I Told Sunset about You

THE Drama actually makes you "falling in LOVE"

since my first contact of "BL" concept back to the 1990, I had read, watched and research a lots of books, comic, drama, movies , documentary and history.

for the first time, I felt all the symptom of " falling in love " as result of watching a TV drama.

heart ache, heart burn, reflex, butterfly in stomach, nauseous, stomach knots, crying and laughing ( sometime happen together ), you name it, I got it . it is kind crazy and unbelievable.

excepted all the positive feedback mentioned by other reviewers ( which I all agree), what mostly surprising is how good acting those two" junior "actors have done in the show . their acting are so "true" "raw" "and "detailed" --- Big thanks to the director, he coached very single moment of it


Watch it -- if you had lost faith in love.
Watch it -- if you want to experience what love is feels like without leaving your home ( perfect for COVID isolation)
Watch it---- it worth your time ( every single second )

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A true gem worth digging into

There are already many reviews written on ITSAY so one more of mine wouldn't add substance to all the praises that it has already received but I'm still giving it the recognition that it deserves. Two months have already passed since I finished this drama but I NEVER stopped thinking about it and even their OSTs are still on my playlist. It's THAT good.

I have to say Bravo to the whole team behind the production, from the location casting to screenwriting, every part of the series is so well-planned and well-coordinated. I feel like I'm really peeking into the world of Teh and Oh-aew and experiencing what they are going through in each and every of their happiness and struggles. To be honest, I was not anticipating much when I heard about how BKPP the series (after my ambulance ended) was happening because of the positive response from the fans. But boy am I wrong, because with Nadao Bangkok, there is no such thing as poor quality. The script is perfectly crafted for Billkin and PP. And it shows. The chemistry between our two leads are exceptionally phenomenal. Its so natural that I can see the exact moment that they fall in love even when no words were exchanged. They convey their feelings with their eyes and it's pleasant to see.

Besides gestures and facial expressions, the series also cleverly uses chinese expressions and objects to symbolize the state of each lead's emotions and thoughts. They are like little riddles picked up along the way for viewers to decipher. The cinematography is amazing, I feel like I'm transported to Phuket with each scene. Not to mention the colour tone and schemes used is not only pleasing to the eyes but also signifies our characters' feelings. The drama wastes no time in telling us the story. There are no filler scenes and every scenes has its story to tell. I also love how the plot is focused only on our two main leads, and there are absolutely no toxic characters just situations and circumstances. The series also highlights the confusion, foolishness, innocence, and awakening of love that we all felt in our teenage moments. Billkin's portrayal of Teh's turmoil, agony, rejection and acceptance towards his own sexual orientation was so wonderfully done. The drama doesn't hide itself from showing the ugliness of that despair but embraces it to give us hope at the end.

The brilliancy of the production even extends to outside of the series where we are treated to 5 music videos for their OSTs (4 of which was separately shot). Even in the music videos, you can see the leads remained in their characters as in the series which was delightful to watch. I never knew that by just exchanging glances, one could feel THAT MUCH.

ITSAY is a really special drama as this is a drama that was developed and produced from scratch (as shown in the documentary). You can see how they truly wanted to create that coming of age drama with LGBTQ element that transcends what we have seen thus far. And for that, I give the team all its due praises.

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Amazing, piece of art.

This show is amazing and means so much for me as an lgbtq+ member.
It make me so emotional, and the acting felt so real.
At the first episode i wasn't that interested but when she shows goes on, its getting better and better.
In ep 2 then you see that Oh-aew has a feeling for Bas.
You could also see how Teh and oh-aew is getting closer. I kinda felt bad for Bas he is an amazing character.
ep 3 was sooo good, the beach scene was so beautiful.
In further eps when Teh said he had feelings for oh-aew to his brother.
I felt so happy how the brother reacted. It was so sad to saw how LGBTQ+members have to go through that.
Also the happy ending got me sooo excited. And i cant wait for the next season.

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More than just a BL

Without hesitation : this is the best Bl series I have ever watched (sorry SOTUS I'm betraying you). The story is so well written because it seems so realistic, the cinematography was just absolutely amazing (it reminds me a lot Taiwanese movies). Every scene was beautiful. The chemistry between the two leads was captivating, I never felt so much tension and desire in a BL series before. The main leads suffer a lot, they are very confused about their feeling, their sexual orientation and it's why I feel that ITSAY is more than just a BL, it's a true LGBT story that everyone should watch! Their story is beautiful and you can say goodbyes to all these BL famous tropes (that I personally dislike a lot).

