A Mother's Sacrifice for her Son in the name of Love (A Family Drama, not BL Romance)
“To Sir, With Love” is probably my first real lakorn. The other Thai non-BL dramas I’ve watched are “Love Destiny” and “The Crown Princess”. So, I am still not very used to the overdramatic acting and soap opera-like plotlines yet. I was initially attracted to this drama due to its historical setting of a mature, forbidden gay romance. But as I read more and watch more, I adjusted my expectations accordingly. This is not just a love story, but a family drama with dramatic plot development that sometimes doesn't make sense. It’s about love and sacrifice, understanding and acceptance.Plot -
The drama basically revolves around a mother’s sacrifice to protect her son in the name of love, no matter the price. Throughout the drama, 1st lady Madame Li and her sidekick servant Jia, try to protect her son’s secret. This obsessive overprotectiveness is the root of all evil. The romance between Thian and Jiu is actually a side plot. As I said, I re-adjusted my expectations and I am fine with this family-centric drama instead of a BL romance. However, I feel that this secret has been talked about and dragged on for way too long. If the cat is out of the bag sooner, the pacing of the drama would be better. I would have liked for the secret to be out and then spend time on the consequences and damage control. Instead, so many episodes are spent on protecting this secret with dramatic ‘twists and turns’. After a while, there’s no more surprise and it becomes a repetitive cycle of eavesdropping, devising an evil plan, hurting the person you love.
Romance -
As a romance lover, of course I would have loved to see more of Thian and Jiu. They barely have any scenes together in the first 5 episodes. But that’s ok, I patiently wait for them to be in the same house when the real romance happens. Because so much time was spent on the adult storylines, I am missing the slowly-falling-in-love and unsure-if-he-likes-me scenes. I wanted more loving smiles and shy side glances. The secondary romance between Yang and Phin also got the short end of the stick. They are such a cute, lovely and healthy couple that their romance is just a by-product of the main plot. I also want to see more of their initial falling-in-love development, as they got together pretty quickly.
Acting -
Yes, there’s over-the-top dramatic acting, especially from Madame Jan. This character requires the actress to act that way, and I am OK with it (though it took me a while to get used to it). There are also a few minor roles that act very lakorn/soap opera-ish. They only annoyed me a little. However, I think the MVP is Pok Piyathilda Mittiraroch as Madame Li. She’s so elegant and graceful. Her acting is more subtle and I really feel for her character. She could be all regal in one scene, then calculating in another, and then switch to being an emotional and caring mother. I am most impressed with her. The rest of the cast is pretty good as well. The young leads did an admirable job and I do think they have good chemistry together (when they actually have scenes together). Thian has more emotional scenes and they don’t feel over-the-top. Jiu has a ‘cooler’ and introverted personality, and the actor did well. When he flashed a rare smile when he was with Thian, it did melt my heart a little.
Production -
As this drama is broadcast on TV, I assume the budget is pretty decent. The main house where mainly scenes take place is nicely built and decorated. I love all the Chinese accents and furniture. Throughout the drama, there are many Chinese elements. I LOVE the costumes, especially the qipaos Madame Li wears. Her qipaos are nicer than some I’ve seen in a Chinese dramas. I also like Madam Jan and Phin’s more modern and fashionable styling. The men look handsome in suits, casual wear and traditional outfits, except for Jiu’s raggedly old T-shirts (well, he still looks good). However, outside of the main house, everything looks less sturdy and realistic. The CGI quality needs to be ignored totally….fake snake..fake fire…glittery killing…etc. The OST is decent with a mix of Thai and Chinese music.
Unrealistic events -
I do question a few things while watching and have to tuck away my rational brain a little. It’s hard to imagine proper and rich women beating up and killing bad guys like a born assassin. No matter how many times you’re shot and poisoned, you still have plenty of time to speak your peace before you die. Doors and walls are like thin air. They don’t stop people from eavesdropping in every single episode. You can conveniently and secretly follow someone to their secrets, and also conveniently find and pick up important evidence. I guess this is all part of watching a lakorn.
Despite my criticisms and not being used to the format of a lakorn, I had an enjoyable time watching “To Sir, With Love”. The drama is well-acted, and the pacing is pretty good despite some repetitiveness. I would have liked the drama to be about 12-15 episodes, instead of 17. If you are familiar with and like Thai lakorns, I would recommend this drama.
