Not Me (2021)

I was entertained in the beginning qith an anticlimactic ending

It took me three days to binge watch this series. And I am glad I choose to wait until the series ended to watch it all in one go.

Story-8.5/10
I actually loved seeing the history of Thailand's law cause I found it knowledgeable and informative. It was nice seeing a storyline that wasn't like the BL's that I am used to. And due to this reason, I can say that this series did indeed start off strong.

However, like most BL's out there, there were flaws that I just couldn't ignore. Some parts of the series just weren't that beliveable to me. And also, some parts weren't developed properly to give the series a satisfying ending. I would like to add that with the strong beginning it had, it ended a bit anticlimactic. I mean, yeah, Black kind of got his revenge and the guys were able to start a wave of the justice that they were fighting for. But still...

P.S- I am in love with the secondary couple Ok and Dan, although my heart broke in the second to last episode for them.

Acting/Cast-9.5/10
I'm going with 9.5 out of 10. Cause while I liked the majority of the actors, I felt that some of the supporting actors really didn't add anything to the story (looking at the parents as well as Todd, who was underdeveloped here).

Music-9.5/10
I was originally going to give an 8. But as the series progressed and new songs were introduced, I fell more in love with them. As such, I'm going with a 9.5.

Rewatch-9/10
It was actually a good series qith a unique storyline that I haven't really seen in BL. Because of that, I really don't mind rewatching it again.

Overall-9/10
Overall I give this series a 9. It was quite entertaining and enjoyable!

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Anybody else cry when it ended? Not me.

I lied. Very much me. I was not ready to say goodbye.

I don't watch a lot of BL. In fact, my first BL was 2gethertheseries which aired in 2020. I know nothing of the ones that came before but I have been on the internet a long time to know that a lot of queer Asian media is like so my expectations are always low.

But it turns out it was high-time I revise my opinion because Not Me genuinely blew me away. I have seen BLs that are progressive in their own way (Bad Buddy and Lovely Writer) but Not Me has to be the first one where they discussed social issues, lgbtq representation, corruption and the like in a plotline that was neither too complex or too simple to follow. The plot started off as ridiculous, two twins with a telepathic connection being afflicted with each other's pain and I was down with that, because who doesn't love a touch of ridiculousness in their queer media? But Not Me was like, hold my drink, I'm about to rock this old coot's entire world.

I soon found myself embroiled in a world of intrigue as Todd summons White to investigate the case of his twin Black, who's suspected of being involved in shady shit and is now in a coma thanks to it. He points White towards Black's 'gang' with the suggestion they might be the cause for him lying blackened and bruised and comatose in a hospital. From there, White (and I) are taken on a journey. Identity porn is ya girl's jam, so she knew she was in for a good time.

No character in Not Me is forgettable or cast to the side. Everyone is important, everyone plays their role well. I feel that if I were familiar with Thai culture and issues more I would be able to catch the nuances of the issues better but even then I could find myself relating. Because regardless of where you are, social injustice and inequality are something we (or our loved ones and the people around us) have all faced in some ways. As youth, we are especially frustrated by the way things are because we're more socially aware than the generations before us and these issues do impact us, whether directly or indirectly. We want to change the way things are, but there are factors in play that make it harder to do so. Dan's betrayal drove this point home beautifully, even if it was painful to watch. That there are people who want to do the right thing, and stand up against justice, but are unable to do so.

Furthermore, the addition of Gumpa, the older brother figure who's herding this band of well-intentioned fighters, proves that this fight has been going on for a long time. The way the show ends shows that it will continue and that it will be picked up by the people that come after us.

But there will also be people who will be against that, content to keep that world order. If they're not actively fighting against it, they're contributing to it by being complacent. Some of them don't understand it, deem it unnecessary or view people like Black's gang as miscreants or those looking for trouble. Attitudes that were reflected well by Methinee, Adul and Yok's mother. I appreciate how the Director kept the show rooted in reality. Even if it feels like the world is going to shit, there are still people out there who will try to make it less so and that humanity isn't so bad. That scene when the protestors who uplifted their fight and saved the boys from meeting their terrifying demise is just. No words, this Asian was too stunned to speak.

