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Post by antistatic on Mar 16, 2022 6:02:16 GMT -5
BTS video for Episode 13:
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Post by antistatic on Mar 16, 2022 20:00:15 GMT -5
Gah! This series has got inside my head and it's bothering me, but then I suppose that's the whole point of the story they're telling. It's showing us that life isn't fair or just full of the black and white (no pun intended) options so often presented in the movies. In reality humans are frail and have complex choices to make, and sometimes they make bad decisions even when they are for good reasons. I'm getting a tad peeved by the fact there are so many people out there who have vilified Dan into being some sort of heartless undercover agent who never really loved Yok and just deliberately lead him on so he could get the glory of bringing down the gang, or alternatively was just some sort of weak coward who wouldn't stand up to the Old Man when he should have. Really? For me, it's obvious that Dan never intended to turn his back on Yok (or the gang). He was loyal right up to the moment that he was threatened and forced to either agree to do what the Old Man wanted or face the ominous repercussions. He made the choice that he hopefully believed would save all their lives; reasoning that time in jail was better than the threat of death. The Old Man had made it clear they were all expendable and that 'someone' high up just wanted him to be finished off. Dan also told Yok in the hospital that this was the only way "otherwise you all won't get to stay alive", which he knew would undoubtedly be the outcome if he didn't comply. So what else should he have done? It was a Sophie's Choice and IMHO he really doesn't deserve the level of hate that some folk are throwing in his direction. It's so short-sighted and frankly lacking a bit in human empathy not to acknowledge the extremity of such a dilemma. I wonder how many of those people, put in the same position, would honestly refuse to co-operate and let their parents die for the cause? How can anyone truly judge the decisions of others without examining what they themselves would be capable of and the level of sacrifice involved? On a more positive note, the show has apparently just filmed some extra new scenes for the finale. Let's hope they have decided to show us some mercy! I'm now lighting candles in the hope that Todd will somehow come good and help out the gang and someone will save Dan, who I still feel is the most obvious one to die.
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Post by antistatic on Mar 20, 2022 8:16:53 GMT -5
Episode 14 (finale): * Embedding will not work for Part 3 as the YT link contains a sequence of letters that the ProBoard software will not accept. The link for this video is actually: youtu.be/f*giZTV_iSI but because it includes the sequence f Ag (no space), the system treats it as a pejorative word and replaces the letter A with an asterisk to censor it, thus making the YT link incorrect. I've contacted ProBoard Support but haven't heard anything back yet, although I suspect there won't be anything we can do about it. Instead, here's the link to GMMTV's YouTube channel: GMMTV videos which will allow you to find the video and click on the link direct from there.
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Post by ferdavid on Mar 20, 2022 13:49:30 GMT -5
So happy, Dan and Yok got their happy ending!!!!!! But a least, they could have shown a kiss
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Post by kevvoi on Mar 20, 2022 20:59:45 GMT -5
I really think they needed at least one more episode to end things with - it just felt like they ran out of steam and decided to cut off every loose end to make it look they all were going to have happy endings. Where were the consequences for what they did and did Tawi's evil empire collapse (or did Tod step into be the next big bad guy?)?
Though I could very easily see a season 2 starting with White realizing that Black was in danger (or perhaps vice versa) and the team gets back together to rescue him.