Completed: 1/8/2023
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Worth the watch
Honestly speaking I hadn't watched any thai lakorns, still don't so was very interested when they said this is going to be first thai bl lakorn. I loved it. Yes it had some nonsensical stuff and bit over dramatic acting sometimes but it's all a part and parcel of this genre that adds to the show. I loved how gracefully the relationship between the main couple was shown. It left you feeling giddy and wanting for more. I wanted to see more of Tian & Jui but sadly it ended. Both the actors did a beautiful job of portraying the emotions of those characters. The music was great and apt for the situations. Hoping to see something more like this in the future.Was this review helpful to you?
A complete story with amazing casts
First of all, I think what it meant to be a lakorn lolI have watched miracle of teddy bear which is a full fledge 16 episode series with more than 1 hr screentime so i thought i knew what i should be expecting but this is another level.. As I said, as expected of a lakorn lol
Second of all, I am glad the actors are talented and film is able to help jam to emote. I was scared that he is on the inexperienced side but he managed to act out how jiu was supposed to be feeling at the parts. The supporting casts are doing their parts justice and was serving ACTING!!
Third of all, this series really go in depth about how gay people are stigmatized but also managed to portray the relationship of tian with his people, his parents, his step mothers, his brother and his lover and also his role in the house. I think this show has a fuller picture than regular bl shows give( they have 40 mins and 12 episodes so I can understand but I prefer a more complete story)
Fourth of all, and most important thing for me is that they didn't make the leads die or live in misery but have a happy ending and also acceptance. I was afraid that they might make tian leave the house to choose his lover but they welcomed back into the family. This show was aired in prime time so I hope a wider audience who watch the series can get the message.
P.s. the camera effect and sound still has room to improve so i give it 9.5 out of 10!
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Engaging, Romantic, Emotional, Hilarous
Just perfect performances by everyone. For anyone looking for a nice desi/masala BL then this is it. Just didn't even feel like I needed to read the subs the acting was loud enough to let me understand in a good way. This is more of a lakorn kind of like a soap opera but just so addicting that the next episode doesn't have subs yet but I still watched half of it.Edit:I have watched the whole drama and I just loved it. The ending is just fabulous. Each and every actor is so powerful in terms of their character that either you just hate the character or fall in love with them, their is no in between.
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It gets better...
This is the first lakorn I've seen so I knew going into it that it would be different from anything I've ever seen before. I also knew that the romance aspect was not going to be a big part of the story.That being said, even going in armed and ready, the first half of the series absolutely DRAGGED for me. Not because there wasn't anything going on but because it was the same thing over and over and over again. I honestly ended up skipping most of the scenes with the second wife and her maid because every single time was "how do I get my son to succeed Tian?" And whenever the wives were arguing it was just supper catty to me. Then, as sweet as Lady Phin was, her voice sometimes just got on my nerves because she sounded like she was whining, even when she wasn't.
There's a lot of questionable actions going on which, I normally don't pay too much attention to because not much can phase me. But when Li started trying to send Mat to seduce her own son then drugged him and Phin to make them sleep together, thinking "if he has sex with a woman, he'll stop being gay," that was seriously messed up. And I almost felt queasy when they were sitting down to dinner with the mushroom dinner although I suppose that was the point so kudos to the writer for that one, I guess? I suppose the bad characters had to do some pretty nasty things in order for their redemption to be that much more satisfying and so they kind of accomplished that too. But it could have been done in maybe half the time. Especially since EVERY conversation was overheard by someone else. It should have moved the story along faster but it didn't during the first 80% of the series where it was a constant plot point. Honestly, for as big of a mansion as they were living in, there was ZERO privacy and apparently everyone was just happening by at the right moment.
Now, the second half was getting better as Tian started standing up for himself and flat out saying "I don't want to take over the family business and hide what I am anymore." Nevermind that no one except is brother listened to him but as we see him get more and more frustrated, the viewers are just waiting for the explosion to happen.
Speaking of the brother, I think the best part of this show was Tian and Yang's relationship. When they were on screen together, it was always phenomenal from start to finish. I really can't say enough good things about them and really, Tongtong's performance as Yang was probably the best throughout the entire series. Apparently, being a lakorn means there's bound to be some overacting which I definitely agree with. Especially Jan and her maid.. they were distractingly overdoing it which was also part of the reason I skipped their scenes.
