The Sign (2023)

Emotional and thrilling story

Deep down in my heart, it's a 10/10 but because of some details and some parts which are making me roll my eyes and it also got in my nerves, it's a 9,5 but still a great serie. Worth the watch and I personally love everything they managed to show us such as the cultural references and some investigations (people didn't really like actions scenes but I love it). It was not boring for me, it was entertaining from the beginning to the end. But also the romance between the two main leads.

As I'm a Buddhist (yeah I know I don't like to share about religion and on) but I would say, I can relate to it more and I'm enjoying so much with the belief, the past life and the legend of Naga and Garuda.

The production of this show sets the bar high, it has some really beautiful scenes but I didn't really like the pixels and I didn't mean to see everything, it just that if they have to pixelize then, they could use another angle and it still could turn well!
I was a bit annoyed, mainly because some scenes were interesting but they cut it quickly (then maybe it's an editing problem).

But overall, I really appreciate this show and it's the rare one I watched several times lol
Thanks to this, I really love the acting of Billy Patchanon and also Heng Asavarid (he's a great villain, I love to hate him so much as Doctor Chalothorn!! Really he was the high light of this show, he was annoying yet entertaining and got me goosebumps).
I also like the rest of the actors / characters but for me Dr Chalothorn is the high light lol

The final episode was great but at the same it has flaws and there's a part in which I felt it was recap or a fanmade video so I mean, It was not that necessary, they could use this time to add some extra interesting scenes to develop the story (but I would say I didn't mind it but it just, it took "more" time than I thought. )

Lastly, I love that intro song and the rest are cute and nice to listen.

I would rewatch it despite some flaws but I want to say it's still a pefect serie since I really enjoy it.

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The first BL that touched on an Epic plot theme and did so successfully!!

Over all a solid show with a solid closing. How a show ends can make a lot of difference and The Sign managed to bring it home nicely and on a 'happy ending' note, albeit a little rushed, it was still satisfying. So,

THE GOOD:

- The action scenes in all episodes were enjoyable.
- The same can be said for their intimate scenes, especially the final one in ep 12. I enjoyed the soft intimacy of it the most, the talking, touching and closeness was ? Many BL shows underestimate how much weight non-sexual intimacy and simple kissing carries but the The Sign really served in that department many times. We got plenty of non-sexual intimacy in this show, which was really awesome. That said, their sexual scenes (and the actors chemistry) was on point too. They rate third for me in BL actor male lead chemistry after watching this series.
- All of the cast really did a fantastic job acting.
- The portrayal of them being cops in physical fitness, fight scenes and weapons handling was very well done, I really enjoyed that aspect this show!
- I was also fine with the CGI, I'm not overly picky about that. I don't much care about how good/bad CGI is as long as it's passable, it's more about a story for me. CGI passed muster though, by a good margin.
- I like the mythical Thai culture story in The Sign, my first time learning more about the whole Naga origin thing (outside of fanfiction), and it was quite enjoyable.
- I loved how fluid Tharn (Babe) moved in the deep water scenes! I felt like he really gave water-being vibes! I'm not sure if it was edited that way, or if Babe is just a good swimmer, but it was really well done.

Nothing bad in this, so I'll say -
THE WEAK POINTS:

- Well we all know that the police work was often abysmal in this ?
- I am a bit disappointed we didn't get a bigger final fight scene between Phaya and Chalothon in the final, just a bit of a struggle, but it was still a great scene, quite intense, emotional and meaningful.
- On the topic of this being Babe's first role, he really did a great job. However I will say, that while Babe really nailed his heavy emotional/crying scenes, I do think he could improve a bit in the verbally and visually expressed anger/affection/shock area. In some instances when he was angry or shocked or affectionate, I found it was a little lacking, but not in anyway that badly affected Tharn's character. Perhaps because Tharn's character was meant to come across as quite level headed and a bit reserved, so it wasn't overly noticeable.
- Billy's facial hair shadow is ep 12 just did not work ya'll, his face kinda looked dirty ?
- Dujdao. I'm still not sure what the purpose or dead-like portrayal of this character was intended to represent.
- The final 2 eps did feel a little rushed.

There are no ugly points in this show, so next is,
THE HIGHLIGHTS:
- YAI/GAP!!! I was both attracted and experiencing body envy when looking at him.
- Billy's acting. My first time seeing him and I think he emotes very well honestly, across the board of emotions.
- The fight scenes! Super power/video game-esque and visually appealing!

