This review may contain spoilers
Good character and relationship development but a couple flaws with the storyline
I was looking forward to this as I am a First fan and I'm happy to see his star is on the rise. He does a very good job in this as do the rest of the cast. I'm also impressed with Khaotung. I've only ever seen him on 1000 stars before, but his character in that series was not particularly prominent. However in this series he and First shine together with great chemistry.This series has sort of split my opinion in two, so this review will consist of two parts - what I liked and what I struggled with.
Let's start with what I liked: character development, and build-up of relationships (especially Akk and Aye's).
The relationship between Akk and Aye - Some excellent acting from First and Khaotung to portray this. They brought this relationship to life. Their interactions stood out and came across as natural, flirty, shy, playful and romantic. It's definitely the highlight of this series, and when you watch them interact you get that warm, happy, fuzzy feeling which is nice. I found myself looking forward to their moments and interactions on screen.
Character development - Akk: I liked Akk's complex character and how First portrayed him. A student from a poor rural background taken advantage of by the school with promises. There was conflict within him, torn between his loyalties and the questioning of his own actions. I didn't, however, agree with the creators idea to make him commit such violent and dangerous acts (but more on that further down). That aside, First does a great job, and you can see how his acting skills are continuously improving. He's unafraid to embody the character and comes across naturally. And finally - an actual coming out scene in a BL series for a character.
Character development - Aye: Aye's character development was also nice to see and good work from Khaotung. He underwent a transformation from a melancholic, angry young man not knowing what to do with his rage, sadness and depression, to channelling it with Akk and slowly coming to terms with himself. Like First, Khaotung also does a great job portraying his character. He is playful, flirty, daring, and quite mischievous toward Akk which is fun to watch. Interesting also to note that he is willing to compromise his beliefs and principles to protect Akk.
As always with BL there is usually a second pairing and in this series it was Neo and Louis with Thuan and Khan. Whilst I'm generally not a fan of the "token second relationship", they both did a very good job. AJ as Wat was also good, portraying the struggle between what you want, the expectations of others around you and the pressure you feel when you end up pleasing everyone else apart from yourself.
Now for what I struggled with. This was mainly elements of the underlying storyline with the school - i.e. the curse, the teachers etc. It was trying to incorporate twists and turns and surprises, however, it didn't quite work.
The "hardships" of the students were not elaborated enough for me. Also, the "world remembers" group felt a bit caricaturist. Maybe this may be a case of "lost in translation". I have read snippets of an interview where the director talked about the "rotten Thai educational system". Perhaps the hardships were more obvious to Thai fans.
The curse - I felt there were better ways to show students being intimidated. Students could be bullied, threatened with repercussions, unfairly punished etc. They do this briefly with Aye when he is targeted by the teachers, so I don't see why this could not be done to the others as well. The whole curse thing gets a bit tedious. Someone said it represents religion in Thailand and how it's used to oppress so maybe it just got lost in translation again. Akk committing such violent acts was a over the top. I'm not saying he should've been an angel, him realising the error of his ways and changing is part of the story, but making him into a violent criminal was excessive. Releasing a hand brake to injure (if not kill) unsuspecting students? It's a tad extreme.
Chadok & Dika - They were engaged to marry and buy a house, yet Chadok was oblivious to the fact that Dika had a nephew? It's just hard to believe. Also, if Chadok was a nice guy, why was he being so harsh to students? What was his motivation? I don't quite buy it. We saw a flashback of him being a bully in the past, and this is when the curse started apparently. But then that was not followed through to the present day. Finally he was confronted, cried, admitted to his relationship, said sorry - and that was it? It confused me.
Thua's actions - not entirely sure about the point of his actions? To force the truth? It ruins his character and makes him look like a really crappy friend.
So, the final verdict? I enjoyed the series despite some of the issues - mainly thanks to the focus on the Akk/Aye interactions and their characters. But there were issues with the story itself.
I'm happy that so much investment is going into BL and there has been improvement with better acting and directing. Eclipse is an example of that despite its flaws, but it would greatly benefit the series if a bit more attention was paid to the storyline. It would be a shame if the talent of these young actors gets overlooked by weaknesses in the overall storylines.
