think they should have removed at least one.
There were also some times (this happened with UWMA too but it was less egregious here) where they used a few too many flashbacks. I think it made sense for Team's nightmares, since it gets you into his headspace but sometimes it felt like a little much.
All that said I did really enjoy this drama and I'll definitely be rewatching quite a few bits of it. It was exactly what I was hoping it would be ^^!
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Did I expect too much after UWMA?
To start off with, I loved UWMA. The storyline was interesting, and despite that having more episodes than between us, I was kept interested throughout till the end. In between us, it felt like there was too much family drama, too much emphasis on side characters that I’ll be very honest, in the later episodes I skipped the side characters scenes, esp the ones between the actor and the swim club friend. it just felt very left field for that couple. Was there even a need for them? The last few episodes seems to have become a studio wabi sabi trend, a crying fest, which instead of triggering sad emotions, it just makes you feel annoyed. What I do appreciate is having Dean and Pharm reprising their roles, and the series did try to keep in line with the initial storyline. I would have been more interested if the story wasn’t always on the issue of family.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A lot of people are saying they were disappointed with this series. The only thing I'm disappointed in is the low rating and negativity surrounding it just because people were expecting something different. As its own series, Between Us was good. But because it is attached to such a fan favorite like Until We Meet Again, it is being held to the same standard and formula.If you want another supernatural, fated mates sweet slow burn, this is not for you. If you want a closer to realistic drama that deals with PTSD and Survivor's Guilt but still full of heart and passionate characters, then please consider giving this a try.
But I beg of you, don't go into it planning to compare it to its parent story, It deserves its own recognition. I admit, when I started this series after reading all the bad reviews, I found I kept waiting for it to "get bad," if you know what I mean. Usually people are waiting for a show to get better but I had heard so much about disappointment that I had braced myself to feel the same but it never happened. The show was intriguing all the way through although I admit there were a couple of times I thought they probably could have shortened it by one or two episodes. Mainly because there was a lot of flash backs to the same scenes as characters recall and reflect on earlier conversations.
Aside from that, I found it to be a good show and I feel almost guilty going into it prepared to be disappointed. I feel like I owe the series another go 'round since I was watching with tinted pre-conceived notions.
A lot happened in the first few episodes and then it slowed down somewhat but it never got boring. I think because the main couple came out of the gate with such sexual tension and relations, people kind of expected it to stay that way. But it was during these more solemn moments where the characters get their biggest development and they are important moments.
If I WERE to compare the stories of the main couples from UWMA and Between Us, I liked that Win and Team were practically the polar opposite to Dean/Pharm's relationship where there was intimacy first then love rather than love first then intimacy. Dean was searching his whole life for his missing piece while Win wanted nothing to do with love and all the hard feelings that came with it. Pharm struggled with conditions that were beyond his control from a past life he somewhat recalls in dreams while Team struggles from Survivor's Guilt after a tragic accident from his own childhood.
I get that people think the MC relationship was inconsistent but I didn't see it that way. Win and Team understood lust, so they acted on it, then they had a very reasonable and expected internal meltdown when they started feeling more above the belt. Relationships begin and grow in many different ways and it's nice to see different situations portrayed.
While I don't really have any issues with any of the side characters (as they were entertaining in their own right) I think there were just too many of them. It was almost like every character introduced had to end up with someone and to keep track of that many relationships in one series is just overkill.
Overall, I really enjoyed this series and I will definitely watch it again, especially knowing that it wasn't going to be as bad as a lot of people were saying. I think it's unfortunate that the show gets a bad rep because of other's expectations.
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Good Show!
I liked it! The main story was Win and Team during the story of Until We Meet Again but showed more of Win's family life and Team's past trauma (not gonna give too many spoilers). I liked Win's story and family (especially his older brother's! That was possibly my fav side couple of the series) but Team's was kinda eh in my opinion, mainly just because you didn't really 100% understand it until kinda later in the series. Otherwise I really liked watching the two interact! They were super sweet!Was this review helpful to you?
