I Told Sunset about You

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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A new standard for romance / BLs - a masterpiece

I actually signed up for an account just to write a review for this. That is just how amazing this production was.

STORY
This isn't your typical coming-of-age drama/movie. Most dramas tend to follow the same plotline of "straight guy falls in love with gay guy, finally has an epiphany and gets together" troupe. However, ITSAY adds an additional layer, as it deals with what most people struggling with their sexuality feel in their lives: denial, the inability to discuss this issue with family, societal pressures of marriage and being a "good son". ITSAY gives justice to all these issues and brings hope to watchers who may be facing the same issues. Really well-written script, tugs the heartstrings, giving the romance while also dealing with these issues. Very well done and amazing analogies and hidden symbols. Brings in so many more layers to the story.

Also, can I just say that it not only has the most beautiful kiss scene but even without any kiss, you can feel the yearn and desire Teh and Oh-aew had for each other. It's just so beautiful.

ACTING
Every actor gave their all in this series and it can be seen. There are many emotional scenes but every actor/actress managed to pull off the emotions and giving the story a lot more depth and character/story development. I would have to commend Billkin for being able to showcase the inner conflicts that one deals with in regards to their sexuality. PP Krit also did a fantastic job with the emotional scenes and the wish to have a "normal love" with the bra scene and the scene after the kiss scene where he had to accept Teh's unwillingness to accept his sexuality. Smile and PP Khunpol also did and amazing job in the rejection for their unrequited love. Also Teh's mother. 10/10.

MUSIC
There is nothing more to say that it is so amazing. "Skyline", just like what P'Boss mentioned, really makes you miss someone even if you don't understand the lyrics. The other OST, "Lost in Translation" also gives one the feeling of the yearning of love and the softness that love will bring into your world. Really amazing, and the absence of music in important scenes also adds another layer of depth into the story and emotions of the scene. 10/10.

REWATCH VALUE
Definitely. You would want to rewatch it again to see if you have missed out on any of the symbolism such as the "color theory" of Teh, Oh-aew and Tharn where Teh = blue, Oh-aew = red and Tharn = purple. And who wouldn't want to watch this sweet relationship again?

OVERALL
Really well done. For the fact that Goy wrote the script after interviewing the actors shows just how much thought and dedication went into making this drama. The production team came very well with the actors to deliver this masterpiece. Even with COVID, they managed to produce such an amazing drama. This series is no longer a "drama" but rather, a work of art. A definite must-watch even if one isn't into BLs. It shows the beauty of two humans falling in love.

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OMG

This is one of the best series I've watched all 2020 and I fan girl screamed so damn hard! It definitely deserves all the love it's received. It's an emotional roller coaster but instead of feeling sad, I mostly felt anxiety. SO MANY times you're going to be tricked and wanna scream "WTF?!" But it's an amazing story none the less. The boys have great chemistry with each other which makes the story so much more convincing. It was nice to seem some new faces and this lead role will definitely put them in the spot light in the future. The name seems weird... until the very end, it'll all make sense (I love stuff like that). Now the wait for S2 begins...

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A masterpiece worth the watch

Hello I’m writing my first review because this show deserves one. It’s really worth watching ! If you're hesitating, don't be scared this drama has one of the best drama plot and acting.
I can say that, compared to other thai dramas, the acting was the best I've ever seen. We can feel all the characters' emotions through their eyes and the chemistry between the main characters is higher than what I’ve witnessed to this day (this beat Tharntype that was, to me, the drama with the best chemistry between the male leads). Teh gave me such goosebumps and, oh my god, Oh-Aew was just as good !
It’s a story I related to, as I also don’t talk to my bestfriend anymore so it made me cry a lot and boy, you will cry at each episode either because of how you’re immersed in the drama or because you will get just as sad as the characters.
The cinematography can put you in a daze and the songs literally emphasize the beauty of the drama. It kinda gave me the same feelings i felt while watching « Call me by your name » but since it's much more longer (and better but it’s just my opinion since i liked itsay more haha), it felt like heaven to me lol. It’s not an overrated drama, it’s just one of the best bl ever made and YOU HAVE to watch it !


/!\SPOIL TO KNOW IF IT’S A HAPPY ENDING OR NOT /!\

Don’t worry, it’s definitely a happy ending.

/!\SPOIL /!\

I absolutely loved Bas character, he was the sweetest and I still want to cry when I think of him and Oh-Aew hugging. I would've loved a kiss to end the drama but I’m absolutely not disappointed ! I look forward to season 2 that I’ll watch at all cost hehe.