The portrayal of queer relationships and their development was another thing that struck a chord with me. The way the entire gang navigated their relationships, it reminds you that even though these are rebels who've chosen to become part of a resistance, it doesn't change the fact that they are still kids. That they are individuals who like us, want connections and room to explore their identities. Sean and White, Eugene, Black and Gram, Yok and Dan, Namo and Sean. Every relationship showed us something different but drove home a point: that queer relationships are just as valid as non-queer ones and there is no need to make it weird. Every character develops and in turn, brings about changes in their relationship and the whole thing was immensely satisfying to watch. I especially appreciated how Eugene and Namo were handled. Often BLs tend to treat their female characters badly, them existing in the show only to further the development of the M/M ship. But that wasn't the case here, oh no. My girls got their heart broke, dealt with it and emerged stronger than before.

I do wish Gram and Nuch had been a thing, but their dynamic was amazing the way it was too.

(I personally think Black is in a polycule with Eugene and Gram and no I will not explain myself.)

The cinematography, the music, the characters, the lessons this show taught, everything will remain with me for a long time. Gun Atthaphan blew me away with his portrayal of the twins. 11/10 will recommend.

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THIS DRAMA WAS SO POWERFUL

GMMTV has produced a drama that has created an almost impossible standard for other dramas.

Firstly the acting in this drama was superb.....especially Gun. Being able to portray a set of twin brothers so differently is not an easy task but he did it in a way that seemed easy. Both Off and Gun are both usually acting in softer...lighter dramas so taking on the roles of Black/White and Sean was a test on their acting skills and they definitely passed with flying colors.The supportimg cast also did their jobs exceptionally well and made the entire watch time a treat.

The plot...though the synopsis talks about White trying to unmask who hurt his brother the main plot of this drama was the gang members trying to expose the dirty tricks of an influential businessman and expose the corrupt system in Thailand. This was an extremely sensitive topic to take on especially with the backlash both the director and actors could face but they did take on that challenge and they executed it perfectly...this particular plot point was also able to relate to almost all viewers because most countries are similar in the sense that persons with power and influence usually get the last laugh.

This drama was also able to bring out all the emotions a human can have....happiness.... sadness...anger.....grief.....jealousy (because of that cute ass couple)...and so much more....in one episode I cried...laughed...felt anger...and pure disbelief.

The editing......OH MY GOD THE EDITING...this drama's editing team did its job so well... especially when both Black and White (Gun's characters) had to appear on screen together....I genuinely began questioning if Gun had a secret twin brother we didn't know about.

The cinematography of this drama was emmaculate as well. The fact that they actually had a scene with the two main characters under a pride flag screaming about equality... chef's kiss.

I also appreciated the fact that skin smoothing wasn't used in this drama. You were able to see the character's "flaws".... like their pores and acne and it showed them not in a unnaturally perfect way that's impossible to achieve but in a natural perfection thay we were truly able to appreciate.

Finally the pacing of this drama was also really well done...I didn't feel as if the drama slowed down or rushed itself at anytime....it felt like everything that happened was happening at the exact right time. The reveals....the shocks....the twist and turns...the realtionships.....the kisses everything felt realistic as if I were a fly on the wall in these character's lives.

I recommend this drama to any drama lover out there....wether your interested in OffGun....BL...Action...Suspense or just anything from Thailand. This drama is perfect for any drama watcher.

All in all if I could give this drama 100000000000/10 I would.

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First of all, I am not fans of OffGun so watching this series is kinda breakthrough for me. lol

This series got my attention since the pilot episode, I feel like it spoke to me how the show would gonna be. They seem promised me something great with all of those actors and story behind them, then one by one the feeling just faded. I don't know about you guys, but the ending was pretty messed up. For this kind of show, they should ended this series with an alternative version (of the final episode). It juts felt empty, boring and I don't even know how to describe it.

The good news is, this is the best series of OffGun that I've ever seen. :")

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One of the best BLs produced by GMMTV so far <3

OHH MYY GODDD!!!!!
I don't even know where to start! This was one of the best BLs I've ever watched. And I highly recommend this drama to anyone who loves BLs.
Firstly I have to say that this is as I know the first BL which addressed the LGBTQ community directly. And I'm so impressed about it.
The build up of this drama, acting and the story line was so perfect. The development of each of the character of Black, White, Sean, Yok, Gumpa, Gram, Dan, Todd and even the other supporting characters were on point.
What most impressed me is the acting of P' Gun... I mean how????? How did he do the double acting so damn perfect???
If you watched t he drama you would know how the personalities of the two twin brothers White and Black are completely different. The way they talk, the way the dress, the way they walk...even the way the lift their hand and gestures were completely different. Gun did a really really great job bringing out two completely different characters at the same time. I have not seen an actor so talented in the BL industry who can do two completely opposite characters at the same time. I'm just lost for words when describing that perfection. Acting of all the others were also on point. The way they bring out their emotions is just so perfect and beautiful. Fluke and First did a great job through out the series to bring out the changing personalities of the two characters of Dan and Yok.

