Call It What You Want (2021)

Very good short series... just don't let the car scenes irk you.

A great season one. My only gripe with this series are the car scenes. Everything else was better.

The storyline is consistent, albeit sometimes a bit rushed due to episode constraint, the character's stories are realistically portrayed. I love that the series not only focuses on the love story of James and Ait but also took time to explore Bas's. His story has so many layers of conflicts that season 1 was not able to completely unwrap and his story line is the one I'll be looking forward to see in season 2.

The actors acting are also great. I don't know if they are newbies in the industry, but the way they showed their characters is gripping and captivating. I think the director also has a hand on it.

As for the ending, yes it is a bit anti-climactic, which is expected as this one is marketed as adapted from real life experience.

Will write an in-dept review after re-watching it from the beginning.

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Feels like "behind the scenes"

This is not a "high budget" production - which is not bad, it actually makes it even better for me.

First, the actors. They are more "real" than in any other BL series. Time for example is great, he is "normal" and not styled to death. I already loved him in "Present still perfect" (if you haven't seen it: watch it!).
And Michael? Jesus, his acting is awesome! Yes, he is the product of BL industry, but his acting really hit me because he is so vulnerable. For me, he is the best character in this show because he combines what I critizise most about BL: on the one hand, he has amazing looks - but to what cost? His portrait of Bas is (sadly) true: sacrificing his health (even mentally) just to be a BL actor - there is nothing sadder to be seen.

Second, the story. Because of the show being "low" budget it feels for me like a "behind the scenes" and this makes it even more believable for me. I do not know what is really going on in the shows - there are rumors and some times there are "facts" about BL productions, I do not like. Like sexual harassment, pressure on the actors even in their private life and prejudices. I think this is sad because in my opinion, BL could be a great way to create understanding and acceptance for gay / queer relationships - but not the way it is shown in most BL productions.

Aam Anusorn Soisa-ngim is not afraid to show the "dark" side of BL (check out "BL - broken fantasy" on gagaoolala and yes, please pay for it because this should be supported) and I am glad that there are brave people like him! And even if this show is not "smooth and cute" like other BL, this should be supported - for the sake of the actors and for the sake of every gay / queer human being out there.

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It was a much needed BL

This BL needed to be made. For far too long BL stars have been objectified and fetishized - by the industry and its fans. The expectations of how they are supposed to act and with whom they are supposed to be with have been very unfair (and unrealistic). If heterosexual actors aren't treated like this - as a collective - then why the double standard for BL actors. I am glad this BL dove into the realities of BL series "dirt." Why? Because BL fans need a slap in the face so they can wake up and put "ishhh" in perspective. Can we all remember it's "tv" (so to speak). The fact that fans have been allowed to have a personal stake in actors' lives in such an invasive way! Da heck!? I hope what we are seeing in the BL industry is a shift in it as a whole. Sidenote: Also, it's time for more BL's to be off-campus and into the adult world.

A BL series this deep should be at least 12 episodes. For the 6 that it had - they did good. In response to those commenting on its "slow pace" - It was based on actual events therefore it should not have been fast-paced. How can you empathize with characters and their pain/struggles if you have a show that is whizzing through itself just "to entertain?"

This show also did well with how it balanced out its romance and humor in conjunction with the deep storyline. Honestly - I thought Bas was going to attempt suicide. I was glad he didn't! My heart broke for him, I wanted to gut P'Tee like a fish. I knew he was janky from the minute his character popped up on the screen.

I hope there is a season 2 with a minimum of 12 episodes. I have no doubt that they have not even gotten to the meat of the story yet! Stories based on actual events - the plot is always thick!

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We'll Call This A Half-Success

I knew not much going into this. I had seen the trailer of this series and was interested immediately. A show calling out the BL industries darker side? Much like K-pop, its not all glamor and fun. There are many toxic elements in any entertainment industry! What we get is a showing of unhealthy practices in the BL world. Kinda like "Lovely Writer" but shown in a more serious sense. Unhealthy dieting. beauty standards, Labeling as "tops" and "bottoms" rather than character names or actors names. No cell phones, the agencies posting for their actors. Total control over their lives during unhealthy contract sentencings. This is important stuff to discuss and apparently this show is based on true events? Which we will get into more later.

One thing I take issue with is the power dynamic between James and the one actor Ait. Love or not that's abuse of power and just wait until after working together. I understand they are both adults, but I guess the original idea was to actually show that uneven power dynamic and how problematic that is. I wish they would've stuck with that because its so relevant. Another negative was the green screen while there driving scenes. It was so bad! Like it was distractingly bad lol. I get this was probably really low budget because what advertisers wanna work with a show calling out other shows? But if it's that much of a problem just don't have scenes in moving cars. Keep it to stationary locations, even simply having it so the car is parked! Simple fix.

