Fish Upon the Sky – Drama Review & Episode Guide

Pi is a second-year university student currently studying to become a dentist. With his thick glasses and metallic braces, the other students make fun of his nerdy appearance, so he doesn't have any friends around school. Pi's only friend is somebody he met online, another university student who goes by the anonymous pseudonym A Guy From Nearby Faculty.

Pi has a secret crush on the handsome and popular Muang Nan, one of the few students to show kindness towards him. However, Pi is annoyed by the close bond between Muang Nan and his best friend Mork, since they are always together. Mork knows about Pi's crush on his friend and constantly teases him about it. Pi sees Mork as a love rival and the two of them don't start off with the best relationship.

Unfortunately, Pi receives hateful comments online after posting a picture of himself with Muang Nan. The cyberbullying prompts him to undergo a makeover, changing his appearance to look more physically desirable. Pi enlists the help of his older brother Duean and his posse of friends to help him transform his look. Without the glasses and braces, Pi feels a lot more confident about himself.

Pi's brother Duean is a goofy fifth-year university student with terrible grades. He has to retake several courses again after flunking in them previously. In one of his classes, he befriends a university freshman named Meen, who can be quite clingy and needy. Nonetheless, Duean and Meen spend lots of time together, developing a bond. Despite their closeness, Duean hasn't told Meen that he is actually a fifth-year student, feeling ashamed that his friend might see him as dumb.

After his makeover, Pi is working up the courage to confess his love for Muang Nan. However, Mork is always getting in his way, pestering him at every opportunity. At first, Pi believes it's because Mork also has feelings for Muang Nan. However, the truth is that Mork secretly likes Pi and craves his attention. Even though Pi has his heart set on getting together with Muang Nan, Pi is determined to win over his crush.

Fish Upon the Sky is a silly, lighthearted comedy that doesn't take itself too seriously. Even if the goofy humour may not appeal to everybody, some jokes can be genuinely funny. My favourite is The Sims parody in Episode 2, a perfect example of this drama's creativity. In addition, it benefits from a vibrant and energetic cast that enthusiastically brings these humourous scenes to life. The lead actors might be young, but they're comfortable on camera and give natural performances.

Unfortunately, Fish Upon the Sky doesn't have enough depth. From the first episode, I can predict how the BL drama will begin, progress, and end. The only surprise is how long it takes for the plot to move forward, losing momentum as the story goes around in circles. The tiresome relationship drama between Pi and Mork tested my patience, as did a particularly aggravating storyline about their "shippers". FYI, shipping a couple stops being cute when you've invaded their privacy, doxxed their personal information & harassed them to the point they feel unsafe.

Problems arise once Pi makes it clear that he doesn't have feelings for Mork. Unfortunately, Mork can't take no for an answer. Pi rejects him not once, not twice, but dozens of times. Instead of backing off, getting declined only makes Mork more relentless. After the first rejection, it begins a tedious cycle where every episode rehashes the same old plot. Basically, Mork likes Pi who doesn't return his affections. Rinse and repeat. Since the narrative won't move forward and the romance doesn't make progress, nothing new happens with the leads for the longest time.

In the beginning, Mork seems like a real catch, a loyal and kind-hearted guy who's obviously smitten with Pi. However, the longer the courtship drags on, the less likeable Mork becomes. His obsessiveness is annoying, repetitive, and uncomfortable to watch, made worse since he's desperately in denial. Are you sure you don't like me!? I think you do have feelings for me, but you just haven't realized it yet! Mork needs to understand that no simply means no, instead of imposing his love onto someone who doesn't want to reciprocate.

The other couple, Duean and Meen, is the equivalent of light comedic fluff. A small part of each episode is dedicated to their low-stakes relationship, which plays out enjoyably, predictably, and forgettably. While their cheerful, breezy scenes are cute to watch, these characters add nothing substantial to the plot. It doesn't help they're isolated in a bubble as if their storyline takes place in a different universe. I wish Fish Upon the Sky could've tied this romance better with the central plot. Mork and Duean had a hilarious dynamic, which the storyteller should explore more.

Overall, I still enjoy Fish Upon the Sky for all the silliness and lightheartedness. This BL drama succeeds in tickling my funny bone with its quirky, offbeat humour. I love its ability to think outside the box. However, its narrative shortcomings overshadow its comedic strengths. The story is too predictable, the pacing feels too slow, and the romance takes too long to develop. I was often annoyed or aggravated while watching Fish Upon the Sky. By the time the final episode finished, I was left unsatisfied by a shallow BL series that could have used more substance.