Physical Therapy – Series Review & Ending Explained

Story

Boring plot

Based on the title, I assumed Physical Therapy would be a sexy BL drama with lots of touching. I was actually excited before watching it and strapped myself for a steamy series with erotic massages and sensual sponge baths. Okay, I'm kidding. I knew better than to mix up BL with gay fantasy scenarios. Still, I thought the story would focus on the healing process from an injury. Maybe Milk's condition worsens, and he starts a romance with a nurse or physiotherapist who motivates him in his recovery process.

Instead, most of the plot was randomly about rebranding a hospital. I mean, there was some focus on Milk's injury and recovery. Those scenes weren't that interesting, but at least they felt relevant to the topic. There could be complex storylines about Milk's healing process. Maybe he has trouble going back to work because of his physical impairment. Or perhaps he struggles to regain his bodily functions. There's a lot a storyteller could write about for this hospital setting. Yet, I'm watching the characters work on a boring corporate marketing campaign. Sorry, but who cares?

Even if the plot is about advertising, Physical Therapy mishandles the topic and makes it boring to watch. For some reason, Milk has to hide that he works for the agency from the hospital staff, which makes no difference. And then, there's a random team bonding session, where all the characters sleep on the floor together. Like, what? Okay, I kinda appreciate that scene and Milk has a surprisingly profound message of "just sleep and everything will get better." But still, the subplots feel unimportant and incohesive. I don't know what's the point of watching these scenes.

Pun

I have trouble warming to Pun's character. He can't shake away a terrible first impression, making me think of his behaviour as predatory, problematic, and perverted. Milk felt massively violated when Pun took off all his clothes while drunk. Imagine that after falling asleep, some stranger brought you to his hotel room and stripped you naked. Afterwards, Pun felt zero remorse over his actions. He only responds to Milk's outrage with a smirk instead of apologizing.

Later, Pun strikes again when he is flirting aggressively with Milk. In Episode 10, the handsy doctor insisted on spending the night together. Milk opposes many times, making it crystal clear he doesn't want to sleep with a stranger. Yet, Pun won't take no for an answer. Pun overpowers Milk on the bed until he coerces his target to say yes. Physical Therapy thinks that scene is seductive, but I just find their interactions uncomfortable to watch. 

It's also weird to see this doctor spend all his time flirting with a hospital patient. He's by Milk's side 24/7, sleeping in his room despite barely knowing him. Can he act more professional and maintain some boundaries? I thought there might be a moment when that older doctor would call out Pun on his misconduct, but nothing happened. Pun shows a continuous pattern of not respecting other people's personal space. It's particularly despicable because he works in a sensitive profession. Seriously, someone needs to file an internal investigation against him.

Romance

Milk and Pun

Let's assume I keep one eye closed on Pun's problematic behaviour. I don't want to paint a skewed picture that every romantic interaction between the leads is uncomfortable. There are some merits to this relationship. I like how much one-on-one time the two characters have together. Many scenes are boringly written, but the mundaneness also works in the couple's favour. These quiet moments feel like they're two ordinary guys bonding and nurturing their attraction.

Contrary to the drama's title, physicality isn't the central aspect of this relationship. Milk and Pun are physically affectionate on occasions. However, they also spend a lot of time building an emotional connection. They frequently have conversations, almost too much. Yet, their communication establishes a foundation for this relationship.

Compared to many dramas, Physical Therapy takes more time to lay the groundwork for a romance. Other BL couples often have a superficial connection, rushing through a love story without much substance. Yet, Milk and Pun have hours of content, allowing them to go deeper as they explore their attraction. Although the exchanges are often slow and dull, I think this couple has depth and development. However, the other aspects of their storyline aren't handled well, dampening the overall romance.

Pun and Tzuyu

Oh, spare me the scheming ex-girlfriend from China. My god, I don't wanna watch this love triangle drama. 😩 Tzuyu may be the worst part of Physical Therapy in a series riddled with unnecessary additions. She serves no purpose to the narrative, only bringing annoyance and one-dimensional villainy in every scene. It's ridiculous she joined Milk's company to meddle in other people's relationships. Go away already.

Tzuyu also makes Pun look worse. I know she's super annoying, but he doesn't handle their relationship graciously. Pun thinks that if he just avoids his ex-fiancée, the pesky problem will go away on her own. He appears like a cad, someone who doesn't have the courage or decency to have one mature conversation. Still, Tzuyu is a nasty piece of work and I hate her more than Pun. I don't blame him for cutting this toxic woman out of his life.

Milk and Ake

Ake is another poorly handled ex. He breaks up with Milk under unclear conditions in Episode 1. Their break-up gets neglected for most of the series, and Milk hardly ever mentions him. Suddenly, Ake becomes prominent again for one or two episodes near the end. This subplot doesn't feel smoothly introduced, like somebody tacking on extra drama to fill the time.