Kinda FWB to a relationship so beautiful and healing
They started out on the wrong foot - a one-night stand, then friends, then lovers. But gosh the development of their relationship is just beautiful. Both are scarred and carry heavy burdens from their pasts, in Team's case it's his brother's death, in Win's case it's his middle child syndrome. But they help to heal each other through a long, arduous, but loving process.I've seen comments of how it took them until ep11 to confess, but what did you expect from 2 guys, both heavily scarred, both equally as afraid to confess their true feelings to the other? When is love ever easy? The confession in ep11 was done perfectly, it was heartbreaking, yet absolutely stunning, and most important, they TALK and bare their hearts out. Well technically Team did most of the talking, but because of his bravery in taking the first step, he managed to break through Win's gold plated metal barrier.
Onto the other characters: We see little snippets from the og series 'Until We Meet Again' with Dean and Pharm being the absolute cuties that they are. We also see a lot more of the friendship between Dean, Win, and Pruek.
Pruek x Manow and Bee x Prince are just the doses of sugar I needed throughout the series, cuz Win and Team gave me lots of angst tbh. But I do wish we could've gotten a bit more on Tul and Wan's relationship, especially since it's of such a complex nature and Tul seems to be on the edge of starting to explore this.
I feel like the name of the series 'Hemp Rope' actually carries significant symbolism for Win x Team, unlike Dean x Pharm's red string of fate, they're relationship is a lot more grounded and realistic. It's a lot more 'unromantic' in a way, a truly even Team said once that Win is an unromantic person. But while less fantasy-ish, there's no better way than using a 'hemp rope' to describe their relationship. It's one that's rough, been through hard patches, yet creates the strongest unbreakable bound between them.
Overall, the series is just a masterpiece, and I must also mention that i absolutely love the 3 brothers' close connection in Win's family.
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A Romp Through Boredom
For me, this was a disappointing side story from UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN. That was one of my favorite BLs ever and so it is hard to recapture any magic from that series. There were a few references to it but it is essentially a story that stands on its own. It started out well but then droned on and on into just another Thai BL series. There were some good acting in this series and the whole issue of guilt for perhaps contributing to an accident was handled with sensitivity. That was a painful chapter in anyone's life. Manow steals this series and I just adored her characterizations. Sure, she is sometimes over the top but that who Manow is and good for her. These long belabored recountings in Thai BLs to show love is really getting old. This same theme has been done over and over.Was this review helpful to you?
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Disappointed? No, Not Me
I guess I should count myself lucky that I didn't know to anticipate this series and neither have I watched UWMA so there was barely anything to expect and be disappointed by.The exposition was nothing exceptional, but maybe because of the actors, I still got drawn into this series and I will say I did enjoy all 12 (well, maybe 11, episodes of it). Sure, the story wasn't anything extraordinary and the direction and execution came across as lacking, but still.
Win/Team. I loved them. Their chemistry wasn't off the charts or anything, but I weirdly just loved seeing them. Another "Hia" for the books, but even though I felt it was a tad bit too excessively used, I didn't find it as aggravating.
The few things that aggravated me with them was I wish there would have been more of a plot. And the plot with the drowning was dragged out too much that it lost any mystery and interest and by the time Team had the full recollection, I couldn't be moved with it. Win's hair was also very distracting in that I couldn't help noticing the growth (and the difference) in every scene. I found myself analysing scenes (which one was shot before the other, etc) instead of being engrossed in the series.
Phruek/Manow. I loved these two individually, but I almost couldn't stand their scenes. As much as I liked Manow, her over the top behaviour when with Phruek was too much for me to watch.
Dean/Pharm. I don't have anything to say about them because they were almost absent from the whole series and when they did appear, it was the same thing.
Tul/Waan. I really liked Tul. I didn't feel Waan that much and didn't feel their relationship either.
I don't know why there had to be so many couples though. All those couples in one series, it's no wonder not much can be said for them. Splitting time to tell all those stories and produce something nice and coherent wouldn't be easy.