There are unanswered questions and open ends, but HOPEFULLY that means we'll get a S02 and since all the main history and character intros are largely out of the way, we might get a more fleshed out story on the main characters, and even some insight into the history of Garuda Sakuna and Wansarat. I could easily go for more fight/action scenes tbh. That would be fun! I also wouldn't mind seeing more about Yai and Sand, I mean, we got Khem and Thongthai's backstory, now I'd like Yai and Sand's getting together story and more scenes with them. Their reunion scene in ep 12 was ? I would love to see more.

All said, I have no regrets about watching this, I would absolutely rewatch it in future and would definitely recc it IF someone is into action themes and supernatural plots! The Sign has met the latest BL standard (for me), which was set by IFYLITA last year.

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One of the best BL series of 2023-2024! RECOMMENDED 10 OF 10

I have watched countless BLs and I drop what I want to drop because of lousy story or lousy chemistry and acting from the actors. This is also the first time I am writing my PERSONAL OPINION regarding a series because I want you, whoever you are reading this, to really invest time in watching THE SIGN?

Let's divide this review to parts, according to: STORY, CASTS' CHEMISTRY AND ACTING, SFX.

1. STORY
10 out of 10
Having been able to follow The Sign since the airing of Episode 1, I must say that the story started strong and ended strong.
It is not unusual for a series that has many storylines to easily mess up and get confusing but The Sign proved to be different. Watching this series, you get to experience excitement, angst, love, and everything that has made this series beautiful. It is notable that they have incorporated a Thai tale which the viewers get to learn a little about Thai culture. I must say that the directors and producer have achieved their goal for this series.

2. CASTS
10 out of 10
The casts chemistry is everything! From the main characters to the supporting roles, the acting which really pulls you into different kinds of emotions. You cry when they cry, you blush in their love scenes. It's very hard to tell that some characters have little to no experience in acting at all, especially Babe who plays Tharn. I just knew that he was a newbie in acting when I reached halfway the series. As for Billy, I have watched SCOY so I know he can really act and have great chemistry with his onscreen partners, but THIS ONE just HITS DIFFERENT? Kudos as well to Gap, who plays Yai (he played it so well), Tack and Poom, who i wished had more screentime, Heng that got me imagining of slapping his character senseless coz he played the villain so well and Surprise as well?

3. SFX
10 out of 10
I remember when Saint (producer) said he has to spend millions for the SFX and it did not fail, it DELIVERED!

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Mix of variable genres with really good outcome

I'm writing this review really late, because there was no time when I finished watching the series, and then I completely forgot about it. At first I initially avoided The Sign because I wasn't in the mood for anything action-packed with a police setting, but the internet was full of edits with the main characters, so I thought I'd give it a chance. The high rating just confirmed that I should check it out.

I found out very quickly that it is not just a police story, but that it is full of fantasy elements that are very unusual for BLs (at least the ones I have seen up to that point). Overall, I haven't come across anything like this in Thai art so far, but that's probably only because I watch only a fraction of what they create.

We can meet fantasy elements in several series, but mostly it's about ghosts, time travel, and then there are a few exceptions like soul mates or a talking teddy bear, and in the new ones, the creators like to play with parallel worlds. The sign brought something completely new (for me). Not only with the story, but also with visual effects, which are not necessary for the mentioned types of fantasy.

A little research confirmed that the fantasy part was a part of Thai mythology, which really interested me. The combination of action, mystery plot, love and urban fantasy is very dangerous. It can burn really well, but also end up being very, very bad. Here, unfortunately, it was the first option.

The amazing story was made even better by the actors and their characters. Billy and Babe starred in the main roles, and sometimes Khem stole my attention. All the actors did a great job, they put exactly what was needed into their characters, enriched each scene exactly what it required and I'm not even talking about the chemistry. Billy and Babe went their separate ways, but so did the others. Friendship, devotion and on the one hand psychopathic obsession were shown as they should have been.

I liked how it all fit together. Everything was connected and together formed one big puzzle. When combining as many elements as were mixed here, it can turn out differently, but it can be seen that the creators paid attention to every detail.

