Conflicted

As the headline suggests, I have very mixed feelings about this series.

Within the context of how the story is written, I would rate this as a solid 8/10.

Major Heartstopper vibes, cute story, good chemistry between the leads, just the right amount of tension with the love triangle, no toxic female characters. Acting, production value, colouring, editing and soundtrack are all good.

The plot is relatively simple and straightforward. Some major foreshadowing everything isn't as it seems when Nikko mentions he wants to be remembered as a positive person. MODC has made us all a little skittish. All good so far.

Then... everything goes sideways when the major point of dramatic tension is introduced.

Nikko faints, we get the big reveal, he has ALS. Bold choice, weird reveal because fainting isn't an ALS thing but whatever. Look back at previous episodes, Nikko's speech patterns, his fatigue, his mothers anxiety, kind of tracks, lets see how they are going to deal with this. Lets give them the benefit of the doubt.

Nikko goes back to school with a cane. Okay, again, not really how ALS plays out but lets be honest, these are 18 minute episodes. Not necessarily looking for an in depth examination of the disease process.

Strange conversations, doctor talking about interventions available in the States, Nikko talking about how he doesn't want to hold Eli back, the super dramatic scene of Nikko not being able to feel his legs.

At this point I gave up. My suspension of disbelief can only stretch so far.

I know this story, I've lived this story. My partner died of ALS. It is absolutely a story worth telling, unfortunately it isn't this story. If you are using a disease as a major plot point at least have some idea of what you are presenting. Google is pretty good like that.

ALS is a terminal, progressive, degenerative, neuromuscular disease. It affects voluntary control of your muscles. It doesn't happen in isolation, it doesn't affect sensory nerves. There are no treatment options beyond treating symptoms: pain, muscle spasms. Life expectancy is 2-5 years.

Nikko isn't just sick, he's dying. It's a matter of when and how not if. Given that as the story framework and how the disease actually presents, it's a whole different story. Equally as lovely, equally as dramatic. Just not this story.

Nikko would not have walked into his bedroom and woken up unable to walk or feel his legs. Progressive disease, doesn't affect sensory nerves

At that point in progression, he would never have been able to open the wheelchair let alone transfer himself into it unaided. His arms would have been too weak and his fine motor control of his hands would have been compromised. There isn't even a transfer pole in his room.

The prom dance, beautiful scene. If the disease had progressed to that point where Nikko couldn't stand, his diaphragm would be weakening. Eli holding him like that would have been so painful and he wouldn't have been able to breathe. Not such a beautiful scene now.

Interventions, and I will concede that might be a translation error during the conversations with the doctor, there are 3: breathing tube, feeding tube or experimental drug therapy. No need to go to the US for the first 2, opportunity for plot development if it is the 3rd option. At least very different conversations with the doctor, or between Nikko and his mother, Nikko and Justine or Nikko and Eli.

So close in the scene with the mother and counselor. Give the mom one more minute of screen time outside loading the wheelchair to completely break down alone. Elevates the 1 dimensional character into someone struggling but maintaining a brave face in front of everyone else, her son included. Any caregiver would relate to that.

So, I'm conflicted.

As the story was written, it was okay. Sweet and lovely with a tragic twist.

As someone who has dealt with ALS, disease isn't a just plot device. This story is a disservice to people who have ALS and the people who care about them. I realize I'm heavily biased so here is my question.

Is it okay to use something as a plot device without any real understanding or representation of what it is?

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