I just want to see the second part so badly!

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A masterpiece!

If this is your first BL, don’t see it! Because if you do, you will use this as your measuring tool for the rest of the BL shows that are out there. This is the best story I have ever seeing. The shots were incredible! The acting was on point! The story is so real that it must have being part of somebody’s life experience.

Compare to other series endings, this one ended perfectly! You will not find sex scenes like others nor major kissing parts, but you will find a clear story of how love is born. I can tell you that there was so many scenes that made me cry like no other shows. But at the end, I was on my edge to finally hear what all the community is talking about. Finally, we have the answer that we all wanted to hear.

One hour is not enough for this series. It makes you want more. But Im really grateful, as many, that they decided to make the show this long.

Truly a masterpiece.

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Every moment makes it amazing

I kept seeing people post on IG and Twitter about ITSAY this and ITSAY that. I had no idea what ITSAY was at the time and wondered why everyone was talking about these two boys named PP and Billkin. How good could it possibly be? Let me start by saying this is one of the most beautiful, well-paced, heartbreaking things I have ever watched. How could 5 episodes really make that much impact? Trust me, they can. I am now on my 4th rewatch of I Told Sunset About You, I never get bored with it, and it gets better every time. The moments created and emotions portrayed, both tender and heartwrenching, are some of the most amazing experiences I've ever seen captured in a series. The longing, the building of tension, the PERFECT placement of music, and the dreamlike atmosphere helps make ITSAY the best BL and series of this year by far. I can't wait for part 2 in March. If you haven't watched it yet, do yourself a favor and watch RIGHT NOW!

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A true work of art

This series took me completely by surprise. I enjoy watching BL's and I understand they come with this 'label' that involves many clichés we have grown used to and even look forward to, but ITSAY went above and beyond. It does not need or deserve simplistic labels, it is a work of art. The story is beautiful and senstive and follos a perfect pace.

I am in love with the OST and cannot stop listening to it.

A massive production where actors has to learn so much beyond acting the emotion. I am in love with Billkin and PP and their acting. PP is so expressive, they have such an amazing dynamic and it is really sweet to know they are close in real life, because I love knowing sets had a good vibe instead of those sad stories where you find out your favorite due hated one another despite amazing chemistry.

I truly hope season 2 does this justice.

As an actress myself I was very interested in the documentary (and recommend it to all fans of the show) and felt so nostalgy of workshops and movie sets (during the pandemic here in Brazil it is nearly impossible to work on lo budget or independent productions safely). I was so moved by the attention to detail...the way the coaches directed the actors in the very first workshop, to how amazingly sentitive the directly is in his director...I am blown away and breathless. I wish I could work ith Boss one day and have that experience, omg. Every direction he gave was alays caring and attention, he never lost his temper, he was alays on point, directing even movements that made the longing between the two characters all the more palpable, choosing scenes to reshoot that gained so much from his observations. I have no words.

I wish to see more and more from them and amazing careers because they deserve it.

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My P.O.V.

Well i thought it was just some random bl since it was very short, but i swallowed that when i watched the first episode. At first you won't be able to have a grasp of the story since it's about their childhood, but that weird part was just a way in order to create a good flow for the plot. The acting was natural, the casting for the main were great, the colors, the music, the lines and the plot were all so related and was carefully directed. It totally blew off my expectations as i teared on the first episode and i felt genuine pain for the characters as the story goes by. This bl is an original and i have never watched a bl with a plot like this that was well-made... no... impressively-made and directed. They owned it. i will never regret watching this and i believe bl lovers wouldn't. i am looking forward for the season 2 and how they will continue the story.

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Wow, This Is An Incredible Series -- Seriously Do Not Miss It

Top-level points: This is a wonderful production, and is well worth your time to watch it, and watch it again.

Detailed, committed – one might even say loving – cinematography that makes maximum use of color and natural scenes to produce enchanting images. A soundscape that catches you up and transports you – without your even knowing – into a whirl of emotions. Actors who enjoy wonderful mutual chemistry and craft performances of characters who have a LOT more depth than in most BLs. I am not a teacher, but I think this series is a “how-to” example of how to create a beautiful cinematic work that grabs the audience and moves them deeply.