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A Masterpiece

Too often, Thai dramas fall into tropes and predictable storylines. BL in particular can sometimes serve up flat stories that lack depth and drive. The characters’ actions can also seem legally dubious and morally questionable, which lessens my respect and support for them. This is not the case with I Told Sunset About You. It felt modern, refreshing, informed, emotionally mature, and rich. It is a masterpiece, probably the best drama to come out of Thailand.

Much has been said about how the production did not seem to cut corners, but in my opinion, the best choice the director made was the simple rule of “show, don’t tell.” So much of the action takes place beneath the surface. Emotions and motivations of the two leads are obvious, but not openly discussed: Teh always wanting to smell coconuts, down to smelling coconut-scented ink and literally sticking his head in one; the characters increasingly finding excuses to touch each other (though not necessarily in a sexual way); the jealousy they both try to keep hidden; the conversations they have about their other love pursuits where the body language clearly states, “I’m really into you, but don’t think I have a chance.” The unwillingness, particularly on Teh’s part, to deal with the reality of their emotions yields results that spill over from their relationship with each other into foolish and consequential decisions that negatively affect other people, but again, the cause-and-effect is shown, not explained. It’s not easy to bring out or deliver these performances, which makes the entire production all the more remarkable.

The other thing I adored about this series was its maturity. The relationships, while ridden with mistakes from characters, were healthy. While there was jealousy, there was never a lack of consent or an attempt to control the other person. There was a heart-wrenching conversation between Teh and his brother, when everything finally spilled out, that was realistic but heartwarming, and reflected what many in the queer community need to be ready for when they acknowledge who they are. In other BLs, the female characters end up being treated with scorn, as one-dimensional obstacles and nuisances. I really appreciated how Tarn was given motivations besides being love-struck, and at one point basically says that she is too busy trying to get into college to deal with being jerked around. She was dealt with as a full character who also must cope with the consequences of Teh’s actions; the show gave her dignity, which is incredibly rare in this type of drama.

The only small flaw I could find in the show was that the music timing seemed a bit overly dramatic in a few instances, but this is common in many Asian dramas and doesn’t really take away from the overall show.

This piece was extraordinary and a treasure; I hope other directors and writers take note of its success and why. An absolute standing ovation from me!

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This is gonna make you cry!

This is one of the best romances I have ever seen... I generally binge on a lot of dramas just for the pretty faces and the good feels... but this was not one of them. The 'teen' in their teenage was so glaringly obvious and makes you want to hold all of them and give a good hug! The actors were so in character, every single one of them. I didn't connect with all the crying in the first episode.. but it made me curious for the rest..and boy was I glad I continued!!!
Reasons why I LOVED this drama enough to write a review for the first time ever:
The chemistry felt real.
There were no unnecessary toxic and mean characters.
The struggle felt real. The story was believable.
Did I tell you that their chemistry was off the charts??
It portrays the teenage mood swings and confusions perfectly!
Some of it felt gross but in a way that we are all gross and stupid and disgusting and weird during our teenage, at least I
was... so it made things more real than glossing over and prettied up.
While rarely the music felt a bit off, it was ON POINT every other time, making the scene even more perfect.
There were no useless scenes giving explanations and spelling out things. Every shot was necessary and added to the story instead of dragging it. The details of the purple and red hibiscus and the words they write... every single thing was given thought and reason.
This is a true slice of life drama, the kind I like.

Weirdly the person I connected most to was Tarn in the last episode... though I didn't like her till then.

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Likely the best BL series for 2020

I didn't have high expectations going into this series. In fact, I didnt have any expectations at all.

The surprise that came following the first episode and then on was pleasant. There aren't enough words I could use to describe how good of a series this was. The two main actors are absolutely amazing. Their ability to show pain, love, and longing is something I havent seen in a while - the last being in History 2: Boundary Crossing. The chemistry between the mains was also incredible good.

The best moments were the silent ones, where it told a story louder than spoken words could. What an absolutely fantastic series. Can't wait for the continuation of this storyline.

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Gorgeous, Sincere, and Compassionate

I'd heard people calling this show a masterpiece and thought "Right, sure, whatever." And then, of course, I actually saw it.

This show is incredibly compassionate and detailed - perhaps more so than any queer movie or television show ever aired. Rather than attempting to placate viewers with BL tropes, this show steps into a queer mindset and asks "How would it really happen?" and "What are the real internal obstacles to this love?" There's never an attempt to insert artificial drama. No evil exes, no random tragedies, no one-dimensional homophobic bullies. Teh and Oh are multi-faceted characters with dreams of their own, trying to figure out what is going on between them, because it isn't clear - as it often isn't in real life. Is this friendship? Is this love? How do they know? With no role models, no representation, Teh and Oh are left on their own trying to figure what is happening between them and many of the side characters are eventually brought into the crossfires. At times, everyone behaves poorly, and it is abundantly clear from the acting of the cast that each actor portrays their character as if they themselves are the main character.