The ABC gang, as Win called them. They stole the show for me. There wasn't a single shot with them in it that I didn't like. And Art is so pretty and I really liked his performance. It's too bad we don't get to see him in many things. But I liked all three of them.
The cinematography was good and enjoyable to see, but the continuity was out of sorts. I feel like they had what they wanted to show but they didn't go about it the best way they could have. Still, I enjoyed it and would rewatch it.
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Where were the lays???
Between us is essentially the remake of the bl classic ‘until we meet again’ in the point of view of the side couple WinTeam.I enjoyed but didn’t love ‘until we meet again’ so I wasn’t particularly excited or expecting much form this sequel. I guess since I has no expectations I found myself really enjoying this series. Its enjoyable despite its flaws, and in fact it made BounPrem one of my favourite ships.
The story -
‘Between us’ presents a more in-depth version of the relationship of WinTeam by giving more context to the short snippets we saw in ‘until we meet again’ although, the scenes from uwma aren’t all shown in between us.
I’d say that this series is more character-driven than story-driven, so you get an insight on both main characters trauma, and how it pushes them towards and away from each other. Due to this, the drama is structured in a way that the relationship buildup is favoured and takes up the majority of the story. I personally prefer this format, rather than the get together then break-up in episode 11 formula.
Another thing I enjoyed about ‘between us’ is that we see the ‘behind the scenes’ of Dean and Pharms relationship and we also get a deeper understanding of the relationship between Manaow and Preuk, giving her character a bit more depth than just the funny supportive friend.
Because I unexpectedly was enjoying this drama I avoided acknowledging its flaws, however when there are 7 days between each episode its kind of hard to ignore so here we go:
As much as I didn’t want to admit it, yes there are just too many side couples. DeanPharm and PreukManaow are essential to the story and cannot be removed but there where two additional couples that literally did nothing for the plot: WanTul and BeePrince.
That being said the side couples weren’t boring and were interesting enough so I’m not necessarily annoyed with it.
Acting/cast -
In terms of acting (as well as script writing), this drama give off the impression that is was filmed and edited immediately after its prequel ‘until we meet again’, so in 2020. I say this because the acting, and how certain scenes are orchestrated feel very 2019-2020 drama reminiscent.
The main characters where good actors back in 2020, and they still are now, although I don’t necessary see any development.
That being said, ‘between us’ has allowed the entire cast to showcase a wider range of emotions, of which they performed greatly.
With Prem (as Team) we got to see a more emotional, traumatised version of himself.
With Boun (as Win) we got to see a more unsure, and worried version of himself, which was convincing.
With Sammy (as Manaow) we got to see a more sad, and emotional person of herself.
This really helped connect and sympathise more with characters, since we never really saw this side of them in the prequel.
Another example of the acting being left in 2020, would be the bed scenes. Due to the nature of WinTeams relationship, bed scenes are unavoidable. In dramas filmed around 2019-2020, there was a specific way to film these bed scenes that was explicit enough at the time (I’m talking neck kissing, shirtless etc), however this aspect of dramas has evolved to the point where this is basically a pg representation.
Of course between us doesn’t need to be so explicit, but the way the scenes were edited and acted felt off and slightly weir to watch honestly. Like when you can help but laugh or cringe (which shouldn’t be the case). I would’ve preferred some kisses and inferred seggsy times.
Nevertheless, being reminiscent of 2020 isn’t completely a bad thing, because it also contributes a sense of nostalgia that can make the watching experience pretty fun.
Music -
I liked most of the soundtrack. Some songs, again sounded very 2020esque and this created a fun sense of nostalgia. Even some of the newer songs where good and are already in my playlists lol.
Rewatch value -
I definitely see myself rewatching certain cute episodes and scenes of this drama.
And lastly, there were not a single pack of lays eaten in this episode?? Whenever Team would go shopping for snacks he would reach his hand past the lays without hesitation and pick up some random chips that nobody cares about!
So to conclude, I really did enjoy ‘between us’ the series from all its emotional, and deep feelings to the funny comedic relief bits. It has a bit of everything and despite being imperfect is an easy and enjoyable watch.
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