You're My Sky – Series Review & Ending Explained

Torn and Fah

Torn and Fah are childhood friends who share the same ambition. Both aspire to become professional basketball players and compete on a national level. Fah introduced his younger companion to the sport, playing an influential role in shaping Torn's future. Otherwise, Torn would have never discovered his passion for basketball or pursued it as a lifelong dream. Their bond goes beyond friendship. Fah is like his mentor, his role model, and his inspiration.

Torn idolizes Fah and has a crush on him, yet the feelings aren't mutual. Fah doesn't begin the series with romantic notions for his childhood friend. In fact, he underestimates his personal impact on Torn's life. Initially, Fah views him as nothing more than a basketball buddy from his hometown. Their relationship changes once Fah observes how much Torn cares about him. As they spend time together on the basketball team, the line between their friendship and romance becomes increasingly blurred.

The turning point in their relationship probably comes around the time of "Poker Face Fah". Once you send pictures of yourself shirtless and smiling in text messages, you start to give off ~signals~. 😘 It still takes a while for Fah to sort out the confusion and acknowledge his feelings. Do I see him as a friend, a teammate, or a lover? Does he feel the same way about me? Finally, Episode 6 is the emotional climax of their courtship, unleashing a powerful burst of passion between them.

Torn & Fah kiss

Their first kiss is an epic moment, coming at the perfect time in the narrative. Not too soon, not too late, but just the right timing. The leads stand outside where they first meet, a place with thematic significance. They are alone in the middle of the night with electrifying intimacy in the atmosphere. Like always, the cinematography is flawless and produces an elegant ambiance to accentuate the scene.

"How do you feel about me?" Fah asks.

"Why do you want to know?" Torn dodges the question.

"I want to be sure it's not just me," Fah tells Torn nervously. His love declaration has a tinge of vulnerability that adds to the thrilling adrenaline. Here he stands, confessing his love, uncertain if the other person feels the same way. Torn gladly reciprocates his feelings and goes for a memorable first kiss. It's a magical BL moment where all the elements come together, including the majestic soundtrack that heightens the emotions exquisitely.

Fah

Unfortunately, Fah faces setbacks in his athletic ambitions. His school's basketball team sucks, reducing his appeal and exposure to talent scouts. Years passed, but Fah didn't receive any opportunities to compete professionally. He takes his lack of success to heart as his goal becomes less and less achievable. Fah's despair reaches a point where he abandons hope and no longer wants to play basketball.

What happens to Fah is a similar experience for many athletes. Professional sports is a competitive field with limited available opportunities. There's one winner, some losers, and the rest who don't even get a chance to compete. Your success isn't based on your skills sometimes, but determined by your resources, teammates, and luck. An aspiring athlete's journey can be frustrating and disheartening, enough to make you doubt yourself.

Torn arrives at the lowest point in Fah's life. His young companion is packed with optimism, energy, and motivation. Previously, Fah lost his spirit after years of defeat. However, Torn successfully rekindles his enthusiasm for basketball. Fah may have never believed in himself without Torn, carrying this regret for life. Thankfully, his childhood friend is there to provide unconditional support, encouraging Fah to chase his dreams again.

Torn

You're My Sky progresses happily and predictably for the first eight episodes. The leads persist through their struggles, pulling their ragtag team together to win the championship title. This positive trajectory is pretty standard for any sports drama narrative. However, the series introduces a twist in its final act. Torn suffers every athlete's nightmare when he suddenly becomes injured, putting him out of action for almost a year.

The injury is devastating. Torn's teammates receive incredible career opportunities to audition for a basketball club, and his boyfriend Fah even fulfills his dream of playing sports professionally. Yet, Torn must watch these events unfold from the sidelines. He pretends to feel happy for everyone, but it's a tough pill to swallow. After moving in with Fah, Torn is left alone all the time and stews in his unhealthy thoughts. While Fah works hard doing what he loves, Torn lives in his boyfriend's shadow and becomes self-conscious about his inadequacies.

What Torn needed was a productive way to enrich himself during his injury. He should've taken his mind away from basketball and focused on a new hobby instead. Unfortunately, his inner demons take over and lead him astray. Torn turns to Coach Tuan, who encourages him to be more ruthless. Torn does whatever it takes to catch up to Fah, acting selfish, isolating his team, and playing dirty. Episode 11 is a dark cautionary tale about what happens to athletes on a downtrodden path, overcome with desperation and blind ambition.

Torn's injury

Episode 11 is noticeably darker than the rest of the uplifting series, exploring Torn's downward spiral. After the injury, his character's confidence is shaken, feeling depressed, frustrated, and uncertain about the future. Ten months of recovery might not seem that long to us, but the wait is amplified from Torn's point of view. Every day is a lost opportunity to train, improve, and compete as an athlete. 

Torn struggles with his fragile emotional state, made worse by Fah's glaring absence. Instead of supporting his injured boyfriend, Fah is preoccupied with playing basketball. Understandably, he puts in many hours of practice to capitalize on the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go pro. However, he neglects and alienates Torn in the process. The loneliness becomes so dire that Torn chooses to move out and live with Saen instead.

