Unlike audiovisuals from other latitudes in which the acting couple rarely meets again in another program in the same role, Thai BL series usually pair the actors, especially when there is chemistry and they are popular with the public.
This is the case of Jumpol Adulkittiporn (Off) and Atthaphan Poonsawas (Gun). With the formation of OffGun, both have participated in numerous projects, from the first of them in 'Senior Secret Love: Puppy Honey' (2016) and 'Senior Secret Love: Puppy Honey 2' (2017), 'Theory of love' ( 2019) and the critically and fan-acclaimed 'Not Me' (2021), and in the special anthology of couples boys love titled 'Our Skyy', from 2018.
With the drama 'Cooking Crush', of the romantic comedy, food and BL genre, released in November 2023 on the GMM25 network, the two reappear. Like good wine, both actors, now 33 and 30 years old, respectively, underpin their artistic talent and consolidate themselves as ships within the BL universe.
The series reminds me of one of the most famous romantic comedies in history, 'Pretty Woman', from 1990 and directed by the American Garry Marshall. In it, the protagonist (Richard Gere) hires a prostitute (Julia Roberts) to accompany him for a few days, and they end up loving each other.
In 'Cooking Crush' the characters also come from two different social strata: Ten (Off), a rich medical student, hires Prem (Gun), a humble cooking student, to teach him how to prepare exquisite food dishes.
Prem dreams of becoming a chef who revolutionizes the culinary art. Determined to compete in a reality show that will choose the best chef in the nation, he must improve his culinary skills. That is the reason why he accepts Ten's proposal. Prem uses this as an opportunity to make money. The clash between both worlds will end up causing both of them to end up deeply in love.
A skilful script written by Pong Pattarawalai Wongsinwises, Noolek Sureechay Kaewses, M Rittikrai Kanjanawiphu and an effective staging, in addition to the good work of the two protagonists, allows us to find ourselves before a sentimental and romantic comedy with a lot of fairy tale and little of everyday reality.
The main characters add depth and emotion to the plot. The series promises a mix of touching moments and immersive drama, as both boys navigate between Ten's causes of stress and Prem's desire to overcome challenges.
The Thai setting adds a unique cultural backdrop to the seductive love story between medical consultation rooms and kitchens, offering viewers a captivating journey through the complexities of discovering sexuality and romance. While the information provided provides insight into the series, watching it will certainly offer a more complete and immersive experience.
'Cooking Crush' stands out with its tone of sentimental and romantic comedy and a talented cast, also composed of Pakin Kunaanuwit (Mark) as Dynamite, and Jaruwat Cheawaram (Dome) as Samsi. These two, along with Prem, will make a trio of friends. It also features Trai Nimtawat (Neo) as Fire and Warawut Poyim (Tum) as Metha, who make up the other friendly shortlist.
The members of these groups, who are not united by anything at the beginning, will not only find love in each other's members, but also strong ties of friendship and companionship. Together they will contribute humor to the program.
Rounding out the cast are Chatchawit Techarukpong (Victor) as Changma, Bhasidi Petchsutee (Lookjun) as Jane, Sukhapat Lohwacharin (Suam) as Bun, Pimwalee Phunsawat (Pim) as Paeng, and Lapisara Intarasut (Apple).
The trust in the ability of each of the members of the main couple in the other, and the way in which they promote each other, is striking. An example of this can be seen in the fact that Ten does not believe he has what it takes to succeed as a doctor and Prem encourages him. Prem, for his part, operates in a very competitive world such as culinary art, and if he has any doubt or circumstance, Ten supports him. Ten's love for Prem's cooking is what finally convinces him to sign up for Super Monster Chef.
Without being the best in the filmography of this acting duo, 'Cooking Crush' is a visual delight and fulfills its purpose as a romantic comedy, showing Off and Gun's undeniable chemistry while Ten and Prem flirt adorably in every interaction. . Theirs is a charming, beautiful, fun, natural and wonderful couple.
Although dynamite is so stable that generally new dynamite cartridges in good condition do not explode even if exposed to fire, Dynamite will not need a detonator and detonator to explode as soon as he meets Fire and encourages a fun game of cat between the two. and the mouse with a slight and subtle harassment on the part of the former at the beginning of the plot.
Without a doubt, 'Cooking Crush' is guaranteed to be popular for various reasons. The breadth of social media, such as YouTube and others, allows more people to connect with this and other BL series. The Western mentality is today much more open to viewing (without prejudice or hatred) content that is part of the LGTBIQ+ community. And finally, a growing need for the viewer to have the possibility that all sexual diversities can be expressed through the artistic formats within their reach.
Just as 'Cooking Crush' is another successful Thai BL by being a media product with an undeniable communication effect, we, as viewers, must be able to appreciate the content without ignoring its hidden meaning.
However, I must add the following criticism: throughout the history of film and television, homosexuals have been portrayed in a stereotypical way or in roles of ruthless killers, disturbed suicides, caricatures of human beings. On many occasions their effeminacy was exaggerated so that an audience could distinguish the gay characters without words. In this way, the audience could easily identify them as homosexuals because they reflected the clichés that still existed in society towards them. These consisted of portraying them as extremely mannered, prim characters, with thin mustaches and often grotesquely made up. In addition to repudiating this “perverted behavior,” filmmakers and television channels or film companies seek to provoke laughter in the viewer, since in comparison to them, men could feel more masculine and women more feminine.
This has been the case since the short film 'Lot in Sodom', by James Sibley Watson and Melville Webber, produced in 1933, which treated homosexuals as depraved sex-hungry satyrs. A film like 'Brokeback Mountain', by Ang Lee, from 2005, had to arrive, already in the 21st century, to present homosexuals to the general public as "common" men, with traditionally masculine appearance and without any type of pathology. that justified the presence of the character himself in the film.
This situation has been gradually transforming to the present day in which the major film and television production companies, especially European ones, pioneers in this subject, make films and series aimed almost exclusively at the LGBTIQ+ audience, showing more realistic characters and settings, films that are shown in commercial theaters or in the numerous film festivals on this theme that are held on all continents, or series broadcast on television channels in much of the world.
Although these current audiovisuals show how difficult it is to “come out of the closet” and project to the viewer the reality in which homosexuals find themselves, series like 'Cooking Crush' do not escape from reveling in stereotyping queer characters. Thus we see how Prem's three fellow students and also participants in the culinary contest, only with competitive, malicious objectives, are able to constantly harass and mock another member of that human collective.

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A poorly “parked” relationship on the race track

Cinema and television, like all art that reflects the society in which they develop, have shown the trafficking of children through notable films, documentaries and television series. Numerous films and television programs expose this illegal practice and many of them are based and inspired by real-life cases.
Asian dramas are committed to bringing all genres to the public, including those in which their protagonists have a romantic bond combined with supernatural powers.
Has the fact that Thailand is a point of origin, destination and transit of human trafficking aroused the interest of Nopachai Jayanama (Peter), as director, and Kanokphan Ornrattanasakul and Issaraporn Kuntisuk, as scriptwriters, to tell us in 'Pit Babe' a story that mixes homosexual romance, sport, intrigue, action, human trafficking, fantasy and supernatural powers?
This drama, an adaptation of the web novel by _alittlebitch, winks at Thai reality: the value of child victims of human trafficking does not lie in using them as sexual slaves, in forced labor or to extract their organs for commercialization, but in possessing special powers.
Are we facing a social drama of denunciation of human commerce? I would like this to be its purpose, but consistent with its BL condition, 'Pit Babe' will enhance the romance. This arises between Babe (Naret Promphaophan-Pavel), the king of the racetrack, and Charlie (Krittin Kitjaruwannakul-Pooh), his supporter.
Will the series have a hidden message? How many of Tony's “sons” among the superpowered children are gay men today? Babe, Charlie, Jeff, Kenta, Pete, Way...? That is, the main characters with powers who were raised-educated by the person dedicated to human trafficking ended up being homosexuals. Is there a hidden message in this, simple coincidence or something of “destiny”?
Babe is a very popular racing driver and admired by everyone. His achievements in the sport have led him to be considered number one. Among his followers is Charlie, a young man who wants to be a racing driver like him. However, he does not have the money or the contacts necessary to achieve it. Therefore, he looks for an opportunity to get closer to the leader of X Hunter. When he succeeds, he asks for your help and to lend him a car so he can materialize his aspirations. The only solution he can think of is to reach a strange agreement with Babe. Against logic, he agrees to help Charlie realize his dream.
On this journey, will Babe be able to win Charlie's heart? Will he lose the race he most wants to win this time? Will Charlie be the one interested in captivating the racing driver? Will the relationship that began as a game triumphantly cross the finish line to become a real romance?
The most notable thing about the series is its exciting scenes and the attractiveness of the actors.
There is a secondary couple, made up of Alan and Jeff.
The cast also includes Supanut Lourhaphanich (Nut), as Way; Obrnithi Leelavetchabutr (Ping), as Pete; Natthapong Pathong (Benz), as Kim; Asre Wattanayakul (Lee), as Dean; Hemmawich Khwanamphaiphan (Sailub), as Alan; Thanapon Aiemkumchai (Pon), as Jeff; Michael Kiettisak (Michael), as North; Pataraphol Wanlopsiri (Pop), as Winner; Pantach Kankham (Garfield), as Kenta; Supakorn Saokhor (TopTen), as Sonic; and Vorarit Vaijairanai (S), as Tony
The chemistry between the protagonists and the bed scenes fail to lift a series whose characters are unrealistic and undeveloped. Pavel and Pooh have charisma and are attractive, but the script does not help their relationship connect with the viewer.
I must clarify that it is not that I find being 'passive' degrading. It's not that I assume that, in a relationship between two men, there is a "superiority" on the part of the one who is 'active' compared to the other who is 'passive', but the abrupt change in Babe's personality seems inconceivable to me. . This transformation comes at the same time as the loss of his powers, at the hands of Charlie.
Babe abandons his well-crafted playboy image for years. In all his previous relationships he played the role of seme or asset. In the words of the BL series themselves, he was, of the two, “the one on top.” He began his relationship with Charle by assuming this role in bed. Suddenly, without a convincing explanation, Babe becomes Charlie's uke. Babe swaps to play the role of the “bottom.” So, you would have to ask yourself: Did the loss of his precious powers lead him to be the passive one in their relationship? Didn't this move cause a loss in his character's potential?
Despite being in front of the cameras practically all the time, the actor who plays Charlie fails to connect with me emotionally. They are not facilitating emotions, but hindering emotions that are transmitted to me by a character who fails to sensitize me. By not feeling or understanding Charlie's emotions and feelings, I cannot essentially grasp whether it is love or just sex that drives him. Only his acting stands out in the sex scenes. Note that I do not say “when making love.”
The transformation of the character played by Nut, already in the final moments, is not logical either. About an obvious thing, the incurable remorse that must have accompanied Way throughout much of his life for betraying Babe for years, causing the rift between him and the man he loves, as well as many, if not all, of the problems that have hit to the positive characters by being infiltrated into their ranks, Way's evolution from evil to purity, from darkness to light is narratively constructed, sustained by the effort to achieve the viewer's identification with the traitor. It is necessary to save it, the creators thought.
Way drinks with Pete because “he wants to make the situation better.” He doesn't know “what to do next.” He does not know if “what I have always believed is the right thing.” He asks Pete why he decided to leave Dad, and Pete tells him, “Because the truth is not what I thought… I decided to leave to end the vicious cycle that Dad had created.” And he tells her that she still has the chance to choose what she wants to do. Way has been asked to show the despondency caused by guilt. Way has had the option all his life to choose the right path, but he has decided to be by Tony's side, even knowing what this means. But suddenly, some words from Pete whispered in his ear between sips of liquor and a few pats on the back invite him to “do the right thing.” And this would not be a problem if they had gotten rid of the rampant schematism in the character design and the all-too-evident desire to redeem him.
A story that fails to convince, clumsily designed characters, characters lacking development and therefore generating empathy, limitations in the explanation of the characters' decision making, poverty in the development of events and irregularities regarding changes of personality, are several of the main characteristics of the drama.
Peter throws together a few tropes and too many clichés. With fewer ambitions and fewer plot holes, perhaps the series would have become a full-throttle, full-speed car swallowing up the race track.