All of that said, it is not perfect, although I can understand those who say it is. Sure,Teh had many reasons to cry (having sacrificed his future for love and obtained only what he believed to be rejection), but as a plot device the depictions of it were overkill. Billkin’s performances of Teh’s sobbing were I am sure very difficult to do, but sometimes they missed the target – as another reviewer commented there were moments when I wasn’t sure if he was crying or laughing. Just too much angst.

Another imperfection: I stand in awe of the music team’s work and the lovely soundscape they produced for most of the scenes – but they erred in the choices at the end. After the hug on Cape Promthep, the two protagonists have finally finally found each other and declared (in deeds if not in words) their mutual love. It is THE culminating moment of their dramatic arc – but ewwwwwww....the music that plays is a fluffy, airy little version of “Really Special,” in which the “Chai ry blauw” refrain just comes across as totally inappropriate. Fer Chrissakes, these two have just broken lifelong chains of fear and inarticulacy that had previously doomed them to constant mutual incomprehension. They are finally free and can have hope for the future. And this moment deserves more dramatic music than fluffy fluffy “Chai re blauw.” (Yes, I know some of the other lyrics were apt but that doesn’t cut it for me……it was the tune that was in my head as I was watching, and the reaction was NOT positive.)

But in the end, all of these imperfections are small. Taken as a whole, the work is a masterpiece, and the achievement of all those who worked on this masterpiece is very very large. So do watch it yourself – Personally, I think it’s even worth paying for, to see the top-quality HD stream from Vimeo (but I recognize that many people cannot afford the price, until maybe someday it comes down.)

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Now, having said that, I will offer some more detailed comments on various aspects, and on the first episode. Probably more detail than most people want, but if it bores you, feel free to stop reading. There’s too much emotion inside, and it’s therapeutic for me to write it out…….

Cinematography:

After the lousy flat cinematography in so many BL dramas, this one is like a garden blooming in the desert. Those who composed the visuals (Director Boss must have had some pretty good help) love colors, and idealize the natural scenery of Phuket. (All the gritty parts have disappeared from this reality.) And either Boss and Co. love the Sino-Portuguese architecture of the Straits Chinese cities or they just liked it as a convenient backdrop – whatever the reason, they have put together a stirring visual ode to Southeast Asia and it alone moves the hearts of people who, like me, love that region.

Soundscape:

The OST is wonderful wonderful wonderful!! Not only for the main songs which are excellent but for the creative use of the melodies to craft background music that grabs the viewer and pulls them into the emotional maelstrom. Skyline is a fantastic theme, and it is translated many times, with different vocalizations and instrumentalizations. There are several versions of “Skyline” that play during moments when Teh is tongue-tied and helpless because of what he perceives to be his “destiny” preventing him from loving another guy. Watch the scene in Ep 5 where Bas is announcing to their class that he really likes Oh, for the interplay between the “Skyline” piano and the wild, bereft look on Teh’s face……it’s a killer of a scene. (And those who complain about Billkin’s acting need to watch this……he’s fantastic.)

And for the use of vocalization, watch the Ep. 3 scene in the hammock on the beach . As the boys talk, there is just the sound of crickets near the beach. However, from the moment Oh begins his self-revelation, female voices in the background are drawing the viewer in, and creating a musical frame for the emotional moment – but then Teh just cannot bring himself to answer Oh's implicit declaration of love. So Oh says “Okay, whatever makes you comfortable. But I think you're jealous.” Oh’s love, at least, is clear. But Teh just cannot be honest. Then, high and clear, an "a capella" voice with a concert-hall echo sings key lines from Skyline. (Could that be Billkin, singing?) The subtitles don’t translate the lyrics at that point, so many non-Thai viewers may not recognize how poignant they are: "In the end of a love novel, normally, those who have been apart are brought back, so they can see each other again and say "I love you" one more time. But in my reality, our love cannot be like that." The music expresses Teh’s reality, where love cannot be; it has to stay “The love that dare not speak its name.” And the scene changes. Just superb composition, both audio and visual.