Moving onto the background of this show. It is (supposedly) heavily based on the "2Moons2" controversies which I looked into. First hint: in the show the company is "Motivation Village" where the actual company is "Motive Village" that's enough for me already lol. But their past controversies speak for themselves. Even with the lead actor Earth dropping out of the 3rd season, which who knows how that'll work! If they recast again that's ridiculous. The show within this show being called "2 Nights" very similar to "2 Moons". Talking about how the previous cast was fired, like with the entire recasting that apparently kept the old cast out of the loop. New actors claim indirectly that the studio Motive Village played favorites and left them jobless while being contractually bound. Company responds with claiming they were "imagining things". As well as the dietary issue with Pavel, mention of it in show. It's a lot and makes me glad I never liked the "2Moons2" franchise in the first place if the management and owner are this toxic and trash!


So where does this show shine? Pretty much all in the actor who played Bas. He's fantastic. His descent into depression and suicidal thoughts from trauma was done really well. Building it up and him brushing it off until the end. Tees sexual abuse, disgusting! Like I wanted to hug Bas so badly! Marco being a supportive dude was also really nice. These elements were key to my investment in the story, because this is something to be heard! The actor did such an amazing job with the emotion and I really teared up for him.

I'm lowkey surprised they got an actual actor from "2Moons2" Kaprao to play himself basically. I mean I think he's going to be in season 3 so shocked about that. There are also heavy implications at the after credits scene that there will be a season 2. I'm not sure how much they can really do with that, other than Tee getting what he deserves. JAIL. But I would watch it if it happens! I wanna see more growth from this series. Let's go even further into this stuff and give it the spotlight it deserves!

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Representation Matters

Call It What You Want was an inspiring BL that draws attention to the behind-the-scenes world of Boy's Love. While it wasn't very long and there were only a handful of episodes, we as the audience were still able to see and understand the severity of sexual abuse/assault in the entertainment industry and the dire circumstances that actors are placed under in order to be the "perfect".

Let's Dive In.

Now, once again, I forgot to actually focus on the music so I gave it its regular score of three stars cause I'm sure it was decent (and I'm too lazy to go back and listen). Production-wise it was alright. To me, it looked like they weren't given much of a budget, and at times it looked cheap. For example, the CGI in the car. Awful. Instead of paying attention to the conversations they were having, I was instead paying more close attention as to how bad it looked. Plot-wise, it was very hard to get into for the first three episodes, but after that, I started to really get into it. I had to push my way through the first half just because it was super slow and boring, but we actually get into the juicier parts in about episode 4.

Let move onto the characters. It took me a while to really enjoy James. The actor himself wasn't bad, but his character himself was very flat and not interesting. This is the first time (weirdly) that I've seen a Thai BL where the main character has long hair. At times I loved it, but at other times, it threw me off and he sometimes looked like a creep. Obviously, this part is just an opinion, but I wanted him to groom it better or to just cut it shorter. Ait to me came off super creepy in the beginning. The way he would stare at James was disturbing. Turns out they knew each other before then, but still his actions and words were way out of line. Closer to the end he got better, but I wished his character would've been more subtle about his feelings. Bas was by far the best character. At first, I wasn't sure what was going on with him. I thought that he was going to go through being closeted, but then I thought he was going to come out and say that he was suicidal, and then I thought that maybe he liked Ait and was jealous of James. A lot of things were leading up to these individual things, but when it came down to the real news, I was heartbroken. To hear him speaking to Ait about his situation killed me. I applaud the actor heavily on his portrayal of being a victim. We never really got to see Kaprao, played by the same actor from the 2 moons 2 franchise (Park). He was in it for like a few seconds on the last episode but that's it. It was mentioned plenty of times throughout the series, but I still would've liked to see him more.

I wasn't a huge fan of James and Ait. They felt really rushed, which is surprising seeing as they approached the question of why in BLs do they always fall in love so quickly, but it's hypocritical since they do the exact same thing (granted, more time probably passed by). They didn't really have many moments together, but for the later parts of the show, it got better. I'm more interested in the situation happening with Bas and Marco, and I'm excited to see what they do with that come season 2. I loved that Marco was there to listen to Bas and to also make him feel better. It was a nice touch on the creator's part to have most of episode 6 focus on Bas. I loved seeing his story.

This series called out on a lot of the bullshit that some BL series go through. From them forcing Bas to get botox done, to them making him eat just a little to no food, and even from them making both Ait and Bas not have access to their phones. It's sad to see that this is the reality for some actors. as well as being assaulted by the people in a higher power, and forced to do things that they weren't wanting to do. It was even sadder when you find out that this show was made after true events. I hear that it was particularly made after the 2 Moons 2 cast, but I'm not certain. If anything, this was made about something that actually happened, and I hope that whoever it was, they got justice.

