Not Me

Anyone disappointed after watching this? NOT ME.

An incredible series that GMM25 has delivered and a dangerous new standard for the upcoming series. Why? Read below. This is a longer review than usual, but this series is INCREDIBLE and therefore incredibly hard to put into only a few paragraphs. :))

(Quick recommendation. Listen to this while reading: https://youtu.be/dBW9c7QS99M?list=RDdBW9c7QS99M)

The story is unique and nothing that anyone has easily come close to achieving. Political topics have a high risk of not being well received by the viewers because the pacing often becomes very sluggish and boring if it is not implemented correctly. Another danger with this trope is that romance can often feel redundant and inappropriate, thus degrading the quality of the story. Neither is the case here. Why? The answer is not very simple.


PRODUCTION
Let´s start with the production and filming/ writing of the scenes. Throughout the entire series, one can not deny the beautiful shots that were taken. Everything seems to have gone under detailed planning of how to use the natural light the best and how to film beautiful scenes at locations that don´t depend on much editing. However, one thing is certain: professionals are at work. Both in the filming and editing, but also in the individual usage and choice of music. Incomparable to other series.

Praise to Nuchy Anucha Boonyawatana, Noolek Sureechary and M Rittiktai Kanjanawiphu for the incredible screenwriting. I did not stumble across any grievous mistakes. I want to thank the creator of "Not Me”, Dem Thanutnun Vitsivakun, for creating this incredible story. She has succeeded in merging the topics of politics, injustice, LGBTQ+ and revenge to a point where you can only be amazed.

And of course, praise for the cinematographer Beat Pramett Chankrasse, who gifted us with captures of breathtakingly beautiful moments. The scenes embody the emotions of all the characters and carefully embrace them. But how are other series supposed to keep up now, mister? I have no idea.

The difficulty that this series has met was the decreased number of episodes because of budget problems. This problem was briefly felt towards the end, but the overall presentation is so brilliant that the few inconveniences can be overlooked, really!


PLOT
Black and White are twins with a powerful connection, but the two are as different as day and night. White is very dedicated to revealing the truth behind the state of his hospitalised brother, but his personality is, FORTUNATELY, too different not to cause other problems, incidents, etc. This fact is very well implemented by the writers: Without being too obvious about it they make White purposely misbehave in his role as Black. The story and its execution go hand in hand in this series.

The entire plot had so many risks in its adaptation, but the series succeeded in not getting trapped by them. On the contrary, they used this fear to create a masterpiece that will amaze everyone, probably even the people involved. The expectations were more than met.

The side stories also have their unique charm, and the introduction of a mute person just gives the overall picture that certain something of a realistic scenario that you get addicted to watching. No matter if politics, injustice, LGBTQ+, revenge or disadvantages, each topic is accurate and not exaggerated.

The female characters did not meet the cliché standards of many other series of the same genre; on the contrary, they were no tools for the story, but - and that should be the norm - they were their own masters, had their own lives and did not have any unexplainable toxic trades. All their reactions were understandable and well implemented.

The characters aren't denied their mistakes either; rather, in the series, these people try to work on their mistakes. That's what makes them so human and the series so perfect.


ACTORS
Before I get to Gun´s outstanding performance, I start with the supporting cast. The acting of all of them was solid, and no one seemed to be uncomfortable to look at. Additionally, I also want to praise whoever cast this outrageous cast. Because even smaller roles like the parents or the antagonist have proved themselves well and worked fine with the plot.

Film (Eugene) and Lookjun (Namo) delivered two incredible performances as two female characters in a gay romance-oriented series. They acted very naturally, and one could sympathise with their portrayed roles. Especially Film was well cast for her role as Eugene. Filmshy was also doing a good job, but she didn´t have much screen time, so it´s hard for me to review it.

Let´s get to the boys. Oh. I have so much to say, but I don´t know where to start. I have never imagined Sing to ever get this kind of role, but he succeeded in any means. If you ask me, he deserves to get more main roles in series because he is such a flexible and good actor.

The leader of the garage, Gumpa, was played by Papang. Two words. Unexpected Gem. This guy did such a good job in his role. He also deserves more screentime because he is truly gifted. The same goes for Mond, who portrayed Gram. Personally, I like this actor a lot because he always managed to meet my expectations, and I love the control he has over his facial expressions.

When it comes to emotions and portrayed intimacy, First (Yok) and Fluke (Dan) were blowing my mind. I loved their shots and on-screen scenes. Everything in this series worked incredibly well together, but especially these two. After watching their sequences, I got inspired and overwhelmed by a sudden wave of motivation. I will miss them. I will miss the PAIN. THE PAIN.

There was also incomparable harmony between Gun (Black/ White) and Off (Sean), again ... but honestly, how do they do it? How crazy can one succeed in their role? The two are a great match, and I hope to see more of them in the future. Speaking of how incredible these two are, Gun deserves a special mention. He managed to draw a clear line between Black and White. Cold and warm. Physical and psychological. He was playing both twins, but you could tell them apart. Manifestly! What an incredibly good actor! Mastering a twin role alone is something many have attempted and failed, but none has been as good or compelling as Gun. Give him a huge award and lots of love and attention.


OVERALL
At this point, I´d like to cite our POP-Queen Lady Gaga:
NOT ME is “talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before, unafraid to reference or not reference, (…)”. In a nutshell, this show is everything and more that the LGBTQ+ film community has ever wished for. The scenery and shots are breathtaking, the actors outstanding, and the edit incomparable. Even the use of music has been merging with the entire awesomeness of this show. Every expectation is being me, and it´s honestly nothing you should miss.

