Yes, gay parents can raise a happy gay child
Occasionally charming, frequently irritating, almost always excruciating in its inept performances and writing, “AiLongNhai” is a potentially good idea that needed more care and thought to pull off.Can a pair of gay parents successfully raise a child, and can they model a happy relationship to that child, and especially if the child is gay? The point of “AiLongNhai” is to answer ‘yes’ to both questions. It also introduces us to two very different characters, one raised in comparative wealth and who has an assured manner about him in the world, and the other, a young man reluctant to grow up to adulthood (nicely metaphored as the yellow plastic duck found in bathtubs). There is potential here for something interesting, but it fails to do so and became for me one of the hardest series to finish watching.
Ai, played by Meen Nichakoon Khajornborirak as if trying his hardest to remember his lines, has been raised by his gay father and his partner; he falls for the perpetually childish Nhai, played with appropriate surface shallowness by Ping Krittanum Anunchananum. Run Kantheephop Sirorattanaphanit’s debut outing as a screenwriter shows a newbie’s poor scene structure and preference for episodic incident over character development. Even the more experienced Director, Nob Sathanapong Kim Wongthong, can’t save this series from being a continuing experience of under-delivery.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Adorable Angst free High School Love Story
- Genre –School/Romance/Students/BL
- Brief Synopsis –
Protagonist A is expelled from his old school and transfers to a new school and becomes B’s schoolmate. From the first episode, he falls for B and is determined to date him even when B says he likes girls. In order to do so, he starts spending more time with B, who doesn’t seem at all repulsed by his flirting. Slowly they grow closer and start dating in secret. The story ends with them admitting to their friends that they are dating and B brings A to meet his parents.
- Plot and Storyline –
Very simple and predictable storyline with no plot twists or especially notable moments. Despite all that, the plot is very sweet and heartwarming as it focuses on the daily life of the main couple and the development of their relationship. Although it is slow paced and lacks angst, it is very enjoyable to watch. The intimate scenes are enjoyable to watch even if they are somewhat tame. I love how A takes care of B and B learns to rely more and more on A.
- Character Development –
N/A
- Acting -
The acting is really nice and the leads do a great job at displaying the love between the main characters. But outside of that, sometimes the acting feels a little awkward but not bad enough to make it unwatchable. The chemistry between the leads makes up for it.
- Production Quality -
Decent production quality with somewhat realistic sets and props.
- Writing and Dialogue -
Writing for the other characters can sometimes be a little cringey.
- Pacing -
Pacing is okay for a lighthearted love story.
- Themes and Message –
Themes for first love, bigotry, jealousy, compassion, friendship are explored.
- Audience Appeal -
Anyone who wants to watch a simple angst-free fluffy BL will like this show.
- Standout Moments -
N/A
- Criticisms -
x Nothing seem to happen in the show as the focus is the couple's everyday life. If the couple hadn't been so cute, this show would be extremely boring.
x The plot is extremely simple and predictable.
- Conclusion -
I might rewatch this series for the fluff if I didn't have other things to watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Sweet and fun
I really enjoyed this series. The characters were cute. I especially like Nhai’s character because he seems like a lovable airhead. I did feel it started to lose focus in the later episodes and things are left hanging a little bit. It seemed more like it was intending to have another season. However, I still liked it and have already watched a second time.I am wondering what other series are in this same universe now that I realize Tonhon Chonlatee is about Ton and his neighbor. They seem to indicate Nan and Sib had their own dramatic story and leave the plot with Nine and his interest open, so I am curious what other series have these same characters.
All-in-all, it’s a lighthearted series and I love the casual touching and hugging that the main characters do a great job of showing. One of the things that some BL series lack is the intimacy when NOT in a sexual situation. It kind of kills it if the actors seem standoffish unless in a bed scene and this one is not like that.
Was this review helpful to you?
Can't complain!
This show was simple. It was cute, fun, and lighthearted. No conflict lasted long and the relationship was a fairly happy one.I can't complain much about this show. Nhai didn't think he liked men, but when Ai and him become close, he starts to question himself. To see if it's true, he decides to move in with Ai as a trial run.
