Fantasy BL with real-life emotions and an AESTHETIC MASTERPIECE

Okay, so… This show stole my heart. Quite literally.

Before I further explain why, I have to be honest and say that I didn't have any high expectations for this whatsoever. Quite randomly, I decided to watch the first two episodes because I was bored. At that time I wasn’t aware of the cast and knew almost nothing aside from the fact that Jimmy should be playing the main role, so my first intention to give this a shot wasn’t even OhmNanon pairing as for many others. My only premise was that it’s supposed to be fantasy and some universe traveling, which I found interesting because fantasy and BL? Yes, I’m here for it.

And now to my review.

1. Story + Characters

Truthfully speaking, this series is more subtle about the fantasy than I expected it to be and I consider myself to be a sucker for fantasy, so it would make sense if I felt more regretful about it. I admit I came for the fantasy, but in the end, I stayed for so much more. Sure, the whole thing about the main characters traveling to a different universe, the small details (like transparent paper, difference in counting, snow in Thailand...), and even the shooting places in the series somehow feel fantasy-like. At the same time, the emotions that characters experience and go through, create an almost “slice of life-ish” atmosphere.
For instance, we don’t know much about Talay’s and Puen’s lives before they traveled though it seems they weren’t completely satisfied with their lives there. Puen was an actor who didn’t have much time for himself, while Talay just landed his dream job, but later confessed life itself was also draining his energy (and he used it as a reason for being single as well). And that feels very real as life indeed can be very exhausting at times and our dreams and hearts are not always easy to follow. For some unknwon reason, two of them travel and meet in different universe and in somebody else’s bodies. When that happens, they start to realize life doesn’t suck as much with the right person beside them and start to open their hearts for each other.

In addition, I love how both main characters are built very much equally. They have their weaknesses, their strengths, their dreams and their fears, and they don’t feel 2D as many other characters we’ve all seen in BLs before. I absolutely adore this couple’s chemistry, for it is somehow funny yet intriguing at the same time. Both are obviously inexperienced in love, but one is willing to lose his heart right away with the right person, which he’s doing quite messily yet confidently; and the other one doesn’t care about love much, but is surprisingly serious about his own heart matters when he starts to fall. I rarely get this feeling form BLs series, but I really feel like Talay and Puen help each other make better versions of themselves and it’s palpable how much they care for each other with their smallest actions and gestures. Everything aside, at times, there is this crushing anxiety of whether they will return together or if they will return ever at all. In a universe that is not their own everything the main characters experience creates this mixed, heartwarmingly bittersweet atmosphere which I find easy to relate to.

Apart from the main characters, we mostly see their friend groups, which account for a good comedy and nice friendships, and I love seeing them enjoy their time together and support each other. I can't imagine how much Talay and Puen will miss them when they get back to their own universe. Also, there are no annoying friends, no malicious girl characters, and no stupidly toxic tropes or miscommunication issues taking forever to solve.

To everyone who says this plot is complicated: How do you deal with anything else that actually needs some thinking and attention?

2. Cast

As I haven’t really seen JimmySea together before, their chemistry both on and off set, came as a big surprise to me. It's apparent why I wasn’t so sure of this pairing at the beginning... Both Jimmy and Sea are pretty new to the whole acting thing and this was Sea’s first time in a BL series, so I didn't want to expect anything groundbreaking from them. However, the more I saw of them, the more I realized how well Vice Versa suits them and now I can't imagine anyone else playing Talay and Puen. I watched Inside Vice Versa and honesetly, the director made such a great choice by picking Sea as the main character and then giving him Jimmy as his partner. They match each other so well and their acting is enjoyable and easy to watch. I hate overacting in series, but both actors here are great at showing the subtlest changes in their character's emotions without having to do too much.
And they are good friends in real life as well and it shows! They aren't as loud as some other BL couples because both Jimmy and Sea are more on the introverted side of GMMTV and it's honestly quite refreshing to watch interactions between people who are calmer, but still very comfortable with each other.

This is meant to everyone who came only for OhmNanon and left after two episodes: You are seriously missing out on one unexpected and sickeningly cute new pairing of JimmySea. Actually, with each episode I fall for the way they act in this story more and more.

3. Cinematography

Lastly, can we talk about the filming and editing in this series? From the colors accompanying each episode and perfectly representing its mood, dreamy and spectacular locations (which I’d love to see all if I ever come to Thailand) never seen in BLs before, to little details showing differences between both universes... And the styling? Can someone give the stylists in this an actual raise because BOY, DO THEY DESERVE?

My conclusion - If you take your time on this and actually pay attention to details, this show is quite literally an aesthetic masterpiece. Some people may not be aesthetic freaks like myself, but if you are, do yourself that favor and GO WATCH VICE VERSA RIGHT NOW!

4. Music

I love the Have I Found OST by Sea! It's one of my favourite songs these days.

Leggi di Più