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Sexual tension, laughter and change from reality to fantasy from the first to the last frame

What would happen if you are in love with your roommate, but you don't dare to declare your feelings because he has a girlfriend and because, like you, he is a boy?
If you had a friend or the possibility of consulting an oracle or a fortune teller, you would surely ask them for advice and they would suggest that you forget about it, that you put an end to it and move to another room, or that you be honest with him and yourself and tell him. You will confess your love in the hope of being reciprocated.
But what if you decide to ignore them and, instead, you let the fantasy escape and every situation in which you get involved with your bedroom partner you daydream and recreate all kinds of homoerotic encounters in your imagination?
Jung Jen Pao and Tony Shih, the directors of the LGBT+-themed Taiwanese romantic comedy pilot miniseries 'RoomMatch Series Pilot' (Room Match Series, Lai Tong G Ba, Lai Tung G Pa, 来同G吧), are new filmmakers who Between October and November 2022 they released the first three episodes trying to find the funds to make the complete series.
Following the classic sitcom patterns, but without the applause of the audience in the recording studio, 'RoomMatch Series Pilot' is a fresh miniseries, full of clichés and stereotypes but funny.
The premise is simple and effective: Joey (Yu Hao Chen) is a foolish and innocent student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at HTU and shares a dormitory with Dick (Jung Jen Pao, who in addition to directing also writes the script), who is an assistant to teaching of Mechanical Engineering. Dick loves to bother Joey and invade his privacy, which creates problems and tension between the two. However, something happens that causes their relationship to change.
The entanglements between the dorm mates, the tangible chemistry, the sexual interactions, the growing sexual tension, the change from reality to fantasy, the dynamic expectation versus reality, and between jokes recreating numerous homosensual and hilarious scenes, such as the reaction to being kissed by someone who has just vomited, they end up working and the chapters, very short, are fun and leave you wanting more.
Those who enjoy youth and university scenarios and coming-of-age and coming-out can bet on this miniseries, which is also a fun exploration of youth from the confusion of sexual awakening and the problems of coexistence of two people. very opposite in a student residence.
With a constructive narrative, tight script, incredible cinematography and production, fun music, solid performances, good direction, to which small animated segments are incorporated, the miniseries opens debate on the theory of the vibe of love or the mechanics of love and becomes a very realistic portrait of "somewhat strange" roommates.
One of the comedies with the most viewers on YouTube in the last year and a half since its premiere, and I can't explain why it hasn't found the necessary funds to continue developing the events and characters until achieving a broader and more ambitious series.
There are few things more grateful than clicking the "Next episode" button on a good comedy and romantic series after a day of hard work or study. And 'RoomMatch Series Pilot' gets it done from the first frame to the last.

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Tragic romance comes to life

It was a rainy afternoon when their eyes met. As they held their gaze, the world stopped for them and an unknown energy exploded their bodies.
Mitsuru was waiting at the school entrance for the weather to improve, since he didn't bring an umbrella today. Koichi, his classmate, was more foresighted, and is now at his side offering him his. Despite being in the same class, it is the first time they interact. From that moment on, through their eyes, they will continue to look into the depths of their souls.
Oumi Mitsuru (Inoue Sora) is a quiet and introverted high school student who is highly intelligent but not good at socializing. He spends lunchtime alone, away from everything and everyone, while maintaining a cold, distant relationship with his father, a very busy hospital director. On the contrary, Yamada Koichi (Komiya Rio) is a bright, talkative, cheerful and popular boy with many friends in his class.
One of the two has to take the next step. And they cannot deny the strong attraction they feel due to their opposite personalities. Armed with courage, Koichi starts the first conversation and asks if they can be friends. This is how they establish an uncomfortable friendship that evolves between their school lunches without much conversation,
Just as the two begin a romantic relationship, Koichi tragically dies in a car accident, but in an even bigger twist, he wakes up from the dead as if nothing happened. The devastating tragedy sets the somber tone for the rest of the series, but also introduces an innovative twist, adding complexity and creativity to the narrative.
"He's not dead, he's a walking corpse," Mitsuru insists to his classmates who can still see the teenager, but who are slowly beginning to forget about his existence. But sooner or later, the two young lovers will have to accept the truth: the strange miracle of Koichi's walking corpse will not last long.
With excellent acting, writing, direction and overall production values, 'Eien no Kino' (Eternal Yesterday/ 永遠の昨日) is an epic live-action adaptation of author Yuuri Eda's masterpiece, featuring a dark theme of love between boys. Life and death, sex and adolescence mixed, a unique definition of teenage BL. That quote in itself is a clue to the heartbreaking nature of this Japanese romantic, school and youth drama from 2022. It is worth highlighting the imagination, sensitivity, creativity and brilliance of the film discourse.
While the story could have been a strange, over-the-top comedy-drama, it has a surprisingly touching plot about love and loss.
I am powerfully captured by the idea of ​​this iconic BL couple who refuses to lose love despite death and pain.
With discreet humor and a moving and emotional dramatic story, at the same time peculiar and unconventional, 'Eternal Yesterday' will keep the viewer glued to the couch until they see the final credits roll in the eighth and final episode, each lasting about 24 minutes. one.
The powerful story, the moving romance and the profound messages will draw the viewer's attention in this work, directed by Kobayashi Keiichi. 'Eien No Kinou' is an eccentric supernatural romance that explores delicate themes such as death, family relationships, coming of age, friendships and rejection, among others.
A mysterious premise, an attractive cast, the fun and at the same time melancholic vibe, and its powerful musical themes, opening: "Sunshower", by Ayumu Imazu, and closing: "Toi Natsu no Hi", by Kubo Aoi, are a guarantee of visual delight. The background music serves as a support to wonderfully recreate the atmosphere of the scenes without causing any distraction.
High praise for the two telegenic leads. In addition to his attractive appearance, Komiya Rio's change of register is pleasantly surprising by adopting a new personality, embodying a "living corpse", and incorporating various emotions: he has become strange, lonely, passionate and even mocking and funny, but He has a tendency to be sweet and romantic.
While to achieve naturalness when playing his role as Tanaka in 'Takara kun to Amagi kun' he needed to give his character a slightly mischievous touch, the same honesty could only be achieved by giving Koichi the same kind of vibes, but in a different way. It is in the eyes of the actor where you can see the talent and maturity achieved by the artist in his profession. Komiya Rio manages to play two similar characters in two BL series, but giving them a different feel.
Ductile, chameleon-like, Rio is perfect in capturing the dual traits of his character: on the one hand, the cheerful and optimistic student, on the other, that of the teenager who burns with the desire to love the boy he has fallen in love with.
For his part, Inoue Sora, as the moody, reserved but intellectual Mitsuru, plays in a very nonchalant manner, first by discovering that he has been in love with Rio's character all along, and second by revealing a fragility behind his touching and disturbing behavior. .
It is passionate in its struggle to accept the pain of losing the person you love. Their facial expressions, body language and expressive eyes convey a true marathon of emotions. He shows an apparent calm on the outside, but in truth a bloody storm of emotions has been unleashed inside him, and he appears too afraid to let his feelings be perceptible to others.
Another detail that demonstrates this actor's strong performance lies in how his character conveys the impression that he can spend time with his dead lover in the present, when in reality he is trapped in the past.
Unlike many romantic relationships between boys seen in various BL, that of Mitsuru and Koichi is full of symbolism, love, sexual tension and substance. My only regret is that the series didn't develop more of the early stages of falling in love.
With dazzling chemistry, the director manages to make the boys act with different personalities. The dynamics of the actors are slow, but you can see how they move towards a blossoming love relationship, which continues even after the tragedy, because neither boy is reluctant to let the other go.
I recommend watching the picnic scene, because it is so moving and sweet.
The sad ending does not surprise anyone, although I admit I expected some kind of miracle or that everything had been the result of the dream or imagination of one of the characters. It is the closure that Mitsura had feared from the beginning and that viewers are also subtly warned about. But its conclusion manages to meet the objectives set of addressing topics such as trauma and loss, especially in a love story between boys, managing to surpass many other dramas of this genre.

