Stalker (2022)

Dropping this would have been a huge mistake!

My first review despite years on MDL. This is because this show is that good and that underrated. Give it 5 episodes at least. Look past the shock value. The story and characters are amazing.

Every now and then a drama comes along and resonates with me more than others. Means more to me than others, obsesses me more than others, touches me more than others.

SCOY was one of those every now and thens...

I dropped it the first time I watched, only to come back to it when I needed to escape some bad news I had received. Yes, admittedly for me the cringe and second hand embarrassment was powerful in the first two episodes, but my mood was such that I could see past that and actually listen to the story they were trying to tell me. Listen to Toh and his rules for crushing. See Nuea watching the guy with glasses and smiling. See the friendships that were unconditional and supportive. I could really see the story past the crazy. And what a beautiful story it was.

Some say Toh is a criminal and creepy. He harmed no one. He did nothing illegal. He was devoted and loyal and pretty strong. His intentions were never to hurt or make someone uncomfortable. If Nuea had approached him and said I see what you are doing, please stop, I'm pretty sure Toh would have been upset that he had made Nuea uncomfortable and would have stopped immediately. That's how I see it at least.

I've heard others say the story is not plausible. How could Nuea like Toh? Considering I'm a chubby nerd that got the hot popular jock, I can't really agree with that way of thinking. Was this story in a setting of unicorns and rainbows. Yes, maybe. But, wouldn't it really be wonderful if all parents accepted their children for who they are unconditionally? Wouldn't it be wonderful if all friendships were as unconditional and supportive as theirs? Wouldn't it be wonderful if all the bullies always get put in their place? Wouldn't it be wonderful if your secret crush was secretly crushing on you as well?

I never write things this long on MDL. I usually don't have the confidence. But SCOY really meant so much to me. This crazy, silly, beautiful mess of a story captured my heart.

I thank them all, from actors to subbers. I wish them all the best. You made this person very happy.

Leggi di Più

cringiest series with the best subtitles (need a Daisy/Touch spinoff)

Overall: this series has some of the cringiest moments (especially the beginning episodes) that I've ever seen in any genre. There were aspects that I disliked, but it also had several amazing things. Watched on YouTube.

Content Warnings: stalking, taking photos/video without permission, dub con touching/kissing (drunk), non con kiss between m/f, cyber bullying, body shaming, attempted suicide?, violence in a dream sequence

What I Liked
- this series has the BEST subtitles, we were given additional information about references non-Thai audiences likely would not know about
- the friend groups, especially Toh's, they really supported and loved one another
- Daisy/Intouch, I'm sad we didn't get more scenes with them, they could have left off that pointless new character towards the end and developed Daisy/Intouch more
- acting, as much as I dislike some of the characters' behaviors, the actors did an amazing job. I don' t know how some of them didn't die of embarrassment while filming. I cried when Som cried and I believe those were real tears/crying instead of the frequent fake tears that I see
- the stylists, some of these characters look soooo different in real life you wouldn't even know they were the same person
- how Toh and Nuea are horny for one another, I appreciate that there isn't just 1 kiss at the end in this series
- the GL though it was not shown that much
- the funny moments, I laughed several times throughout the series
- the poignant moments, characters have some really good conversations
- Toh's parents
- I was happy that they revisited the bathtub scene with Toh and Nuea a second time and Nuea said "of course" because the first time it seemed that Nuea was setting up Toh to fail
- good production value

Room For Improvement
- serial killer stalking level: taking a can out of the trash, vacuum sealing things, an entire wall of photos, projector image, sticker on his phone, pillow, life size standee and then actively stalking him. This is played as comedy and the characters do address it later but it was not my thing.
- not enough screentime with Daisy/Intouch, crucial moments seemed to happen off screen and we really needed more scenes with these two
- Nuea kind of plays games (as does his dad) which is also not my thing
- that dream scene with the dad at the wedding was disturbing and unnecessary
- the cliche evil woman wannabe girlfriend
- Jao was too reluctant, there is a difference between nervous and unwilling and he was on the unwilling side. Even in the last episode he scrunched up his face preparing for a kiss which is uncomfortable to watch.
- the stereotypical trans women at the food stall
- some bad consent examples, saying that kissing is better when drunk, giving a hand job when the other person is drunk
- the theme song was nice but they played it over and over and over again

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Rewatching now

I just finished watching this series a day ago and I'm going to start rewatching it tonight. I Never re watch a series right after I finish it but Secret Crush on you is different to me. There are so anything's that I think I missed at the beginning, Especially when it comes to Nuea's feelings towards Toh.