The last couple of episodes really hit hard in an unexpected way for me. With how ridiculous the series started out, it really ended strong with some major feels and declarations. Some of the speeches could have been edited a bit shorter, especially Li's while she's there surrounded by everyone and she addresses each one individually. But still. I found myself tearing up a few times, especially toward the end.
Overall, I would say it was a worthwhile watch though I don't really see much re-watch value in it for me personally. Maybe if there was a Tian, Yang and Jiu cut, I'd watch that over and over. But this was a long series with a lot of repetitiveness that brought me really close to dropping it. But if you decide to start this, I'd suggest to stick with it because it gets better as it goes.
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what in the lakorn
If youre looking for a nice soapy lakorn to soak in some melodrama, look no further. It's hard for me to review this objectively since I don't do lakorns or any soap opera in general, so this was a lot for me, but I'll do my best to rate it for what it was.I started watching this after watching Laws of Attraction, I needed more JamFilm in my life because their chemistry is just fire. On that end, I have to say I wish there was more. There were sweet moments throughout the series, little bits of romance, but this drama was less about the relationship between Thian (Film) and Jiu (Jam), and more heavily focused on the big family drama. I personally would have liked more cute relationship development, but I understand that it's probably not what they were going for.
I'm sure all soaps are like this, but it was a whole lot of "okay but if you just communicated" or "was this actually really necessary" and a lot of "oh look, they're still alive". And boy did they go hard with the long drawn out dramatic scenes, I'd be interested to watch an edited version where they just shorten the overdramatics down a bit, I feel like the episodes would be half as long.
The characters were pretty good, I think they were all lovable in their own ways, but none of them really had your heart, ah except for Yang (Tongtong). I won't lie I went into this thinking Film was going to steal my heart again, but here comes Tongtong and sweeps you off your feet. The way they did sibling relationships in this show was 10/10, to be honest it's what got me through this show. I won't do spoilers but I will say they won't hurt you in this one.
So if you just need a soapy weekend sprinkled with some sweet bl, grab some popcorn, keep your finger on that skip forward button, and enjoy!
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stick with it, it's definitely worth it!
at first i struggled to get into this drama, i really wanted to like it because i saw so many good things about it and i wanted to see for myself how good it was. i won't lie, i only really got into it around episode 6 or 7 but once i got to that point i was hooked!all the main characters are amazing and each bring something different to the table.. i started off hating madam li but towards the end i quite liked her and was happy to see that she had done so much for tian due to her love for him, it was heartwarming even if it wasn't what would be seen as the right thing to do..
the chemistry between tian and jiu was perfect, this drama had me crying hard multiple times and thats what makes a drama so good, it makes the people watching it emotional and thats when you know the actors and story line are worth watching
the OST for this drama is wonderful, i love the songs so much they make me a bit emotional even just hearing them and remind me fondly of this drama whenever i hear them :')
Overall: if you're not sure if this drama is for you based on the first few episodes i urge you to stick with it because you may find yourself hooked on it like i was, all the actors in this drama deserve any and all praise they are getting because this drama truly is great, i would definitely recommend it!
only downside is that the first few episodes are a little slow and were not instantly gripping me, plus each episode is about 1:12 hours long (the length of some movies) so if you are not into that it may be quite heavy and difficult to watch so please do keep that in mind!
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What a time to be alive!! <3
I feel like this is the true LGBTQ+ repesentation that we need. But for real it was so empowering and wholesome!!The plot really got me. I was weeping a lot ':D and there was also lot of moments when I had to pause and be like "this is really happening ...". I know it's sold as romance but I think it's more about the main character being gay. Also it has some extrely crazy/funny moments that I think everyone needs in their lives. Not to mention the brothers looking out for eachother!
It might not be the best thing ever made but SO happy that it exists!!!!
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Time and Persistence
I truly enjoyed the relationship between the two male leads. They developed a friendship and a respect for each other. Both were attracted to each other and supportive. Tien and Yang's relationship was a delightful one. Yang's support for his brother from when he was very young into his adult hood was admirable. The story had action, suspense, a slice of life and a sense of a moral compass. While I think the script was a little too long, the progression of understanding and acceptance of a less traditional lifestyle was very realistic. For such a lengthy script the series was fast paced and engaging. I would definitely watch it again. I felt compassion towards Tien and Jui. Their two characters make the series a definite repeat. On a side note, I am grateful for the BL and the GL series that provide insight into thoughts, feelings and cultures that are non-traditional. Overtime the exposure to several of the BL and GL series have helped me to develop acceptance of "people are people" and "love is love". As a mature individual it is refreshing to learn that thoughts and beliefs can be fluid. It's comforting to realize coloring outside the lines is a good thing.Was this review helpful to you?