"I can't go to practice. My leg still hurts. Living with Saen, at least there's someone to talk to." Torn explains to his boyfriend. It's a cry for help if you read between the lines, but Fah doesn't get the hint. The final straw is when Torn overhears a conversation that Fah might break up with him, a hurtful sentiment with or without the context. Torn has already lost his ability to play basketball, and now his boyfriend wants to dump him too. That exchange pushes Torn to the edge, driving him to follow Coach Tuan's dangerous doctrine.

Coach Tuan

Coach Tuan is the villain of You're My Sky, representing a cutthroat mindset in competitive sports. He prioritizes self-interest over collaboration. His coaching style is based on aggression and exploitation. "Not everybody agrees with me. I'm teaching children to be selfish," Coach Tuan confesses. Begrudgingly, he must be doing something right, producing many victories throughout his career. 

As much as we want to believe teamwork makes the dream work, individual performance is essential for succeeding in sports. The harsh reality is that you can't win first place if you suck. So, there is some merit to Coach Tuan's mentoring style. He teaches his players to focus on improving themselves while the coach handles synchronizing the team. In other words, don't worry about others and just concentrate on yourself.

However, Coach Tuan takes this egocentric mentality to an extreme. He encourages his star players to be cruel, vicious, and predatory. He also doesn't mind breaking the rules if it secures him the win. While others disapprove of making fouls, Coach Tuan relies on these dirty tricks to get ahead. His character's views are warped, devoid of decency or sensibility. Evidently, he isn't the best role model.

Torn vs Fah

Coach Tuan misguides Torn, distorting his priorities. Driven by depression and desperation, Torn gives a disgraceful performance in the penultimate episode. He alienates his teammates and makes everyone resent him. Also, he falls for Chain's provocations and loses his temper in the match. As his reckless behaviour escalates, Torn lashes out at Fah, accidentally smacks his ex-boyfriend, and gives him a bloody lip.

Our protagonist breaks down afterward, having reached his lowest point. Hurting Fah is a wake-up call, bringing out the Torn's repressed conscience since training under his new coach. However, we can't completely blame Coach Tuan or anybody else for causing Torn's downfall. Coach Tuan might be an irresponsible mentor. Likewise, Fah is guilty of being an unsupportive boyfriend. Nonetheless, Torn is responsible for his own actions. It's his choice to go berserk, lose composure, and treat everyone like a jackass. The accountability falls on Torn.

Thankfully, Torn sees the errors of his ways by the end of the episode. Torn doesn't like the selfish, ruthless person that he has become. He cries, reconciles with Fah, and rejects Coach Tuan's invitation to join his team. His character might have fallen to rock bottom, but he's picking himself up and choosing the right path this time. As Torn and Fah give their relationship another go, they gain the conviction to support their loved ones more. They remind themselves of their love for each other, promising to do better.

Fluke

Before we close the basketball chapter of the narrative, I want to highlight Torn and Fah's teammate Fluke. You're My Sky deserves kudos for its inclusiveness towards trans athletes. Fluke might be a minor role and doesn't have much prominence in the plot. Nonetheless, she is treated with dignity and sensitivity in every scene. 

I love what the series does with her character. Fluke is welcomed on the basketball team regardless of her gender identity. She has integrated exceptionally well with her teammates, befriending everybody. She is an equal and ordinary player, even when they are selecting dormitory beds.

Yet, You're My Sky takes care to highlight her unique experiences. Fluke's speech in Episode 9 is commendable, conveying an insightful and sentimental statement on the journey of LGBT athletes. "I am who I am," Fluke says with a self-assured smile. Her character provides positive representation, very welcomed in the BL landscape.

Saen and Aii

I love Saen and Aii as a couple. However, Saen annoyed me in the early episodes with his childish behaviour. I understand why Aii feels turned off by him. Aii is trying to take his studies seriously, but this shameless guy enrolls in his class to hit on him. Fortunately, Saen curbs his obnoxiousness and shows a sweet side to his happy-go-lucky personality. There's more nuance to him than just the cheeky flirting. Like Aii, I start warming to Saen despite a lousy first impression.

Episode 6 is an excellent showcase of their romance. Saen surprises Aii with a visit to his grandma for their first date, which is actually adorable instead of awkward. We discover Saen is close with his family. He oozes warmth and genuineness around his grandmother, clearly comfortable in his environment. Saen is on his best behaviour, and you can tell it wins him points with Aii. Looking past the silly antics, this guy is rich, hot, and smitten with you. The bottom line? Saen is a catch.

Saen and Aii's storyline shares similar themes to Torn & Fah, except on a smaller scale and with a different flavour. Their central conflict is that Aii wants to study in Japan, but he doubts whether a long-distance relationship is feasible. We see Aii struggle between prioritizing his dream and his romance, unsure how to commit to both. He almost forefeits his scholarship to stay with Saen until his boyfriend talks him out of it. Eventually, the couple finds a compromise. Aii lives out his dreams and still has a cute boyfriend simultaneously, enjoying the best of both worlds!

