Be My Favorite (2023)

Is it my favorite?!

Well, no. Though it did manage to pleasantly surpass my expectations. For the past year or so GMMTV has mainly been full of disappointing Bad Buddy regurgitations, or overly ambitious productions that miss the mark. Be My Favorite managed to have the same cheesy charm of a classic GMMTV BL, but set itself apart with great chemistry, believable acting and decent writing (and somehow very little product placement?!).

The best part of the series is definitely Krist and Gawin. I wasn’t really a big fan or even familiar with either of them before this series, but this duo worked out really well! Their chemistry didn’t feel stiff, and you are always waiting for the next moment you see them together.

I actually really liked the main character Kawi. He is a total asshole, but also cute and endearing. I understand why Pisaeng was drawn to such a puzzling character. Though I will warn you that Kawi is a little stupid and misguided at times, but it makes you cheer for him when he takes a step in the right direction. I’m also just glad to have a main character who isn’t lukewarm and plain.

Pisaeng starts as a bit of a mystery, but it’s quickly revealed that he is just 100% boyfriend material. I have no complaints.

I can’t say the plot itself was revolutionary. The story had a lot of overused cliches and some parts of the story were downright stupid and redundant.
What really made this drama stand out to me was its ability to get my heart racing. It literally had me giggling and kicking my feet. So be prepared to enjoy some surprisingly touching and charming moments, and buckle in for the corniness, stupidity, and embarrassment of a true romcom.

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Sometimes the ending will always be the same and that’s okay

Sometimes the ending will always be the same and that’s okay

The only other time traveling BL I have watched was History Future. So seeing another one is really cute.

I swear they played the same song every 15 minutes.

Theres not much I have to say about this show. It was good. I think the meaning behind it was VERY good. like to the point where I am texting and trying to be with all the people that I love before I lose them

Pear was really annoying for like one episode. She really thought the world revolved around her. But then she reedemed herself by saying that she supports Kawi and Piesangs relationship.

The Crystal Ball won’t work if you have already found your purpose. Kawi has already fulfilled his future, there’s no reason for him to go back anymore.

Also if some old man came up to me and said he could fix the ball I got on sale. I would be scared not going to lie.

The fact that everyone just forgave Not kind of really pisses me off. But hey he’s irrelevant

The key is not to worry about the future but live in the present. When shit hits the fan, you need to learn to either run away or stay and fight. You can’t simply rely on a crystal ball to save you every time. Just as you cannot rely on the people around you to shape your life. Live your own life. Be your own person!

Side note: Gawin looks so fucking sexy in a suit

Overall rating, 9/10. I would have preferred more romance. But that’s just me.

Sorry for any grammar errors. English is my first language, I’m just really bad at it.

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Kawi and Pisaeng truly struck a chord deep within us.

The drama has always aimed to show us Kawi's perspective – how he needed to reshape his romantic fate, take charge of his life, and mend his friendships. Yet, at its core, "Be My Favorite" is Pisaeng's story. Pisaeng is genuinely the catalyst for the unfolding changes. He's become a guiding light for Kawi, a constant and reliable presence that illuminated his path. He's the one who showed Kawi that he doesn't have to fear his true self, that he can be confidently authentic. Pisaeng is the guy who reminded Max about the importance of fighting for what's just. He's the one who helped Pear turn the page without compromising her self-esteem. Pisaeng is the one who severed ties with Not to escape a toxic friendship. He's the one who gave his love without expecting anything in return, ready to make sacrifices – a patient soul. For all these reasons, we adore him.

Initially, I had reservations about the actors' performances, as neither Krist nor Gawin entirely won me over in their previous works. However, in this series, they proved compelling, albeit sometimes inconsistent – which I attribute more to directorial choices than the quality of their acting.

Was I eagerly awaiting each following Friday? Absolutely, because this story, punctuated with calls for social justice, managed to maintain a lightness from start to finish.

Side note:tTheir mutual trust, along with some of their conversations, will stay with me for quite a while.

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Time-Travel BL Done Right

This is one of those series that does things right for better or for worse, but mostly better.

