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A journey of self-discovery... Before the sunset...
My heart just shattered when Teh asked “Would that be ok to have 2 male protagonists?”The pain in his voice breaks my heart.
Usually, I don’t particularly like high school BL; however just like HIStory 3: Make Our Days Count...
I Told Sunset About You is really really really well made. Teh and Oh-aew’s chaotic emotions and attractions for each other feel like a Russian roulette. And their struggles to learn about themselves and to accept their preferences are palpable.
On top of all those, they gave us that last intimate scene in episode 3...
It was not explicit but the phenomenal emotions these 2 young actors conveyed were enough to set the tv on fire.
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AN ALMOST MASTERPIECE THAT MESSED UP BIG TIME
OMG!!! I was expecting so much from this one because of all the through-the-roof high rating and rave reviews about perfection and best BL/best Asian drama etc. and not going to lie it delivered almost that in the first 3 episodes but WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE LATTER HALF??? I'm honestly a bit much pissed off and mad at the way things unfolded after episode 3 and the way things ended.This story to be absolutely fair is not a wholly new one. We have seen this childhood-best -friends-falling-apart-and-reuniting-later-down-the-line-and-discovering-their-love narrative enough to not be too surprised but still this series could have done so much more with this and I almost believed it could nail it with the first episodes and was so hooked and excited about it.
I will give a run down of each episode and where they might have effed up so as to have a closure with my disappointments with this series because I need one badly-
EP 1: The first episode was near perfect for a pilot episode that sets the stage for the rest of the story to unfold. It gives a nice back story to the characters who had been childhood besties but fall apart unfortunately and ghost each other for many years. This gave me flash backs to one time I fought with a good friend of mine and we ghosted each other for years. I have to admit one thing though that the whole reunion of Teh and Oh felt a little early in terms of a series as I was expecting them to slowly come to terms with each other through bittersweet developments. It would have brought me to devastation if they reunited in that beach towards last of the first half of the series or later. But since it felt a little abrupt, I couldn't connect as much because I felt connected with the child version of theirs and then suddenly they are all grown up and saying sorry to each other and crying. Also after that emotional reunion at the beach, the very next scene about the whole friend group just chilling in the beach felt a little misplaced.
EP 2-I don't have much to say about the second episode apart from that it was cute and paved the way for the rest of the story. I specifically liked the scene where Teh helps Oh to find out if Bas really likes him. That was true bestie goals:). Honestly I would have also liked it this way. The last part where they just sit in the river boat few seats apart looking in the opposite direction and afterwards how they address though rather loosely where their friendship stands was so artistically beautiful.
EP 3- This episode was my favourite. In this episode, their true feelings for each other surfaces and their story seems to come full circle and the fact that this one is not the last episode with the sunset scene as the closing scene is killing me. We come to know of the near toxic obsession of Teh for Oh and it only becomes more obvious in the forth episode.
EP 4- This is when all of it goes downhill and becomes a bit much real for me. So Teh is saying that he wants to be just friends after kissing Oh underwater in one of the most beautiful kissing scenes ever? Quoting Oh aew:"Do friends do that"??? I get that Teh is not ready, is a teenager, is going through a lot of confusion and his obsession for Oh isn't helping it as well but could he not have talked about it with Oh or for that matter anyone in the family? I know it can be hard to talk with family or friends about this sensitive of an issue but I believe they would have understood from what I knew of the characters or at least made it easier for Teh by letting himself out and free finally. I think I also need to cut Teh some slack because I know myself being an Asian what it is like being an LGBTQIA+ person and born into a conservative Asian family. But I also feel like since he was suffering so much and by holding it inside him it made it impossible and painful to watch which was clearly the case towards the end of the episode. It is one thing to make a cute scarpbook about Chinese idioms to help your boyfriend (there I said it!) get into uni and another to throw away your and your family's entire future, dreams and expectations over reserving him a seat there. It was nothing but painful and hurtful to watch the mom feeling helpless and questioning what befell her bright son. The crying scenes in this seemed comically exaggerated after having stupidly relinquished for his so called friend Oh. It was cringey when the next thing was them childishly fighting about this great sacrifice over IG stories (so gen Z but so out of place) . And I couldnt even watch at that point when Oh drops this great sacrifice of Teh which was expected and it makes it only funny(sorry). Oh needed to come to Teh's house at once and not wanting to see Teh sad was not a reason at all wtf?Teh crying over his cut out Chinese mastery book seems like something that can be fixed by rebuying it at the bookstore? I can't even imagine the pain Teh must have felt though because I know what getting into a good uni means to an Asian family and here too in this story an uni becomes a major make-or-break. The only thing I liked in this episode was the bra scene which is something so less portrayed in cinema so kudos for that. However this scene should have been given more importance with Oh seeing some flashbacks to his childhood or something.