For example on ep. 3, after Toh's friends helped him cover up the picture on the wall, he tells them he'd get them Grilled Barbq pork for a week. Then when Nuea is about to leave after getting the thumb drive of his sister's picture, he gives Toh an envelope of $ and tells him to get his friends Grilled BarBQ Pork. Like how did he know??? lol

Another one would be Nuea already knowing Toh has a huge collection of pictures of him (He asked him "is the reason you dont want me in your dorm because of the pictures you took?" on ep. 8) and also how he wasn't that shocked with the pictures all over Toh's wall in ep. 13 because he already knew. Idk I want to know more about those moments lol

It's an addictive series that I think everyone should watch. the 2nd hand embarrassment is there and that's what makes this series sooooo good. Do you know how hard it is too make a 2nd hand embarrassment plot funny? Toh aka Seng did a wonderful job with his character. He's an amazing actor (same goes to everyone in this series).

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Wow, What a Ride

I cannot believe Secret Crush On You is already over when I feel like it just began. What once was a cringe series I was sure I would hate to now being my favorite of 2022, I will forever and always be grateful for what this series did, brought, established, allowed, and created. Yes, this was nothing but tropes and giggles and cringe and foolishness, but it brought me utter joy just to experience it and get to love in its moment. While it might not seem at the beginning to be such a heartfelt series with a message to tell, by the end, you're swept away by the development of the characters, the lessons they learn, and the goals they achieve. I will miss seeing my children every Friday.

Let's Dive In.

Secret Crush On You was a silly little BL that at first, I wasn't taking seriously, and really only enjoyed it for what it was; a crack series with the stupidest situations, and with every corner came some character doing the most out-of-the-ordinary shit. One of the most extraordinary characters is Toh who has a massive crush on the popular guy Nuea and keeps a shrine of him at his home. Through some coincidences, Toh and Nuea get closer, and inevitably date, with Toh's gang of friends also going through their own stories. In the beginning, this is total insanity, with nothing the characters doing at all very normal or even the slightest thing that could happen in real life, but you fall in love with them anyway, and you can't help but laugh at their stupidity and their nerdiness. The reason this show just works so perfectly is that it is that slice of life mixed with utter fiction and it's the perfect blend.

The number one thing that has shocked my world to its core is the actors in this show. This series wouldn't be anything without them, and not nearly as enjoyable as it is. They are remarkable actors that played up to their roles perfectly. The thing that worked was that they all acted over-the-top and dramatic. Had one person been off, this entire show would've gone down the drain. But luckily, the director knew what he wanted and saw it in these actors. On top of that, they were the best of friends which just made their chemistry on the screen 10 times better. Not a day goes by where I don't think about how mesmerizing they are and how much I will miss them.

Each couple, while some more noticed than others, were pretty much everything I wanted. Toh and Nuea's story was none like any I've seen. They take an overused trope and turn it into a gold mine. Yes, some situations are idiotic, crossing the line of what-the-fuck, but it just makes sense for the world they live in. While Toh at the beginning was an annoying obsessive freak, they throw in some character development that spices up his story and he becomes someone who believes in himself enough to know that Nuea isn't going away and he's really his boyfriend. His problem was that he didn't think he was good enough to be anything more than someone Nuea never noticed, and it took him a while to realize that he is important, and he needed to recognize that. He understands that keeping the little things isn't important when you have the real thing, while Nuea went through his own struggles of not feeling perfect and sometimes worried that he wasn't enough for Toh. I'm telling you, this show has a way of telling these characters' stories, and this couple had plenty of moments to go off of.

With that also came Jao and Sky, their story being one of loving oneself and learning to let others love them too, and then there was Daisy and Touch's story that was criminally half-assed, and was given the very bottom of the barrel. Really my only problem with this show is that they have set up so many different characters with their own stories, but have no time to tell them, with Nuea and Toh taking up the time we could be using on developing these other plots. Daisy's story was the most mesmerizing to me. Even overwhelmed me to the point of tears when she comes out as trans. Her story with Touch is not much, some hints here and there that they both have feelings for one another, and a very half-assed ending for the both of them, but Touch's smile was enough for me not to be too mad. I wouldn't mind at all for these two to get their own series. Som and the other dude weren't given much of anything but some teasing remarks from the others, and the same goes for Kongwhan and Fon. With fewer filler moments (like them throwing in a Toh 2.0 character plot), I have no doubt that these couples couldn't have gotten the story they deserved.

Not let's talk about the moments that really meant the world to me; The gang. I can't tell you enough how much fun I've had watching them all together. I've laughed, I've cried, I've pretty much done all of the above, and I never want them to go away. The best support team there is, and I can only wish that I had my own gang of friends.

I will comment though that this show does an exceptional job at kiss and heat scenes. I liked that there was a difference between Toh and Nuea versus Jao and Sky where the latter took their time, and voiced open communication and clear understandings with Sky taking his time with Jao until he was ready to expose himself in a new light. It was slow, it was intimate and it was sensual. On the other hand, Toh and Nuea's was a lot more rough, passionate, exciting, and fast-paced. The cast has excellent chemistry, nothing ever veered off, and I do hope I see them again.

