{Watch Party Wednesday #2} Whale Store xoxo: Episode 3
Hello, Internet, and good mornight to you all!
My name is Taffryne, shoppekeeper of Midnight on Memory Lane, and it is my absolute delight to welcome you to the first of two delayed posts for last week's Watch Party Wednesday.
'Tis a pleasure, 'tis a pleasure indeed.
As the title of this post says, we're going to be talking about the third episode of the Thai GL-drama by GMMTV staring MilkLove, Whale Store xoxo. I humbly present my thoughts for your enjoyment and consideration. Accordingly, please mind that there will be spoilers ahead!
MyDramaList Link: click here!
Disclaimer: I apologize if there are any crucial cultural notes or nuances that I misunderstand or fail to recognize. I, unfortunately, must trust the accuracy of the translated text to accurately represent the story and characters.
Trigger Warnings: Drinking, Romantic Tension, Hiding of Relationships, Fear of Parental Judgement, Robbery, Family Issues, Kissing
Episode 3
Recollection
- The student crying in the ran that Wan helped was Maewnam (her parents had broken up)
- Wan and Maewnam have tension under the hair towel, after a ladder fell, and just all the time really
- Chom is being terrorized by her mother's fixation on Chom getting a girlfriend; Chom is also dealing with being scared to come out about her girlfriend to her mother
- Maewnam set up security cameras for Wan after Wan possibly got robbed by F1 (the son of P'Pin who runs the food shop)
- Maewnam made Wan a special whale-design towel (it's super cute)
- Maewnam and Wan confront F1 about stealing from her, P'Pin pays Wan back, but Wan feels guilty for how much P'Pin struggles as a single mom and F1's issues at school (explained but not excused)
- The "hiding it from her mother" part of their relationship is really digging into Tonnam, especially since Chom keeps giving her half-truths
- Wan and the other business owners have a little picnic dinner and they all get to know each other better (and ask about her love life)
- Wan pretends to be drunk and Maewnam takes her upstairs to Wan's bedroom
- Maewnam confessed to a not-actually-drunk Wan who then stops pretending and does the "hug test" on Maewnam
- WAN KISSED MAEWNAM!!!
Oh my god, oh my god. They kissed! They kissed and it's only the end of episode 3?!?! Whale Store...just what angst and slow burn are you about to put me through?
That being said, I am so charmed by the value of "community" that resonates through this show. Everyone from the business owners to Fix-it-Maewnam and her friends all make it a point to have each other's backs and show compassion. F1 stealing from Wan is absolutely not okay and literally a crime, but they take the time to actually flesh out his motivations and struggles outside of "those pesky teenagers, am I right?". I've not had the lived experience of being the child of a struggling-but-okay single parent. I'm not even sure I could imagine being in F1's shoes, to be completely honest. I'm glad that P'Pin paid Wan back and that this didn't blow up a rift between the two of them. However, quite frankly, I don't think those guys that she accused are entirely innocent. They literally walked into her shop, made jokes about shoplifting to her face, and then got offended when she reasonably suspected them of being shoplifters. What did you think was going to happen?
I'm feeling really worried towards my girls Chom and Tonnam right now. This isn't my first rodeo in story arcs revolving hidden relationships due to parental pressure (gay, straight, or otherwise), so I just hope that there's a happen ending for them. It would massively suck if they end up broken apart over it. Frankly, I kind of hope that Chom's fear is all in her head and her mother doesn't actually care. I don't think that's where the story is going exactly, but a girl can dream, no? At the very least, please don't let it be as gut-wrenching as Love You, Teacher (fucking ow - the series if you ask me, 10/10).
The little hair towel that Maewnam stitched for Wan is so precious. The whale looks so blubbery and squishy I wish I could just squeeze it's eyes out or flap it around like a dead fish at the market. I dub thee Blubby McBlubberbuns! Readers, please pay your respects.
I wonder how their relationship is going to develop within the context of the "everybody knows everybody" environment of their little business town. We still have the looming threat of that rival store and the time bomb that Maewnam's parents are involved. Please just let their community stay strong...
Shoutout to Som, the Cat Consultant Extraordinaire. Wan's shuffle with the cards and denial was adorable.
Thanks for Reading!
I hope you've been able to watch and enjoy the story for yourself! If you haven't, that's okay too! My thoughts are here to keep you updated and entertained in the meantime.
This caps off this post, so off into the nighttime we go in preparation for the next one publishing very shortly!
May we meet again when the clock strikes 12:00!