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My safe space <3
A poorly written plot saved by an amazing cast with great chemistry and excellent characters and development. Had this show discarded the whole curse story line and instead focused solely on how high school life, pressures and anxieties effects people mentally, it could've been god tier. The plot was just not as fully developed or interesting as the romance and it really lets the whole show down, especially in the first couple of episodes and the last two.But the romance, now that is god tier! AkkAyan are so beautiful, I cannot even describe how they make me feel. Watching them week by week, I can tell you it is one of the most genuine falls in love I’ve ever seen. Their chemistry... their development... the way they saved each other. They literally healed something inside of me and I just love them so much.
Other good aspects of this show was the mental health representation ✅ It really made me feel seen, whether that be through Akk's struggles, or Ayan's anxieties. This show really felt like a safe space for me and provided comfort at the end of a tiring long week.I also really liked the character of Wat. He was really interesting and engaging to me.
Final thing for me to say is that they forgave Thua way too easily and I will never like him :)
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nice watch, even tho there is room for improvement
was one of my fave bls these days mainly bc i like the cast and the whole plot idea.i liked Akk's and Ayan's characters and their relationship, it was generally built at a good speed and especially during the first eps Ayan's teasing and flirting was sooo good i love Khao (the actor) sm. Neo playing a more serious character was interesring too, this man has got the visuals and this series gave some good scenes with him.
the ost is so good, i immediately added it in my spotify list, Khao slayed
the plot could have been better ngl, i was really hoping there would be something supernatural with the eclipse part (i want aye's necklash so bad).
also i rlly enjoyed the whole concept of calling out the higher ups and for fighting for their right to self expression, HOWEVER as pointed by other comments the reasons (uniforms, phones) were a bit weak to take them seriously, but i didnt rlly hate it although it kept being repetitive sometimes.
it had some nice plot twists but they were thrown at us pretty fast so i kinda didnt digest them that well, like Thua making a scene and calling his friends out on one ep and the other one they are back together making a film (?)
it was a nice watch tho, i still like it and appreciate it came out with these actors.
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I really love it
I’ll start off with things I did not really like about this show and then move on to the positivesCons;
1. As someone who went to a private secondary school, I was really baffled as to why school uniforms were such a huge problem within this show. Most, if not every private school, in the world requires their students to wear uniforms and it’s really not a big deal.
2. Also the whole issue with phone use was very nonsensical, for lack of a better word. Why was that even an issue to begin with? There are bigger issues within school systems that could have been touched on, especially within the private school communities.
3. I understand that Akk and Thua were main characters but it felt weird that they got no real punishments for what they did. Some of Akk’s actions were kinda criminal, but we just let it slide? I understand that he understood his wrong doings, but with actions come consequences that he did not receive.
Pros;
1. I really enjoyed Ayan and Akk’s chemistry. It felt very natural and wasn’t something that happened so instantaneously.
2. I love how there was no unnecessary fights between them as well.
3. First and Khaotung did great with portraying their roles. They really are great actors and they really knew how to express their emotions. I was actually in awe with their performances. I cannot wait to see them in Moonlight Chicken.
4. I liked the premise of the entire show. While we could have done so much more with this idea, they did not do a terrible job. There is room for improvement, but there’s no show that’s flawless.
Overall I had a GREAT time watching this show, hence my high rating. The cons were not enough to make this show bad for me at all.
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The acting was great.. Khaofirst deserve another series together. Unmatched chemistry between the two actors. But very much underappreciated. I don't understand why they didn't get a bigger hype up or enough advertisement for this bl.
The sound track was also amazing, I added to my playlist which I havnt done for any other show ost. It was sung by Khao himself and though it takes some time to getting used to it was very nicely done.
You wont be disappointed. So check it out and support the actors.
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Maybe not the plot you expect at first, but absolutely enjoyable and worth it!
This is one of the best BL series of 2022. Of course, it's not perfect, but its strengths definitely outweigh its weaknesses. Personally, I've really enjoyed it, and after watching so many BL series before, this is saying a lot, as I don't feel like I am easy to be impressed. But this series has touched my heart.Being realistic it is true the series has some flaws and especially towards the end everything is a little rushed. If we had had a couple more episodes, some details in the plot could have had a better development. But this is a series with only one sponsor and not many resources, I am correct. Bearing that in mind, things like this can happen I guess. Anyway, I can think of very few series lacking flaws, even the ones I admire the most, it's always easy to find improvable details. Having said that, don't be discouraged, as we come to the last episode we will have satisfying and very good ending!
