B and H's Series Wrap-Up:
Tier: S | A | B | C | D | E
We are finally home, guys. *distributing tissues*
Last week, we came to the end of this complicated, grounded and beautiful story written and directed by the infamous Aof Noppharnach.
Giving it justice in a relatively brief review seems impossible, as essays could be written on each and every character in this series. But let's try and scratch at the surface nonetheless!
Here's our review of GMMTV's Moonlight Chicken.
This series is much more mature than most other BLs we've seen from GMMTV over the years. Following the journeys and individual struggles of our characters was an amazing experience, though pretty rough at times.
Through it all, we barely have any comedic beats save for a few playful moments with Li Ming and Heart and some jokes Leng throws around from time to time. Everyone is fighting their own personal battles day in and day out.
Jim is struggling to provide support and a safe haven for the people he cares about, even though he has only very limited means to do it, and often puts his own needs last. He's built a wall around himself after experiencing heartbreak and loss in his past.
Into his life comes Wen - a younger man stuck in a living situation with someone he fell out of love with but cannot bring himself to fully separate from. He's longing to find a new home and the warmth he's lacking in his current situation.
On the flip side of that unfortunate arrangement we have Alan, who's clinging to the once happy relationship he had with Wen, unable to accept that they aren't what they were anymore, because he still has hope - and that, as we all know, dies last.
Li Ming, Jim's nephew, is trying to find his own way in life, worried about his future and sick of being treated like a kid without agency by his uncle who he feels is not listening to him at all.
Heart, who has lost his hearing years ago, has been isolated inside his house since. His parents haven't even tried to learn how to talk to him and listen, and they don't let him go anywhere. It's a sad irony knowing his name and how heartbreaking the situation has been for him.
Gaipa, "the good guy", held out hope for Jim to like him back for ages. We see him as this lovely, open person who never speaks a harsh word to anyone, even when he'd have a reason to. It's a punch to the gut when he's not only hit with rejection, but with a sudden, much more painful loss.
And last we have Leng and Praew, a young couple struggling to make ends meet anyways, face an additional challenge as they have a baby on its way.
All these individual stories have their own obstacles - these people go through heartbreak, loss, awkwardness, doubts. But as painful as things may get, they don't give up. They help each other, grow together and separately, learn what's right for them - and what isn't.
And through it all, love is a theme that's woven into the fabric of their lives. Past love, present love, the possibility and discovery of new love. Holding on and letting go. Finding healing for the cracks in their hearts. Supporting each other with love.
Jim learns to open up and lowers his walls to Wen's persistent prodding. He deals with past wounds that hadn't been cleared out properly and lets his self-deprecation crumble away slowly. With Wen's added perspective, he learns how to connect with his nephew on better terms, even though it's not an easy road there.
Wen himself is relentless in fighting for a home he can envision, and yet he finds the maturity to give Jim time and gentle support when he needs it. Through his new goal and path towards a new love, he eventually admits to himself that he needs to deal with the messy state of his breakup first and stop holding on to the stalemate with Alan which turned into bitterness between them.
And as messy and painful as it is, the clear definition of where they stand, and the spacial separation finally gives Alan the chance to really feel the heartbreak, let the embers of hope die out and start to move on. He still struggles with it for a while, as does Wen, as circumstances don't make it easy on them, but in the end, Alan learns to walk his own path again.
Meanwhile, Li Ming finds an escape from his own daily struggles in the 'job' at Heart's house, but he also finds true connection with the lonely boy who opens up to him. We see how big Li Ming's heart is, what a caring and supportive person he is - not unlike his uncle, but unburdened by past loss and able to fall in love freely. While helping Heart, he grows into himself and (with some advice from Wen) finds the confidence to voice what he wants despite the backlash he receives.
And Heart. His life was practically on pause for years, shut away from society and peers, until Li Ming walks into it and brings back conversations, joy and love. After way too long, he is finally able to connect to others, especially to people in the deaf community, and to feel like he is living life like everyone else. He starts planning his future, too, and finally with Li Ming's help gets his parents to start to actually listen and do better for him.
For Gaipa, the road seems so unfairly hard. The loving relationship he has with his mother is truly touching - which is why losing her, as suddenly as death sometimes hits, is so devastating. But we see his friends and the community come together to support him, and through this unbearable loss we see him fall apart but pick up the pieces and persevere. He also comes to terms with Jim and Wen's relationship, and starts a new chapter for himself.
Leng and Praew also find support from their friends, community and family - enough so they feel like they will be able to raise their kid, even if it won't be easy. But they know they have people they can rely on, and they give back the love they receive.
"Love consists of the right person at the right time."
More fittingly, it consists of a number of right people at the right time. These characters can find their place in life, their homes, through difficulties, heartbreak, and hurt, because their paths have crossed at the right time.
We could talk for ages about how Li Ming and Heart were each other's saviours, how Wen and Jim broke each other out of their respective stupor, how Alan and Gaipa can heal and find a new path together, how all these people have touched each other's hearts in one way or another.
The story Moonlight Chicken told is so intricate and full of potential to talk meta about. We've seen many insightful posts already and will hopefully continue to do so.
How do we feel about it? A LOT, that's how. There was much pain and sadness to go around, and we definitely cried, but there were also so many heart-warming and beautiful moments. This series may hurt you in some ways, but it won't leave you out in the cold with a broken heart - it will take you by the hand, lead you inside and wrap you in a comforting blanket. It will tell you life can suck, but though it may feel like it sometimes, you are not alone and there is connection and love to be found. Then it will give you some chicken rice and kiss you on the forehead, and you will probably cry.
Visually, Moonlight Chicken was stunning from beginning to end. Emotionally, it hit the spots it intended to hit.
This series is definitely a masterpiece of storytelling, touches on many real and uncomfortable topics, and shows incredibly well the different facets of being human without doing such easy things as villainising characters. No, it goes the hard road, and it's very rewarding to see where it eventually leads.
And now we have to give a freakin standing ovation to the entire cast. We cannot imagine anyone doing a better job at these roles. Yes, obviously we already knew most of them as highly talented actors from other series, but damn was each and every one of them amazing in this. Especially for Fourth and Gemini, whose first major series this was, it is mindblowing how wonderfully they portrayed Li Ming and Heart, who are both complicated and challenging characters. They were incredible. First was perfect at giving us all those conflicted feelings, Khaotung made us ache and cry like babies, Mix aced the duality of flawed and mature, and we completely bought Earth's jaded uncle persona. And the supporting cast was stellar, as well. Just, all of them. Standing ovation.
Between a 10 and a 9.5 among us, we're at a total rating of 9.75/10 for this series.
How did you all like Moonlight Chicken?
Did you expect it to end up as one of the best BL series by GMMTV - and overall? Back during announcement, we sure did not. But now it sits in our S tiers, just like it deserves.
And with that we say: take care, everyone! See you next time.