Call It What You Want wasn't the best BL ever, but it did draw attention to some very important topics that I'm glad others are able to see and understand. Don't ship actors, let them have a love life outside of the show, and allow for them to be happy and do what they want. I recommend this watch to anyone willing to see the horrid stuff that goes on in BL.

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A Series Who Brought Out the Inner Devils in Some Shippers

This series, even before it started airing, was continually shaded over by the hardcore shippers fearing it will be shatter THEIR earth and sky. The shade even spread towards the director who was continually called out for being on his own and following what he had set his heart to do. The shade also spread towards GagaOlala's platform and a certain discord also spread misinformation and tried to discredit the owner of that platform and the director....But anyway, those things brought surprise to me when I had watched the first EP. I was immediately pulled with how raw the first episode was introduced, and how the world building had been so authentic. (er, minus the 1960s car driving scenes)

Actors in this series really did good. They may not be those who had bells and whistles in their name but with the director's prowess, they had made their characters as their own and ultimately contributed to the storyline and the narrative being built. As for Bas', I hope to see him soon in more series and shows as he is really a one fine actor in the making.

Some says nothing is unique or novel or new or exciting in the storyline... I was not surprised there. Even before the series aired, it was said to be 'adapted' from real life experience. That alone signifies, this series will show a day-to-day life of BL actors... and truly said, nothing is unique, novel, new, or exciting in ones daily lives. It is a set of repetitive day to day things we do. SO I don't get what they are screaming about. BUT, still this series had delivered what it promised to do, and that is to show what is behind the scene of BL series. AND also achieve its main purpose, which is to entertain. Besides, with that low budget, it actually showcase how good the director is. :)

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Different

Looking for fluffy romance? TURN BACK! Looking for high sexual content? YOU WON'T FIND THAT HERE! Looking for something realistic af? YOU'VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE!
This is apparently loosely based on true events and unfortunately, it doesn't surprise me. Idols all over the world suffer so much for their "dreams" at the cost of their sanity and freedom. (K-Pop fans can understand) This series may be short but it serves all the dark meat of the acting industry. As emotional/realistic as it all is, it's still pretty good. The ending puts you in your feels and I need a S2 like...YESTERDAY! But not sure if there's going to be one. Anyway, I wouldn't really recommend because this isn't meant to be super happy and cute. My re-watch is eh but I overall think it's still worth a first watch.
Enjoy...

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Binge-watched this in one go!

I waited for this series to end, so that I can binge watch it. So, today I did just that and watched all six episodes in one go!

Story-8/10
It's nice to see a different storyline from what we are normally watching. Just imagine what some of these BL actors have to go through, just for thier series to be made and to make a name for themselves is heartbreaking. It was nice to see the other side of the BL world with how they control thier lives bw it through what thwy eat, who they must be seen with and also how to handle thier Twitter/ Instagram pages. However, I felt that there were some areas that were lacking (I don't know what it is- it's just a feeling that I have). So for that I gave it an 8.

Acting/Cast-9
Man I am only giving this series a 9due to Michael's acting as Bas! He was f#$ing phenomenal! Especially in the last episode. The other actors acting were good, no doubt. But, Michael...Michael own was on a higher calibre than thiers!

Music-8/10
The music was actually cute and sweet! I like it!

Rewatch Valu-7.5/10
I am not in any rush to rewatch this series right now. When (or if) they do make a second season and if I need a refresh course in this series, then I will rewatch it. But for now, I'm not that eager to.

Overall-8/10
Overall it was an okay-ish series. I don't know why I was expecting something else and I feel like it wasn't delivered to me. However, Michael as Bas saved this show! Hope to see him in more future roles where I will support him!

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An emotional drama with an important message

„Call it what you want“ gives you an insight into the toxic side of the BL-Industry, where the product more counts than the individuals. But it also tells a love story between a director and an Artist.
Unfortunately, the story focuses sometimes too much on the romance, which is cute, but not the main reason why the series is worth watching. But when it comes to giving you a sense of how sad it is behind the scenes of a BL production, this series delivers like no other.

Sometimes you notice " their slim budget, but that doesn't bother me, because for that all actors convince with their performances. Especially the two main actors, but also the evil studio boss deliver a good reading.

And there is also Michael...his performance as „broken“ Bas is just heartbreaking.
Those sad, empty eyes gave me goosebumps and impress me. He is the Scenestealer and one of the main reasons, why this show is so good.

All in all „Call it what you want“ is not the typical fluffy BL-series and more an serious drama, but still an important series worth watching, especially in a time when BLs are gaining popularity.