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Among the best of the BL genre

'My School President' (แฟนผมเป็นประธานนักเรียน / Faen Phom Pen Prathan Nakrian) is a charming coming-of-age school boy love comedy (BL).
Through conflict, music and performances, the series will transport us to a dream world of teenage crushes, friendships and the search for happiness through love and fulfillment.
The series promises a charming romantic fantasy, a good dose of comedy and excellent music, performed by the same protagonists, which will ensure that the viewer, regardless of age, enjoys romance and youthful optimism, while discovering or rediscovering, as the case may be, happiness and teenage love.
With a narrative that carries surprisingly mature and thoughtful messages, the drama addresses significant themes about family, friendship, sexuality, love, the search for happiness, the realization of dreams, the dichotomy between fighting to achieve your goals and commit to reality.
Gun (Fourth - Nattawat Jirochtikul) is the leader and vocalist of Chinzhilla, the student musical group. Win (Winny - Thanawin Pholcharoenratm), Por (Ford - Arun Asawasuebsakul), Me (Captain - Passatorn Koolkang) and Pat (Prom - Theepakorn Kwamboon) are the remaining members of the five-boy band, who hope to compete at the Hot Wave Music Awards and win the annual contest.
This will be their last chance before graduating from the high school where they are their senior year. Next year, each one will have taken a different path and perhaps they will never meet again in their lives.
But it seems that everything is turning against him to frustrate his plans. They do not have a good reputation in the eyes of the director (Tao - Sarocha Watittapan), who is determined to put an end to the gang. It turns out that in the last edition of the musical event, the then members of the group caused problems, so Chinzhilla does not have the support of the school authorities. That Gun has been elected president of the music club does not seem to change the situation. What's more, I would say that it is the reason why the club's hours of life are numbered.
For the same reason, young musicians do not have the necessary musical instruments, and they often see how the club room is in danger of being taken over for other functions outside their usual function, so they would lose the space in which to rehearse. .
Although the friends were not part of the previous gang, the five have gained a reputation for being wayward students who are only interested in video games or cooking and eating barbecued pork in their club room.
Fearing that his band will fail, Gun decides to run for Student Council president. This would be the option to preserve the club, since the school regulations establish that whoever holds this position controls the extracurricular clubs.
But once again the world seems to conspire against him. Despite the brilliant campaign with which he intends to win the vote of the rest of the students, Tinn (Gemini - Norawit Titicharoenrak), the director's son and also a final year student, wins the elections by describing Gun as irresponsible and unkind. reliable enough to lead others.
An abyss opens up before both students. They have never been friends in the past. And now Tinn will try to torpedo any effort by the young musicians to keep the club open, under the threat that those clubs that do not generate profits for the school will be closed.
Gun has no choice but to make a pact with the enemy. This is how he becomes a servant of the president of the Student Council. What Gun doesn't know is that Tinn has a hidden agenda.
Why is 'My School President' a series above the others of its genre?
Several reasons are what make this a very special series. Let's start by stating that despite having a plot that does not break with those that precede it, the way in which it is structured is far from what is usual in the BL genre.
The writing of the series takes a non-linear form. Thanks to this, the episodes have their own mini story arcs while advancing the development of the characters and events through said arcs. In this way, each episode has to satisfy the need to resolve the conflicts presented with unusual speed. This brings the advantage of the possibility of exploring feelings and actions in an appropriate and spontaneous way. As a result, the relationship between Tinn and Gun is one of the most striking within the genre, despite being so young and having high school as the setting.
This is how 'My School President' explores each stage of Gun and Tinn's relationship. The two begin as adversaries, but their romance evolves along an exciting journey of discovery and acceptance, in which they will be accompanied by their friends.
The excellent performances. This is another reason why the series stands out above others. The drama is full of well-designed and structured characters. Fourth and Gemini have shown both their artistic talent and the fact that they are an enjoyable couple in 'My School President' as well as in 'Moonlight Chicken' and 'Our Skyy2'. The histrionics of the two protagonists reveal to us, once again, an organic, tender and beautiful homosexual love relationship that is, possibly, one of the most beautiful that Thai BL has given us.
Tinn and Gun are the perfect couple. The actors who play these characters, Fourth and Gemini, conquer the audience with their dazzling charisma and physical attractiveness.
Fourth is the typical teenage heartthrob and dreamer with charming looks. Who doesn't fall in love with her smile and her captivating eyes? For his part, Gemini is the sincere, enthusiastic boy, with high doses of mischief deployed to deceive everyone, especially Gun, with the intention of getting closer to him and conquering his heart. Together they are explosive, adorable and give off awesome vibes. Both have a chemistry like few other ships. The compatibility, the comfort of each other is evident, achieving very tender and natural romantic interactions.
Another aspect to highlight is that BL series have evolved over time and today seek to expand their areas to explore new plots about the love relationship between boys, moving away from those budgets that placed the stories and characters in high schools or universities. However, many of them fail to really explore the premise of the stated plot.
'My School President' overcomes this situation, but it does so by returning to the essence of the genre, telling a romantic comedy story set in high school about Tinn's long and secret crush on Gun.
The first great strength of the series lies in its simple and unpretentious plot, surpassing the concept of high school BL.
Experienced in telling BL stories, director Kornprom Niyomsil (Au) and screenwriters Pongsate Lucksameepong (Bee) and Pratchaya Thavornthummarut, who have worked and collaborated, both together and individually, on classics such as 'Oxygen', 'Theory of Love', 'Dangerous Romance', 'Vice Versa', 'Bad Buddy', '2gether: The Movie', 'Still 2gether', 'KinnPorsche', 'Our Skyy 2', 'Last Twilight', 'Dark Blue Kiss' , and many others, and they have learned from the mistakes and successes of their predecessors to produce a series that seeks perfection.
Music is another of the sections that reaches notes of excellence. The BL series have incorporated music to show the evolution of the couple's love relationship, whether they are the main or secondary ones.
While '2gether The Series' uses the discography of Scrubb, a famous Thai band, in 'My School President' it is the cast themselves who sing the songs that make up its soundtrack. Unlike other dramas, the actors in the series know how to sing and do it well as they are boys with great musical and dancing talent. If we look at the artists' biographies the reader will know what I mean.
No wonder the series premieres at least one song in each episode, dedicated to describing the events told in such a natural way that it combines with the non-linear narration of the program.
We cannot ignore that the series is structured around a music club and its band of musicians. Hence, the creators excelled in bringing to the screen the interpretation of different musical genres and styles. In this way, we find the same with the classic Thai song, the modern Thai pop song (T-Pop), the folk, urban pop, the ballad, the rock music, the musical theater or the original song written specifically for the program under GMMTV Records. In this sense 'My School President' reveals itself to us as a musical BL, something little exploited in the genre.

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Love at first sight with the smell of perfume

Is there love at first sight? A question that always sparks debate between passionate defenders of instant chemistry and those who claim that it is impossible for two people to fall in love with the first look.
Peet, the protagonist of 'Scent of Love', agrees with the first criterion, as he is convinced of the love he feels for Bass from the moment he meets him, despite not even a few words having passed between them.
We can assure you that they meet in the most cliché way possible: they cross paths during the university's hazing rituals, on the same day of admission to the university. The chemistry between the two is not immediately perceptible, but it is latent, hidden, waiting for events.
However, later on, something happens that is also quite trite in romance comedies: the two strangers will meet in another place, but it will not be thanks to chance, what we call destiny, because Peet will cause it by following Bass to the club. theater in which he trains as an actor, with the aim of being as close as possible to him.
If this were real life, two people with different personalities who have never exchanged a word would never connect. But here, fantasy and the promise of a happy ending are on the side of the protagonists.
It is worth pointing out that the Thai microseries stars Din Teerapat Ruangritkul as Peet, and Fluk Chatchawan Jitraxtham as Bass, whom we have also seen as the main couple of the series 'My Secret Love', from 2022.
Enjoyable enough, the two actors create what could be a throwaway story of love at first sight between two university students, a very common theme in the BL genre.
The protagonists play two university students who form a love bond that, although it seems impossible, the brief audiovisual production, which overflows with good intentions, sweetness and tenderness, all captured in a wonderful way, demonstrates that love knows no barriers.
We could say that this is a story about two soul mates. We have Peet, a cute, introverted, shy but mischievous first-year college student, who secretly loves Bass, a handsome sportsman from a senior year, a lover of theater and popular with his fellow students, especially the girls. girls.
Peet doesn't know how to react to the person he loves. First of all, they are both men, in a society in which, although homosexuality is legal, same-sex marriage and homosexual relationships are not recognized. And secondly, he is convinced that Bass is in love with Jang, the actress trainee.
And in the presence of Bass, while they are rehearsing a play, Peet always gets nervous and cannot articulate a word, not even to say his lines from the script of the play they are practicing, so Bass has ordered him to improve his performance or He left the group, this being the third reason why he is sure he lives a one-sided love. But by then, the rapprochement between the two boys, both physically and emotionally, had already begun... although they might still be unaware of it.
Will they be able to be together even though the world seems to turn against them? That is the question that remains throughout the almost 12 minutes of footage that, however short it may seem to us, the film is charming enough to please viewers looking for romance, for its charming characters, the tender story and attention to detail in the visual.
The Thai entertainment industry has proven once again that it has the right formula to revive the genre and satisfy an audience that craves authentic and heartwarming love stories. Personally, I liked the way the plot was executed, subtly exploring the personal stories of the characters, before we suddenly came to understand that the love is mutual.
'Scent of Love' hooks you from the beginning and in no time you've finished it. The charisma of the characters, the music of Kham Susira and, obviously, the looks of the lovers, make this piece one of those that we can't stop sighing over, due to its many romantic and poetic elements that give it a good touch. to the history.
To some it may seem like more of the same within the BL genre, but it is also easy to fall surprisingly under its cheesy and sentimental spell.
Yes, boy meets boy. They fall in love. The rest is history? No, history will unfold before our eyes, as we will be faithful witnesses to the birth of a romance. Many romantic television and film works revolve around this basic proposal for every love story. 'Scent of Love' takes the same starting point, but seeks, in turn, to tell its story in terms of commercially advertising a perfume from the Mith Bangkok company. This may seem negative to many, and they are right, but it will not be the first or the last time in which small works that do not have a budget have to succumb to the realization of a whim at the service of a transnational company. But, luckily, on this occasion the film product does not come out badly.
The creators' style highlights somewhat bland characters, but with a background in each one that is worth exploring.
The microseries is made for fans of the romantic genre and makes it clear that its objective is to portray love, acceptance, self-discovery, sexual diversity, the search for happiness and coming of age, themes explored through the dynamics of the main characters.
The photography enjoys very bright colors and, at times, the creators' intention is for Din and Fluk to feel like the center of the universe. By falling in love so suddenly, the rest of the universe seems to not exist. For this reason, the stage in which they practice the play, and especially the classroom where they finally have the conversation that everyone is waiting for, were perfect to get their romance started.
With a little luck, the two lovers will meet in the most traditional way, find the right words, and taking the next step will be a huge, but happy and charming challenge.