The directing was so perfect and it gave so much quality to this drama.

Since I don't want to give you any spoilers, i wouldn't tell how the story goes or what happens in the end. I just want to tell whoever is reading this, don't think twice just go and watch the drama!

Fair warning....this is not a flowery love story, there are so many ups and downs and they talk about many social issues.

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watch it now

OffGun's chemistry is so strong in every drama they're in, I literally can't get enough of those two! The plot of this series is very gripping and purposefully portrays the social and economic issues in Thailand, which I applaud them for.
I also must say the cinematography is just phenomenal. What impresses me the most is how superb everyone's acting is, ESPECIALLY Gun's. The two characters he's playing honestly give off different auras from one another and they feel like two completely different people.
This series knows how to keep your attention with all the shocking discoveries that later take place. It will be interesting to see how the rest plays out, but I am strongly invested so far. Thank you to the whole cast for creating such a well-developed series!

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I am speechless

I've been following this series for quite a while now, actually ever since it was announced. I've waited patiently for its release and now that it's finally out, I can say with confidence that this series tops my all time favorites.

It is so refreshing to see Off and Gun acting together again as the main leads. The way both of them portrayed their roles is just unbelievable. Gun plays as White and Black, and it's amazing to see how he plays both of them. From changing his voice, to differing body-language, this guy does it all! The way that Off plays Sean feels so raw. He embodied his character and played him to perfection in my honest opinion.

As far as the story goes, it's simply awesome! I haven't seen a BL who manages to it as well as this series does it, and I honestly believe that this series will contribute to a whole new era of BL. Of course, we all know that GMMTV produce a lot of high quality series, but this one felt really different from the rest. The way it's shot is beautiful, they soundtrack fits into everything, the locations are gold!

In this series, all characters are portrayed well and I think they all do a good job! Their interactions with each other feel natural, and it doesn't feel like we're watching a series, instead just watching a group of friends do a lot of crimes and grow together. I can confidently say that this is a series I will be watching over and over again!

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Well Worth Watching !!!

Holy smoke this drama was really awesome, and super intense and suspenseful!!
An incredible series that GMM25 has delivered and a dangerous new standard for the upcoming series. this series is INCREDIBLE and therefore incredibly hard to review about, but will give it my best shot.

The story is unique and nothing that anyone has easily come close to achieving.

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 doesn´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. Everything about this drama has set the bar extremely high for the rest that are to be released. This series is literally more than a bl series, as far as I can remember this is the only bl series that successfully made its lessons, representation and issues come through in a very clear way.

Not forgetting the fact we have an amazing cast who carried out there roles extremely well, and if you love OffGun then this is a definite watch. Hats off to Gun Atthaphan for playing two roles with such grace. He got the nuisances of Black and White’s characters down perfectly. You could tell the distinct differences in the characters very well. Off Jumpol, I was equally impressed. Each of the character/actors were equally amazing in the role and they each carried it out there role with such perfection and accuracy, you could see the professionalism come across from each of them, there stories were all unique in there own, but for me its there shared determination and closeness that stood out, there were more than just a team and friend that came together for a common cause. Another plus for me were the two FL in this drama, FL can be a bit of a problem in BL drama but thank goodness these two were not, and it was really refreshing to see that. There were strong women who stood for what they believe in, and worked and channeled there emotions through that. It was like watching an award winning drama.

The Music Wow it was really good, I loved how each song was associated with certain aspects of the drama, and it flowed through really well. It gave each of episodes a new meaning and new light to what was transpiring. Not often do you get Music and drama fitting well, but this drama definitely made it happen.

I honestly can not say anything negative of this show, it was that GOOD!!