Acting:

The cast did an excellent job. The two leads are both so young and still a bit of “raw talent” -- I am just overwhelmed to think of the potential they both have. I hope they can fulfill it. They have such good mutual chemistry, and they have mastered the art of showing through the face what the character is feeling, deep inside. People have criticized Billkin for a “wooden” portrayal of Teh, but that is the whole idea – Teh comes near to being an emotional cripple. A character who has spent his entire adolescence hiding his feelings, he dare not let his emotions be seen, until they well up inside and he cannot stop crying. I think Billkin’s portrayal, which alternates wooden moments with raw emotion, is spot-on. That IS Teh. Even at the end, on Cape Promthep, after having gone through his own living hell with his family, he cannot bring himself to answer Oh’s question “What about you and me?” But Oh, who may yet qualify for sainthood, is willing to accept the silence. All he wants is not to be shut out of Teh’s life. Watch his face during this scene – PP Kritt brings to painful life the vulnerability of the hopelessly-in-love young man. (All I want to do at that moment is hug Oh, and reassure him that he is loved.)

The supporting cast is excellent as well. Nat as Hoon comes across beautifully as the empathetic brother. Bas, played by the very young and VERY talented Khunpol, is possibly the one character who tugs on everyone’s heartstrings in every aspect – he loves, he respects, he sacrifices selflessly. It is a great performance. And Smile as Tarn is convincing with all the conflicting emotions that flow through her. So much stronger than many of the actresses in the BL world. Also, the two kids who played young Teh and young Oh really did an excellent job, too. Bravo performances all around.

Episode 1: (huge spoilers here….really don’t read on unless you’ve already watched)

I have to say a few words about Ep. 1 because on first watching, it left me kinda cold…..like “why all this to-do about the kids?” I really wondered if I should continue watching the series. Frankly, I went on watching just because of the cinematic beauty – the lights and colors and images of SEAsia. I am sooooo glad I continued……

The thing about the first episode is that the viewer doesn't know what to watch for. It seems a bit disorganized with these scenes from the past life of the boys Teh and Oh, and then Teh doing some sort of university acting test and it kinda jumps around. (That non-linear storytelling is not a feature of later episodes.)

But omigod, now that I've been through the whole story and have gone back and rewatched ep 1 I would say it is a masterpiece. The cinematography -- use of colors, framing of shots, beautiful use of Phuket scenery (which only gets better as the series goes on)......it's all fantastic. And then the performances......wow. I was not a big fan of Teh -- in fact they both had asshole tendencies displayed in ep. 1. Only on re-watch can you really see Billkin's superb capture of the internal struggle that already had Teh locked into an emotional prison, and how that plays out on Billkin's face. If you don't know what you're looking at, that is so easy to miss.....

Note that the scene where Teh dedicates his audition performance to Oh, with tears brimming in his eyes -- that scene actually came several weeks BEFORE they "buried the hatchet" and became friends again. What that says: for five long years Teh kept Oh in his heart, so strongly that it came bubbling out in his university auditions when he thought of Oh. He WANTED to make up and be friends, but "couldn't push send." And then, a few weeks later, when the reconciliation finally happens, and The has cried for Oh, in front of the audition panel, Teh still cannot bring himself to tell Oh how important he is. When Oh says "we can be friends but maybe not best friends" look at Teh's face!!!!! He is crippled by fear. Five long years, and he can't bring himself to say "but I missed you so much." Instead he says "yeah sure, whatever you want." Pushing the love down.....hiding it inside.

But then immediately he begins the series of good works to try to help Oh. He cannot bring himself to tell Oh he likes him that much, but he starts helping him.....over and over again. Works of love that neither of them recognize -- oh, but on rewatch we recognize them. Instantly you realize how completely relatable Teh really is. And it culminates much later, with the cut-up workbook that Teh cannot use to get his own life back on track, because he cut it to pieces to try to help Oh. Teh was not the only one crying, at that point……

Rewatching Ep 1 will make that all now crystal clear.....Now it all becomes obvious; you know what is coming -- the hurt that Teh's fear and self-suppression will do later, to almost everyone -- Oh, Bas, Tarn, his mother and of course Teh himself whose life is derailed and who is nearly broken by it -- all that pain begins squarely in Ep1. Far more are the tears I shed on rewatch, knowing what is to come.