Regarding the plot, some people were an little disappointed. I understand the reasons. At the beginning, it seems we are going down a certain path and then, expectations are not met for some people. Honestly, I think the plot is good, it has an interesting story, it talks about different kinds of social problems, it criticizes injustice, it takes seriously and respectfully the difficulties of the LGTBIQ+ community and mixes it with a mystery plot that, even if it isn't as elaborate as we initially imagined, it's still interesting and enjoyable. (Please just keep in mind that the whole "uniforms" thing really represents a struggle that goes much further)
Coming to the strongest points of the series I want to talk about the character´s development. If you like stories with well-crafted characters, you should see "The Eclipse." It has so many good interpersonal relationships! Not only in the romantic aspect, but at all levels. All the characters are beautifully and meaningfully connected. All their interactions are tremendously enjoyable to watch.
Regarding the second couple, although it caught my attention less than the first, it made me enjoy a lot with their history and their moments. Neo and Louis have done a great job here. They deserve recognition!
The main couple is what took my breath away the most in this series. It is literally one of the best couples I have ever seen. I fell so in love with their relationship and the two characters that it's hard for me to describe how they make me feel. Akk and Ayan are two realistic and interesting characters, full of details and with important conflicts. The development of their relationship from enemies to lovers is simply a masterpiece. Rarely have I seen such a natural and well-managed development. In addition, the trip that we live with them makes us go through a roller coaster of emotions. Their interactions range from the intense and exciting to the most tender sweetness. The actors did an outstanding job here. First and Khaotung have proven to be excellent actors with overflowing chemistry as well. Right now, they are among my favorite actors.
The entire cast of this series has done a brilliant job. They deserve the recognition and love they are getting. Hopefully in the future they can have many more interesting projects.
In short, if you are hesitating whether to give “The Eclipse” a chance, give it a try! You almost certainly won't regret it. This series really deserves your time!
(Sorry for my bad English, it's not my native language. I tried my best ?)
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Wasted potential
Yes you read that correct "wasted potential".What looked like a mixture of suspense, supernatural and our favourite enemies to lovers troupe from the trailer turned out to be nothing but an empty plot with events so repetitive that it's make you skip the entire episode without you even noticing it.
The premises of the story was somewhat good but the debate about uniforms and social media was so meaningless and stupid that I seriously wanted those protesters to loose and get back to studying.
The first episode depicting the difference in the ideologies of ayan and akk by their actions makes it very interesting on how they will actually fall in love but this as well became heavily disappointing when it actually came due to the lack of development and clarifications. The chemistry between the main leads was no lie amazing but the development towards that part was poorly written.
The supernatural part was also so poorly written that I midway began to doubt if it really is a supernatural series.
Akk's character what I anticipated as a rule respecter but also conflicted about them internally became a let down for me after a revelation which some how I was expecting from a mile away. His sense of duty was over the top which we knew was important for his further studies but it still doesn't justifies what he did.
Ayan on the other hand was supposed to be a smart and cunning Rebel but he too turned out to be nothing but a mourning nephew with mere details in his revolution.
The series overall was a loop of events with accidents happening over and over again and not very compelling interactions between the couples.
The second couple was adorable but they too threw me off with that non consent kiss.
I skipped most of the episodes which really didn't felt like waste as it became dragging without details and story specifications.
Overall a big let down.
The topic was very nice but poorly written and executed.
Watch only if you have nothing to do otherwise skip till you can't find anything to watch.
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Mysterious yet Cute
Honestly one of my all-time favorites. The story was amazing but it was a little bit rushed towards the end . It's suspected to have a second season which I really hope for. The characters were extremely relatable and the chemistry between the actors was very well. Portrayal of certain characters were perfectly done to the point you really feel those emotions the character did. I feel like if it was longer the ending would have been so much better. If you want something that is cute and soft with a great enemies to lovers trope (not cringey or anything) yet is super mysterious and has a pretty good plot twist, I definitely suggest watching it.Was this review helpful to you?
