This is the second vertical AI BL drama I've sat through, and honestly I went in knowing better. I had it on while I was doing cardio at the gym, and what struck me was just how much the plot echoed the last one I watched. Same step brother romance angle, same mystery girlfriend showing up near the end, same extra guy pining after one of the leads. Genuinely the only thing going for it was the runtime, the whole thing wrapped up in forty five minutes flat. The setup kicks off with Finn moving schools because his mom just married into money. He finds out his new step brother Aiden goes to the same place, and he's warned to keep his distance from him. Their first run in at school is rocky, just like you'd expect, but there's this odd pull between them neither can shake off. Finn keeps telling himself not to read into it because Aiden's straight and openly homophobic. Things shift when some kids start bullying Finn and the student council president, Ryan, steps in to ...
The story is really very simple and straight forward but its the nuances that take you by surprise. Carl and David are a married older couple. They meet Jason, a younger guy and soon enough the trip are enjoying each other's company. Jason really wants to be with them and before you know the three are in a triad. Despite warnings by his friend, Jason moves in with these folks. Keen to make things work, Jason grows concerned when he realizes that Carl and David have deep-rooted problems that his presence may be exacerbating rather than helping. The couple comes with history anyhow much ever Jason thinks, he will not be a part of the pair. But that's not the series focuses on. It shows us the insecurities of a relationship like this where on person is always fearful of the other two getting close. We slowly find out about the history of Carl and David, why they have had insecurities and it turns out that David was about to break up with Carl, since things were not working out between them, but it was Jason's presence that made him do a rethink.
The Third explores that a three-person relationship has both its advantages and disadvantages. And of course, how much prejudice, both external society and within LGBT community, such an arrangement faces. Also the jealous that comes with it. There are many scenes between the characters that suggest the triad is creating more problems than its solving. Initially I thought the show is going to be from Jason's perspective, but as more and more layers start peeling, you realize that Carl and David come with their own baggage, which you could expect. But put yourself in Jason's shoes and when you are so enamored by a hot loving couple, you don't stop to think about finding out everything in the past of these folks. Both Carl and David are damaged in their own way. David more than Carl. Thankfully the show focuses more on issues and emotions rather than make it a sexually charged show. In fact there is barely any nudity, which is such a welcome relief. The actors are all really really good. All three of them do complete justice to their parts. Especially Jason as the young, dream eyes boy who thinks he has figured it all out and is willing to do anything to make things work. But how I wish that as characters, they were more fleshed out. Between the six episodes, the scenes constantly go back and forth in flashbacks and at times I found it a little hard to keep a track, and hence bit more context would have helped. I almost forgot to mention that its pretty much first time that I have seen the location of Palm Springs used to its potential. We do get to see some gorgeous locations and now it makes me want to visit.
I hope the show comes up with a second season because the ending has left use bot vague, where the couple is set for divorce and each of them individually wants Jason to be with them. I am very curious to see and know what happens next. (7/10)
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