(Wait, what could possibly be worse about doing things right? Well, it just feels so safe and doesn't take risks that some other series might take. I am reminded of series like Bad Buddy here.)

The time travel premise is used well and fully exploited, and with the nature of the time travel being supernatural rather than scientific, it avoids having to be too logical. It's a wise move that Kawi manages to get his father to go for a heart surgery when he travels to the past but doesn't get to prevent his father from dying, As one of the scenes seems to suggest, there are some things that cannot be avoided or brought about (such as winning the lottery) but there are also many things that can be shaped by personal effort.

Kawi and Pisaeng are an adorable couple, but the cutesiness isn't overdone. There is a good balance of serious moments and light-hearted ones throughout. I don't know how deliberate it is, but I somehow don't get the sense that Krist and Fluke are going to be the sort of pairing that will stoke the fantasy of fans, the way many BL actors are meant to. (Perhaps this often does not end well, and it is just as well.) Krist and Fluke have played their roles well, and in my opinion, Krist's performance in Be My Favourite has exceeded that in SOTUS. His acting may seem to some a little exaggerated at times, but I feel that it is according to the demands of the role.

What this series excels in is the side characters, who are interesting without being distracting. I like the portrayal of Kawi's friendship with Max, for instance. Although they are really good friends, the portrayal doesn't get too idealistic because of the time travel premise. Max, who is gay, falls out with Kawi at one point due to a misunderstanding that Kawi doesn't like others to think that he is Max's boyfriend. In the original timeline, their friendship is not mended, but in other modified timelines, they become close friends again. Another interesting character is Pisaeng's mother. In many BL series, a parent who can accept that their child is gay is idealised, but not here. Despite her acceptance of Pisaeng's homosexuality, the mother and son still have issues to sort out. Then there is also Not (classmate of Kawi and Pisaeng), a talented writer who is also an asshole. Not does not turn out to be the villain of the series (there isn't any), and he also doesn't really suffer for his assholery. (Quite realistic, I guess.)

If I must have complaints about the series, perhaps it would be that a lot of the positive points that I have mentioned feel a little calculated. Yet, even then, the series must be given credited for being able to handle everything skillfully. There is a scene towards the end when Kawi is hospitalised and the doctor asks if Kawi has any relatives to be contacted despite being told that Kawi lives with Pisaeng, who is his lover. While other series with less skillful scripting may have the characters directly discuss the issue of marriage equality and remark on how unfair it is, the finesse with which the issue is handled here is commendable. We can feel a sense of the how the lack of marriage equality affects gay couples without the characters commenting on it directly, and this is the way to go even though the series as a whole does not really seem to be focused on such issues.

For me, Be My Favourite ranks up among the best Thai BL series from late 2022 to 2023, together with My School President. While My School President really excels in telling a compelling and lovable story about innocent high schoolers, Be My Favourite its its more mature counterpart. They are both signs that the Thai BL industry can really up its game if it bothers putting in the effort.

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Truly became a favorite!

Everything about this series is perfection!! I'm kind of mad I put off watching it for so long. The reason being the trailer that to me screamed "cringe" cause of the overuse of the crystal ball but boy was I wrong. The time travel aspect was present but it was placed very skillfully and only in early episodes. Now onto the drama itself.
I'm honestly surprised at how much I was able to feel for and relate to Kawi. From the get go I realized this is more about just regretting not hitting on an old crush. this series takes us through a journey of redemption and salvation. Kawi is the typical shy and timid that barely got just live and when he got a second chance to do things over, reality came crashing. The more he tries to correct his past mistakes the more he realizes that not just his circumstances but most importantly he and his way thinking was the real problem. He was truly on a journey of self discovery in every single aspect.
I loved how Piseang never judged Kawi for what he showed of him and just tried to make him see things differently and more positively. I think that was the catalysis to Kawi opening up and being himself without restraint. Piseang's character truly was one of my fav of the show. He was confident without being arrogant and was overall strong positive easygoing and stayed true to himself all throughout. He made his feelings come across when he realized them while still respecting the boundaries Kawi set and remained by his side as his friend. That's my man right there! Well I wish...
One thing I'd say is Kawi was a tad bit annoying at times when he didn't act like his real age but I put that in the "trying too hard to change things" section. Also Piseang at times was being a total pushover but I put that in the "being a fool for love" section.
The other characters ware also a real treat. And there was no real villain despite Knot acting like his trashy ass self. Only downside was not seeing more of Max story. Except that, every single character was complex and relatable in their own way, even the parents.
I applaud the writers and the ones who chose this cast cause all the members were absolutely AMAZING and the chemistry on point not to mention the story is hella original. Finally a series of year 2023 worthy of my time. And it will undoubtedly go on top of my list as one of my favorites.