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I'm Calling It Brilliant

Wow wow wow, I was *not* expecting to enjoy this drama as much as I did! Is it perfect? No. But is it superior to a lot of the BL we've been given lately? Very much so. (IMO of course). If it weren't for a few technical issues (questionable green screen, music too loud in some parts, voices too low in others) I probably would have given this a 9 instead of an 8.5*. At any rate, I think it should be rated much higher than the 7.3 it currently has (as of writing this review) and am disappointed to see such a low score.

*You know what? Screw it. I'm giving this a 9. Technical difficulties be damned! It's been a while since I've gushed this much over a BL drama and characters, and I've been so underwhelmed by the releases in this genre lately, so a 9 it shall be!

STORY:
This gave me "the BL industry is high-key problematic" in ways that Lovely Writer (exploring similar themes) did not. I don't want to put LW down, because that drama certainly has its merits, but I really appreciated the overall more realistic, less exaggerated tone that Call It What You Want took, as well as a different branch of the issues these actors may face in this world. It’s no secret that this drama was inspired by real events, and I felt that realness.

I also just enjoyed the unique setting in which this story took place. Much of the story focuses on external toxicity, namely power imbalances and control of actors (and apparently directors!) by the producers/talent agencies (not sure who the antagonist was representing). But we also see a glimpse of the internal, more private struggles that some actors face through the telling of Bas's story. And just when you think this story can’t possibly pull you in any further, bam! They hit you with the plot twist and you’re all up in a different type of feels. The serious topics here are not portrayed in a manner that’s contrite or—and I cannot emphasize this enough—cringey and melodramatic (I’m looking at you opening scene of UWMA). And because of that I remain fully engaged in the story and believe everything I’m told without rolling my eyes. Kudos to the writing, acting, and directing for accomplishing that.

Finally, although the episodes were limited in both number and length, the story felt whole, with very little of what I consider to be filler and fluff. Had I not known a Season 2 was coming, I likely would have felt robbed of both a burgeoning romance between certain characters and further explanation and resolution a very significant plot point. But since we are getting a sequel (hopefully soon!), I’m satisfied with what the director gave us in Season 1. If viewed as the first half of a longer series, I think Call It What You Want was fairly strong in pacing, character and plot development, and setting the stage for what's to come.

ACTING/CAST/CHARACTERS:
Ladies and gentlemen, this--THIS--is how you do romantic tension and chemistry between your two leads. I went in expecting James to be the creepy predator based on the synopsis but was oh so pleasantly surprised to see how sweet and soft he was. Ait--who gave him permission to be that cute!? He had my heart from the very first episode with his bold yet coy flirtations, and I want nothing more than to protect this little marshmallow fluff at all costs. The sweet, shy smiles and secret glances, the tenderness with which they look at and speak to one another--be still my fluttering heart.

I know I’m giving a lot of love to James and Ait (let’s just face it: they’re a huge part of why I love this drama) but I’ve got to give props to my man Michael in his portrayal of Bas. He wasn’t on screen as often as the others, but when he was—nothing short of impressive. Throughout the series, he gave us a mix of lovable nonchalance and worrisome solemnness, and boy did he really shine in the final episode.

Several of the actors here appear (based on their MDL page credits) to be newer to acting, but they delivered lines and conveyed emotions like veterans in the field. Other than a few longer-than-necessary pauses between dialogue in the first couple of episodes, the interactions felt natural and organic. Overall, really great job in selecting the cast for this.

OVERALL:
Ummm 100% recommend. No hesitation. This drama gave me sweet, sweet romance. It gave me substance and plot twists (well, one really big twist). And it gave me solid acting and writing and interesting characters. I was fully invested from beginning to end, and I am now oh so eagerly awaiting Season 2.

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Michael is a magnificent actor

The story was incredibly unsettling for many reasons. It wasn’t some outstanding show deserving awards or anything, but it really did shine a light on the BL industry and I feel like there’s a good chance that a lot of it is truth. The main “couple” were not great, acting was so-so. Michael/Bas was so very good, his emotions were spot on, he pulled off looking suicidal/troubled so well. Daniel/Marco was cute and believable , telling the jokes to cheer Bas up was heart warming.

Summary: Michael carried this entire show. He should be doing starring in all of the shows.

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wow, wow, wow.

Okay so, this isn't a review - or yes, but mostly me just ranting about stuff.
This whole work amazed me. The actors were perfect for their characters and Michael (playing Bas) made me cry, laugh and so angry. The actor playing Tee - made me hate him from the bottom of my heart.
As someone who has watched multiple BL series and movies for maybe two years now (over 50 series in total) was terribly uninformed and had no knowledge that the BL industry can be this bad. I knew some of it (like how the actors are not allowed to be in relationships and can't be seen with someone because of rumors) and that alone made me furious, but that sexual harassment is a thing was never something that I expected.
Thank you guys for making this eye-opening series. I look forward to seeing season two, I've heard it's amazing, even better than this one.

- samuel

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