EP 5- This episode did not do justice to the story of Teh and Oh and the ending seemed half baked. The ending closure felt constricted and short. The issues that Teh was facing weren't addressed well enough. Talking to his brother was not much of a help. I felt like Teh deserved to be helped with whatever he was going through and there was never a proper explanation for everything. I wanted Oh to come to Teh and have a conversation about everything which never really happened and the whole accepting himself was not seen. I wanted Bas who was so comfortable with his sexuality to help Teh in those rough times or at least give him some advice. I wanted Teh's friends who knew something was up to come help their hurting pal. I wanted Teh's mother to know the truth about her son and hopefully accept him. Teh deserved a healthy coming out.
In the whole story, I approve of Bas the most. He is sensible, smart and understanding. He is comfortable in his own skin and is not afraid to hold the hands of his boyfriend in public. He says out loud what he honestly feels about someone and is so wholesome. BAS DESERVES ALL THE LOVE IN THIS WORLD!
Overall, I don't dislike this series and am not mad about it and honestly would recommend it highly because of great performances, enchanting cinematography and addressing of certain important topics. When I was watching it, I got deja vu to the movie Call me by your Name due to the way it was shot and directed. Like Call me by your name which is also highly regarded and artistically beautiful but has its own set of flaws, ITSAY remains a worthy watch provided one doesn't hold too much expectations and know their priorities well.
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I TOLD EVERYONE ABOUT THIS DRAMA
This is a real masterpiece. There was not a single thing I hated about this drama. The story was so down to earth and it has the ability to really take all your attention. The characters are fairly realistic and you will catch yourself getting so invest in their "life" that you will be able to resonate with them or at the least understand them. Not only you will like the main leads, but you will also fall for the side characters. The cinematography was amazing, the music was well chosen and the dialogues felt really natural. If unseeying something was possible, you would totally unsee this drama just so you could experience watching it once again for the first time.Was this review helpful to you?
A piece of art
I am speechless, I'm not trying to over-glorify it. I have watched tonnes of BL dramas and this series by far is the most exquisite. I found myself trying to give any of the rating less than perfection but I just couldn't, I would deem myself a liar if I did that. There were times that I had to pause the video while watching sinceI felt like sobbing. The cinematography is immaculate and beautiful, the colouring is so calming. Top notch acting, especially the two main characters, they made the whole thing so beautiful. I would say that the lines were minimal in this series but they never ran out of conversations. All the actors communicate with their facial expressions, body language, and their eyes pretty amazingly. The story flows like water, it was really like watching a piece of art coming together before your eyes. This series is a masterpiece, created by all the people involved in the making of the series. It was such a privilege to be able to witness it.Was this review helpful to you?
DAEBAK!!!
I consider ITSAY as the best BL series of 2020. All casts were great most especially Billkin and PP. Very relatable. There was not a single episode that tears didn't fall on my face. Their true feelings were heartfelt even if they don't have any lines. However, the transition of their emotional breakdown were kind of fast. They were crying and in a snap, they felt at ease already. Same thing with the height of their excitement. Nevertheless, it woud still keep you addicted to the storyline. Looking forward to its 2nd season.🥰🥰🥰Was this review helpful to you?