However, I have some reservations about the ending. The following text may contain spoilers, so I warn you to read at your own risk. Despite what I will say now, I find the story really perfectly thought out. I didn't like Chalothon just letting Tharn go, though. Tharn appeared out of nowhere and said that someone who was downright obsessed with him and just wanted to be with him the whole time just said he was going to heal him and let him go? It does not make sense. Chalothorn would never behave like this. I have a theory (unconfirmed yet, but I hope the special won't disprove it) that Tharn killed him and told Phaya something completely different. It's the only explanation for the ending that comes to mind in my eyes.

As I said before, regardless of this small detail, for which there is an explanation, it is just doubtful whether the explanation will be part of the plot, it is really well done. The first trailers for the new projects have already been published, so I'm very excited because I saw something similar between them and I'm glad that BL production decided to work with such a type. I hope that they will not overdo it and that they will choose only good projects.

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Gorgeous Cast

The Sign gave us something different in the BL series realm, of course the romantic angle is there but with a mix of action, political intrigue and historical fantasy and let’s give credit to Idol Factory for stepping up to the challenge of presenting variety to the audience. The cast really stood out for me, well, primarily because they are all gorgeous. Leading the pack of delectable men is Billy and his slutty waist. A real eye candy but he also gave us some credible acting. It is my first time seeing Babe and he definitely has one of the most beautiful faces in BL right now, perfect in all angles. Also, special mention is actor Gap who exudes a throbbing sensuality at the same time a sweet boyish charm. The cinematography is also something to be applauded for together with the special effects which were executed cleanly. I do feel though that there were some scenes that dragged on like the crying scenes which would tempt you to hit that fast forward button a little bit but again, commendable effort in trying to offer something that is not expected for a BL series but still making sure not to deviate far from the boys love theme. I can say that I enjoyed watching this series and looking forward for what other series this production outfit can come up with in the near future.

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Connecting two different timelines into a well-blended fantasy-action-romance BL

A palatable combination of history and modern set-up merging a few distinct genres into one supernatural series. At first, it never crossed my mind that it would be a fantasy genre as I was so hooked up with the vigorous appearances of the characters during their training days. It always showered with manliness and well-packed action scenes that I remembered getting excited for Yai’s role. This man always emits hot boyfriend vibes with his muscles screaming throughout his body.

Phaya and Tharn are interesting MCs yet, I get tired of watching their intimate scenes that have little to no connection with the storyline and and are just there for the sake of feeding the fandom. On the other hand, Khem and Thongthai’s love-making scene was a real comedy with an essence part to their love story.

I would also like to congratulate the creative and production crew for a realistic outcome of the celestial being such as the Naga the Dragon and the Mighty Birds featured as the MCs' past appearances. I also love the idea that Phaya dreamed about the past while Tharn can oversee the future by implicating his so-called ‘signs.’ It was a clever approach to the depth of their roles and allowed it to be the eye-opener in their relationship from the past.

The casting was all good from the main and supporting roles to even the guests from the show. They also have several side stories that are entertaining and serve as the stepping stone in revealing the main antagonist from the story, which turned out to be the political leader himself and not the divine being as the couple’s love interest.

Nicely done and executed but have more room for growth. I missed the charm and excitement from the first half after watching the last few episodes. I am demanding more unique progress of the story but the show itself keeps giving me sex scenes and prolonging the unnecessary drama from the love triangle. Nevertheless, despite its flaws, The Sign is a good BL with the show being memorable all because of its rarity in having the concept of supernatural creatures living in the modern era.

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THE ENDING ...

this drama i loved.i loved how different it was from other dramas and the fact that they haven't done this concept with a bl before. all those aspects combined made it the perfect bl drama to watch. the acting and the casting of the actors was nice, so kudos to the casting director. the storyline was a nice though I feel like it feels off a bit but overall, it was really well written. i enjoyed this and really hope to see more dramas like this in the future because i'd definitely give those a watch.

the ending ... i didn't totally love it well ... the part i didn't like was the year gap and how tharn disappeared but overlooking that the ending was sweet. maybe even bittersweet.

I'D DEFENTELY RECCOMEND ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFRENT WITH SOME SUPERNATURAL ASPECTS.

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Everything I love in 1 show!

This long awaited series did not disappoint. It has so many elements to love, that the only thing that keeps it from being rated a 10/10 is the fact that it did not have double the amount of episodes, so some scenes could have been elaborated on an the last episode did not feel a bit rushed. So sad it ended!

Elements to love in this show: BL (obviously), chemistry, amazing storyline, supernatural, SFX, crime/mystery, good comedy, beautiful NC scenes, great cinematography, well outlined side characters, amazing score/ost.