The upcoming series has a lot of work ahead if they ever want to meet this extreme standard of perfection.
Who am I lying to ... it´s impossible.

Read More

Good drama but with some flaws (spoilers ahead!)

I didn't really have any expectations about this series, so went in with a fairly open mind. The casting looked good and the acting certainly was much better than what we're sometimes used to from many of GMMTV's other programs. No slapstick comedy, the characters felt more real and down to earth. No heavy make-up and perfect surroundings. It was gritty and dark, but had love, hopes and dreams as well. I liked the style of directing, the choice of music and the bold topics covered which I can imagine are borderline taboo in Thailand considering its political situation. It was refreshing to see a series which touched on several of these difficult topics, sparked debate and highlighted the plight and issues faced by many in society - including the feeling of helplessness but also the power normal people can have to force change. For all that I applaud the director/writer(s).

The acting was good. A special shout out to First who did a superb job portraying Yok as confident, cocky and self sure but also vulnerable, loyal, loving and a cute hopeless romantic. He embodied the character really well and his acting skills have really improved. I can tell he takes his craft seriously. Overall the entire cast did a very good job and the directing was also very good, and you could see the actors feeling comfortable with the topics and conveying the messages.

I think where I struggled was some parts of the story. There were many loose ends and undeveloped arcs. For instance Tod's storyline. At the start he seemed to be a central character to the mystery and you suspected he was involved in the beating of Black somehow. He was the reason White was brought back to "replace" Black so as not to rouse attention of what he had done, and to allow the gang to continue with their attempts to bring Tawi down so Tod could increase his own power. I'm willing to buy that, and it did turn out in the end that he was behind Black's beating. But then his character didn't really go anywhere. We didn't really see his rivalry with Tawi. For several episodes it just seemed to be him and Black randomly fighting, until the very end when we see Tod in hospital - presumably beaten up by Black. Was that it? I would have expected the rivalry between Tod and Tawi to manifest itself somehow on the gang. Apart from White and Black, the others were oblivious to Tod's existence. Even White's interactions with him suddenly stopped. Meanwhile what happened to Tawi and his empire? The gang was rescued from being kidnapped by the people protesting, and then we didn't hear or see anything more.

I also find it hard to believe that Gumpa knew all along who White was but didn't say anything knowing what was at stake. It's somehow not believable. I would've believed it if Gumpa had confronted White early on and said he was onto him but would keep it a secret from the others. It would give White a chance to explain what happened to his brother and it would open up a whole new arc and possibility to the story. In the end Black came back, beat everyone up and then went away somewhere. Meanwhile Sean and White rode off into the sunset.

I'm going to say something which is going to be controversial and many of you won't like, but I don't think the relationship between Sean and White added anything to the story - nor did it progress it in a significant way (if at all). I actually thought it was a mistake. Unlike Yok and Dan's relationship which was linked to the overall storyline, White and Sean's relationship didn't really make an impact. It took up a lot of time which could have been used to tie up all the loose ends, plug the gaps and expand the mystery. I know this isn't a BL, and I'm sure the creators didn't want it to be a BL - but the fact that so much time and focus was spent on Sean & White it pretty much took it in that direction anyway and it ended up being one. The actual storyline in some ways became secondary to them. The two actors work well together and have chemistry, and I am generally an OffGun fan but in this drama I think it was superfluous.

It would have been enough to have the relationship between Yok and Dan and Gram and Eugene. Yok and Dan's relationship to my mind was much more intriguing, interesting and playful - and could've been even more integral to the part of the story considering Dan was a police officer. First and Gawin did a terrific job and they had great chemistry. I hope they get another series together. It was nice to see a happy ending to their relationship, but it would have been good to see them going back to Dan's hometown as he had promised Yok.

So in summary: I did not, not enjoy this, but I think I was left feeling I needed "more". Not more episodes, just more tying up of loose ends and a more cohesive storyline between the characters. There were some missed opportunities with this one. Maybe there will be a season two - who knows? - where the story will get expanded. I hope so at it has a decent base to build on, and good characters.

Aside from the gripes, it was well acted and brought to light many important issues which should never be ignored in any society, and I applaud the team and actors for taking that risk and pulling it off.

Read More

A GMMTV Gem

I can’t believe GMMTV can make BLs like this.

Oh my goodness, this series is absolutely phenomenal! The way it fearlessly critiques the Thai government, especially with recent events in the Thai elections, is just awe-inspiring and deeply poignant!

The story of Black and White, these twins with such a powerful connection, is so captivating. Their separation after their parents' divorce, with White moving to Russia and Black staying in Thailand, adds such a heart-wrenching element. And when White returns after fifteen years and discovers Black's condition, I couldn't help but be on the edge of my seat!

The suspense of White disguising himself as Black to uncover the traitor among his friends Sean, Gram, or Yok is so intense! The dynamics between them are just so enthralling, especially when Sean starts to suspect that something isn't right.

Oh, and let's not forget Black's journey as a protester and his struggles with Todd. That breathtaking fighting scene at the pool, the same one as in KinnPorche, brings an extra touch of excitement! This hotel location has been used in many BLs since. I can't help but fantasize about a Black and Todd spin-off, but alas, it might remain a mere dream due to the OffGun shippers and GMMTV.