Nothing too special happened in this one. Gay people got to be happy and that makes me happy. There's no question of whether or not you'll be accepted for being gay when you've got two dads, so homophobia was never really an issue. The plotline between Ai and his mom was a little bit odd, but it didn't make a huge dent in the show anyways. Overall an enjoyable and easy watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Don't waste your time
I have a simple request from the screenwriter, Run... Could you please stop experiencing secreenwriting? I'm terribly sorry, but this is not what we expect from a BL drama. Seriously, I feel like I wasted my time. I've been watching BL dramas for more than two years, but I never felt I wasted my time. I like you as an actor, please get back to acting and making us smile. I don't want to be mean for anyone, and I do excuse if my comment would hurt anyone. However, there is no point in watching a wifey who has no idea what falling in love is. The wifey is so selfish that our poor hubby tries his best to please him. I won't even mention his dowdiness besides his uncleanliness. He never manages to love sincerely although his hubby is crazy about him. I am absolutely sure hubby would be happier if he met someone else. Last but not least, what we want to see in the dramas is the real love with all sorts of sacrificies available. Please do not waste all these handsome boys with amazing acting abilities with simple or absurd drama stories.Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
Really.......What was the point?
I've watched many BL series and up to now, sadly, this is the worst.....so disappointed as I was really looking forward to this but it was all just hype!Such a shame as I loved the characters as in Ai, Nhai, and their friends and family but the story or lack thereof was a serious issue.
Boy meets boy, fall in love, end of!
Nhai was too childish and spoiled by everyone so I could not take him seriously....Side love interests were far too short, virtually nonexistent and in fact, should not really have been included....
The bad guys needn't have been in it all for the impact they had, a couple of sentences, and they are gone.....
The NC scenes were laughable hardly a proper kiss among the many scenes.....
I can't believe I sat through 8 hours of this drivel that imo, could have been 1 x 2hr episode....
I could carry on venting but again "Really .....what's the point? "
Was this review helpful to you?
Why am i torturing myself?!
This series is one if the most painful I've seen since Dr. Cha on Netflix. I should have dropped this ages ago. The Viki subtitles- are they even Viki - are the worst.Production quality is dreadful. Script is non-existent. So much so, the struggling actor sut in awkward silence half the time.
I do like the actor who plays Ai and I would like to see more of him in the future. Nhai actor is still developing the craft and his character isn't doing him any favors. Support the cast - in another show.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
SLOW BURN AND SLOWLY KILLING ME
Hm… i have watched MeenPring series which is MDGO before and it was alright and I thought this series could do them justice but MY GOD!!! This series is boring. I am sorry but the series have good actors but plain and bland plot. No heartthrobbing scenes much and sex scenes are okay not the best but it was alright. This series could end within 8 episodes but I dont know what is going on with the unecessary lovey dovey scene without purposes???The conflict between Ai and his mother is not resolved too. Just hanging on a thread without any closure. Boring. I dont know why but MeenPring always got the most boring series. The pattern of their series are the same. It was good but not good enough for 12 episodes long. Could have just shorten it to 8 episodes. Cause after episode 8, i started to yawn and its getting boring.
In a nutshell? Good actor, boring plot, no character development, no plot development, unecessary lovey dovey scenes, side pairing development sucks and no closure plot.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
confusing
im genuinly so confused on what was going on for the main story of this BL, there was alot of choppy parts and the stupidity or nhai was just... anyways i couldnt wrap my head around anything that was happening in the entire show, the random part where ai gave his bone marrow to his sister or something was so random?? and the fact he fell inlove with someone who looked JUST like his stepdad in his eyes was a bit creepy, i get that maybe he idolised his stepdad but still it kinda freaked me out a little bit. its cute dont get me wrong and its quite lovey dovey in some bits but i feel like they tried to add some sad scenes into it and it just did not work out whatsoever.nhais character aswell is extremely childish and stupid which can make the show unbearable to watch in my opinion but again that is most likely just a preference T_T
Was this review helpful to you?
Not the worst, but just so bland
By the time I reached episode 5, I was seriously starting to wonder what I was even staying for. At episode 7, I was like, yep okay that’s it. I’m out. Life is too short to waste on BLs that don’t excite.The storyline lacks depth and novelty, especially in 2022, when the BL industry has matured beyond simple college plots. It’s getting increasingly difficult for a college BL to stand out, so either unique storylines and/or exceptional chemistry between the leads would have to do all the heavy lifting.
Ai Long Nhai would have probably done a lot better if it existed some years back. In 2022, it simply couldn't keep up.
There are some serious B-grade BLs out there filled with downright laughable moments, but ALN isn’t one of them. It’s not that the show is terrible – I can’t find anything that’s exceptionally terrible about the series, but maybe that was it. It was just so remarkably bland.
The characters are predictable and boring, and the storyline couldn't keep me hooked either.
My review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/12/11/ai-long-nhai-2022-bl-review/
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