I can't believe Saint was able to produce such a heartfelt show! I'm so astonishingly proud of him, and can't wait to see what he has in store for the future! Producer Saint is the new way to go!

Ratings:

Story: 8.5 - Overall, the character development was everything. While the story could sway sometimes by being maybe too filler or maybe too repetitive in certain circumstances, I was still able to hold on and enjoy every minute of it. However, I will take a star off for that, and another half star for their poor execution of DaisyTouch, KongwhonFon, and SomWhat's-his-face.

Actings 9.5 - No complaints here! The actors knew what they were given and played them to a T! Everything was supposed to be exaggerated and maybe they were even supposed to sprout about cringe, who knows?! But all I know is that these actors did a superb job and I will miss them dearly. I will take a half star off cause there were times I wasn't paying attention to Toh and only the profuse amount of sweat that was dripping off of Seng (someone get this man some air conditioning ASAP)

OST: 8 - Weirdly addicting. I noticed myself singing it the other day and don't usually even take the time to really pay attention to stuff like that.

Rewatch value: 4.5 - I plan on watching this whenever I feel the need to. I can't go without them for too long.

I highly recommend this series, and while there are some incredible stories, really good morals, and astounding character development, I wouldn't look past that this series IS weird, so maybe take it with a grain of salt, and really just enjoy yourself.

Leggi di Più

Crush on them all!

My first love with this series definitely goes to the colour scheme. Nuea and Toh are mostly seen wearing the oranges and blues respectively (which you know are complementary to each other on the colour wheel, if you’ve studied basic colours) and Sky and Jao wear derivatives of red. It’s not just easy on the eyes, it’s very beautiful to see. This is just one small instance that shows the depths to which the production went to craft out the series. Coupled with excellent actors with fantastic platonic and romantic chemistry and a solid storyline, SCOY makes for an amazing watch.

In a nutshell, Toh has had a crush, no secret crush, on Nuea for long and SCOY is his journey of love. There’s no need to ponder about the difference between a crush and a secret crush because there are well set rules for having a crush in secret, that we are introduced to early on. One of them being, three equals to four. Contrary to common logic, it actually makes sense. As does the concept of secret crush, but it requires us to sit through two or three episodes to understand that it’s not the same as stalking. Toh’s crush on Nuea is his one single obsession in life. It’s not something that fuels his day, it’s what his day itself revolves around. From a completely different perspective, one could call it an addiction of sorts– but it hasn’t yet progressed to the stage where it’s troublesome to either character. Toh is very well aware of what his crush could amount to. He's still sane.

This delicate characterisation and portrayal require extreme care, caution and dedication and this is the show’s greatest asset. It succeeds in depicting an exact likeness of the character as it was conceived in writing. Toh was translated flawlessly from thought to paper to screen. And was given further credibility (and adorableness) by Seng. Normally, Toh is the exact sort of character I hate in stories, books, shows and real life but no one except Seng could have sold Toh for me. I even actually like the guy! Billy is likewise perfect as Nuea. He isn’t the typical overbearing seme. Even when he’s possessive, jealous or sad, his innate softness never goes out of the picture. I can wax poetic on how excellent Jao is, how he rocks pink, how he looks like a cute, squishy human plushie, how he’s just this soft and chubby bear who screams of comfort and gentleness.

You don’t see SCOY compromising anywhere- be it in the plotline, characterisation, costumes or production. There’s mature handling of practical problems that arise in relationships and it’s a treat to watch, especially after the stack of illogical and toxic stories we’ve had in the past. This is not to say that SCOY is impeccable. It has its share of negatives but none of them are disturbing. All of a sudden in the middle of the series, Daisy and Intouch are made the third couple but their track doesn’t have a proper beginning, middle and end. There’s inclusivity sure, but why is it not well presented? One sentence about Daisy’s problem to inform the audience about it and another to resolve it are not how a third couple should be treated. Kongkwan and Fon suffer a similar fate but at least, they are more of a side couple who’ve already got together.

For that matter, SCOY doesn’t resolve a lot of minor conflicts it brought in to further the plot. Kong? Peach? Prao? Flowers at the end? In that sense, SCOY isn’t exempt from how it uses the cliché of a jealous female who comes in between the leads. Prao gets the worst deal of all (especially after Ging’s super awesome Nadia in My Ride). One episode, Nuea and Prao are together and the very next one, Nuea can’t bear the sight of her. Why? The uniforms are different for a change, but it’s basketball again(?) Truthfully though, this is more my dissatisfaction than any criticism speaking because the show is enjoyable regardless. When all is said and done, “Secret crush on you” and “You’re the magic in my life” keep ringing in your ears and there’s a lingering smile on your face. Success? Yes!