And Gawin's portrayal of Dan, the disillusioned cop turned graffiti artist, is nothing short of extraordinary! His slow-burn relationship with Yok, a passionate protester and devoted fan of Dan's art, is a symphony of emotions. Gawin's performance had me completely hooked and left me yearning for more of him. First come on my radar only to disappear with his pairing with Khaotung.

All the characters in this series have their own compelling reasons for becoming protesters against the government and influential figures. It's incredibly moving to see their determination and resilience in the face of adversity.

The message about gay marriage and LGBTQIA+ rights is so relevant and crucial, even if there might have been some censorship due to the Thai government. This series courageously speaks up and advocates for important issues!

Overall, I am utterly in awe of this series and all the depth and brilliance it showcases. It's a must-watch for anyone who craves powerful storytelling and meaningful themes. Bravo to the entire team behind this outstanding production!

Read More

"The law is just the law. It's only the gate to justice but the law itself isn't justice"

for a person who avoids political dramas like the plague, this one was different. from the aesthetics, the ost and to any scene in every single episode, it was a brilliantly artistic take in showing a well-balanced story involving romance and politics.

so, what did i love?

-the amazing cast
there are many familiar faces in this but one thing's for sure, everyone's performances in this drama didn't fall short. not even an inch.

gun really didn't pull back from giving his all in both his roles as black and white. it was as though i was watching two people play their parts and i had to blink hard as black and white truly had distinct personalities. again, i'm not surprised by gun's talent as he never failed in showing his talent on screen.

i used to be skeptical of off's acting but in here, he was able to depict a broken character seeking revenge against unjustice. those expressions of anger mixed with helplessness and those cute scenes with white, off nailed it as sean.

first didn't fail me in this drama. he was lowkey smug but at the same time, this boy knows how to break my heart into pieces. paired with fluke, they both served emotions that hit you right at your chest. fluke did well as a police officer that wants to fight against the corrupt, a person that wanted to change.

the whole gang had me in shambles for how much they cared for each other. with how good the chemistry is between all of them, it was inevitable that the friend group was shippable. despite being a serious drama, there were funny moments as well. gumpa as the father of five (including black ofc) was portrayed wonderfully by papang. even though his acting was a bit iffy at times, he definitely gave off the fatherly vibe as he trained and helped the boys out whenever trouble came their way.

i was so used to seeing sing as a silly or playful character in other dramas so seeing him play a new type of role was a surprise. he managed to blow me away whenever he showed up and his scenes with black are worthy to be applauded.

-the couples !!!!
sean x white:
as one of the well-known bl couples, the offgun duo strikes again. the angst between these two was steaming hot. before sean and white got together, the tension they had was enough to make me scream internally. once they broke the ice and started to cuddle up to each other, i saw sunshine, rainbows and thunder. white who used to not understand sean's pain slowly became sean's comfort. their love to fight and protect each other will forever be something i'm envious of.

dan x yok:
the conflict that comes along with falling for someone you laid your trust on is heavier than one can imagine. maybe, i'm masochistic but the relationship between dan and yok had so much to it that i can't help but root for them. those sentimental scenes in which they started to open up to each other and weren't afraid to show their vulnerable side.... it was purely beautiful. besides the angsty scenes, they have their cute moments that i cherish A LOT.

-the women
we don't see petty arguments or grudges. what this drama offered is women that stand their ground. namo, eugene and nuch are all clear on their views and have such an impactful character to them that doesn't make it overwhelming or underwhelming. this is one of those dramas that i appreciate for not writing female characters as stereotypes.

-the cinematography
if i wanted to screenshot every single second of this drama, i would. the camera angles and close up shots of small details in the emotional and intimate scenes were my absolutely favorites. i love how this drama was filmed and how the colorisation fitted the scenes perfectly.
also, i really appreciate that the actors looked naturally beautiful in this one. there was less makeup and it gives off this no filter feel to it.

-the important topics covered
this drama is not just a bl drama. it shows many issues that goes on in the real world as well. to name a few, it highlights:
1) privilege
2) lgbtq+ rights (marriage equality)
3) disability rights
4) political corruption

things i didn't like:
-the way the ending got wrapped up felt rushed
-gram and eugene as a couple
-the whole twin connection wasn't explored more (but then i understand it would stray far away from the drama's focal points)
-some questions left unanswered
eg. was dan let go just like that? what is todd's story? what will tawi do?

regardless of the imperfections, 'not me' is easily on my top bl dramas that i keep close to my heart.

Read More

NOT ME IS A SERIES ECHOING THE VOICES OF MANY

Not me is an absolutely stunning series focusing on the underlying real-life issues of how powerful people use their power for corrupt practices. The series is more of a plot-driven with elements or themes focusing on action, politics, social problems, thriller along with the BL romance. If you love series that mainly focus on the story and character then you are at the right place, romance is like a treat that you will find along the way. Also, you are not going to find a fluffy romance here.

STORY
The story sequence of the series is mainly focused on the individual motive of the characters which pushes the events in the story. Not me has successfully portrayed the voice of the youth demanding justice due to their broken system. I loved the portrayal of all the energy of the students demanding an explanation and transparency of their government. " The power of Unity" is echoed throughout the series making it a remarkable and meaningful series to watch. The symbolism of White and Sean holding hands under the Pride Flag in the parade was so powerful and emotional that it literally gave me goosebumps. I think it was probably one of the most powerful scenes in the series. The discussion on politics, law, and crime, and art is something that makes an audience more interested in the series. I personally like that they kept the romance slow burn, This was befitting for the series like 'Not me'. You get a pure example of how circumstances bring together people of diverse notions. I found the ending to be good and justified. Not me has taken on the example of Tawi to show us that there are several powerful people like him who take advantage of their power. Even in the end the fate of Tawi remains undetermined and is left for the audience to interpret its actual ending.

