When last we left our time traveler and his admirer, they were working on our time traveler’s acting career.
But first, why is this so important to him
Back in 1999, Armin saw a popular actor personally sign an autograph for a man with mobility issues. He vowed to become an actor too. They give this random character a name, Nok, but we don’t see his face, so I suspect we’ll meet him again.
At the audition, Pharit wants Armin to prove himself by performing Romeo and Juliet. Tada, who arranged everything, watches from some secret location.
Armin receives a standing ovation for his performance. Next, Pharit wants to do a scene with three people, and Sam volunteers. This sends Armin into an emotional spiral, and when Sam’s character dies, Armin uses his real name.
But everyone is impressed. Armin touches the charm gratefully before giving it back to Tada. He tells Tada that during the audition, he felt like he finally knew how to play the game.
Tada nearly gives away that he saw him, and quickly changes the subject.
It’s Loy Krathong time!
They make wishes, float lanterns, and fireworks burst romantically overhead.
Then Armin takes Tada back to his messy little room. He tries to cook a meal on his floor, then remembers Tada lives nearby. The place Tada hastily rented is barely furnished, but it’s nicer and cleaner than Armin’s place.
Armin remembers how he used to cook for someone special, and cries while cutting onions. He wipes at his tears, but doesn’t burn his eyes with onion juice.
Armin finds the One Special Beer he gave Tada in the fridge, which Tada won’t open. Instead, he sends his poor assistant to get wine for them. They play a game of Spin the Bottle so Armin can ask Tada questions and learn that he works in the industry.
Tada uses the game to reveal he wants to be Armin’s everything. Armin rambles about being reset and that he’ll die as an uncle in his 40s. He’s glad to be reborn and meet Tada. Tada thinks it’s fate.
Armin wants to know when Tada will share what he’s keeping from him. Armin puts drunk Tada to bed and sees the Crown business card in his wallet. Now we both know he’s the chairman. After Armin leaves, Tada smiles.
Also, Crown orders food from Jeed
So Tada could have been a part of Armin’s past in the original timeline. He makes the next delivery to the Crown office, and remembers when his second, much better manager from Crown, Janine, swept into his life and paid his rent. After that, everything got better.
He sees Janine and wants to hug them. Janine is not enthusiastic about the stranger getting close.
But then Armin learns that Thiwthit is going to sue him and Crown if he accepts the movie role. Even though things have changed, everything keeps sucking.
Jeed helps him with booze, and Armin rambles on about his time travel issues. He stumbles away for more alcohol, right into Tada’s arms. He drunkenly-defiantly declares that Tada’s younger brother can sue him.
Drunk Armin can’t walk straight and apologizes for making things difficult. Tada says it’s okay, he’s strong. This feels…subtext-y.
As Tada works on getting Drunk Armin to bed, they nearly kiss. Then Armin whines about his life and everyone screwing with it. Once he’s finally in bed, Armin whispers Charlie’s name.
Tada puts his assistant on the contract issue. And Charlie.
Armin wakes up to a note from Tada
It encourages him to dream and drink water. Armin confronts Thiwthit, but Janine is already there, ready to be his new manager thanks to Crown.
Armin knows Tada made this happen, and runs to his place to give him a big kiss. Then he cooks dinner. Armin tells Tada about the future of entertainment, and Tada tells Armin about his Dad dying.
Later, on the roof, Armin steals Tada’s camcorder to play TikTok and tell Tada more about future social media. Tada catches on to hashtags suspiciously quickly, using them to say he’ll support Armin in everything.
Armin is overwhelmed and does “#iwannakissyou”. Tada is happy to kiss.
Armin still struggles with past-life PTSD
At rehearsals with Pharit, Ren, and Sam, his memories lead to aggressive improv and overacting. It doesn’t help that the scenes they’re rehearsing keep mirroring his tragic past.
Behind the scenes, Tada gets rid of anyone gossiping about Armin. Sexy.
On their ride home, Armin tells Tada that he’s not sure if he’s playing the game right. Tada is confused but wants him to know he’s not playing it alone. He’s “one of mine”, an artist signed to his company. He’s determined to make the film, and Armin, a success.
Tada knows that Armin’s underdog story is what will make him popular and wants to lean into that. And it works, as fans find him at the food stall while Tada watches.
Thiwthit’s business partner won’t let him drag Venus into a fight with Tada, and won’t be swayed for more money. But Thiwthit sees Aichi being handed off to a touchy older man by Lily. She’s more than just a manager, and we know she tried to do this with Armin, too.
Thiwthit confronts Lily, saying that if her boy is more popular, he’ll make more money.
Tada uses the “Rolls-Royce Effect”
By taking him to a grand party, so that Armin seems grand too. Unfortunately, Tada’s cello-friend, Narin, is playing piano at the party.
Armin is in a good mood until Narin shows up to get pushy with Tada about their relationship. Even though Narin only had a business relationship with Tada and knows he’s more interested in Armin, he throws himself at Tada. Armin sees and rushes off.
Tada chases him down. Armin says Narin and Tada are none of his business. But he wants to know why Tada is helping him, what he truly wants. Does he want him to be like Narin? Tada doesn’t have an answer, and Armin leaves.
Armin is stressed that he might be the third wheel in someone else’s relationship. Tada slips a note under the door, saying he hasn’t had a relationship in his life. Narin approached him with a deal. Everything between them was business, but it’s different with Armin. Armin speaks through the door, saying there’s no need to explain it, he didn’t know him before, and he thinks it should go back to being that way.
Tada says he’s sorry. Armin thanks him for everything he’s done, but he can’t hurt another’s relationship and doesn’t want to be just a business transaction.
Tada slips one more note under the door that Armin ignores before telling him to get some rest. Armin almost goes after him while Tada waits, but the door stays closed.
Tada wrote that Armin misunderstood him. He apologizes for everything and wants to start over. He can change anything he wants. Tada stares moodily.
Post ending, Armin questions if he can change things now and change the future
I’m glad this blow-up is happening sooner rather than later
I was afraid that this would be the end-of-series conflict for them. I’m hoping they get through it and become a power couple, taking down Armin’s enemies in the second half of the series. Because I love obsessed-puppy Tada and losing-his-mind Armin as a pair.
Poor Tada, having that kind of relationship with Narin probably wasn’t a wise choice, but it has nothing to do with Armin. But Armin can’t even get through an audition or rehearsal without getting trapped in the past. He’s not seeing Tada, he’s seeing Sam and Charlie. I feel for him, too.
It’s interesting how Tada reverted to notes to communicate with Armin through the door, like how he used to be his secret admirer. It says something about how Tada is comfortable communicating. I also think, for some of us, it can be easier to express feelings in writing than out loud.
I also like how accepting he is of Armin’s crazy future stories. Either he’s madly in love with him or has his reasons, but probably both.
I thought Phat was Armin’s manager, but I think he was just doing manager-type-stuff because Lily sucks at her job. She’s a sex trafficker. It made me feel bad for Aichi. He didn’t want to be with that man.
Tada’s assistant gets MVP of every episode for basically making everything happen.
So, what is Thitwhit going to do with Lily and Aichi? I guess we’ll find out soon.
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