As for the story: there are scenes here that are so lovingly and sensitively portrayed that you can't help watch them over and over again. There's also a concerted effort to show, not tell - red hibiscus vs purple hibiscus, the smell of coconut shampoo, the evolution of the back massage. Each character has a rich psychological framework they are operating out of, and the show displays their inner life with an enormous amount of non-verbal scenes. At times, I think there's almost too much detail in the stares for the average person, but I'm not sure how much of a cultural background features into eye contact. Do Thai people stare at each other that much and that long? I mean, maybe right? As an American, I can't exactly say. The story comes across as very Thai, as well, and at times Americans (and maybe other non-Thai folk?) may struggle to figure out exactly what's happening, given the inclusion of a myriad of Thai customs not always explained to the non-Thai perspective. Some people might complain that the story moves too slowly - but I would argue that it goes at an extremely believable pace, even slightly too quickly. For instance, some of the necessary backbone of Teh and Oh's relationship is glossed over as the story moves into their romance. People eager for their romantic interactions might not mind, and PP Krit and Billkin certainly have great chemistry. But on the most technical level, I think we needed to see more of what Teh and Oh like about each other as people. They're certainly playful and they understand each other extremely well; they also share a passion for acting. But I don't think it's ever made clear why exactly Teh is so in love with Oh. To be fair, Thai BL rarely explain the logic behind the passion, and teenagers in general tend to be less logical about these sorts of things, but a little more logic might have given the show a more mature perspective. Towards the end, there's maybe one or two scenes (I'm thinking specifically the Chinese New Year scene) that feel like they're milking the emotions more than necessary - I'd argue we could have done without Teh and the song and just had a red hibiscus make its appearance to be effective. But other than that, there really is so much stunning writing and deeply honest conflict that makes the story feel unique, believable, and genuine in its attempt to explore the lows and highs of the characters.

The acting: I mean, it is definitely good - and in part due to the director. The director has such a strong sense of the smallness of looks and touches. It's all very subtle, but very detailed. Again, all actors give their characters complex and specific interior lives. The chemistry is also really lovely between Billkin and PP. And of course, the actors who play Tarn and Hoon are just wonderful.

The music: absolutely stunning. All of it. Sensitive and - as I think I saw another review put it - wise. And there's such a tenderness and compassion in the music; you can tell that the composer really loves these characters and so hopes they find happiness. There's also a lot of emotional complexity to the music which greatly aids scenes that are extremely subtle. You will more than likely be humming a few of these songs when the show is over.

The cinematography: also, absolutely stunning. Careful, lavish, meticulously thought-out, very high production. This is a project that people really, truly cared about, and it shows on every level.

Rewatch value: I NEVER rewatch BL dramas, but I've watched nearly ever scene about three or four times now. Again, every scene is so complex - there is so much hidden symbolism and psychological warfare - that you won't be able to pick up on everything the first time around. But as you rewatch, things just become clearer and richer. And there is SO much to talk about. I Told Sunset About You investigates queer love with an honesty unparalleled at this point and there are scenes and conflicts wholly accurate to the queer experience that have never been displayed before. I Told Sunset About You never tries (or almost never tries) to make the experience melodramatic - it is sincerely invested in helping you see how difficult - and how beautiful - queer love truly is.

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On top of my watching list

This is the definition of high quality series. You will not be disappointed with their acting, the cinematography & the story. Just try to watch the first episode & i guarantee that you‘ll never going to regret it. Each episode feels like a movie, it’s totally different from other BLs. When sometimes we find a BL series where they make all the character to be gays. I told sunset about you tells us more about the real struggles of someone who‘s still figuring out their sexuality. They don’t exaggerated the story and they also don‘t overdramatized the relationship with the family & the female character.
The only thing that you‘ll complain after watching it, that you wish there will be more episodes.

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A masterpiece

Well i have to be honest. At first I just ignore my friends sharing thing and other stuffs about this series. they keep on sharing their review, the cast pictures and more. You know curiosity kills hahaha indeed. So this past week we had academic break after our exam so because of curiosity i really want to find out to myself what in this series. I have so many question in my mind and i need a clear answer ASAP. So i started to watched the series and i cant stop. 5 episodes for 5 and a half hour. i finished the series within the day. And i must say, this is not a typical BL series. One word to describe this series, "perfect" and that's it period.

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