Elements that could be better: ending felt a bit rushed, underexposed side couples, not enough episodes.

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overall pretty good.

I think the sign did a lot right. it’s hard to compare it to other BLs because it’s really on its own. Overall it’s a really good story and huge production.

I have to give it credit for taking on such a massive undertaking for what they set up. I would have liked the ending to be stronger. Tharn showing back up with not really a good explanation was frustrating. I think if they showed him being healed and that whole plot point it would have been stronger.

plus I would have loved to see the teams reaction to him coming back. I also want to know more about khem & thongthai- they had a wonderful set up in the series but were brushed aside at the end. same with chat. we could have gotten clear endings if the fleshed stuff out more.

overall it was a great series and I adored the chaotic mess that was Yai. his one liners had me rolling.

I’d definitely watch a season two if they made it.

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I finally finished watching it , and dont get me wrong t wasnt cause of lack of time . I did watch the 4 episodes and stopped .. why?? The lack of chemistry between the leads and i liked both of them tho but the click to let me stzrt liking teir pairing wasn't there. Tbh i liked more babe with his friend .
The story was very good , the effect , the views , everything was good for me we csn applause the director for real .
All the cast also was good , i liked the friendship story more .
Final episode was rushed , why taking one episode to end quick a story when u can add like 2 more episodes ... fr fr and re ending was pffffff .
Re-watch q big no for me .

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Beautiful But Incomplete

I have learned with time to lower my expectations so I can be pleasantly surprised. Saying that, the poster for this drama intrigued me and the plot sounded interesting, the first episode surprised me and overall the story was very well-written and unique, but there was always something that bothered me.

I understand that they were going full out with the special effects, the story was daring and hard to adapt to the small screen, so it was a huge risk taken by the company. But it annoyed me that they didn't dedicate more of screentime to the flashback scenes, even in the present it felt too much that I was being told what happened instead of showed what happened and I'm a visual person, so it really made a difference to me.

I loved the build up of the main couple, flirting and bickering being my favorite dynamic, up until the point that they consumate their love, I can't really explain why, I don't think it was either the director or actors' fault, as they still delivered masterfully done love scenes, but the writing did feel a little bit lackluster at times and I stopped being pulled by their epic love story, what was bad for me since it was the main point of the story.

I didn't really care for the secondary couple, they couldn't even work as a comic relief for me. Yai was the highlight of the series, he was not just a great friend and a wonderful boyfriend, the support he gave Tharn warmed my heart and I really believed in their bond, he was ultimately a great person.

Heng Asavarid was giving it as the villain Chalothon, but unfortunately Chalothon didn't give much as the main antagonist making his redemption very undeserving.

For that and other reason I say, The Sign gave a lot to the genre, it was an audacious adventure with a lot of heart and a pinch of experience. It was beautiful, but for me, it was incomplete. Making it a good start, but hopefully, not the best fantasy BL we will ever see.

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Uneven quality but still interesting

It's really cool to see a story that utilizes Thai mythology, the action scenes are well done, the visual effects look good, the leads playing Phaya and Tharn are good, and the supporting role Yai is effective at both comic relief and serious scenes when needed. The Yai hand heart scene with him accidentally interrupting the two diver's conversation is the most hilarious scene of the series.

The pacing of the scenes are a bit slow and the writing introduces a lot of story beats but they disappear abruptly or is explained as something that happened off screen, like whole Montree storyline, Mayris disappears, Chart never getting mentioned after he ended up in the hospital after blowing his cover trying to help them, and the worst instance is the ending where instead of seeing Tharn and Chalothon's discussion, it's just quickly explained away by a Tharn who suddenly reappears. We don't get to see him reuniting with everyone else who has been looking for him and how the conversation went for the whole IDF to be on board with Tharn is missing because of being taken by supernatural forces. As elite officers, Phaya and Tharn aren't very professional a lot of the times. Phaya is also the worst at explaining why he finds someone shady, which is a crucial ability in his line of work. He was also cognizant when drunk Tharn mentioned the amulet, but he just totally forgets about it by the time he goes to the temple. Then there is an epilogue that seemed to be setting up for a 2nd season, but is actually for a special episode for a paywall live in person event.

I appreciate the ambition of the show. It would have been nice if the script was further polished and there was either more episodes or runtime to flesh out certain story points or shaved some off to film some important missing ones. Overall, it's still worth a one time watch.

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