Sunset x Vibes: Uncut Version (2024)

So sad!

Mos and Bank aren't my favorite couple but they deserve so much better than this. They need to get rid of the person who's telling them to do these horrible shows. This and big dragon are based on books that honestly are like 80% NC but the story in Sunset is so good but they turned their relationship and Lin into this immature puppy love BS. I was so looking forward to the confident and lovingly possessive Sun who can't keep his hands off Lin but I got this timid we can just hold hands Sun and I have to wonder what the screenwriters were thinking, or maybe the problem is they weren't. This show will be my biggest disappointment this year.

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Mos & Bank deserve better

Overall: I have no idea why a company adapted a NC17 book into a G rated live action series. With a better script/editing, I know Mos & Bank would have been on fire, instead it's mostly failed comedy and cringe. The series is based on "Sunsetxvibes" by Rosesarin_ which I haven't read and I'm reviewing the series on its own merits (though I've heard the book is mainly smut). 12 episodes about 50 minutes each. Airing on iQIYI uncut https://www.iq.com/play/s2n3mgmw3x?lang=en_us&sh_pltf=4

Content Warnings: thought there was one towards the end but then it wasn't (trying not to spoil things), past parental abuse, punch, coercion, blackmail, non con video recording/sharing/outing, sexual molestation, fight, blood

Watch Suggestions
- episode 1 you could start it at 10min-13min, 22-29, 32:40-36, 39:45-45, this is a dream 46:30-48
(not sure I have the energy to go back thru eps 2-3 but I might do this later)
- watch episode 4, 18-19:30, 33:30-42, maybe 55:30 to the end

What I Liked
- the intro (and cinematography/styling)
- mystery/fantasy element
- visuals
- GL rep (not a fan of the dynamic right now though)
- supportive sibling
- supportive friends
- a funny moment of a character talking about if it was a movie and then it going into a flashback scene
- good consent in episode 4 with asking for a kiss
- that a main character wasn't totally helpless in episode 4

Room For Improvement
- the pervasive comedy sound effects that did not make things funny
- tropey accidental fall and catch
- odd hazing stuff at that company in ep 1
- his friends were annoying
- did not care about the business scenes or backbiting coworkers
- a ton of nonsense/'because the writer said so stuff', i.e. a very odd location for a first date and posing at the door, people who've never kissed someone do not try to kiss like that (and it wasn't funny), who goes into a person's dungeon looking basement like that?
- that the offender in episode 4 was darker skinned and the 'I won't press charges, tell him not to do it again' bs

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Sweet and funny

So… I’m picking up that the show doesn’t follow the book well and that’s bothering people. I have not read the book, so I’m watching without any expectations. I just stayed up until 3 am binging it and can’t wait for the next episode.
It’s a fun story. Parts of it are quite sexy, and a lot of it is just adorable. The antics have had me laughing way more than I expected. And I mean the real, big laugh that woke up my dog- not just an amused smirk. I did not expect that. There’s also a lot of playful teasing that is rather sweet. The street fight was awesome- I watched it 3 times.
Yes, it’s a little predictable. But I’m ok with knowing the destination as long as the journey to get there is entertaining. I’m still a little confused by the dream bit- sounds like that should have been played up a bit more by now.
It’s not a nail-biting cliffhanger. It IS a fun show that’s easy to watch and I am fully enjoying it.

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Halfway Mark!

Sunset x Vibes - Episode 6

Editing

The editing of this episode made things confusing. I honestly think they added those scenes from their date in the last episode to fill in time. The majority of this episode felt like a filler to me. I do not see how editing this episode to take the story back one day had any significant impact in revealing any of the characters. I think they could have just continued down the timeline. I would have preferred if the party was thrown in celebration of Salin's design winning the competition and then we would be introduced to his dad and see the interaction between his dad and Sun, who would be his boyfriend at that time. It would have also been better if towards the end of that party everyone started getting social media notifications on their phones breaking the news of the alleged plagiarism of the design. This way the plot could have been pushed forward in them investigating things which would have made a healthy episode. This is just my humble suggestion/opinion.

"Because we can" Attitude

I am a bit weary of how this series is starting to progress having watched this episode. In my last review for episode 5 I had expressed how I would be looking forward to see how they would tie in the paranormal element of the series because at that point it seemed disjointed from the rest of the series, and having watched its further introduction in this episode it still seems disjointed. I am starting to fear that this series will fall into the footsteps of "The Sign the series". The major reason why I did not rate The Sign much higher is because they did too much at the same time and neglected the romance in the series. What is happening here is that they are trying to give two series/stories in one. I call it the "Because we can Attitude"; meaning when production companies have a big budget they can sometimes try to do too much because they can. It is obvious that this series has a good enough budget to allow for waste. The cinematography of this series is very aesthetically pleasing and the settings compliment the themes (wealthy, privileged) well so the money is there; it was the same thing for The Sign; CGI was good. When production companies have these size budgets they sometimes do too much and end up accomplishing nothing or cause one part of the story to be neglected or become retarded. I see two series here:

One where a rich boy pursues his own dreams away from his dad and has to battle challenges in the workplace while having a relationship with the president of the company.
Another one where a rich boy helps to run his family's hotel chain has strange dreams that turn into nightmares and manifest into paranormal encounters. He becomes entangled with a rich president of a company through mutual business dealings and the two must face and battle the paranormal together while falling for each other.
I think it is unfair to say that "they are just following the novel" because a series and a novel are woefully different. Sometimes to get the best out of a series you have to bend the original material to fit the making of the series. A series will never be able to achieve what a novel/book can and I think this is echoed by every bibliophile, myself included, when after watching anything adopted from a book/novel they say these customary words, "The book was better." - biased thinking? Maybe so, but my point still stands. I hope they are able to pull off both stories and make them into a cohesive series. I would hate for this series to fall into the "Because we can Attitude". I am a strong believer that the bigger budget does not always make the better series. A budget is intrinsic for the production of a series but it is the script and delivery of said script that captivates audiences. I think KinnPorshe did an excellent job of not allowing their budget to lead them into doing too much.

Halfway mark in a series

On a more positive note, they did satisfy my preference for a solid foundation by the halfway mark of a series. Nothing I hate more than when a BL series is halfway through and there is neither a confession of feelings at the very least or a relationship. This is not a 30+ episode KDrama. What are we doing if halfway through there is not at the very least a confession of feelings/ an acknowledgement of feelings. When this does not happen oftentimes the last few episodes are either rushed or the finale is so packed with couple scenes that it is too much and these scenes are like fresh water - no flavour. I am happy that this series has avoided this because when we have an established couple at this point there is room for them to tackle the conflicts together without additional romantic drama and they are allowed to grow in their relationship and we as the audience get to witness the maturation of their story; and with how much this plot promises they will need the time without added romantic drama.

Second Couple

They did not get much screen time today but I am hoping that will change in the next episode. I would hate for their story to drag throughout only to be rushed near the finale, so I am rooting for them in the next episode.

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