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A teenage love that should become a love of youth and for life

Summer revives dormant or undeclared feelings due to fear of losing a friend, while the waves of the sea, when they hit the shore, raise splashes of water that wet two young people.
It's time to say goodbye to high school and say goodbye not only to other students, but also to childhood.
Will Sakura want to separate from her childhood friend Yuki?
How old is it, when you leave adolescence and enter adulthood, to see two young people eating ice cream on the seashore and discussing random things, including their "wish list" that includes things like " skip stones until you get home", play with a frog that decided to go out to sunbathe, or have fun with the water left by the rain on the reliefs of the sidewalk.
This is how best childhood friends Asakura Sakura (Kura Yuki) and Nagase Yuki (Mizusawa Rintaro) act, two teenagers about to finish high school, in a beautiful Japanese coastal city.
Scripted by Mizukawa Katamari and directed by Kariyama Shunsuke, the miniseries 'Kimi No Koto Dake Itai' reflects how Asakura has come to understand that they are no longer adults or children, and yet, he does not want to abandon the phase he is in. .. a midpoint between a carefree childhood and the time to enter adulthood and with it higher education.
A few days after finishing high school and facing the risk of losing sight of her friend when they both go to study far from each other, Sakura loses the fear that has accompanied her for years and confesses her love for Yuki and kisses him, who in turn he is stunned and confused by the revelation.
At this point, we must ask ourselves: Is Sakura's love reciprocated or not? Does Yuki feel the same?
This simple and tender love story follows the falling in love of these two characters, in a dramatized about 84 minutes long divided into just four episodes, which wonderfully balances adolescent innocence and the intensity of first love.
The first movements of teenage love in some of its most precious nuances are addressed in this fun, innocent and touching story. Through absolute simplicity, but no less profound and fascinating, as well as a touch of reality, a subtle, pure, honest, age-appropriate romance is shown.
Without other conflicts or secondary characters that alter the dynamic posed by the boys, the talented, thoughtful and even-tempered Sakura, and the mischievous, energetic and class clown Yuki, resoundingly convince the public about their friendship and budding love.
The miniseries does not risk crossing the limits of age or the school environment as its setting to show something more than this naive adolescent game, subtle flirtation and tender declaration of love. Almost two years after its production, the time may have come to show a romance, not in their adolescent stage, but in their youth, between these characters. Special chemistry and connection are enough for this.

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Singing an out of tune 'Beautiful'

There are relationships that are not worth fighting for. There are others whose members may not have said goodbye forever. But there are other broken relationships that still have a solution.
Sometimes you do everything right in a relationship, and yet love can abandon you, leaving only paralyzing pain and a ton of questions behind. Among these the "why?" It will drag you to the bottom of the abyss.
In this case, when he (or she) is gone, you can follow him or her. You can still convince him that you love each other, that you are perfect for each other, sing him an out-of-tune 'Beautiful', by Baekhyun, and make sure he doesn't get on the plane at the last minute and leave forever. You can also crash their wedding just before they say their final "I do", so that they run away with you to the astonishment of each other's family, while mutual friends scream with joy. Or get into your car with a trailer caravan where you will live you don't know how many days, months or years, travel the distance that separates you from your loved one, stand conveniently under his window, a few meters from his bed, waiting for him to At some point I will allow you to enter it.
Or in the face of a cold and disconsolate response, you could very well be a regular at their restaurant with a name that hurts the insides and you, because you are clueless, because you don't know the reason why they abandoned you, you don't know its meaning.
What if you decided to collaborate in making the menu of said restaurant, become friends with the villagers, help clear up misunderstandings that involve your loved one's family, which is why he is not popular among the locals and why his humble business is going down the drain, and, between filming sessions and road trips, will you adapt and integrate into the quiet and simple life of the person you want to win back?
I would suggest that after reading the vague goodbye note and discovering that your lover has packed his bags and left the apartment you have shared, you put strong pressure on your agency, and tell your representative and his subordinate that you will jump out of the car in leave if they don't locate him.
Or when you can't explain to yourself what you did wrong and you can't find answers to the cause of the breakup, you choose to win the affection of the best friend of the person who has put your life in check and her small and precocious daughter, knowing that every step In this sense, it will allow you to create new opportunities to reconnect with your ex.
Precisely the latter was what Seo Joon (Son Woo Hyun) did when Ji Woo (Kim Kang Min) broke his heart in the second season of 'To My Star 2: Our Untold Stories'. Yes, I am referring to those two young people, one of them a famous celebrity and the other an ordinary chef, from two different worlds, with little in common, whose lives were shaken when they met and fell in love.
Well, it seemed like both boys would be together forever, but fate had other plans. After giving us some of the most romantic moments in Korean BL, they also filled us with sadness. But there the actor goes in search of his chef to continue enjoying, among other things, his delicious food.
And Hwang Da Seul, the director, took very seriously that no one is saved from death and a broken heart and that we must all face, throughout our lives, several different types of goodbyes. Knowing that every breakup has its reasons, its consequences and its bitter, and sometimes bloody, extensions, that life is not always laughter, love and joy, he summoned screenwriter Park Young to take up the story and develop a second season to imitate , very well filmically speaking, the breakdown of the relationship of that couple so beloved by fans of the genre, and then reconciling them, because otherwise it could not be, since, otherwise, as an audience, we would not forgive them.
I imagine Da Seul digging through the films and television series of yesteryear and today to revisit those that deal with breakups and narratives that address every cliché about love and its components, always with a similar structure and, above all, with a happy ending, a sung ending, that is, "from a movie". And all in order to promote significant topics, such as the couple's commitment and communication.
And it does so with incredible bravery, taking the flaws of the first season, especially that of a pleasant but substanceless original story, to make a sequel with greater development of the characters, expanding the dynamics of their relationships and amplifying the emotions.
While it is true that it suffers from a saturated melodrama at times, with artificial conflicts that could have been polished or not incorporated, what is also real is the achievement of the elegant arcs of the characters, which highlight growth, maturity and redemption .
I know that many BL fans will not like what is related to the breakup and the subsequent suffering of the members of their favorite ships, but a work that shows deep conflicts and characters with greater psychological complexities is appreciated.
Without giving any type of spoiler, I will ask you the same question that comes into play during the first minutes of the story: what is the reason for Jin Woo and Seo Joon's breakup?
With this fuse that is lit at the beginning of the series, the characters develop in a narrative with which they will manage to improve the original series, with richer backstories, more character development and complex relationship dynamics, allowing 'To My Star matures, comes of age and becomes a sophisticated BL drama that unfolds in a fascinating journey, seeking and fulfilling the objectives of unraveling a failed relationship, while the protagonists and the audience wonder if they would have a second one. opportunity to reconnect and be happy.
What BL lover wouldn't be surprised by the breakup of their idealized perfect lovers? Seo Joon experiences the same anxiety when faced with Ji Woo's inexplicable departure after leaving a vague message containing a single word: "Let's leave him."
So, the series is aimed at exploring why the breakup and, as I said, reconciliation. But now everything will happen far from the big city, as the cameras will focus on a small town several hours from Seoul, in Ji Woo's hometown and where he went after the breakup, and while he struggles to move his business forward in an Italian restaurant, Seo Joo continues to face problems in his acting career.
And if the proposal alone still doesn't catch your attention, I'll give you another colorful fact: through the experience of the two protagonists, the sequel explores the moving breakup of a couple with intrigue, intimacy and intense emotions. But it doesn't do so by adding a dramatic twist behind the breakup or an infamous evil destroyer of loves and homes.
No, the creators will pleasantly surprise us by letting us know that the reason for the discord is much more personal, simple but complex at the same time: Ji Woo has always preferred to repress his feelings and alienate those who care about him. Yes, it is not easy to live with him, and the series, through flashbacks, will make us understand why he is the way he is. In his case, he is not the typical individual that we see in other audiovisuals that explain his misunderstood actions, such as abandoning a person he loves and from whom he receives love, using the handy excuse of "suffering from childhood trauma." Ji Woo doesn't do anything wrong, he just stays away from Seo Joon and other people in his life to avoid being hurt.
Woo Hyun continues to show the same charm as his persistent Seo Joon. He continually and without hesitation expresses his feelings, says what he thinks and leaves no room for misunderstandings. He goes for it.
For his part, Kang Min continues to play his role as the grumpy but cute Ji Woo, but towards the end you will see him grow wings, all thanks to the persistence and love of Seo Joon.
If many BL sequels have disappointed for various reasons, 'To My Star 2' does the opposite, transforming a simple love story, but without much substance, into a moving saga of breakup and reconciliation. The maturity in the team, both acting and technical, is evident to deliver an ambitious product, the result of hard work and experience.
At this point in the note, you can already imagine what happens with Ji Woo and Seo Joon... But in case you weren't paying much attention, I can confirm that yes, they fight! However, in this case, new characters and new conflicts are added to the dynamic. With longer chapters, with diversification of filming settings and an increased supporting cast, with their plots, traumas and life stories, complex events and characters were developed that will enrich the main story through a compelling narrative.
And I leave for last, precisely because of its importance, an issue that is striking to me: it seems very light that in a country as conservative as South Korea where discrimination against members of the LGBT+ community still persists, marriage between people of the same sex, and homosexuals have difficulty fitting into society, since coming out is not welcomed in most families who consider homosexuality as something similar to a crime, show a rural community, generally defenders of patriarchal and heteronormative traditions, without its inhabitants ever questioning the "friendship" of the two protagonists when the type of relationship they maintain is evident and even trying to influence it so that it is fostered.