ACTING/CAST
Off has done a remarkable job in portraying Sean. I have been watching his series since SOTUS and one has to applaud for his immense improvement in his acting. Gosh, his acting was so freaking powerful that his expression was enough to convey his emotions.
Gun never disappoints in whatever role he has been given, but I guess he broke his own record by playing Black and White. The transition of his portrayal in playing both of the characters on the same screen was hair-raising. Personality-wise I like White more than Black, but I like watching Black more because I have never seen Gun playing such a character.
First is an immensely talented actor, even as a supporting cast he dominated his role in such a way that it left a deep impression on me.
Gawin did such a great job in portraying Dan, since the beginning, his eyes showed so much emotion, I could from the very beginning understand that he is portraying someone with huge guilt weighing him down.

The chemistry between both the main and side couples was amazing. I am glad that both the couple got a happy ending. Towards the end, I was so devasted to know that Dan had betrayed the gang but then he was helpless in that situation, and with no way out he had to follow his superior's instructions. It absolutely broke my heart when Yok comes to know what has happened at that point, his expression of hurt was so on point that even I cried along with him. I would also like to point out the friendship between Yok and Sean, It was well played out that you can't help but smile at how much they care for each other.

OST
I want to know who was in charge of selecting OST for the series. Each and every OST never failed to echo unexplainable emotions within me and it only made me draw more towards the series.

REWATCH VALUE
The direction, visuals, storyline, and acting are enough to tempt me to watch the series again.

Overall NOT ME is a series that left a deep impression on me by successfully conveying powerful messages and symbolism.

Read More

Game Changer

At first I didn't know what to expect but...they got me. Excellent series. I don't know what else to say but let me start with the basics...

First up - the performances. Gun's double performance absolutely caught me off guard. Two completely different characters, both of them top notch performances (Gun as a badass action hero...whoa! Who saw that coming?). And the rest of the cast isn't too shabby either. Watching Off go from dripping with contempt for Black, to wondering what the heck is up with Black to falling for Black to - THE BIG REVEAL! - his expressions just say it all. There's the second tier couple - Dan and Yok - that are so well written (down to the bitter end) that I was rooting for them no matter what turn the story took. They're my second favourite side couple of...ever(!)...right behind Uncles Cheep and Dej in "My Ride" (but that's for another day). Then there's the understated performance of Papang as "Gumpa" - the glue who holds this entire thing together. Love him.

On top of that here, is so much that I did not expect: - Politics, Disillusionment, Rebellion and Art as a means of Protest. There's so much more, but I refuse to spoil the experience for anyone.

Well, 2022 has been an exceptional year for GMMTV, that's for certain - with their stories of Anarchy in Thailand, Ageing and facing one's own Mortality "55:15", a Romeo and Jules Love Story ("Bad Buddy") and their Epic
production of "F4 Thailand". I hope they can keep it up 'cause I'm rooting for them.

There's so little else to say about "Not Me" except I love! LOVE!! L.O.V.E!!! it!!!!!!

Read More

enemies to lovers, secret identity, identical twins, good boy/bad boy

(Thailand, Jan-March 2022 on YouTube)

Starring very established holy trinity pair, OffGun in possibly their final BL. Also Mond (Water Boyy), First (The Shipper), Gawin (Dark Blue Kiss), Puimek (SOTUS S), Gigie (2gether)

Another one that is joining the growing cornucopia of shows that I’m not sure I should really review as a BL fan, because I’n not not sure they’re really BL. (For me, Manner of Death really started this trend and dialogue with myself. I see Not Me as its successor.) GMMTV gave us a dark disestablishment narrative (in a time of civil unrest) with established queer award-winning director Anucha and starring OffGun.

Let Me Be Perfectly Clear

THIS IS AN AMAZING THING to get to experience in the BL world - nerve racking but remarkable. The politics of it rather overshadowed the art (just like for Dan’s character) and certainly overshadowed the romances. But the dialogue it generated was cool. This is the dark, gritty gang-set BL series we all expected from Motorcycle (before it disappeared from the radar) with some supped up soap opera tropes (twins, secret identity) and some crazy talent behind the wheel.

But was it ACTUALLY BL?

Not Me had a lot of BL elements, but in the end that’s not what the show was about, or even what it was genuinely trying to be as a show. (A BL series MUST use the main relationship arc as the plot driver.)

In fact that’s an issue I have with it. What was this show ultimately about? What did it want us to take away? Because as a piece of queer cinema and activism it was fine, but VERY heavy handed and clumsy. I can’t rec it to my cray queer artist or film industry friends they’d find it laughable, but I can’t really rec it to my BL friends either, it’s a lot for the sweetness-and-light crowd to swallow. Who was this for? What market? A few of us in this one corner of Tumblr? But who else? Netflix isn’t going to pick this one up, that’s for darn sure. And does that ultimately matter critically? (I think yes actually, because it won’t be profitable without an audience. But that’s an issue arthouse cinema has struggled with for a very long time.)

I DO think Not Me will have impact on BL as a genre going forward. Whether it technically belongs to it or not.

This is a lot of waffling from me, already a champion waffler.

Oddly, some of this is because I feel a lot about this show as I did about Bad Buddy. (Let me be clear: Bad Buddy was definitely a BL.) I appreciate both for the same reasons. And I will not be re-watching them often, if at all, for the same reasons. And that’s why I am not able to give either show a 10/10. Rewatch value is a huge deal for me.