Vee and Dome

Surprisingly, I don't hate the Vee and Dome storyline. Cheating with your sister's boyfriend seems like a recipe for disaster, so I expected many infuriating scenes. Yet, I was kinda into the juicy soap opera subplot and giggled nervously at the inappropriate encounters. I know what they're doing is wrong, but I'm curious how their messy relationship drama will pan out. It's like watching an inevitable trainwreck, except you don't know when it's gonna crash.

You're My Sky understands the assignment. If you're going to do a cheating storyline, make it hot. The appeal of this couple isn't their emotional connection. Instead, the series emphasizes their physicality, highlighting the many tactile interactions. Dome and Vee always find excuses to touch each other, from stretching exercises to healing an injury precariously close to the groin. Their exchanges are increasingly intimate, with the sexual tension at a sizzling high.

The optics are also stimulating on purpose. Here are these two horny jocks, dressed in their short shorts and stretching out their long legs. It's easy to let your imagination run wild every time the characters are alone. As they rub their bodies and gaze into each other's eyes, there's a thrilling excitement in the atmosphere. Even the background music is heightened, amplifying the tension. You're My Sky knows how to milk the juicy eroticism between Vee and Dome.

Dome and Pan

Pan doesn't have a significant presence in the series. She's barely in the story, especially around the beginning. You're My Sky deliberately doesn't develop the female love interest. She's out of the picture and out of our minds. It's easy to forget the girlfriend even exists, which alleviates our guilty conscience from enjoying the adultery.

With that said, Pan's absence in the story doesn't make Dome and Vee's actions any less sinister. What Dome does to his girlfriend is unforgivable. You're dating this girl, but you go behind her back to flirt with her brother instead. That is a dirtbag move. Either keep your hands off her sibling or break up with her before doing anything else. Dome is an unfaithful love rat who tries macking on both family members like a two-in-one combo. His character is sleazy as hell.

Eventually, Dome and Pan end their romance. She sees her ex-boyfriend and brother kissing, but that scandalous moment happens after the breakup. There's some grey area on Dome's culpability. He developed feelings for Vee and came close to being intimate with him. However, they didn't technically overstep their physical boundaries while he was still dating Pan. There could be an argument on whether Dome crossed the line or not, but I won't be the one to debate this issue. My opinion of Dome is that I find him scummy and Pan dodged a bullet when they broke up.

Vee's guilt

Notably, Vee and Dome don't become a couple at the end of the series. Although they share a passionate kiss in Episode 10, their romance never moves beyond that point. Dome wants them to be together. This guy exhibits no shame, eager to jump into a relationship with his ex-girlfriend's brother. Basically, Dome's response to his breakup is, "Hooray, now we can slut it up in the open! 🥳"

Yet, Vee is overcome with remorse about betraying his sister. After the relay race, he suffers from a terrifying panic attack, aggravated by his conscience. The guilt never goes away, not even in the finale. Pan has found a new boyfriend and moved on from her heartbreak. Nonetheless, Vee still wouldn't initiate anything with Dome. Although Dome claims he'll wait for Vee to change his mind, the door of possibility remains closed for now. 

I like that You're My Sky doesn't give us a happy ending with Vee and Dome. To be honest, they don't deserve one. I might like their sexual chemistry, but I don't ship these two cheaters as a couple. While Dome shows zero redemption, I appreciate Vee's penance. After messing up, he feels terribly guilty and commits to permanent boundaries with Dome. To me, that shows conviction. He comes out of this series as a better person who learned from his mistakes. Vee's character growth is more significant for me than any shoehorned romantic ending at the last minute. 

Happy ending

You're My Sky has a happy ending for the leads, although they already resolved their conflict in the previous episode. Fah and Torn move back in together as they commit to communicating more. Torn also apologizes to his teammates and wants to win another championship title with them next year. In addition, he receives a recruitment opportunity from a basketball club, signifying his healthy career prospects. Even if Torn and Fah might play in different teams, they promise to support each other's dreams.

Fah and his friends graduate in the final episode. Aii returns from Japan to attend the graduation. Aii's visit is a surprise for his boyfriend Saen, highlighting the playful spontaneity between the long-distance couple. Later, Saen plans his own surprise for his boyfriend. He bought plane tickets to Japan and will spend the school break with Aii. The delighted couple exchanges "I love you" to each other, with their relationship stronger than ever.

Pan has found a new boyfriend and gotten over her heartbreak. She notices her brother is still moping around and encourages Vee to sort out his feelings with Dome. They speak privately at graduation, and both characters affirm they still have the same feelings for each other. Nonetheless, Vee won't commit to a romance with Dome at the moment. His response is simply, "I don't know." Dome tells him that he'll continue to wait until Vee changes his mind. Their relationship status is left uncertain as the series ends.