One of the best BLs I've seen this year!
There’s never a dull moment in the 17-episode series filled with death, drama, and a forbidden romance that drives the narrative forward.But let me talk about the BL plot. Unlike modern BLs where gay relationships tend to be normalised, 1940s Thailand is a very different world.
Tian and Jiu are from different worlds. Tian is a rich, educated heir to a powerful Chinese family, while Jiu is an illiterate worker who sells candy to support his siblings. But their compatibility and chemistry are unmistakable – the way they look at each other says everything.
Moments of tenderness with Jiu bring Tian fleeting bliss, but he quickly learns that following his heart will only bring ruin to everyone around him. This gnawing tension makes TSWL a heartachingly wonderful watch with some moments that will leave you smiling to yourself like a fool.
Just to allay any concerns that this is going to turn out to be one of those tragic gay stories, it ends pretty well. Almost too unrealistically happy but you know what? I'LL TAKE IT.
Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/12/18/to-sir-with-love-khun-chai-thai-2022/
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The meaning of the title is in the drama....JiuTian forever!!!
I watched this drama without no expectations, as this was my first bl lakorn. As I keep watching, I get involved with Tian's family drama and Tian's internal struggle with coming out and trying his best to please his family. Tian is a smart, handsome, and kind man to his family, subordinates, and loved ones. He is looking out for everyone's well-being; and much less for himself. Tian's mother-Madame Li loves Tian, and would do anything to help him succeed to become the successor of the organization. While her love for Tian for success is good, she also failed to see Tian as Tian, always pressures him to hide his identity, and refused to acknowledge Tian's true self. Tian's dad is the leader of the organization and he also pressures Tian's to become the successor and refused to acknowledge Tian's real true self.Tian lives his life doing everything as his parent wishes---taking care of the family's business and organization. Then one day, Tian met Jiu on the street. Tian and his best brother/friend Yang (Tongtong's character) went to see a play, and Jiu saves Tian from the Japanese. Earlier than that, Tian actually saw Jiu in the street, making candy. He bought candy from Jiu :). Jiu's a poor man while Tian came from a rich family. Well, Jiu saves Tian, and their fate begins there. Tian seeing Jiu, he's already falling in love at first sight :).
Madam Li knew from the start when Tian was little, that he likes chinese opera play; and she forbid Tian from liking and watching chinese play; as she associates this with being different. She tries to hide Tian's identity. Madam Li soon killed one of the workers at her mansion because he knows about Tian's real identity. From one death to another, the killings keep going.
Everyone is trying to figure out Tian's identity- from Tian's stepmother to Ma's (a bad guy). Trying to destroy Tian so that he cannot become the successor after his father in the organization. Jiu at this time was working for Ma bad guy.
Suddenly everyone finds out about Tian's identity-More killing. Then some people die. Tian and Jiu live happily ever after, it's a happy ever ending after all the angst and misunderstandings :).
This is the gist of it all. Oh yeah if you like mushrooms, be sure to eat lots before you watch this drama; because your stomach might not be able to digest them later.
Happy watching :)!!!! I am 100/10 forever loving this drama. Highly recommend.
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Really? Is this the best we can expect of Thai series in 2022?
The first episode is disgraceful. Appalling wooden acting that is worse than the worst pantomime scenes in other Thai drama - at least in others they were amusing interludes.Appalling too as a story line which may pretend to do justice to the injustices inflicted on homosexual men in the past. However, it is clearly only a pretence in order to make a drama to gain some of the BL audience. I will only continue to watch this to see how they build this BL drama. At the moment it looks as if we will be seeing another trope using the perceived elder brother's effeminacy as an acceptable image of a gay man and the historic drama as another excuse for these historic attitudes,.
I am hoping that this is not the case but am reluctant to suggest it might get better. If this is another drama showing the stalking of another man in pursuit of unrequited love or their assault (sexual or otherwise) then what audience are they hoping to educate for the future?
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