So I’m going to say, 9/10. Just as a rating. Let’s move on from numbers and just talk more about this show.

Production Values Assessment

If I have one major critique of Not Me it’s that far too many scenes were filmed too dark. I get that we are meant to take this show super seriously, but when will filmmakers learn that serious doesn’t have to be executed by forcing us to squint? Metonymy has a lot to answer for.

Otherwise the staging, music, and all production values were high, if not pristine. It was closest to 3 Will Be Free or A Tale of Thousand Stars (which also had the darkness issue) than anything else from GMMTV.

Style and filming it matched to the best that Taiwan can do, so not as high quality as Korea or Japan, but then neither of those cinematic styles would have suited this narrative. But for Thailand, we can consider this top tear.

Story, Characters & Pairs

If you go in expecting this to be BL then the pacing is off on the romance arcs (but not the rest of the narrative). They’re rushed and uneven (like a Korean BL). For example Dan crying suddenly was... odd and jarring. The first SeanWhite kiss came outta nowhere. However, this was definitely OffGun’s best kissing ever. It only took them 6 years the get here.

Like Bad Buddy, Not Me seems to be pretty explicitly and intentionally going against problematic narrative choices that prior GMMTV series made/highlighted - from consent, gay-for-you, husband/wife language, heterosexual dysmorphia and more. They made certain to have explicitly queer characters positively represented (not for comedy).

I loved Not Me’s queerness and grit. I liked that it dealt with things that other BLs (let alone Thai BLs) haven’t. And I was prepared to forgive it a lot because of this stance.

DanYok

For me the DanYok couple, despite limited screen time, outshone SeanWhite (as a PAIR). Their chemistry is superior in almost every regard. They were so well acted and I appreciated their story as a true representation of enemies-to-lovers. It delivered on ideology, class, and social position conflict in a much more humane way that ToddBlack. They had an excellent arc and ending, if, at times, their romance felt a bit rushed - the intensity and suddenness of it suited the narrative and the characters.

SeanWhite
OffGun did a fab job on a romance story that, to be fair, wasn’t much of one. But that’s because it also wasn’t the point or driver of the narrative. Them being comfortable boyfriends was great and this was very much a queer relationship.

But to have truly ended this show narratively full circle, it actually should have concluded with the White & Black scene.

But instead it ended on a BL moment, or, to be more precise, on an OffGun goodbye moment.

Do I think that ending was for us… for the fans? Yes, I really do.

Am I grateful? Yes, I really am.

It’s been a wild ride.

Do I think you should watch Not Me? Yeah. Yeah I really do.

Read More

We are all grey, a mix of white and black

Where to even start? This series delivered in all sorts of ways. I absolutely loved the imagery, the production, and the OST of the series. The imagery is extremely powerful throughout the series, through what is said, what is done and through the characters themselves.

The series addresses a plethora of different social injustices and problems. And while it might primarily focus on Thailand and its problems, it can be easily translated into the culture and system of almost any other country around the world. Rich and powerful people are often above the law or are exempt from it, how unfairly disabled people are treated in the society, the problems of homophobia and marriage inequality, the sexism… and I could go on and on. I think it delivered so many important messages. It made a statement. It also showed that people have power, but only if they stand together.

The characters were extremely complex. I feel like most of the repeating characters were extremely well developed. They weren’t just there to take up some screentime, they were there to drive the plotline and to tell their stories. All of the actors did an amazing job portraying their characters.

Black and White – I think even their names are symbolic. One is supposed to be bad while the other is supposed to be good. But the fact is, once White starts to live Black’s life, we are shown the truth. No one is just good or just bad, there is a bit of both in each of us. We are all grey, a mix of white and black. White struggled a lot to live his brother’s life, but it also taught him a lot. Something that stuck with me is that he recognized himself as part of the problem, part of that society with connections. I think we were able to see a lot of changes in his mindset. I am a bit disappointed that Black’s story is not developed more, especially with regards to what happens after. He might be shown as cold and unforgiving, but in reality, he loves his brother deeply, cares for his ex-girlfriend and would die for his friends. There was just so much more potential for developing his story further. Gun outdid himself by playing the twins. The two characters are so different, but he was able to portray each of them so clearly. You can tell exactly which twin it is just by looking at his eyes which is incredible.

Sean – he is mostly driven by hate, thirst for revenge. He is willing to risk everything, including his life to see his agenda through. But throughout the series, we get to see him open to those around him. We see him realize that causing harm to others might not be the best way to go about achieving his revenge. He might not have any family left, but he found a family at the garage. They all did, in one way or the other. And him falling for White while battling with his need to bring Tawi down, was pulled off incredibly well. Off was brilliant in his role, he really excelled in showing the emotions, the struggle of Sean.

Yok – giving First this bad boy kind of role was a smart decision. He really pulled it off well. His story is very well written. I love how he wishes to do more for the disabled people, especially after seeing how much his mom struggles with keeping a job. He does seem very impulsive at times, very bold, but with what the boys are doing, risking their lives, it seems very fitting. He doesn’t know when he might die, so he tries to make the best of the time that is given to him. He does teach us a lot about forgiveness.

Dan / UNAR – he was an interesting character. Once his identity was revealed, I knew what the plot twist would be. But there were still things that surprised me about him. It is obvious that he is carrying a lot of guilt within him, as well as resentment towards the injustices that he cannot help, change. There are a lot of inner struggles that he needs to cross. Choices that he needs to make. Hard ones. Ones that will affect people he loves, one way or the other.