Overall/Rewatch - Definitely an AWARD DRAMA, as well Oscar nominations for the actors as each of them deserve an award for pulling for such an amazing drama... SAD to see end, but well worth watching again, which I will be redoing and binge watch in one sitting!!!

IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN GO WATCH THIS YOU WILL NOTE DISAPOINTED !!!!

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The power in realization

This drama was probably the discovery of the year.
High budget, interesting story about corruption, multiple characters finding themselves and fighting for what they believe is right.
I didn't expect to love it this much. Usually my level of expectations is rather low when it comes to BL - usually when the acting is great the plot gets annoying at one point. This was absolutely not the case here.
White and Sean were amazing in their differences, as White slowly starts to see the bigger picture his feelings for Sean change but while he understands him, he still continues to stay true to himself. The same thing happens to Sean with White. I truly appreciated this because the character development was done right.
I was hesitating between a 9 and a 9.5 for two reasons. First, I didn't like what happened with Dan and Yok. Their story was interesting at first but then I felt like the writers didn't know where this was going. Then, I wanted to know more about Todd and Black. I feel like we need more about those two because Todd was truly interesting and we might not get a spin off or a season 2 but I'm praying for more.

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The most daring BL from GMMTV to date

When I started watching Not Me, I started wondering if it's BL at all. Gone is the excessive use of beauty filters or blurring effects to make the actors look unnaturally perfect. Instead, you can see the actors' complexions, pores and all. The cinematographic elements tend to be dark and gritty, and one might be surprised by how politically daring it is to talk about the problems with Thai society. And while fans may start watching the series thinking that it is yet another Off-Gun BL vehicle, the series takes its own sweet time developing their characters' relationship to a point where they are clearly in love with each other. It has the sort of guts to chart new territory that the Thai BL industry needs.

To be sure, Not Me does not eschew all BL conventions. Quite early in the series, we get to see White (Gun's character) and Sean (Off's character) sharing a bed, Gun falling into Sean's arms, etc. However, the ship for the other couple, Yok and Dan, starts sailing faster and one may wonder if the White-Sean ship is going to happen at all. But what is surprising is that it leaves out a whole lot of feel-good fluff. The main characters may be mostly university students, but their vigilantism is legally problematic and morally ambiguous. There isn't much putting them in a glamorous light although they seem to be good people. With Not Me, we are definitely not watching the typical idealized rich-and-handsome or romanticized struggling-poor-but-cute leads though some of the main characters are wealthy and others are poor. They are not guys who go around campus with legions of screaming fans. If they are privileged in some way, the access to that privilege is questioned.

Of course, not everything that is different from the norm is great. So what makes Not Me such a riveting watch? The plot development, for one, is excellent. There is a good story beyond the BL. And while a revelation in one of the later episodes about how Black (White's twin brother, also played by Gun) gets injured at the start of the story isn't totally unpredictable, it is interesting how the person behind his injury is portrayed with a certain degree of ambiguity rather than as an outright villain. It is hard to tell how the story will end until you have watched the last episode.

The story of White impersonating Black and joining the latter's vigilante group isn't a story that will definitely benefit from an infusion of BL into the plot. It is good enough on its own, and having BL relationships may attract more fans while alienating others. If we consider the social impact of the series, it is a good thing to have such a series instead of series that cater only to BL fans because the portrayal of gay relationships can reach more than just a niche audience.

Despite all the praises I can shower on Not Me, I shouldn't exaggerate how ground-breaking the series is. While the social criticism is strong at the start, the society's problems seems to be very much reduced to a single villain (Tawi) later on despite hints that getting rid of him isn't going to change society. Certain deep-seated social issues like how the wealthy have connections that help them get ahead of others who may be equally or better qualified also seem to take a backseat later on. Yet, the series has done what I don't expect from a GMMTV production. (If I remember correctly, The Gifted came close but seems to chicken out of it.) Such a production deserves all the support it can get. If nothing else, the commercial viability of such a production will mean that it won't just be indie, low-budget productions that would venture into the same sort of social criticism.

I don't usually take the numbers in my reviews seriously, but I would say that if we take everything else we can out of the series except for the BL, the BL would at most be 8/10. But it is everything else that is working together with the BL that elevates the series to 9.5/10. With the same cast and production team, GMMTV could well have made another excellent but mostly safe series like Bad Buddy. But I'm really glad it didn't.

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