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Post by antistatic on Mar 21, 2022 7:28:54 GMT -5
I really think they needed at least one more episode to end things with - it just felt like they ran out of steam and decided to cut off every loose end to make it look they all were going to have happy endings. Where were the consequences for what they did and did Tawi's evil empire collapse (or did Tod step into be the next big bad guy?)? Though I could very easily see a season 2 starting with White realizing that Black was in danger (or perhaps vice versa) and the team gets back together to rescue him. The director Nuchy Anucha has been quite open on twitter and elsewhere in talking about the problems the production faced, and while I'm talking from a bit of a hazy memory, my understanding is that this was originally envisaged and budgeted as a 16 episode drama following script approval from GMM. However, it looks like halfway through filming some people high up at GMM got cold feet due to the political overtones and sensitive issues the series was covering. First, they were told to tone down the clear inference of political corruption (which is apparently why Black/White's parents disappeared from the series and scenes already filmed with the actors were cut out) which meant some re-writes. They also faced a similar issue concerning the way they were portraying the police which again forced more changes to be made. I gather this is why we didn't get any more of the Old Man or any explanation as to who he was. The biggest kick in the teeth for the production came when two thirds of the way through filming, GMM told them the budget was being cut and they had to wrap the series up in 14 episodes instead of 16. (Rumours persist that the lost budget was given to the dull-as-dishwater ' F4: Boys Over Flowers' instead). Although Nuchy hasn't really gone into any details, she did say the original ending was different and more downbeat. I think they probably did kill off one or more of the characters or maybe did something such as the gang being railroaded into unjust long prison sentences to get them out of the way (my guess only) but Nuchy did say that since the ending had to be changed and the feedback showed just how emotionally involved the audience were getting with certain characters, she decided that we should not unduly suffer and it was changed so that everyone got a 'happy ending'. It's known that both First/Gawin and Gun/Off were called back to refilm scenes for the last episode which suggests to me that Dan and Black were likely to have died in the original? As for the storyline consequences, they used the trick of radio exposition to inform us of some of the other outcomes. When Yok was with his mum the news on the radio said that there was growing pressure for Tawi to be investigated due to more people protesting. Bad guy Techit who was on the run had been caught and arrested. The gang had also been arrested but were released on bail due to the pressure from the protests. The ending we got seems to be before they go on trial, allowing Nuchy to sidestep any realistic drama there. Oh, and the character of Gram was 'straight-washed' as he was originally intended to be in love with Black but half way through they changed it to Eugene instead. (Not sure of the reason behind that but it probably explains why Gram was much more flirty and candid with the other guys early on in the story). I think that was a real disservice to Mond as it completely stripped him of his story arc and he ended up just being a nondescript member of the gang who was there to stand around and fill up screen space. I think we're meant to forget about scenes like this...
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Post by antistatic on Mar 21, 2022 9:09:14 GMT -5
Just thought I would link to this original song which was used a couple of times during the series. Personally, I really thought it enhanced the emotional impact of the scenes it was used for. Everlast by Will Van De Crommert I also thought it was quite beautiful and uplifting to see Yok’s gentle touches of his portrait of Dan. And he was wearing Dan's cap for the occasion. Somehow I even found that quite poignant too.
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Post by antistatic on Mar 21, 2022 11:37:09 GMT -5
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Post by kevvoi on Mar 21, 2022 17:11:38 GMT -5
I kind of wish that they had left the painting as the more severe charcoal - instead of adding the reddish coloring. It felt more in line with the emotional context of what both Yok and Dan were feeling at the moment. But yes a new show with First and Fluke would be very appreciated.
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Post by antistatic on Mar 23, 2022 8:19:50 GMT -5
Final BTS for Episode 14 (Yok and Dan at the gallery. Yay!):
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Post by antistatic on Mar 23, 2022 9:39:58 GMT -5
I kind of wish that they had left the painting as the more severe charcoal - instead of adding the reddish coloring. It felt more in line with the emotional context of what both Yok and Dan were feeling at the moment. But yes a new show with First and Fluke would be very appreciated. I've just been thinking about your comment, kevvoi, and I fully appreciate your point of view but it actually made me realise that when I watched that scene I didn't feel the colouring was out of place. I definitely remember thinking that the reddish skin tones and dark background made for a more fierce perspective; and Dan's eyes also looked quite stern, making him appear more secretive, so I think I must have reasoned in my head that Yok had worked on this during the last month, when he was still really angry and that ultimately manifested itself with the final picture being moodier and more intense. I totally agree that the original sketch was brimming with sadness, Dan's pain being the defining focus, but I think this final version is more centred around Yok's state of mind and his own pain.
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Post by kevvoi on Mar 23, 2022 19:54:48 GMT -5
Art is subjective I thought it made him look demonic with coloring.
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