P.S.- (repeat after me) We need more of Saint (and his productions)!

Leggi di Più

Loved it!

I stumbled upon Secret Crush on You quite by accident, and I'm so happy I did. Here are my pros and cons:

PROS

ATTENTION TO IMPORTANT ISSUES. Bullying, transgender identity, fat shaming, homophobia (and more) were addressed satisfactorily in this series.

LIKEABLE CHARACTERS. I found myself liking every single one of the characters, other than the bullies.

CONS

TOH'S MEMENTOS. Nothing says "I love you" like cutting the entire head off of a roast pig to save as a keepsake... in a Ziploc bag.

WRAPPING UP STORY LINES. Not dealbreakers, but I would have liked to see more of Daisy/Touch, Jao actually meeting Sky's mother, and Prao/Peach getting publicly shamed.

I had fun watching this series and looked forward to it each week.

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Displeased

Okay so for starters, keep in mind I was already halfway in this series when I realized it's aka as "Stalker". lol
I didn't hate this series but I definitely don't think it deserves half the praise it's receiving. It was cringe fuel at it's finest. The support cast were funny and even tho I wish some of them got more screen time you'll quickly see what I mean when I say they are extra af. Way too invested and just clear over the top acting for the scenes. But I'm going to let that slide cause it's clear they're new actors and like I said, they were funny.
Moving on,** IT'S NEVER OK TO STALK SOMEONE**
This I can't stress enough that it was only finished because what was good was really good. This took getting your crushes attention to a whole new level! It was meant to be quirky and cute I know, but I can't get past some parts...most importantly the box(s) dedicated to TRASH that belonged to the MC.
The relationship(s) in general moved very quickly which isn't really a problem but other than that some of the episodes made no progress in the storyline itself.
Can't see myself recommending to anyone but,
Enjoy...

Leggi di Più

Beautiful story that is a must watch

First of all, let me address this, YES this series does have more than expected cringe scenes but there is a lot (A LOT) more than just that.

The show went beyond my expectations of it being just another university BL drama. The friendship and the communication (especially between the couples) is something not seen in other BLs. There is literally no misunderstanding that would cause any of the couples to break up.

There are honestly many good things from the show. The friendship was really inspiring. The friend group of 4, always being there for each other reminded me of the friend group from UWMA where they encourage each other in their romantic pursuits and just be there for each other emotionally. The best thing was that each friend was shown the support and not just Toh and Jao. Daisy is my favorite though.

Toh has such a wild imagination which is also expected when it is your first love, you want to experience it all. Even though some scenes are cringe, they are still hilarious af. Yes, making a collection of all the things that your crush has touched is weird. But in his mind, this was the only way he could be close with Nuea as he never expected his love to also love him back. Everyone has a weird hobby or habit and this was his which just made him just like any other person in that sense. His friends accepted him and supported him in some of his collections and stopped him as well when it got too much. True friendship right there. (Really wish I could have supportive friends like these as well).

Also, loved how they portrayed the NC scenes as well. Loved how Nuea tried to let Toh top first even though he wasn't as compliant then but then revisited the topic in the last episode breaking the stereotype that it needs to be only one way for the couple throughout their lives.

Not to forget the inclusivity. The show had it all, gay couples, a lesbian couple, a straight couple, and a couple where one individual is a transgender woman. Each couple with their own issues that they work through, grow together and form a stronger bond. I do wish there could have been more backstory or relationship development shown between the lesbian couple but they were just supporting characters. Also, wish that there was more screentime for TouchDaisy as they made a really good pair. Touch's smile when looking at Daisy was beautiful. Everyone deserves a lover who would look at you the way he looked at his partner Daisy. The actor truly has a beautiful and attractive smile.

Overall, it is a great story. I feel really bad for the people who left it halfway through just because of a little bit of cringe. They need to watch the whole thing to see the true beauty and how this story addresses the major topics in a relationship as well as the LGBTQ+ community. Feminine gays deserve love and a beautiful love story. They need more representation and should not be just cast as comic relief characters.

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Acceptance, tolerance and the best friend groups known to humankind.

I want to rate this series 12/10. It managed to show the best of BL whilst avoiding the worst.
I really don't understand the low rating and I don't understand accusations of stalking by Toh. He never approached Nuea.. never tried to make Nuea uncomfortable and never thought he owned Nuea. He was happy watching from a distance. Sure, he collected weird things as mementos BUT the series is based off a manga therefore some things will be exaggerated. People love manga for the weirdness, the exaggeration of details, well, that's why I do.
I will be watching this series again, to remind myself of what good relationships look like, what amazing friendships look like.

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