This is not a BL
This showed up in my recommendations after I finished Atots. This show is not just a BL, this is an LGBT show that can compete with a lot of western/ European LGBT drama. This show is soo well done with the most amazing cinematography ever. I had to google the actors because they surprised me, this has one of the best natural acting have seen in a while, best OST, best pacing, best directing. I watched this with my kids and we were all sobbing at the end of this series. I will greatly recommend this and rewatch soo many times. I am about to start watching the documentary now.Was this review helpful to you?
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A must watch
This series is absolutely incredible. The acting was amazing and I was blown away by the intimacy of the leads. Usually I find thai bl's descent at best. But I told sunset about you was outstanding. Even though the series didn't stray away from some of the usual bl tropes, it felt very different from the standard enemies/friends to lovers. The first episode felt a bit slow but once I got past that I was amazed. The concept of the series isn't that unique but it was executed so well and shot so beautifully that I can't compare it to any other thai bl's that I have watched. And don't even get me started on the cinematography.I would without a doubt recommend this series.
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When society terns us in to our worst enemy it can be hard to know what to tell sunset...
This is a very sweet yet at times emotional roller coaster drama, breaking your heart over and over again. Telling the story of a journey with many victims on the way to figuring out what is true in ones heart. Actually showing how every singel person and choice matter no matter how insignificant he/she/thy may think they are.This story shows surprisingly few signs of prejudges from the outside world and has full fokus on the inner struggles of a person trying to figure out his feelings and the affect on both himself and the people around him who become collateral damage on the way to self-acceptance. Honestly a journey that would have been allot easier if people where taught inclusion from the start, but well that is probably to much to ask for, but hey one day...
It is at times easy to get mad and frustrated by the lead for making so extremely poor choices while lacking communication skills, but what is youth if not that a series of poor choices while learning to deal with the consequences of ones actions. Plus even if the drama shows very little signs of prejudges from the outside world, Tahs struggles are most definitely a result of growing up in a hetero-normative society. So it is there while not being there... kind of like a ghost in the background whispering do not forget you live in a hetero-normative society over and over again.
What makes this drama special is that every singel bad choice was called out and had a realistic non sugarcoated consequence, giving a realistic feel to this drama. I also loved how friendship and different types of relationships are portrayed in this drama, as well as the way they portray the value of a living in a supportive environment for growth and in the long run self acceptance.
This drama has allot of playful fun scenes between the heavy emotions, swimming and running around on beautiful beaches making studying seem FUN, and you might just learn a word or two in Chinese.
All in all this is defiantly a drama worth a watch, I am looking forward to season 2 but hope Tah has become more comfortable with himself so that the relationship can grow and hope he can stop hurting himself and the people around him.
P.s I want to make a side note about the existence of people who are pansexuall as well as bisexuall, just because you fall in love with a person with the same assumed sex as yours does not automatically make you a lesbian or a homosexual. A man can fall in and out of love with a girl and then fall in love with a boy... That boy could be assumed to be a boy but actually be a girl too. Sexuality and gender identity are a spectrum, sound complicated but it is not.
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Best Thai Series - BL or Non-BL
This is easily the best Thai series I have seen. I have seen quite a few (around 20 or so). BL or Non-BL. The story is very simple and grounded but the it was told is superb! The cast gave the performance of their lives to this series. I fell in love. I cried. I got broken. I laughed. I smiled. It was a roller-coaster and I love every single bit of it. I am re-watching it this 2021.Do yourself a favor and binge on this.
Here’s hoping that Season 2 is just as great as its predecessor.
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a pure sensitive Story of Love, Friendship and all between...