Gram – can I start by saying that the silver hair looks so damn good on Mond? It really was an iconic look. He is probably one of the most supportive friends one could wish for. Not only that, but when he loves someone, he loves them fully. He is willing to let that person go if they are happy with someone else. He is very quick witted, and I love his relationship with Nunch. The two don’t really see eye to eye on many things, but they are still friends.

Let’s talk about the girls – Nunch, Namo and Eugene. Nunch is trans, something that is mentioned a few times in the series. I absolutely love the fact that she didn’t become a comic relief character. She was strong-willed and smart, outspoken, and there for her friends. Both Namo and Eugene got their hearts broken, but neither of them let that bring her down completely. They each grieved in their own way, but they both overcame that and moved on. The fact that the two had a story that went beyond just being a pretty girl in love with one of the main guys, is something I really liked.

Gumpa – he felt like a big brother, almost like a father figure to the boys. He was always there to help when they needed it. He always took care of them, he trained them and made sure they were ready to undertake all of their missions. He is smart, he can see through them quickly. I think his behavior really shows that. He knows when they need support, when they need a buffer and when they need a kick in the butt. Sadly, his story is not really developed much. I feel like he would be an interesting character to get to know better.

Todd – he is another character whose backstory was not really developed enough. The plot twist relating to him was not that surprising, his motives were though. But again, they were really not explained enough. I do like his relationship with the twins, especially Black, no matter how complex and difficult it seems to be. It’s obvious that the two care for each other, whether that is romantic or not, we might never know.

Overall, it was a good series that addressed a lot of incredibly important topics. My only complaint is that there are quite a few loose ends and lack of backstory for certain characters that makes it a bit hard to understand them and their actions.

Read More

Maybe Controversial - But I don't think the OffGun Romance Plot was Needed.

First off I think as a newer BL fan this is a must watch, not actually because of the BL elements but because its just a very well done series that goes places I haven't seen BLs dare touch.

What I really liked:
- Most of the characters were morally grey - all are flawed and in the wrong at certain points
- The plot and atmosphere is messy, dark, all over the place at times (this is a good and bad thing, as some things aren't really resolved)
- Gun's acting was AMAZING. You could literally tell the difference between Black and White based on the way he spoke, body language, and facial expressions.
- Actually delves into social/political issues instead of just skirting around things, or mentioning gay marriage once like most BL dramas do. This was truly from the POV of those fighting to make social change.
- Music was poignant and used tastefully
- Female characters are their own people and not just plot devices (Trans character as well - she was not just a caricature or comedic relief)

Room for Improvement:
- Sean is kind of an ass and hard to sympathize with, even with his backstory
- I don't really think the OffGun (SeanWhite) romance was really needed. In fact it felt a bit forced to me. Like we had to do this because it's technically a BL. If their relationship was just a really strong platonic one and they had developed that further, it would have made just as much sense and wouldn't have taken anything away from the story. The actors definitely have chemistry, but I didn't feel like the characters needed it.
- Yok and Dan were the most interesting side characters and yet got so little screen time it was criminal
- Plot points resolved either off screen or not really resolved towards the end - the ending was very rushed. Needed another 1-2 episodes worth of content to feel fully developed.

Overall despite its flaws, it's a must watch for anyone.

Read More

Thailand's Best BL to date!!!

Drop everything and go watch it now!!


~~ STORY ~~

Thailand has created a lot of BLs, but all of them have been very repetitive and easily predictable. Not Me, however is different. Not Me is mysterious, thrilling, and romantic all at the same time. There are so many twists and turns that I was left on the edge of my seat the whole time!

Unlike typical BLs that are more light hearted and romantic, Not Me is very dark and gritty. There is some romance thrown in, but the series could have gone without the romance aspect and still been a fantastic series. Not Me primarily deals with a lot of social issues and politics without getting too preachy. It also does BL without too much fan service. It's a great series in that aspect.

Not Me does have it's flaw and plot holes, but it's really irrelevant in the long run as they are hardly noticeable. If there is any big complaints about the plot, it's that the final episodes were a little too jam packed with action that story did get a little lost in the commotion. While the ending was satisfying, if you start to think about the parts of the story that got lots in the action, then you might be unsatisfied since technically the gang's fight with Tawi and Todd haven't actually ended. I do think that the series ended where it should have, sans the Dan and Yok couple. Everyone got together with their respective lovers, and got the public to start looking at Tawi's corporation in a bad light. It's really the calm before the storm type of ending where you know the fight isn't over, but it's still a satisfying ending since realistically fighting corruption is never ending.

Black & White

I am a little confused about Black and White's relationship. I understand that they are twins and that White cares for Black, but Black is confusing. At first he seems to be upset that White is back in the picture, but then he does a 180 into caring big brother. I really think that the writers really didn't put much thought into who Black's character and his motifs. Because Black's character wasn't put together well, his relationship with White wasn't as impactful as it should have been. They have a strong 6th sense where they can feel each other's pain. Utilize that in the plot!! Don't just use it in the beginning and forget about it later!

White x Sean

I enjoyed their relationship when White was pretending to be Black. I wish I could have seen more of Sean's relationship with Black before White started pretending to be him. I also would like to see Sean being more suspicious of "Black" and how White broke down that barrier. Without this, White and Sean seem to get romantically together a little too quickly. That being said, Sean and White are adorable together.

