Review: ViceVersa

Welcome back, everyone!

Today, I will be reviewing Vice Versa. I have so much to say since this was one of my most anticipated BLs from GMMTV.

Vice Versa is the story of two characters, Talay and Puen, who, after "dying" wake up in different bodies, in a different universe. They must find their "Keyport" or "portkey" (I forgot lol) to go back to their original selves. However, they must also keep the body of the other characters alive, for them to be... alive. You get it.

Before we go into it, as always, let me remind you that this is my opinion, I do this for fun and because I like it. If you do not agree, feel free to post a comment, a well-thought-out comment though. Thank you!

Let's start with the production.

Amazing. Loved it. I am a huge fan of the color palate they used in this show, it was just chef kisses. And the wardrobe? even better. I love how every episode has a theme, like a pastel, blue, yellow, etc. And how it reflects so well on the episode and the characters.

It was a delight to see something as vivid as this show. There are a lot of scenes that I loved just because of the colors, and even at night, the scenery was clear and just beautiful. Every character has a defining look, and this is something GMMTV has finally figured out. Sea character has a classy vibe to it, while Jimmy is more of a cool boy, and you can tell not only by his actions but also, by his wardrobe. Even the friends, Neo and Aou had their looks. I have to say, the shots at the beach, forest, or even in the little cafe thing, it was just beautiful to look at. The color contrast was amazing as well, there is this thing where some of the colors pop off more than others and it just looks amazing. This tells me that they had the budget, not only for the wardrobe and the different scenarios but also for the cinematography. 10 out of 10 for the production.

Writing:

As I mentioned, this is one of my most anticipated GMMTV series of 2022, and this was disappointing.

Now hold on hold on let me tell you why.

This show could have gone in many different ways, many, but it went with the most basics of the million possible ways. That does not mean that it does not have good parts, I will add them but keep up with me.

My biggest disappointment with this show is the other universe. The writers could have done so much with this idea, but they did too little.

We got transparent paper and other things that are so little that I forgot. And that's how I know this was not enough. While Talay and Puen were in the other universe, I felt like I was still watching them in the "real" universe because everything was the same. Something different with more shock and value would have been them in a different era or decade, with no cellphones or more advanced technology, but no, we got the same universe with see-through paper... And then we got the same GMMTV formula, introduceproblems/lastepisodes. Why? The writers introduce a bunch of new people and problems in episode 8 out of nowhere and if you think they will give you enough time to process, think again. I felt like I was watching Enchante again. Episodes 8 and 9 felt so packed I had to stop and just process, I am slow, or maybe it was too much, but again this is my opinion.

Now, the show started slow, it did, however, you would expect it to pick up in the next episodes, and it does, but then it rushes and then goes back to slow, and then the last two episodes went by so quickly I forgot it was the last episodes.

There is more babes. For the first time, I felt like I needed to finish a show because it might change my mind, and this is what happened. I thought about dropping at episode 10 because I felt like it was done by then, but nope, it was not. Do not add so many storylines to your show if it's going to be 12 episodes, it felt like they hoped for 14 to 16, which could have been better than this. The last two episodes were packed with family, fame, and then interviews. Just two episodes, and the fact that they went back and resume life like nothing. Not Talay though, I know, but he resolves his issues so fast I was like "okay hehe... mmm nah man this ain't it!", hear me out, they should have been back to their universe on episode 8 and then you have 8-12 with all these issues that were presented in episode 11 and 12. That would have been better writing. Some other small points, Talay and Puen had kissed by episode like 7 I think, or 8, and they are both into it and everything, and then... in another episode later they are like "wait you like me?" I was so confused lol like whaaaaaaaat. Like they kissed on that bathtub like the rent was due and now you are asking me if I like you? sir- But okay I am ready to move on to the good parts.

Moving on. A normal gay style. I loved this so much, Talay did have to tell Puen he likes guys, he just told him he had a crush on that guy -who was introduced out of nowhere in an episode, and then nothing like he added zero value to the show other than this, so it was an unnecessary addition- and then Talay and Puen going out and flirting and his friends not finding it weird or anything.

Some of the issues presented at the beginning of the show, like trying to find the right person, and even at the end. However, this could have been done way better than this, even those who were included as Talay and Puen's soulmates, as they were there for two episodes lol.

Other than this, it was basic, the writing that is. It felt like a recycled formula of other shows.

particularly 2gether

Acting:

Ah! It started great for Sea and then he fell off, then Jimmy picked up, and then he fell off for me. Sea started acting way better after episode 8. It felt real and honest, and he started crying or smiling and it was believable, so I liked that. Jimmy, on the other hand, was good in the first half and then I felt like it was monotonous. They had chemistry, but from time to time they were off. The other actors did okay. Let me tell you something tho, Neo, plays the same character, and honestly, I don't even know if he knows how to act anyway. My guy just plays himself at this point, but the company is not helping their actors with these generic characters -which ties back again to the writing-.

We did not see Nanon and Ohm as much, but Nanon is a good actor, so he sold me whenever he was there. Everybody else was fine.

Last words:

There is a lot that could have been done better, the writing is the biggest letdown of this show. From the universe to the dialogue, it felt rushed, at times like a remake of other shows. Vice Versa will forever be remembered as the beautifully shot GMMTV series, this is by far the most beautiful show they have put out, but the writing was not it. It's time GMMTV starts rethinking and redoing whatever they want to put out. And please, can we review what we write in a single show? Give these actors a chance to shine. I felt like Jimmy said the same lines repeatedly in every single episode, his character was so bland that at some point I was about to lose it. And can we get longer shows if you are going to deal with a complex setting? This universe could have been different and the issues as well, more development, not just 30 minutes, and then solved. This is not a movie, is a show.

Also, why did I just watched a whole commercial? GMMTV included 21 brands on this one single BL, like I actually ate some ramens because I saw it in one of the scenes, but like damn girl, give me a break.

Overall:

Vice Versa gets an 8 -Good- for me, and this is mostly because of the production value of the show, beautifully done, everything else, 7 less than average.

Welp, until I decide to watch another BL