To Be Continued – Series Review & Episode Guide

The year is 2013. Ji is a teenager from Chiang Mai who helps out at his parents' butcher stall in the market. One day, he meets Achi, a teenage customer whose mother owns the market. Their playful banter leads to Achi giving Ji the nickname Butcher. Although Achi is richer and attends a different high school, they quickly become friends. Along with Ji's best friend Peh, the three often spend time together. Since Achi has few other friends, he grows close to Ji.

Before attending university, Ji and Achi have a massive falling out. They stop communicating for ten years and lead completely separate lives. Ji becomes an orthopedic surgeon and earns respect in his field. Recently, he successfully reattached the finger of a young girl, Nini, after a car accident. His best friend Peh also works at the same hospital. Their colleague, Dr. Song, joins the close-knit group. Meanwhile, Achi has risen to fame as a popular idol. Besides singing, he's in a high-profile relationship with his actress girlfriend, Nina.

Song is a massive fangirl of Achi and keeps up to date with his every move. She has no idea that her colleagues, Ji and Peh, knew Achi back in high school. Ji pretends not to care about Achi, acting indifferent whenever his name comes up. However, he's secretly just as much of a fan as Song. Despite their falling out, Ji still follows Achi's career closely and even keeps mementos in his apartment. He's deeply interested in Achi's life but refuses to admit it.

Ji and Achi meet by chance at the airport, entirely by coincidence. Achi is excited to see his old friend again and wants to reconnect, but Ji still holds a grudge from the past. He remains distant and refuses to talk to Achi. Later, Ji returns to his hometown for his high school reunion, only to be surprised when Achi shows up and causes a commotion. Ji leaves angrily, but Achi follows him and wants to talk. Eventually, Ji agrees to let Achi drive him home. After ten years of silence, they're finally on speaking terms again, though their relationship remains as rocky as ever.

Ji has a younger brother named Ki. Unlike Ji, who works in a city hospital, Ki has stayed in their hometown with their father, who still runs the butcher shop. The father and son also have a dog named Coin. However, Ji and Ki's mother is no longer in the picture. Ki is an influencer with many online subscribers who watch his food videos. One day, while shopping for ingredients, Ki crosses paths with Gumbi, a farmer who sells and delivers produce to the market. The two start talking, quickly get along, and become friends.

To Be Continued opens with a meaningful metaphor. In the first scene, a young girl loses her finger in an accident, but a surgeon reattaches it. This moment introduces the story's theme of loss and healing. Ten years ago, the main character was betrayed by a close companion, leaving behind a fractured relationship. At the same time, he and his family are learning to move forward after a loved one's death. In both cases, the series explores how people cope with emotional wounds and find the strength to heal as life continues.

What I love about this series is its gentle vibes. The story feels like curling up by a fireplace, wrapping you in warmth and comfort. I enjoy scenes where Ji jokes with his coworkers and delights me with their playful banter. I like the feel-good sentimentality when Ji comforts or motivates the hospital patients. Achi seems endearing when he flirts with Ji, while the high school flashbacks show off their fun teenage years. I'm also moved by Ji's touching memories with his mother. To Be Continued shines in these casual, everyday moments, capturing the simple joy of being around your loved ones.

As much as I enjoy certain scenes, To Be Continued feels aimless. In Episode 2, the word "detour" appears in a chat, perfectly describing my biggest frustration. The story often takes unnecessary detours, going in circles rather than getting to the point. It could have quickly explained what happened in the past and addressed the unresolved tension between the leads. Instead, it focuses on cutesy, irrelevant moments over progressing the plot. Each episode makes it more obvious this series is stalling. There's little forward momentum in the meandering narrative.

Viewers are curious about what caused Ji and Achi's feud, but the series drags out the mystery until the end. It keeps us wondering for too long about why Ji holds a grudge. Is he overreacting, or did Achi wrong him terribly? Before knowing the whole story, it limits how much I can invest in their relationship. After the big reveal, I felt underwhelmed because that explanation was NOT worth waiting seven episodes for. I expected a more sophisticated backstory to justify the couple's prolonged drama. Instead, their fallout stems from a petty misunderstanding.

Ji's actor (Fluke Pongsapat) is a cutie with an angelic face, looking particularly adorable in lighthearted exchanges with his co-star (Junior). The polished production values also create an enchanting atmosphere for their love story. There are moments when I rooted for the two of them to get together. However, their ten-year conflict weakens the romantic spark. When the reason behind their fallout is revealed, it feels annoyingly trivial. Both leads handled that misunderstanding poorly. I wish the series made them reconcile sooner and focus on their happiness as a couple.

I liked the secondary pair when they were first introduced. The adorable Gumbi is bursting with charm, and I was rooting for his sweet, down-to-earth romance with Ki. However, the series neglects this couple in the second half. They appear so rarely that their relationship loses momentum. Similarly, Ji's emotional subplot with his family has so much potential, yet it remains underdeveloped. As much as I love this drama's warmth and positivity, To Be Continued has a bad habit of mishandling promising storylines. Overall, it's a pleasant but middle-of-the-road BL series.