Yok x Dan

They are my favorite couple. I honestly want to see more of them and I want a full backstory on their relationship. While I don't want a sequel for Not Me, I wouldn't mind a spin off with these two. Dan seems to have a lot going on that I think would make for a good spin off. Similarly, Yok's issues about his mother being discriminated for being mute also hasn't been completely told. I would love to see more of them.

Gram x Eugene

I appreciate how their relationship blossomed from beginning to end. They didn't overshadow the plot, and I'm glad that Eugene wasn't portrayed as a toxic woman since most BLs portray women very toxically.

Black & Todd & White

I'm so confused over Todd. He's the mastermind behind everything, but his story isn't told properly. The entire backstory as to why Todd ordered his men to beat up Black was confusing, especially since they are supposed to be best friends. Also, Todd just forgets about White as soon as Black wakes up. Why? Is Todd in love with Black or something? Are we supposed to read between the lines?


~~ OVERALL ~~

Not Me is an amazing series. The acting was fantastic. The cenematography and music were also superb. I really appreciated how Not Me told a BL story in a genre that wasn't normal for BL stories. I want to see more of these non-student, darker genre BLs.

Read More

Wow. Just... wow.

I don't tend to give 10s out easily but I couldn't, in good conscience, give this show anything less. It was one of the best BLs I've seen to date and I'm so glad I came across it.

At first, the serious tone of the show had me putting it off for a while, thinking I needed to be prepared emotionally before getting into it. However, even though it was a more serious and mature plot, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

The story was intriguing and kept a steady pace of being interesting and exciting all the way through. I was afraid that it might get confusing when there are twins and hidden identities but it was super easy to follow and Gun did a phenomenal job at portraying the personality differences between Black and White; even when White is pretending to be Black.

In fact, the acting from the entire cast was great and I can't imagine anyone doing a better job in any role. There was a range of characters who were both good and bad in their own ways. It's nice to see a very human response from these shows where we are reminded that no one is perfect and, while we may have similar goals in mind, different people will act differently to achieve those goals.

As far as the music goes, I never really pay attention to soundtracks since it's always the same 2 songs throughout the series. This show, however, had an awesome and diverse soundtrack.. so much so that it was probably the first time I ever took notice of the music in a BL.

With a show like this where there are hidden identities and plot twists, it could either have a high rewatch value where the viewer wants to go back and see if they catch the foreshadowing or a very low rewatch value where the viewer is left feeling unsatisfied after investing all that time just to find out a cop-out ending.

Personally, I'm more the former in this situation because I feel like any and all revelations and occurrences were believable and only made the story better. That's a really hard thing to do when dealing with issues where there are so many opinions; not just among viewers but within the show itself and it's characters. Even if you don't agree with a characters method, you can still understand them and their motives. They even address that within the show by asking if the gang are vigilantes or heroes and it walks a fine line throughout. Some people might be put off by all the political talk but it is thought provoking and important, IMO.

Read More

Not Me is probably one of the best BLs of all time if not the BEST. (Review/Analysis) (No Spoilers)

I just cannot stress enough how much I love this drama. I finally watched it now that all the episodes have aired and it exceeded all my expectations despite me being a little apprehensive at first considering how it was not marketed very much. OffGun really took this drama and just made it absolutely soar. The plot, the pacing, the tone, the cinematography, the message, just really elevated my expectations for future BL dramas. Like don’t get me wrong I love Bad Bunny, Semantic Error, Theory of Love, and a bunch of other well made and great BLs but this is just one of those stories that didn’t require it to be a BL to be great. I’m a sucker for a good political crime drama and this one just took the cake and it being a BL was just icing on top.

Plot: 9/10

Boy oh boy, finally a drama not set in a college or work environment. Having a story of twins switching places has been done many times in cinema and tv but the reason behind it was crazy. White switching places with his comatose brother after years of not seeing him who is the literal polar opposite in every way is just iconic. Especially with Black being a modern day freedom fighter and White being a upstanding future politician, you just can’t go wrong with that. The Who done it aspect when it came to Black while great actually wasn’t the overall story of the main plot, but White figuring out he can’t bring true change while being a politician and that some roads have to be bumpier to bring long term societal change. The romance plot while slow was so well done and worth it by the end and while I wish it could of been a 16 Ep series like Kdramas to tie up a lot of the lose ends of the overall story, the romance aspect of it was so well done and just absolutely made my own heart soar which entirely made up for the lose ends. Plus this being a political drama really opens up a lot of avenues for a season 2.

Characters: 9/10

Gun really nailed this big time, and if he doesn’t win an award for this I will be very surprised. His portrayal of Black and White was just phenomenal, considering they are literal twins that embody ying and yang to a T. No light without dark and no dark without light is literally these two characters, which Gun is able to portray perfectly. Black is the rough and tumble gangster/modern day freedom fighter who legit takes no shit and is absolutely a complete asshole but despite all that still has an underlying warmth towards his brother and the people he’s actually close to. Not only that Black is a get shit done kinda guy no matter who he has to hurt to get his point across. While White is the polar opposite who originally believes that most things can be solved through words and non violence, and cares deeply for people around him especially his brother despite his conflicting feelings. Though the two of them are sorta strained, you come to a conclusion that despite their differences they’ve truly rubbed off on each other and this allows them to both grow into such complex characters. The gang member especially Offs character Sean is just so well done. Sean comes off very similar to Black but that’s mainly a façade to hide his past trauma and his reasonings resonate way more with you considering his harsh upbringing unlike Black and White. This is where White comes in and slowly and unknowingly starts rubbing off the best parts of his personality and ideals onto the rest of the gang while also coming to realize that the right way is sorta in the middle of his ways and their ways. The rest of the cast and the other side couple are also great and all their back stories really resonate with you and you come to understand that the law doesn’t always give you peace nor justice.