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From -20 to 100, the possible setbacks do not matter... only the advance

When the two protagonists meet, Cha Yeo-woon's affection level towards Tae Myung Ha was -20. When he gave him the shoes to use in the race, he dropped to -99. Due to the level of negative affect, the video game constantly throws out debuffs that would affect Yeo-woon. It had to be reversed.
I've been thinking about how to title this review. The race in which Cha Yeo-woon's affection level towards Tae Myung Ha goes from -99 to 1 gave me the title: 'From -20 to 100, possible setbacks don't matter... only progress'.
Since the early days of cinema, the industry has constantly sought new ways to captivate audiences. In recent decades, video games, like esports news, have emerged as a powerful and exciting form of entertainment.
This convergence between cinematographic art and video games has led to the creation of films and series that explore the theme of virtual worlds and immersive experiences.
Since 'Tron', directed by Steven Lisberger in 1982, considered the pioneering film in the world of cinematic virtual reality, until today, many film and television productions transport viewers to a digital world, where the characters are literally transported inside a videogame.
'House of the Dead', 2003; 'Alone in the Dark', 2005; 'Doom' (2005), 'Super Mario Bros' (1993), Nintendo, 'Mortal Kombat' (1995), 'Street Fighter: The Last Stand' (1994), 'Need for Speed' (2014), 'The Matrix ' (1999), 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World' (2010), 'Wreck-It Ralph' (2012), 'Ready Player One' (2018) and 'Assassin's Creed', are some of them.
The growing popularity of eSports, virtual reality and video games in general provides rich creative terrain for screenwriters, filmmakers and television directors who seek to challenge conventions and offer unique experiences to their audiences, producing films that not only entertain, but They also serve as a reflection of our collective fascination with virtual worlds and the limitless possibilities they offer.
Kim Kyun Ah as director, and Kwon Cho Rong as screenwriter, take us with 'Love for Love's Sake' to explore the theme of video games and virtual reality.
This Korean drama in which genres such as romance, BL and fantasy come together, tells the story of Tae Myung Ha (Lee Tae Vin), a 29-year-old young man who is transported inside a video game.
Our protagonist enjoys reading a novel written by his Sunbae (Senior). He prefers secondary characters more than protagonists. “Why is Cha Yeo Woon the only miserable one?” you will ask the writer. Not liking the answer, he will state: “The fact that some people are destined to live a miserable life is what is vile.” “So, would you change your life for that of the character?” the novelist asks him.
Upon awakening, Tae Myung Ha experiences a disconcerting twist of fate when he suddenly finds himself transported to a fictional online game in the body of a nineteen-year-old character. He has fallen into "Love for Love's Sake", a video game based on the novel written by his Sunbae.
In this way he embarks on an adventure within the virtual world in which he must fulfill a mission: bring happiness to the student Cha Yeo Woon, his favorite character in the literary work. In the darkest moment of his life, he needs to make Cha Yeo Woon happy or face dire consequences.
A translucent window that constantly appears in front of him will give him game instructions. He will only have 300 days to achieve his goal, otherwise death will be his punishment. Can he survive, protect his favorite person and accomplish his mission?
Tae Myung Ha will wonder: if I was not happy before starting the game, how can I make Cha Yeo Woon happy? Will the game play out completely differently than the novel? How will it end?
Despite being an athlete with relevant results in athletics championships and having a very attractive appearance, Cha Yeo Woon has lived in poverty and maintains a humble attitude. He will see his life turn upside down when he starts interacting in the virtual world with Tae Myung Ha.
Cheon Sang Won (Oh Min Su), a high school student from a wealthy family, becomes emotionally entangled with Tae Myung Ha. His involvement adds complexity to the developing relationship between Tae Myung Ha and Cha Yeo Woon.
Another character in the series is Ahn Kyung Hoon (Woong Gi). This young man, introverted and reserved, supports and helps Tae Myung Ha in his mission within the virtual world.
The Korean BL series 'Love for Love's Sake' (Yeonae Jisangju-eui Guyeok), also known as 'Love Supremacy Zone', is a drama adaptation based on the webtoon of the same name written by Aquram and Hwacha and illustrated by Kkokku.

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Concerted alliances: common practice of the time recreated in the film

After Sundown is a 2023 Thai film by prolific director, screenwriter, producer and actor Aod Bhandit Thongdee, which aptly combines the genres of horror, supernatural mystery and romance in a creative narrative and a certain historical period. In this way, Thongdee weaves multiple threads with admirable balance and skill.
The film delicately captures the vintage elegance and glamor of the 60s of the last century. The decoration, the costumes, the hairstyle, the scenery enhance the work in that sense. The script is based on the novel "Dap Saeng Rawi".
Rawee (NuNew Chawarin Perdpiriyawong) is a 21-year-old young man who lives a humble, folksy lifestyle. Raised in Aytthaya by his grandfather, the monk Chantakorn (War Jirawat Vachirasarunpatra), he accepts the invitation of Parit (Nu Surasak Chaiat), a generous patriarch of a wealthy family, to live in the city. Chantakorn sees in the invitation the possibility of a better life for his grandson, as well as the opportunity for him to continue his studies, and encourages him.
In his new home, Rawee will soon experience terrifying visions and strange nightmares. Every night he is tormented by the presence of supernatural beings. It will soon become clear that Rawee is the only victim of whatever is lurking and lurking in the house. The question arises from the first bars of the plot: why does he suffer these spooky hallucinations?
In addition to Parit, his son Patchara (Tao Adisorn Athagrisna) and his daughter-in-law Pimpila (Meenay Jutai) live in the rich mansion. The couple has a 25-year-old son, Phloeng (Zee Pruk Panich). This is an entrepreneur dedicated to the family business. Phloeng's parents believe their son is cursed.
According to a prophecy, Phloeng will suffer serious misfortunes during that year. Unless an auspicious event occurs, he is destined to spend the rest of his life alone. Your salvation lies in finding your soul mate as soon as possible. This must meet certain requirements: It is not necessary to get married. It is enough to unite their destinies. His age must be an odd number and not older than 25 years, he must have been born outside Phra Nakhon and it is not mandatory to go looking for him, as the indicated person will come to meet Phloeng.
Rawee meets all the criteria and turns out to be the ideal candidate to be Phloeng's soulmate. The proposal is made by Parit himself after knowing the prediction. But it conveys a doubt: don't Phloeng's parents care that they are men? They both agree that if Rawee can save Praphloeng from misfortune they have no objection.
The meeting of the young people could not be more unfortunate. As Rawee cycles through the city, he collides with the arrogant Phloeng, who is returning home from abroad by car, after being called to return home and seal his fate by joining his soulmate. Class and cultural differences will hinder the relationship of the two. Phloeng does not miss the opportunity to belittle Rawee and accuse him of seeking to get his hands on his grandfather's fortune. Rawee is not daunted. In the face of threats and accusations, he responds with pride, haughtiness and a good dose of mischief, leaving Phloeng without resources to respond. The grumpy servant Pudsorn (Namping Napatsakorn Pingmuang) takes it upon himself to annoy and make life miserable for Rawee.
Phloeng, a modern young man for his time, is not superstitious and is skeptical of his relatives' proposal. Refusing to be a stranger's soulmate, he finally accepts the agreement to calm the fears of those close to him. For her part, Parit asks Rawee for understanding after explaining the misfortune that would befall the family if he did not agree. It is then the young man's time to return the favor to his benefactor. A very common practice at the time, especially in rural areas and provincial cities, was to establish alliances agreed upon by the members of two families, beyond social origins, ages of the couple and other aspects.
The film shows a practice that is still common today in various regions of the world, including Southeast Asia, such as consensual marriage, in which the couple has allowed outsiders to bring them together.
Under these conditions of a consensual marriage to ward off misfortune and in the midst of growing tensions between the two young people, on the one hand, and the terrifying visions that Rawee suffers, on the other, Phloeng becomes engaged to Rawee. But he sets a condition: if after six months the relationship between the two does not deepen, he will cancel the arrangement. They both reluctantly accept the compromise.
To comply with the rules and avoid misfortune, they must remain under the same roof after sunset. The discomfort they feel being close to each other is evident. However, Rawee will soon discover that his nightmares disappear whenever he is around Phloeng. The approach and subsequent romantic commitment of young people is inevitable. We will soon discover that they are both united by deeper ties than an arranged alliance could ever weave.
Let's add as positive features a fascinating narrative, the combination of genres, the historical period as a unique added detail, the impressive images, the majestic landscapes, especially the lake, and the elegant atmosphere.
The film offers conclusive answers about the origins of the ghost that haunts Rawee. Music contributes to the development of the plot and fulfills its function as a vehicle to tell the story.
Positive: The movie seems unpredictable. The viewer is not able to foresee what will happen next. The level of intrigue, suspense and surprising twists for almost two hours. Solid performances, especially from the leads. Passionate and healthy chemistry between the two main actors. Tender gay love scenes.
Negative: Little exploration of the historical and cultural context of the 60s of the last century. Weak character development. Poor construction of the supernatural. Inefficient characterization of the characters, hence the viewer's poor understanding of their personalities and life stories.
The characters, both from the script and the staging and from the performances of the protagonists, are built with so much love and delicacy that the film is irresistible even in its most obvious moments. It may not do anything revolutionary with the gay initiation genre, but it is emotional and honest.
If you are looking to be entertained with a supernatural movie with suspenseful plots and surprising twists, After Sundown is a good option.

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The alternate universe and BL romance