Overall so mild it's almost flavorless
I debated with myself for a long time about whether I enjoyed this series or not. It was definitely entertaining enough for me to finish it, which is a start, and I liked the actors and the effort they put in their roles. The plot, however? It was just so confusing, with excellent ideas scattered in a sea of bad and boring writing, that I still can't decide whether it's just horrible or there's still something good inside.The school is depicted as this horrible and tyrannical place to be in, but I found it hard to identify with the "rebels" as there was no actual element that made me believe it was a horrible place. The only rules I saw being applied were the dress code (everyone must wear school uniforms) and the students not being allowed to use their phones. It just felt like seeing any other school, except that Suppalo brags about being traditional for no real reason other than the plot saying so.
Because of this, the behavior of the students doesn't make much sense. They made some good points in the plot, but the overall context lacks the power to make them feel strong enough. I don't want to spoil anything, but some of the most extreme actions taken by the characters lack the right motivation; on top of it, many of these extreme actions aren't met with the proper reactions or consequences. It felt like the writers just wanted to make me feel agitated no matter what.
The couples are cute and the actors did a good job, but unfortunately I can't say anything more than this.
In conclusion, now that I've watched all the episodes I felt like I watched something, but I can't pinpoint what I watched exactly. I feel disappointed because the trailer felt mysterious and I was curious to see what would this series be about, but apparently the writers don't know either. I don't recommend watching unless you like the actors in it.
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NOW WAIT A DAMN MINUTE
FIRST OF ALL! Yes it is a fact of LIFE that the story for the Eclipse did not give. at all. But can you really lie and say that there was no ROMANCE...? All i hear are crickets. First and Khao managed to take that script, read the most cheasy lines in human history and still deliver one of the best performances of all time. Why? Because they simply could. Because their chemistry is non-debatable. Its a slap in the face, in the sense of " no one will ever look at me like Akk looks at Ayy " . But it makes you happy, because you can just FEEL how much they love each other. 10-10 if you are single and never fell in love. The Eclipse will make you understand how it feels like.On a more serious note, yes, the story was lacking at some points. The curse, Suppalo,the protesters . But its not bad in the sense of " oh no i couldnt even get past the first 5 minutes!!" . As i, and many other people stated, what saved this show was First and Khao. Therefore, if you feel curious, please give it a try! You will not waste your time, this i promise ( and i know i sound biased).
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The Eclipse outshines a lot of other BL series out there
There was a big hullabaloo when this series first released and finally, I got time to binge watch it and this was entertaining to say the least. From a good storyline to outstanding performances, this show certainly deserves a lot of praise.On the onset the show is about a school shrouded in mystery where the students are taught to follow the strict rules and have prefects who are tasked to ensure that there are no issues. But like in every authoritarian system, there are some students who are ready to throw a wrench in to the works. The disturbances are greatly multiplied with the admission of a new student who enters the school to find the reason for his uncle’s suicide. This brings him on a direct conflict with the head prefect. The series is all about discovering the true nature of the school’s rigid policies and the reason for the suicide.
Although the series deals broadly with the issues of authoritarianism that would go to lengths to keep the status quo even to the extent to silencing dissent through harsh punishments, it also tries to tackle the issue of homophobia, discrimination that members of the LGBTQ+ community face in society, stress of school life and self-acceptance. The 2 main leads are put in to situations where these issues come to the forefront and they are forced to face them head-on. That being said, the show does shy away from raising awareness of the true challenges faced by the members of the LGBTQ+ community instead remains stereotypical or overly simplistic. For e.g., we see the initial protest by 3 gay students on the right to not wear uniform to school when clearly the bigger issue is about rampant homophobia supported by the school. Also many episodes just drag on without much happening whereas the same time could have been used in developing some supporting characters.
First and Khaotung were great at their respective roles and they really brought the characters to life. The story of Neo and Luis needed more time to develop as their love story just feels rushed turning them in to one dimensional characters.
In conclusion, the series boasts of a great star-cast and a thought-provoking storyline with a message about diversity and acceptance with a simple mystery to push the story ahead. It’s a must watch for anyone who enjoys BL series and does not mind few short-comings regarding the portrayal of gay characters.
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