Romance: 9.5/10

A slow burn enemies to lovers is absolutely my favorite trope and surprisingly this dramas story is so interesting that really it didn’t need it but oh boy am I happy it did. OffGun brings the chemistry hot and heavy in this one when they finally get there. They portray this couple so well it is hard to fathom this show without it after seeing the beautiful development both Sean and White have. Especially with the fact Sean absolutely hated Black and is very conflicted with his own feelings and opening up. Plus the side couples are also well done and even sad at times. I saw a post describe the four romances so well as one of True Love, Love at First Sight, Unrequited Love, and Right Person Wrong Time, and the fact we get these stories all in one drama is absolutely nuts to me. All 4 plot lines are so well done and definitely left some lose ends that needed to be tied up in a season 2.

Themes: 10/10

This is where all of it ties together for me. Despite my love for OffGun and the Plot the theme behind it all is what takes this past my standard of what we consider a BL, and I would go as far as to say that despite it being marketed as a BL, if this was a show here in the states it would definitely be seen as a Political Crime Drama. To see the injustice of societal hierarchy, not just in Thailand, but in so many other countries portrayed in such a way is crazy. The most similar drama I can think of with similar tones as that would have to be Chicago Typewriter, which is a reincarnation piece about 3 friends who were freedom fighters in a past life. While the stories are vastly different, the portrayal of social injustice like this always gets to me and that the rich always wins if no one stands up. While the characters actions at first seem minuscule in comparison to what they are up against we slowly get to see the domino affect of change as the series progresses and while I think the story took away from this darker theme with how it ties up the main plot, the development of this theme is still there and again is PERFECT for a season 2.

Acting: 10/10

My god I cannot gush about the raw emotions some of these actors portray. I cannot stress enough how well Off and Gun KILLED their rolls. The raw emotions and personality switches that Gun was able to portray with White and Black, and the sheer inner turmoil that Off was able to bring to life with his characters ideals being questioned when it comes to right and wrong, just couldn’t be topped for me at this point and you could see how much Off has truly grown when it comes to his acting. Their chemistry and real life friendship just really made these characters come to life so beautifully and even melancholy at times. To see the main pair go through this inner monologue of what justice truly is was made to real with Off and Gun. Plus that one scene towards the end with Gun and Sings characters Black and Tod just really made you feel for both sides despite everything happening. One other person that stole a couple of scenes for me was definitely First, my goodness can that boy portray so many emotions with just his eyes. He has one of the most heartbreaking scenes I’ve probably seen in almost any Asian Drama and just nailed the agony he was in to a T. Him and Fluke really nailed their story with their own amazing chemistry. You could really see all the emotions that their characters were feeling, whether it joy, love, betrayal, heartbreak. All of it. Not only that Papang’s portrayal of the lovable boss man Gumpa was just amazing he played this big brother role to these boys so perfectly and while I’ve never seen him in many other dramas his portrayal made you feel that he really did care for these boys and wanted all of them to live in a better society then he did. The main cast was all great but these were the ones that really stuck out to me. On a side note Filmshy who played Nuch did such an amazing job portraying someone who truly saw the right and wrong sides of the law and the fact it was her first acting role, I really hope we can see her back if they have a season 2. Lastly that van ride at the end was so well done by every actor involved in that scene my goodness was it powerful.

Tone/Cinematography: 9/10

I woulda done a 10/10 if the ending had matched the rest of the dramas theme and while I did love the ending it just didn’t match the tone nor the theme that the drama portrayed. For most of the show we had a dark political drama about a gang of freedom fighters with romantic undertones and a who done it side plot to boot and while I love that it was a “happy ending,” for our main cast was it really a happy ending overall? Like one of the characters said, just because you take out one evil, their will always be someone to replace it. Plus it just didn’t seem realistic to me the way the gang was handled due to the overall tone of the show. Again season 2 please. I love my dark atmospheric tones but you must stay consistent for what the overall theme is trying to project. The last episode was the only time I felt this way. Plus the cinematography really did this show justice when it came to its tone and showed us a glaring reality through more muted colors rather then the bright more vivid colors we see in most BL dramas.

Overall: 9.5/10

I hope they make a second season following this gang. I know it didn’t do as well in Thailand due to its political themes but us as an international audience need to hype more dramas like this up. It sends a message and I know most people typically watch BL for the love and the drama and the intimacy, but as I said while the main couples are all mostly homosexual relationships, I don’t see this drama as such, and while I do love the BL aspect, especially how steamy it is due to OffGuns performances, they did this story justice just by being amazing actors. And I have to give this show props for literally having the most iconic scene I’ve seen in any show or movie and that has to be the Pride Flag scene, if you know you know. The power and acceptance of what this scene shows for the future not only for society but OffGuns characters is so beautifully done. The lighting, the colors, the facial expressions between the two actors portraying what their characters could achieve is absolutely phenomenal. I have probably rewatched that scene 10 times since watching this drama, just because of how impactful it is if you look past the “BL” tag. Don’t get me wrong I love a good lighthearted BL with all the mush and gush and skinship. But this show made me feel something and maybe I’m ranting or overthinking, but I truly love this show and everything it portrays. Please GMMTV, make a season 2, because hopefully I’m not the only one who saw how beautiful and impactful this show could be.

Read More