Have you wondered if there are parallel universes in which Israel does not invade and colonize Palestine and its peoples were like brothers, each within their own borders, or the small, sovereign, rebellious and heroic Cuba is the one that imposes a genocidal blockade? economic, commercial and financial to the United States? Science is not willing to deny the possibility that there may be other realities parallel to ours in which things happen differently, but, for now, that only exists in film and television.
Our own universe is limited by the laws of physics, but when it comes to shows and movies, these rules can be bent and broken to create parallel universes and alternate realities where the possibilities are endless and the impossible is no longer impossible. Therefore, by managing to blur the boundaries between fiction and reality and, as a result, they leave us with great innovative stories, characters and incredible worlds that make us want to explore them, while testing the limits of our own mind.
The creators of 'Why R U' know this, who to curl the curl of their delirium of poetic science fiction and BL romance, decided to present a parallel reality in this 2020 Thai romantic series, to, through the multiverse, explore the possibility of getting to know a character in a million different ways, changing stories and destinies, correcting contexts, offering second chances or simply playing with our minds, with the aim of achieving an addictive and entertaining product.
Imagine waking up one day in a dramatic world written by your sister in which everything has become completely opposite to reality: your best friend is in love with his archenemy... and your lover is your nemesis.
In his personal vision and a distinctive style in his own cinematographic process, director Cheewin Thanamin Wongskulfat proposes the aforementioned synopsis to bring us a romantic comedy that revolves around two main couples, those made up of Tutor (Saint Suppapong Udomkaewkanjana) and Fighter ( Zee Pruk Panich), and Saifah (Jimmy Karn Kritsanaphan) and Zon (Tommy Sittichok Pueakpoolpol).
Intimacy, love, self-discovery, acceptance, sexual diversity, the search for happiness and coming of age, are some of the themes that the series explores through the dynamics of the characters, achieving hilarious scenes unique to the series. Thai drama, as well as intense, tender, romantic and dramatic moments, which are also inherent to the entertainment industry of that Southeast Asian nation.
The development of rivalry to friendship and from this to romance is one of the hooks to attract the public in Thai BL, and on this occasion it does not fail, despite the fact that the story of the alternative reality suffers some setbacks. along the way, or the poor development of events and secondary characters, especially Zon's friends, whose roles and performances, as comic relief, contribute little to the story.
With good, genuine performances and competent direction, the cinematography and scenery are surprisingly valuable. But the script falters at times. Perhaps I'm being too harsh, given all the Covid-19 production and post-production issues during the filming of the series, and the obvious hasty script rewrites.
The final episode is one of the great demonstrations of terrible writing. It rushes to the end of the series without anything interesting to say or show. And it's unfortunate, because the central story of the alternate reality has a lot of potential. It is right there, in those failures, when the creators try in their efforts to make the public understand when they are facing the real world and when they are facing the alternative reality, that all the cheesy clichés of the BL genre are incorporated, and the good work ends. , while satire and romantic comedy are left to their own devices.
The four main characters are introduced at the very beginning of the series through a dream sequence. In it, our main character, Zon, discovers that his best friend, Tutor, is in a relationship with his archenemy Fighter. But his astonishment increases when, suddenly, he discovers that his adversary Saifah approaches him and begins to show him affection, which obviously causes him to reject him and, scared, flee.
And at this point the series incorporates a component rarely used in Thai series: animation. Zon will continue his dream through the use of this film technique, allowing Cheewin to show a new facet as a director, since directing live action and animation films requires similar skills but results in very different experiences for the director, because although the task consists of direct the project in terms of its story, soundtrack, cast, costumes, special effects and editing, both types of productions have their determining characteristics.
But this will not be the only novelty, as the series has another big surprise in store for us, when Zon has hallucinations that involve several very popular BL characters. We are then fully introduced into a parallel universe.
Saifah is a very popular musician who frequently engages in pranks with his college friends. One of his most frequent pranks is playing pranks on Zon, so the two always end up involved in a fight every time they meet, in public or private.
For his part, Zon is a shy, but opinionated online science fiction writer. Much to his chagrin, his younger sister, Zol, maintains a vlog in which she writes and publishes successful BL novels whose characters are based on real people.
When Zon discovers that Zol is writing a BL story about his imaginary relationship with his nemesis Saifah, he insists that he delete them. She shamelessly asks him to swear that he has no feelings for Saifah, knowing beforehand about the two's accidental kiss during a fight. Zon hesitates to answer honestly, but swears anyway. And this is your mistake? His obvious lie throws him into an alternate BL universe, where Zol's boy romance story seems to come true.
Fighter and Tutor make up the other main couple. Tutor is an intelligent and wise engineering student who acts rationally. His family, once rich, now lives broke. To pay off his parents' debt and support himself financially, Tutor accepts several part-time jobs, including at a coffee shop near the university and his tutoring classes.
For his part, Fighter is an arrogant, emotional and aggressive final year student of the same major, who from the very first day he meets Tutor, when he goes to him to obtain his signature in that absurd process of welcoming students, New entrants to Thai universities, thanks to a misunderstanding, begin to treat each other with coldness and animosity.
Like Zon and Saifah, the relationship between Fighter and Tutor begins with contempt and eternal arguments, only to discover their true feelings for each other.
Their approach, both physical and emotional, begins to occur when Hwahwa, Tutor's childhood best friend, convinces Fighter to hire Tutor for private English classes that will help one to pass the subject and the other to improve. their economic position.
Between tutoring classes, Fighter discovers Tutor's personality and internal struggles. And what is expected happens, especially if we take into account that both look at each other with lust from the very first day they met.
Although everything seems to be going well for the couple and their relationship seems fluid and tender, both will face challenges and their love will be tested on more than one occasion. While the scene in which Tutor kisses Fighter's Adam's apple is considered one of the rawest, most beautiful scenes seen in a BL drama, Fighter's confrontation with his father when he discovers his son's romantic relationship with a boy, is without a doubt the most dramatic scene in the series. Tutor will be ordered to abandon the romance and leave Fighter alone.
Fortunately, both boys have friends, who will help them stay together and accept the challenges imposed by a society in which, despite homosexuality being legal, gay marriage and homosexual relationships are not recognized, and all those behaviors, Sexual preferences and identities that transgress the social regime and are outside of it - as is the case of lesbian women, gay men, transsexual and transgender people - occupy a marginal situation within the heteronormative system and are therefore discriminated against. , made invisible and persecuted through different mechanisms.
Both Tong and Hswahwa, Tutor's sister and best friend, respectively, will be among the people who encourage the couple. The first will be in charge of encouraging Fighter to follow his heart and love bravely. For their part, Zon and Saifah will also contribute to Fighter's father finally accepting the two young people's relationship.
Another moment to remember is the scene where Fighter and Tutor get into a fight that completely annihilates the former. Without going into more details so as not to give away too many spoilers, anyone who has seen the series will know exactly which scene I am referring to, but it would be correct to add that this is not the only occasion in which Zee and Saint show the talent of the two actors.
For Saifah and Zon, the innocence of their relationship is maintained so well throughout the series. To their surprise, Zon and Saifah have been chosen to perform at the university concert as a duo. Initially, they are unwilling to share the stage, but, forced by circumstances, both begin regular practices on campus and at Saifah's house. And this is how the romance between the two begins.
Of note are two moments of the couple: the torrential rain scene under which both boys begin to run holding hands, and the pajama party after which Saifah develops an interest in Zon.

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Dismantling the myth of a teacher-student relationship with the particularity of being a gay romance

From Nabokov's Lolita, in which a forty-year-old professor becomes obsessed with a twelve-year-old girl, to Bernard Schlink's The Reader, where a student falls in love with an almost forty-year-old woman, passing through The Dying Animal, the novel by Philip Roth that tells the story of a sixty-year-old critic and renowned professor who becomes involved with a 24-year-old intern, the bond between teacher and student is written in fire in literature.
Film and television are not far behind in telling a love story between the master and his disciple. Asian series generally have a fun way of approaching love. When it comes to stories that have a secondary school or university as a background, they do not always show romance between students, because upon discovering this feeling some may develop a crush with their teachers.
The stories range from one-sided infatuations to those in which teacher and disciple meet again years later and it is then that they can begin a relationship. However, there are others in which some decide to take the risk and start a romance in the middle of the classroom, the school hallways and, why not?, in the gym. The latter is the case of the Japanese romantic comedy 'Sahara-sensei and Toki-kun', from 2023.
From director Shibata Keisuke Sukiyanen (who also directed 'Kedo Do Yaro ka', 'Nare no Hate no Bokura', 'Yukionna to Kani wo Kuu', 'Rokuhodo Yotsuiro Biyori' and 'Waltz of Turtle', among many more, the series tells the romantic relationship of Toki-kun (Hachimura Rintaro), the rebellious 17-year-old student at a Japanese high school, and his handsome Physical Education teacher, three years older. The former only needed a fraction of a second to fall in love.
With the minimum age of sexual consent met, according to the legislation of his native country, and close to reaching his majority, love makes Toki-kun grow. That student always involved in fights and absent from classes stops looking for problems and his life takes a 180 degree turn to give way to a totally different person. He will be the first to arrive to the classroom, he studies hard and participates in all curricular and extracurricular activities. He is guided by a single objective: to attract the attention of his beloved instructor Sahara-sensei (Kizu Takumi).
The person in charge of adapting the manga to television is the screenwriter Miura Yuiko, also the author of works such as 'Ultraman Geed', 'The Sango Ranger', 'Screaming Class' and 'Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo', among others.
What do 'Sahara-sensei To Toki-Kun' and the series 'Big', from 2012, have in common; 'A gentleman's Dignity', 2012; 'My Rommate Gumiho', 'Hello Mr. Right', 2016; 'Hello, My Teacher', 2005; 'Teacher Monarch', 2018; 'Somewhere Only We Know', from 2019; 'Doctors', from 2016; 'Sensei', from 2017; 'Tunnel of Love: The Place For Miracles', 2015; 'Thorn', from 2014; 'My Rainy Days', 2009; 'Close Range Love', 2014; 'My Little Bride', 2004; 'High School Teacher', 2003; 'Flower Boy Ramyun Shop', 2011; 'Doctor Crush', 2016; 'Exclusive Memory', from 2019; 'Secret Love Affair', 2014; 'A Story To Read When You First Fall In Love', 2019; 'Daytime Shooting Star', 2017; 'I'm Sam', 2007; 'Met Me After School', from 2018, among others?
All of them raise the teacher-student love relationship as a theme and view it from various points of view. But there is a decisive factor that differentiates them: while these latest television productions narrate a heterosexual romance, 'Sahara-sensei To Toki-kun' addresses a gay love.
This 8-episode series debunks the myth of the romance between teacher and student. The program at no time plays with the viewer. It doesn't give them false expectations. Let no one think that they are facing the umpteenth story of forbidden love between a teacher and the teenage schoolboy. There are no first kisses or secret sexual encounters here. There is no rape or pedophilia here. Here we are not in the presence of sexual abuse of minors disguised as falling in love.
We witness a pure, sincere and innocent love, even clumsy. As the chapters progress, it's easy to forget the age difference between the two. The story encourages you to accompany them in that sincere passionate and tender love. They will soon confess their love for each other. Communication is quickly established and they face problems together.
Who has never known love before, much less in a man, sighs every time she has classes with Sahara-sensei. He looks for him in the hallways or in his office that he shares with other teachers. You need to see him, be by his side. And for this he will look for a thousand pretexts. He waits after school or in the morning when he arrives at school for the being that seems to him the most attractive, most perfect and most complete in the world. He fantasizes, he dreams about him, he listens to music thinking about him, he walks through the streets with him in his mind. Sharing with the only person who really looks at you and understands you will become your priority. Thus a sincere love arises between these two people who are too pure.
As soon as he discovers love, an antisocial Toki-kun befriends Rise Tatsumasa (Sono Shunta), a student in his same classroom whom he had never paid attention to before; Todo Shinji (Matsumoto Hiroki), a third-year student and friend of Sahara who is assigned to be Toki's tutor; and Todo Takuya (Momose Takumi), Shinji's foster brother. Although less interesting because it is not developed well, there will also be a romantic bond between these last two boys.
The love of the two protagonists will be tested when Nekoto Minato (Hori Kaito), whom Sahara-sensei declared her love for when they were both studying at the same school years ago, returns to take over as teacher and claims that she also loved him since then, but he did not have the courage to recognize it and today it is ready.
Is the temptation of the forbidden the driving force behind Sahara-sensei and Toki-kun? Is it the idea of ​​a forbidden relationship that generates the fantasy of being able to sexually possess something taboo? Is the possibility of being discovered what motivates you? Is this a love with an expiration date because once the “hidden” is overcome, one falls into normality and from there to boredom? Is the intention to challenge the norm the main characteristic of your relationship? Perhaps it is the desire to control, to exercise power, an emotional need or seeking to make an illusion come true that moves them?
From Toki-kun's point of view: Could it be an attraction out of admiration and curiosity? Will your interest be in possessing something from your teacher, such as his or her knowledge and skills?
From Sahara-sensei's point of view, is what he feels is basic sexual attraction or the pride of feeling important and admired by his student? Is feeling that attraction from your disciple exciting to you from a sexual and emotional point of view, since it is a strong validation?
Are we facing a power relationship? Will Toki seek to take advantage of the person who has more power? Is the need to control the situation when the matter is complex the factor that generates this relationship? Will it be difficult for an athletic, runner and fighter like Toki-kun to pass the Physical Education subject? Should the teacher avoid a loving bond with the person he loves? Is the solution to postpone the relationship until the student reaches the age of majority and is no longer under the “shadow” of the teacher? Will this relationship have a future? Is it just desire or a fantasy and will it eventually die? Will it prosper and become a lifelong romance, as the two young people have vowed?
The protagonist, a boy who is not at all insecure and with very high self-esteem, very mature for his age, is not a victim, and takes charge of his actions until the end. Knowing that he is in love, he is able to acknowledge his love to his friends and classmates, despite living in a society where homosexuality is illegal. That confession will define him.
For her part, Sahara-sensei is not the archetype of the manipulator. He is a serious and responsible adult. He is aware of his strengths and weaknesses. He shows that he knows his physical and moral limits when he resigns from being the advisor of the Swimming Club, a position for which he was proposed, or when he stops swimming due to a fracture in his spine.
He admits to being afraid of losing the trust of others. His personality, sensible and calm, becomes one of the most rational, balanced and endearing in the BL universe.
He conveys the feeling of being a friendly, unique, wise older brother. He respects Toki-kun, gives him his space and freedom of decision.
The relationship is based on mutual respect, trust and friendship. There is healthy communication and complicity between the two. Everyone is happy with the person who is next to them. They both feel valued and their limits are respected, both physical, emotional and sexual. In other words, Sahara-sensei and Toki-kun fit perfectly into the relationship established by them. They complement each other.
There is no morbidity or adrenaline in the actions of either of them. Their brilliant performances elevate the story and make the characters much more interesting and fascinating to watch. Both actors are capable of transmitting feelings and emotions naturally. Hachimura Rintaro and Kizu Takumi's outstanding performances have delicacy, subtlety and depth
As for the relationship between Toki and Sahara being unhealthy because it is a relationship in which one has power over the other, as one is a student and the other is his teacher, nothing could be further from the truth. The two agree to wait for each other. What are you waiting for? Why don't you give free rein to your love? Why don't they kiss in the corners of the school or in the park, away from it? Why don't they have sex in a hotel room, if they both want each other? Wouldn't theirs be consensual sex? Isn't Toki 17 years old? Don't the laws in Japan set the age of sexual consent at 17? Isn't that an age when kids fantasize about sex all day? Isn't that the age at which you dream of losing your virginity, if you haven't already? What then prevents them from loving each other freely?
They both wait for Toki to finish graduating from the Institute and go to the University to be an “adult” and thus be able to help Sahara in a life together, as the young boy stated to his lover.
The series even goes as far as NOT to violate their relationship, when the agreement to wait for each other is NOT sealed with a kiss, with sensual hugs, with genuine expressions of love, as anyone would expect. They sealed it with a fist bump and a smile on their lips. That is the purpose of the series: we are NOT faced with a power relationship. The teacher does NOT exercise any authority over the student nor does the student take advantage of obtaining possible advantages from the teacher to the detriment of the rest of the students.
In the final moments, Nekoto will reveal to Sahara that she always loved him, but she refused to be his boyfriend because she did not want to be a burden on him, since Sahara was destined to be a star swimmer and fear that a relationship with him would obstruct her future.
Learning the truth from Nekoto himself will allow Sahara to heal her still open wounds. Sahara can now close a page of pain in her life that meant rejecting her love for the man she loved. Now Sahara can be happy with Toki because Nekoto's ghost will no longer haunt him.
This revelation opens up a range of possibilities for Sahara between rescuing her relationship with someone she knows well, of the same age, someone with whom she shares beautiful memories and indestructible ties, on the one hand, and, on the other, with a new love like Toki. As we could see, Sahara chose Toki. Sahara distinguished the person he loves today above the person he loved in the past, despite the latent age difference, or that one is a minor or the teacher-student relationship. This contributes to debunking the myth of teacher-student romance.
The Japanese use kintsugi as a perfect metaphor for resilience because not only is the damaged piece of pottery repaired, but even it becomes more beautiful, stronger and more valuable. This centuries-old technique consists of reassembling ceramic pieces that have broken or developed cracks with resin mixed with gold dust.
Toki-kun becomes a potter who heals Sahara-sensei's wounds through kintsugi. The professor sees himself as a heartbroken person. He needs to get over falling out of love. The student becomes the new love that repairs the broken pieces of the teacher's life with golden strips to make it stronger, more resilient. I do not doubt that in his thoughts, Sahara-sensei asks Toki-kun not to abandon him, since without him he will once again feel empty, destroyed, hollow. A person in these circumstances gives themselves to their loved one with devotion. I would never hurt her. I would never try to lie to you, manipulate you, hurt you.
Regardless of the possible interpretations, what there is no doubt about is the ability of the director and screenwriter to dismantle a myth, give other causes to the theme of homosexuality in dramas, make the BL genre thunder, shake it up. , wake him up and dress him long in fine and new clothing, due to both the effectiveness and the organicity with which the creators integrate an entire arsenal of romantic cinema resources into the narrative.