Ake's depression storyline needed more depth and finesse than what Physical Therapy is capable of providing. On paper, I like the idea of helping a character through their mental health trauma. The first half of the series focused on physical therapy, while the second half highlighted mental health treatment. So, I appreciate what this series was trying to do thematically. However, the storyline is clumsily executed and almost gets sidelined. I don't feel engaged in Ake's recovery process. He's just kind of a blah character for me.

Yang and Yamyen

Honestly, I had no idea who Yamyen was until the last few episodes. I guess I wasn't paying attention, but his character got lost in the bloated supporting cast. I couldn't distinguish him from Milk's gaggle of friends. Imagine my confusion when some random guy suddenly starts flirting with Dr. Yang. I was like, who is he? Where did he come from? But I don't care enough to rewatch the earlier episodes to discover his identity. 

Otherwise, I have no solid thoughts on Yang and Yamyen's romance. These two just happen to be together inexplicably. The series doesn't bother to develop Yamyen's character whatsoever. All he does is make brooding expressions and flirt with Yang ominously. If I'm supposed to care about this couple, it's a massive failure.

Also, I am confused about Yang most of the time. His storylines are all over the place. I guess he's mourning over his deceased ex, but that subplot is so unclear with hazy details. There's no impact because I can't understand what happened. Physical Therapy invests a lot of time into Yang's character, but the returns are unsatisfying. His scenes aren't compelling, make no sense, and lack emotional resonance. We could remove Yang from the story altogether, and I wouldn't bat an eye.

Acting

Twink therapy

Physical Therapy's best achievement is casting Milk's actor (Son). Thank goodness they plucked this unknown actor out of obscurity and introduced him to a BL career. Wow, he looks incredibly cute on camera, blessed with a pair of bright eyes. Showcase him through a better drama, and I promise he'll put all the other twinks in the industry out of commission. 🧚🏻‍♂️

As a character, Milk doesn't have the most appealing personality. However, the actor really embodies the role and brings a distinctive charm. I like that he portrays Milk as extra prickly and delicate. If you provoke him, he'll glare or pout adorably. Milk exhibits a softness with an edge, making this type of cutesy behaviour extra effective. While the actor is inexperienced, he has potential and can develop promisingly. Let's hope Son finds his way to a better series.

Style

Gentle atmosphere

Physical Therapy captures a gentle and soothing atmosphere in some scenes. I really like Milk and Pun's outdoor conversation in Episode 3. They sit on the grass by a serene landscape, chatting casually about nothing in particular. The vibe is relaxing and almost therapeutic, complementing the story's themes. I wish the series leaned into this direction and there were more similar scenes.

The other scene I liked was the massage in Episode 5. Admittedly, the writing and acting were a bit awkward. However, I like the lighting, colours, and cinematography during that exchange. It created an ambiance that made the moment memorable.

Happy ending

Physical Therapy captures a gentle and soothing atmosphere in some scenes. I really like Milk and Pun's outdoor conversation in Episode 3. They sit on the grass by a serene landscape, chatting casually. The vibe is relaxing and almost therapeutic, complementing the story's themes. I wish the series leaned into this direction and had more similar scenes.

Before the proposal, there was some family melodrama. Pun and Milk spent the past five years caring for Namcha's son. They welcomed Nammon into their home, treating him almost like their own son. Pun is especially attached to his child. However, Namcha suddenly declares she's ready to be a mom again. Nammon returns to his maternal mother, leaving Pun devastated. Later, Milk brings Nammon to visit Pun in their home to cheer his partner. Although they aren't together permanently anymore, the child remains a part of Pun's life.

In addition, the last two episodes introduced Pun's parents, who travelled from China to visit their son in Thailand. They don't have a close relationship due to the family debt situation. Nonetheless, Pun's dad and mom make an effort to reconcile. They are friendly toward Milk and seem approving of their relationship. Milk and Pun's mom get along exceptionally well. By the time they leave, Pun is closer to his parents than before.

Ending explained

Physical Therapy tries to explore the theme of family in the final arc. As always, it struggles with poorly written scenes and can't convey its messages. Technically, the series has a happy ending, but the situation with Milk's sister and nephew left a bad taste. This woman dumps her kid onto the gay couple for five years, like a free daycare. Then, she comes one day and breaks up this happy family unit without warning. This scenario could technically happen, but the drama feels abrupt and undeveloped.

I don't like Pun as a character, so the plot with his parents doesn't interest me much. They randomly appear in the series, even though Pun's family isn't a significant focus previously. I appreciate learning more about his background, but I don't know what I learned. Most of the scenes aren't impactful, other than that one conversation between Milk and Pun's mom at night. Overall, I consider it a missed opportunity to expand on Pun's characterization meaningfully.

Another storyline in the finale is that Pun faces a lot of temptations. First, his friend lures him to sleep with some girls, which he rejects. Later, a rookie doctor hits on him, but he also turns down these advances decisively. It shows Pun is loyal to his fiancé and won't switch his love to a woman or another doctor. This subplot is necessary, considering Pun has a poor track record since his last engagement. These scenes show that he has changed and cherishes Milk more than Tzuyu.