This series is not a common BL like the others. There is no „courting“, no stereotypes, and no unbelievable Storyline, there are emotions with every word, gesture, and look.The Acting of both main roles is perfectly on point and their chemistry is noticeable in every way. In my suggestion, it puts ThaiBL to another Level. (Even if it’s more a Coming Out Drama than a BL series)
It's a little bit calmer and more groundstandig but in a good way. There are no storytwists, no plotlines, just pure emotions, and struggles.
The only issue I see is in the support roles, which don’t have the same emotional power as the main couple.
But that is more than bearable in such a great drama series.
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Absolutely amazing!
There are many 10/10 reviews for this series and theyve said what I want to say, such as how this series is really like no other "BL" out there, this story transcends the genre and it's such a beautiful piece of art. The story, editing, directing/filming, scenery, OST is all perfect. What i want to focus on is the acting and specifically the portrayal of the 2 main characters, because the characters brought the script to life and pulled everything together.BK and PP absolutely knocked it out of the park and BK really had to do a lot of the emotional lifting in this series. It truly baffled me to read reviews from people who didn't enjoy BK's acting (????). BK was truly exceptional and so raw and natural with his quirks & mannerisms. Every single line felt so natural, the way he would hesitate to say something but then close his eyes and blurt it out. Even when he had no dialogue, his movements said exactly what he was feeling, which many of the times was confusion lol. There were so many scenes of Teh & Oh where I felt like I was intruding on their privacy because they were so intimate with each other. It felt like they were having a whole conversation when they were staring into each other eyes with no dialogue.
I just can't for the life of me see how anyone could watch this series with their eyes & ears and think the acting was what felt short lol. This is actually the reason i made an account and write this review.
I've already re-watched the series about 3 times now in the span of a week and every scene still feels so new to me. I can't wait for Part 2 to see how the 2 characters will grow as individuals and as adults.
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A Coming-Out Story Isn't Necessarily a BL
There are some things to say right away - the story is beautiful in its way, the settings and acting are great. BUT....If this were a BL series, the story would revolve around Teh and Oh-Aew coming to realize that they like each other and then kissing at the end. The journey is MUTUAL in that both are finding their way toward each other.
This is a more of a coming-out movie, where the story obsessively focuses on Teh's realization of his homosexual attractions and Oh-Aew just so happens to be the person who awakens those feelings in him. In fact, this would make a better film than a series.
By the end of this, I was really dissatisfied with the absolute torture Teh put everyone through to come to his self-realizations. I found him to be selfish and self-obsessed. I think it's episode 5 when Teh's wonderful brother Hoon, calls him a crybaby, and that definitely applies to Teh. I just don't have much patience for crybabies who seem to always be saddest about their own predicament and barely moved by others. In fact, I don't know if I can even describe Teh as a good person because he always has motives for what he's doing. You can understand why a movie focused on Teh wouldn't be much to my liking.
Besides, if you think Teh has it bad, what would this story be like from Oh-Aew's point of view? He decides to go into acting as a child, only after getting permission from Teh, then once he likes it, Teh drops him for betraying him. Can you imagine the hurt Oh went through? Oh is a single child without the benefit of a comforting brother to give him the go-ahead to explore his gay feelings. He had to come to those realizations and experience all the pain and hesitation ON HIS OWN. Imagine how hard that would have been. And still, he was willing to put himself out there - first by accepting Teh's friendship again after being hurt so badly by him and then by repeatedly showing affection toward Teh only to be swatted away. Oh-Aew even is willing to treat Bas poorly on his way to get Teh to accept his feelings. Teh is CRUEL to Oh-Aew and to Tarn, for that matter, and isn't worth all the screen time.
In the end, I would have liked Oh to have run that journey on his own, because the show should have allowed him to come to his own realizations too - that he doesn't need anyone in this world to support him who is not ready to accept him as he is, bra and all.
This series might look beautiful and might take itself very seriously, but it doesn't succeed at telling a BL story. If this is BL, then so is "Brokeback Mountain" and we can agree there is a difference.
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