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Two opposite poles, an unlikely romance, an unexpected union

From the first scene, 'Wandee Goodday' makes viewers fall in love with it. In a beautiful, dimly lit room, a young orthopedic surgeon seeks to ease the pain of having been rejected by his platonic love... by having sex with a virtual stranger.
Wandee, the name of the risky and irreverent protagonist of the Thai series of the romantic comedy genre with an LGBT+ theme, after being rejected decides to go crazy and drink away his sorrow. Drunk, on his way home, he meets Yoryak (Gigante), a Muay Thai fighter, and decides to propose to him to have revenge sex. Wandee and Yoryak spend a passionate night together, after which they agree to become friends with benefits.
However, things change when Wandee lies to her colleagues and tells them that she is dating someone. As the official synopsis points out, Wandee then asks Yoryak to pretend to have a romantic relationship with him for four months. The couple goes from being friends with benefits to being fake boyfriends, but little by little, their relationship transforms into something much more meaningful and substantial. Moments of emotional connection, in addition to the physical connection that already exists between the two, will allow you to develop deep feelings.
The fuse of the series lights at a good speed through a give and take of more or less witty replies and counterreplies. The quick transition from scene to scene makes BL lovers jump for joy.
Inn Sarin Ronnakiat ('Miracle of Teddy Bear') and Great Sapol Assawamunkong ('Manner of Death'), in the roles of Wandee and Yoryak, respectively, star in this series in which the limits of love and friendship are not at all clear. The audiovisual promises that between sexual appointments, the doctor and the fighter will experience a rollercoaster of emotions, dramas and personal crises. And this is exactly what viewers expect.
Seeing both actors in action is super hot, and yes, the story tells us that love comes even if you are not looking for it, even better! They are both single and meet after one of them gets drunk, have sex and decide to repeat it several more times without any commitment. But who wouldn't fall in love with them?
Not being emotionally available is the excuse that many people use to start a strictly sexual relationship, but what if your heart really wants something else? That is not the worst scenario for Wandee, but the fact of having run into Yoyak, a boy who will soon be open to taking the relationship to another level.
The always necessary figure of the "killjoy" does not take long to appear, this time assumed by Ter Kawin, played by Pod Suphakorn Sriphothong ('Dark Blue Kiss'), the attractive, serious and responsible doctor, who after rejecting Wandee for considering that he is "too vanilla" for his taste, he has come to the conclusion that Yoryak is a bad influence on Wandee, and that he does not deserve to be with someone as good as him, so he will try to separate them, causing problems and discord between the three.
Golf Tanwarin Sukkhapisit, the non-binary actress, filmmaker, writer and politician, directs this tongue-in-cheek comedy adapted from Nottakorn's novel Y 'Wandee Witthaya', with a slight title change by GMMTV.
Characterized by an attractive visuality in its artistic conception, the series surprises us with something more than just a new ship. Because, I can't hold back: what chemistry between Inn and Great. Because if the series manages to surpass others in the romantic comedy genre, part of the blame lies with these two actors in an absolute state of grace. The romantic and sexual vibrations between its characters immediately infect the most cautious viewer, creating a strong empathy with protagonists infinitely better written than the secondary ones.
The verbal humor and the witty retorts and counter-replies that they throw at each other are fabulous. Added to this is the restless and aggressive air of Bangkok, which seduces the viewer, with the background music, the crowds, the monks walking the streets, the historical monuments, the social and cultural landscape of the days and nights of the capital thai, and the boxing matches that promise action and scenes of pure adrenaline.
But to the magic of addressing another historical, social and cultural context, is added the literary basis that inspired Yokee Apirak Chaipanha, who has been an ally of Golf on multiple occasions, to once again put a text with his name in his hands to be brought to the screen.
In addition, other series by the renowned director are also represented in one way or another, including 'Our Skyy 2', 'Moments of Love', 'The Eclipse', 'The Bedtime Story'. Golf's narrative fiction and its recurring themes, such as sexual diversity, the complexity of homosexual characters, family relationships, sex, and others, are mixed with Thai authenticity, both in the boxing ring and in consultations and rooms. surgical rooms of the hospital where Wandee works, as well as in her cozy home, all main settings of the series.
At the same time, other attractive stories take place, such as that of Plakao (Drake Sattabut Laedeke), known for his participation in other BL, such as 'Bad Buddy', an interesting character who, in addition to being Wandee's friend, is a person who does not want experience sexual contact with other boys.
Likewise, the story of O-ye and Cherry, Yoyak's brother and coach, and her boyfriend will be interesting, an always-awaited second couple that increases tensions and conflicts, roles assumed by Thor Thinnaphan Tantui ('The Warp Effect') and Fluke Nattanon Tongsaeng ('Ai Long Nhai'), respectively.
The cast includes AJ Chayapol Jutamas as Ohm, Ployphach Phatchatorn Thanawat as Taemrak and Emi Thasorn Klinnium as Khwan.
The nuances of these and other secondary characters, all good actors and actresses in their respective roles, will be discovered as the episodes progress. Her performances, along with those of the main protagonists, the locations, and that tone that the director knows how to give to the story, is what makes 'Wandee Goodday' a series that could have been excessive and routine, becomes a pleasant, fun, entertaining and very addictive product.
It's true, 'Wandee Goodday is not the height of originality. Nor does it intend to provide a definitive anthropological approach to friendship and love relationships. I highly doubt that he intends to change television. It's not in their plans. But from the little that I have been able to appreciate up to this moment, it seeks to contribute something to the romantic comedy genre, and I mean to be natural and realistic, without completely renouncing romanticism, but without falling completely into the ordinary and vulgar.
I liked how the series set out to achieve what many others of the same genre do not achieve, which is to talk like people today, do the things that people today do and relate like people today do. It is this naturalness that gives Thai drama the freshness it needs to be credible, the freshness that any comedy would need. Its script and editing become true weapons in favor of the story and its tone, something that is appreciated.
And as I have already said in some way, the great success of 'Wandee Goodday' is its leading couple. In the same way we expect special effects to work in a science fiction series; or that true emotions are what drive a drama, for a romantic comedy to be crowned with applause from the public and critics, its couple has to be credible, compelling, with chemistry. And Great and Inn deliver here exceptionally. The weight of the series falls entirely on their complicity and the nuances of their relationship, something that these two actors do with indisputable charm and charisma.
The series is just beginning. We will have to closely follow Wandee and Great, who promise to make us laugh and cry with their love dilemmas, but above all make us reflect on whether there is that person who stays with you through thick and thin, even if at first it seems like just a game .
Because, in addition to entertaining, the series confirms that even when there is no commitment in a relationship, there are attitudes and actions that generate intimacy and emotional ties between two people despite not wanting it, resulting in uncontrollable love. Open relationships can be chaotic, but some have happy endings, so don't stop believing.
We are faced with an unbeatable example that two people can have an open relationship and later fall in love. So don't lose hope if you have a friend with benefits. Whoever said that starting a relationship with sex is wrong is wrong.
But now that I think about it, 'Wandee Goodday' is not exactly a story about friends with benefits. Although it all begins with a sexual encounter, the relationship between Wandee and Yoyak is about the power of destiny and the way it manages to bring two people together.