Fortunately (skipping forward to the end of the series), Hoon has helped Teh cross his own Rubicon……and he is able to declare himself to Oh. There is hope. Teh finally realizes that destiny does not bind him to be a slave to fear. (In the lyrics from an old Stephen Stills song “We are not helpless; we are men. What lies between us, can be set aside and ended.” )

The creative team is going to have to find another theme song (or some new lyrics for “Skyline.”) Or at least I hope so……if the second season smashes that hope…….it will kill me too.

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A Very Authentic BL Drama

1) This was some of the best acting I've ever seen in a BL drama. I felt every emotion in my gut. The aura they conveyed was genuine. That's not an easy task for any actor to do. This was The Untamed level of emoting, ngl.

2) Regardless of my personal feelings towards the choices each character made, the character directions were authentic, and the reasonings were valid.

3) The plot was intriguing and engaging. The dialogue was deeper than any Thai BL drama I've watched in a while. I think that the only comparable one would be OG S1 SOTUS, but the difference here is that this drama is focused solely on the OTP with supporting characters being just that, supporting. There are no secondary or tertiary stories within the base plot. I actually appreciated that, because, the script had enough engaging ideas about the OTP to drive the story forward without having to invest in other things in order to keep it from being boring and engaging to the viewers. That's the confidence of a good script.

I am truly happy there is going to be a Season 2 because a script like this deserves it, and I'm excited to see the character development between this OTP.

This drama shows what a BL could be if only a script writer, production staff, and actors invest in the quality. Count me impressed.

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Maybe ke yi will be our always

Once again, I decided to watch a drama for the hype, and this time I was not disappointed. I hardly cry with TV shows but this one made me catch the feels a few times. There was just so much rawness.

Story:
Most dramas about the mundane world tend to bore me because I like a healthy sense of escapism. However, this drama had my attention from the very start. I love childhood friendships, and I love when friends stick through thick and thin with each other. That's why I was absolutely torn when Teh and Oh Aew had so many ups and downs, being friends in one moment and then resenting each other in the next. Teh is imperfect - he has seemingly many flaws but he also has a good heart. Honestly, I related to Teh on so many levels because of this. I could understand the reasoning behind his jealousy, regret, fear, desperation, and sacrifice. Friendships are difficult to navigate with such emotions, especially as a teenager. However, I can also understand people's reasoning for being upset with him. All of this negativity festering within made him hurt everyone around him. He made Oh Aew miserable because of his inability to be honest with himself. There are just so many implications as to why Teh acted the way he did. Regardless, friendship was a huge takeaway from the series for me. I loved all the playfulness and little jokes between Teh and Oh Aew, and their relationship with the other boys was pretty admirable as well.

Now for the romance part, it was very suspenseful. They turned something so innocent from their childhood like back scratching into something very different. I felt embarrassed to watch some of the scenes they had together because of how raw they felt, and they didn't even do anything too bad. But seriously, the change in their relationship was so slow and subtle that it makes you sit on the edge of your seat. Probably the most disappointing part to the development of their romance was their treatment toward their secondary love interests. Both Tarn and Bas were angels to Teh and Oh Aew, comforting them despite being rejected. I sympathized with Tarn so much because it hurts to have someone pull away from you and not give you any clear reason as to why. These two characters honestly made me question why Teh and Oh Aew got together in the end.

As an aside, I loved the incorporation of Chinese culture into the drama. It was hilarious to see the boys watch a cheesy historical Chinese drama and emulate the sword fighting and play. The cultural element really helped to suck me into the drama.

I don't have any other critiques for the story other than the fact that episode 4 was not on par with the first three. The melodrama was amped up, and this was the episode where a lot of the petty stuff happened.

Acting/Cast:
The acting is excellent. I very much believed that these characters were actual people. I was heavily invested in Teh and Oh Aew's friendship while it lasted. There was a lot of ugly crying, something that is extremely rare for dramas where the actors are meant to look perfect at all times. I was unsure of PP's acting at first, but I quickly grew to like him in his role as Oh Aew. His expressions were everything to me and he was very gentle.

Music:
The OST is everything. It added so much to every and wasn't too overt at any point. I enjoyed the music box version of "Skyline" a lot, andI'm honestly just weak for historical OSTs. The ballad/Billkin's love song was lovely. The composition of the song just really sets the mood. I really hope they release the whole soundtrack (including the instrumentals) on spotify.

Overall:
The director, screenwriters, cast, and crew did not come to play with this one. They brought it all. This series just felt so magical yet real at the same time.

Ke yi ma? Ke yi.

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