Bye Mr. Ex, Your Commander Is Calling

🔢 Overview

A military love triangle? Intriguing! At first glance, this might sound like your usual Vertical formula: girl gives everything up for love, guy turns out to be a jerk, she wakes up years later and finds real love elsewhere. Meanwhile, the ex tries to crawl back once he realizes what he lost. Classic.

But what makes this one stand out isn’t just the execution — it’s the extras: the setting, the casting, and the chaos that ensues.

🏛️ Military Meets Comedy

The military backdrop is a clever twist that adds flavor to a well-known formula. Even better? Hazel outranking her ex, Ethan. The strictness of the military mixed with full-on Vertical unhinged energy? Chef’s kiss. The contrast creates hilarious and unexpected moments that elevate the drama.

🧑‍🌾 Character Breakdown

Meg as Hazel

Meg absolutely masters the sweet and gentle roles—and sometimes a bit too much. Hazel’s passiveness at the beginning really got on my nerves. I kept thinking, “Girl, WAKE UP!” But once she finally opened her eyes and got rid of Ethan? YES, that’s what we came for! She stayed kind, especially with Sebastian, but she wasn’t a doormat anymore. And can I just say I was so relieved she didn’t give Ethan any second chance? Enough was enough. Honestly, I would’ve LOVED a bonus episode where she bossed him around at the base, just for fun. Make him run laps or clean the toilets—she deserved a little revenge after wasting three years on that man.

Ben as Ethan

Man, where do I even begin? For real, I can’t tell if Ethan is just another red flag in VertiLand or the clumsiest, most clueless, most irritating jerk we’ve seen in a while—probably both. I can’t count how many times I wanted to punch him! This dude seriously needs a reality check. And when Hazel finally leaves him, he still doesn’t get it. When he said, “Just come back and apologize, that’s all she has to do,” I had to pause the series to breathe. Like seriously, what planet is this guy on?

But hear me out—I don’t hate him the same way I hate other toxic leads. He’s not mean for the sake of being mean; he’s just incredibly dumb. So dumb, in fact, it’s hard to fully hate him because you kind of pity him for being such a lost cause. In French we say, “C’est pas le couteau le plus aiguisé du tiroir”—he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer. And that’s exactly Ethan.

Ben plays this role so well. And yes, that’s a huge compliment, even if it sounds like an insult considering how ridiculous Ethan is. Ben totally leans into the oblivious, airhead vibe, and it works perfectly. He brings Ethan to life in a way that makes you feel all the rage and secondhand embarrassment—but you also can’t look away. Honestly, hats off to Ben for making a completely awful character so entertaining to watch!

Jordan as Sebastian

Jordan gives off natural green flag energy. I can’t even imagine him playing a jerk—though I admit I’d love to see it, just once. Sebastian is sweet, grounded, and gentle, the classic “good guy” we root for. But honestly? His storyline felt a little underwhelming. We kept hearing about how Hazel “saved him,” and I was expecting something big, maybe life-changing. But it turns out she… threw a Nerf ball at him and gave him a bandage? Okay. Bit of a letdown. Still, he was supportive, respectful, and made the right sacrifice by retiring so Hazel could focus on her career. That was a solid move.

Dorothy as Beatrice

Dorothy IS the Diva. Not plays one—is one. No one else could’ve brought Beatrice to life like that. She owned every scene, every eye-roll, every dramatic sigh. She’s hilarious, fabulous, and the perfect chaotic balance to the more grounded characters. I loved every second of her.

Elyse as Ethan’s Mom & Jessica as Roxy

Oh, Ethan’s mom. Now we know where he gets it. She was just plain mean—no rhyme, no reason. Just mean because she enjoys it. I don’t understand how Hazel tolerated her for so long. Even Ethan eventually gets tired of her nonsense. As for Roxy, I’m still surprised there wasn’t a secret affair reveal. She clearly had a thing for Ethan, and even though nothing was said outright, it was obvious. But again—Ethan is dumb, not deceitful. He probably didn’t even realize she liked him. Another missed drama opportunity? Maybe. But it adds to the comedy of it all.

😂 Comic Highlights

• Episode 5: Hazel and Ethan’s fight with Roxy and the mom watching like a tennis match? Iconic.
• Sebastian carrying Hazel after a tiny scratch like she’d been shot? Hilarious and unnecessary. She’s not a damsel, dude.

❤️ A Few Gripes

1. Romance Was Too Light: With so many subplots, the love story almost gets lost. We never really see them fall in love.
2. Ending Missed the Mark: No emotional confession, no sweet kiss, and a vague maybe-wedding in a park? A stronger finish would’ve made a big difference.

🔧 Final Thoughts

Despite its flaws, Bye Mr. Ex, Your Commander Is Calling was a fun, chaotic ride with a top-tier cast. It delivers laughs, drama, and that unique Vertical vibe. Special applause to the actors who made every moment count — even if the story didn’t always give them enough time to shine.

This is the kind of unhinged, creative storytelling VertiLand should do more often!