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A series to sink our fangs and leave us bloodless

Vampires have been a fascination in both film and television. These beings have flooded literature and horror films and series, given the mystery and fascination that the public has felt for them. It is normal if we take into account that these mysterious and seductive subjects sleep in coffins, feed on the blood of their victims and cannot stand sunlight, among other attractive qualities for the public.
Film and television have also witnessed various versions of vampires who have developed a homosexual love relationship, such as the one between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt giving life to Lestat and Louis, respectively, in 'Interview with the Vampire' (1994). ), by Neil Jordan, based in turn on the 'Vampire Chronicles' saga (1976-2014) by Anne Rice, in which various characters alternate with intense homoerotic content.
As a symbol of transgressive and predatory sexuality, homosexuality in vampirism has been used as a cinematographic resource. Already in 19th century literature, it was present to show the vampire as a metaphor for homosexuality where "the undead" is a creature that appears human but must hide its true nature to avoid rejection and persecution from the society that surrounds it. . Television series have contributed to reconfiguring the figure of the vampire.
As a type of literature aimed at a homosexual audience developed during the 20th century, the vampire lost its transgressive sexuality as part of its predatory nature, and homosexuality became just another feature of it, without a clear difference from the homosexuality.
Male vampire homosexuality appears directly reflected for the first time as a comic element in 'The Fearless Vampire Killers' (1967), by Roman Polanski, where the first gay vampire on film appears, the effeminate son of Count Von Krolock.
On television, vampire homosexuality has appeared very occasionally. The main vampire and gay-themed television series is 'The Lair', produced by here! in 2007, a work that is aimed mainly at a homosexual audience.
For its part, the Chilean horror and romance soap opera 'Conde Vrolok', written by Pablo Illanes and produced by Televisión Nacional de Chile in 2009, shows one of its characters, Úrsula Donoso, having lesbian relationships with several women in the plot. .
The American dark fantasy horror television series 'True Blood', produced and created by Allan Ball and based on 'The Southern Vampire Mysteries', a series of novels by Charlaine Harris, features vampiric lesbianism in the figures of vampires Pam de Beaufort and Sophie-Anne Leclerq.
Along with GMMTV's 'My Golden Blood', 'My God! Vampire, Very Good' and 'The Vampire Project', from Studio Wabi Sabi, '1000 Years Old' tells a vampire-themed story.
Something in common that the aforementioned titles have with each other is that their premise is to intrigue and entertain the public with strong doses of mystery and action with a mix of a captivating supernatural plot and a love story between boys.
The series, which makes no apologies for its queerness with enough content of a homosexual vampire loving a boy, gives off strong homoerotic vibes to please all fans of the genre.
The drama, which depicts a blossoming romance between a vampire who has lived for almost a thousand years and a human, marks the return of Nutchapol Cheevapanyaroj (Shane) in a BL, now as the main protagonist, after 'My Engineer' (2020). He is joined by promising rookie actor Kritsapatorn Napawiwattanaku (Opal), who makes his debut in a drama and does so in a genre in which he can show off his artistic talent: BL.
From the first episode it can be seen that the series has proposed giving a supernatural twist to the traditional BL genre, by exploring an unlikely relationship between a vampire and a human.
The tone of comedy is very positive as a key element to expose the story between moments of humor and others of romance, while the characters face the unique challenges that this dynamic brings.
In this supernatural romance, what will be Yo's reaction when he discovers the truth behind Pun's identity? Will someone try to interfere with their romance? Can love materialize? Will a vampire and a human be able to love each other? Will this love end beautifully and be timeless like the longevity of vampires?
Pun, a mysterious and cool young man, has lived a simple life as an ordinary person. Around him, people are born, grow old and die, and he remains with a face similar to that of a 25-year-old young man. He lives alone in an apartment and rarely goes outside, only to go to a store near his house where he buys pig's blood soup. This is also the favorite restaurant of Yo, a third-year student who also enjoys Pun's favorite dish. This is where the two protagonists will meet.
From the first meeting, both feel a strong connection after introducing themselves with their respective names. From that moment on, they will deepen the bond. Yo begins to know the truth behind Pun: he was actually not a normal human being, but a vampire who had been living in this world for over a thousand years. He will be struck by the fact that his new friend uses the pronoun "I" to refer to himself and calls others by "sir", which is unusual for teenagers these days.
Only I know Pun's well-kept secret, with whom he has begun to open up and trust him with even his own life. Pun did not want to reveal it to anyone else, fearful of what might happen to him if the truth were revealed. Now, why does Pun agree to tell Yo everything? As his feelings for his friend grow stronger, Pun will understand that he wants to grow a love relationship between the two.
Unlike other series about vampires, Champ Weerachit Thongjil's “monster” is the most human and sensitive monster that any viewer will ever encounter. Its creator has let romance arise freely and spontaneously between these two beings totally opposite to each other.
The series does not shy away from intimate moments, both emotional and physical, between our two protagonists.
With this new BL romantic comedy by Champ Weerachit Thongjil, the same director of '2gether The Series', 'Kiss Me Again: Pete-Kao' and 'I Will Knock You', a collaboration project is established between the production companies Feel Good Bangkok and Study H8.
Since the very announcement of '1000 Years Old', fans have been extremely happy for the BL series and are shouting their joy on social media. “The love between the two will be eternal”, “They are both happy” or “This vampire will sink his teeth into you and leave you without blood”, are some of the most striking comments.
Also starring are Mind Sathittha Sinsakhan (as Kaemsai), Looktan Phusanisa Faichaipakdee (Yam), Boy YourMOOD (Chin), Jo Ployukon Rojanakatanyu (Phakwan), Mae Warisara Asawapattanakul (Bowie), Poon Mitphakdee (Chalui), Boss Natthakit Sangwankitruechai (Somchai), Jomjam Kanpitcha Phongphanit (Chanja).

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A story closer to real life than the usual BL and an ode to indie cinema

Hope (Night Yodsakon Khamnang) is a fried dumpling seller. Nine (Kong Chindanai Boonruang) is an actor from the Chiang Mai BL production company, who reluctantly accepts a leading role in a new boy love series. The young man is reluctant to the proposal of York (Sak Kidtisag Makongrach), the director of the company, to be part of a new couple to replace the one formed by the main cast, whose members were forced to abandon the film project after the expiration of their contracts.
The worlds of Hope and Nine intersect when the former parks his sales cart in front of the production company and in one of those turns of life the young people meet. The two begin a journey when they realize that they are united by unexpected and uncontrollable feelings.
I highly value series like 'My Star', from Wayufilm Production, for the same reason that others will surely deny it: good execution, level of acting, filming and production, despite its low budget; characters far from the clichés of attractive boys that populate BL series, many of them with nothing to contribute other than their beautiful faces and contoured bodies; simple stories that are much closer to real life, truly passionate actors and a production team in each installment, and a firm determination not to kneel before the giants of the entertainment world with their very common mediocre stories interested only in making money, and whose proposals frequently fail, among other reasons, for not taking their fans seriously.
We are faced with a Thai BL that is not cheesy and unpleasant. The couple has very good chemistry. They are actors who have starred in other projects, such as 'LGBTQ+ Dramas Season 2', 'Our First Time' or 'Midnight Love', among others, and they know each other well.
Furthermore, the editing team chose exceptional music to accompany the miniseries.
I also appreciate the tenacity of the creators to not succumb to the dictates and whims of commercial companies, eager to contribute funds to the production of many BL audiovisuals in exchange for advertising their products, something that we frequently criticize in other series of the genre, thus respecting Wayufilm Production its ethics and principle of being a production company that is committed to indie cinema.
'My Star' can be considered within the name of independent cinema because it has a low budget, is made in more precarious conditions than the so-called official cinema, deals with everyday themes and is closer to the public, lacks mass distribution and, therefore, having fewer possibilities of obtaining large income and being made by a director outside the world of large production companies.
Being able to film without falling into the rigid schemes of the studio system is one of the highest aspirations of every director.
Written and directed by Thai filmmaker Nitchapoom Chaianun, CEO of WayuFilm and founder of MongKlong Studio and GoodJob VDO, 'My Star' joins other dramatized films of his authorship that address issues related to sexuality and gender identity, such as since he debuted with his first short film 'Fresh' (เฟรชเฉิ่ม), in 2006, which was followed by 'Fresh Cool Story 2' (เรื่องเฟรชเฉิ่ม 2).
Determined to delicately portray the diversity of human relationships, dismantling the prevailing stereotypes regarding what is "normal", and contributing to the struggle of Thai LGBT people, Nicchi, as he likes to call himself, has obtained popular recognition with his films and series BL-themed feature films such as the feature film 'My Bromance' (พี่ชาย, RTGS: Phi Chai), 'My Bromance 2: 5 Year Later: The Series', 'My Bromance: Reunion', 'Key Love', 'NightTime', ' The Rain Stories', 'Yantra' (อาถรรพ์ยันต์มหาเสน่ห์), among others.

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