Flipped perspective

I'll be honest, I really expected to hate this show. Or at least to find it mediocre enough to forget about. I watched it shortly after finishing Not Me and watched the first few episodes with someone who hated the show and told me to watch it after mentioning he didn't like it.

Theory of Love has a quite classic, basic story befitting its tone, cinematography, and overall themes. Third, a film major who does movie reviews, is in love with his best friend Khai, a player who changes girlfriends at the blink of an eye. It's about a seemingly hopeless unrequited love and the angst that comes with pining over someone who is never looking at you.

I was *not* enjoying it at first. I found Third crying in the shower bearable (despite my slightly amused, mostly cringing reaction to it at first) but I couldn't quite vibe with his point-of-view as a main character. Things just weren't clicking for me.

And every single episode, I grew more and more annoyed. Khai as a character seemed more and more awful as a friend, especially as we saw Third take the fall for his actions and cry every single episode, while still holding onto his feelings, which felt unfounded. To quote myself, I said multiple times during the first half of the series: "I *hate* Khai."

When he was acting nice, I didn't trust him. I was suspicious and wary, just like Third! And I completely understood his feelings, as someone who would probably act the same but absolutely hated seeing it. And when Khai continued to stoop lower and lower, I completely was in Third's shoes. Frustrated, betrayed, annoyed, and done with Khai, despite the small charms that did get through to me.

The thing was, I was being perfectly manipulated by the show. I hated Khai, I told myself. I would continue to hate Khai, I thought.

Here are some things I said as the POV switched:
"flipped" do i need to deal w khai pov from now on ?? why NONOOOOO
khai would have to go through hell for me to feel bad for him after that show of things
i enjoy khai suffering. like fr deserve
"im gonna chase after third" STOP LIKE JUST STOP
i have no idea what khai could do to make me go Yes i am happy they ended up together. like idk fucking make a new personality altogether ? cuz its like theres no REASON LIKE THERES ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR KHAI TO BE LIKE THIS. hes acting like such a fucking loser rn why do you even like third suddenly. it feels like he saw the video and was just like omggg

But I was completely wrong, and actually went for as much of a change in perspective as the characters do! Because actually, despite everything up above. Khai is now my favorite character in Theory of Love, and I adore him dearly. I quite literally have spent the last month thinking about him every single day.

I *love* Khai.

His change was wonderfully written. He lost the person he didn't know he was in love with, reflected, and realized that he fucked up. He sort of speedrun the complicated feelings Third had to deal with (seeing his best friend with another person) and realized that he hurt his best friend and love of his life deeply and he had to change. So he did!

He really did change as a person and the KhaiThird dynamic did a drastic turn from what it once was, as Khai realized he had to treat Third the way he deserved, and Third realized he couldn't let himself keep getting treated the way he was and put his foot down. And honestly, while I found the jealousy plot incredibly cliche and not very well executed (we *know* UnTwo is real at this point anyway) I loved watching Khai and Third fall in love properly.

Khai is an incredibly flawed character. He's stupid, self-absorbed, and he hurts people. But he grows! And the moment he finally realized how stupid he was, you realize his charms. He's like an overeager puppy following Third around, a genuinely *cute* guy who we realize has deep abandonment issues and a lacked the ability to really be self-aware.

I'm allowed to play into stereotypes because I am also bisexual but I will say - Khai not realizing he's bisexual while dressing like *that* and acting like *that* and being a film major was so hilarious to me it still makes me giggle when I think about it. Oh to be so unaware you don't realize you've been in love with your best friend for years (you especially come to find the hilarity of this during the ebook) only to realize it after you've hurt him to try and *get him to fall out of love with you.*

I love the structure of Theory of Love! The two leads get their own halves of the show to explain their perspectives, and the flip of their feelings was incredibly satisfying, as well as the one movie per episode format. I haven't watched any of the movies referenced, but just with a glance at Flipped I can tell the story worked in really nice references. Theory of Love is a romance about romances about characters who watch romances, and that worked for me very well.

The acting was wonderful. I love Off, I love Gun, and I love OffGun!

Third's crying scenes and Khai at the train station stand out to me as gems, and the supporting cast is also wonderful. Everyone fit their roles well.

One point I will make is that I didn't quite enjoy the other characters quite as much as I came to love Khai and Third. I didn't hate anyone's storyline, but I feel like none of them quite hit the same amount of charm I grew to enjoy from KhaiThird by the end of the show. But I can't say that's quite a bit issue when they aren't the main leads and have no reason to be. I like what Two and Bone bring to the show, and they're a very funny quartet.

Anyway, Theory of Love really took me on a wild ride. From hate to love and disconnection to really, really connected with the show. I'd recommend anyone to watch this show as long as they take it on its own terms and really let themselves get swept away with the show. I'm currently rewatching it after having read the entire ebook, and I appreciate it even more. It's a well-crafted show and I'm impressed by the skill of its ability to make me equal parts despise and adore Khai, who I feel is really the best part of the show once you really start to see into his own head.

Your honor, Khai isn't really a bad guy. He's just stupid. And I love him for that. So does Third!

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