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If I had the choice I'd do it all over again

My absolute favourite surprise hit of 2023.
This show could easily have used the time travel trope to tell another cliched love story, but what it did instead was combine genuinely charming and lovable characters with a compelling, character-driven plot which focuses not just on romance, but on more complex themes such as regret, loss and grief, the intricacies of friendship, the differences between the concept of an "ideal future" and one's actual, personal ideal future, and even alcoholism.
All of these topics are handled with sagacity and care and are woven seamlessly into the story.

The characters themselves are all flawed, yet sincerely likeable people who are allowed to evolve and grow not just within their romantic relationships, but outside of them as well. A perfect example of this is Pear who, rather than being sidelined as Kawi's perceived love interest and a simple obstacle on the path to "true love" between him and Pisaeng, is given a good amount of screen time which establishes her as an independent, multi-faceted character with her own motivations and idiosyncrasies.
Complex female characters who are central to the plot are still an incredible rarity in this genre, which makes Pear's addition to the show even more of a pleasant surprise.

Another thing the show does oh so wonderfully right is its approach to depicting queer characters. Not only does Pisaeng explore and question his sexuality outside of his attraction to Kawi, he also forms a bond which Max, who is not only a stellar supporting character, but also serves to offer a glimpse into the realities of being a young, openly queer person. The struggle of constantly having to fight for acceptance and equality, the internal battle for self-love, the fierce joy of being yourself, openly and unafraid.

All in all this is a truly wonderful show with a lot of heart, good music, and many interesting things to say. I'd recommend it to anyone who has ever struggled to find themselves, anyone who has ever wondered about the different roads their life could have gone down, or anyone who has ever had to fight to walk their own path.
I'd also recommend it to anyone who is simply looking for a good queer romcom.
Oh, just go watch it already, you won't regret it, I promise.

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The beauty of life

It started as a series with a premise I've already seen before: the main character finding out that they are able to go back in time and deciding that they'll change their life for the better. What I didn't expect was for this show to quickly become so charming and beautiful as it went on, with a finale that confirmed it as one of the best Thai series I've watched in my life.

The development of the story starts as quite simple and easy to follow, but it steadily grows and becomes more complex as the episodes go by. I was convinced that this series had the potential to be fun and cute, something that wouldn't captivate me all that much but still enjoyable. I was so wrong! Kawi's efforts to change his future for the better start because of his feelings for Pear, but his actions and words slowly influence more and more people in his life, all with their own struggles that need to be overcome. Just like that, the plot becomes less superficial and seeing its transformation is just marvelous. It might start as a simple series, but it involves many important themes that were explored with the right attention and care, so this might not be the right show if you're looking for something light-hearted!
Similarly to the plot, the characters develop and grow as well, showing more complexities and more nuances to their personalities and their individual lives, as well as the connections they have with each other and with the environment they live in. Kawi and Pisaeng are definitely the two characters that are shown the most in this sense, but also Pear, Mark, and even Not are portrayed as actual people rather than props for the plot and the protagonists. I don't believe there was a single role that could be considered simple and one-dimensional here; all the actors had a lot to work on and they did an amazing job.
I had already seen both Krist and Gawin in other series in the past and I was well aware of their acting skills, but I wasn't expecting them to complement each other so well as a fictional couple. They are a great fit for their respective roles and make a very tender couple with a great dynamic.

If you like series that put a lot of care and attention to the details and the character introspection, this might be for you. It's not really a slice-of-life, but its small universe gave me the same feeling as one, and the message it conveys is one that isn't found often in media. I absolutely recommend giving it a chance!

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