I Feel You Linger in the Air: Uncut Version (2023)

Cortisol, the Series

I like this drama. Theres a lot to love and a lot of things were done well. That said, there are some things I have to get out of the way before I start praising it:

THEY'RE SO DAMN STUPID OMFG
It doesnt seem like the story is going to punish the main couple's stupidity or at least if it does, it won't be punished too harshly, but their absolute refusal to be secretive in any single way had me more anxious than interested. Doors are ALWAYS left open. But, even if the doors were closed, don't worry, they're going to have their private conversations in the downstairs lobby. But, if they don't talk there, no worries, they'll kiss at the lake with 360 degree viewing angles from a mile away. But, don't worry, if that's too subtle, they'll chase each other out of a party in full view of all the guests because one of them got jealous that the other was within a meter of a woman. It never fucking ends omfgggg. I was on the edge of my seat FROM STRESS AND STRESS ALONE. Had me pausing every two business seconds to bemoan the dumbassery. Especially for Jom because he should know better, but also for Yai because HE SHOULD KNOW BETTER. He hears about a gay couple getting killed in the morning and minutes later he's backhugging Jom in public. Every single part of my body was clenched up like "this has got to be a tragedy because they really dont value life." It blows my mind that they don't get murked six ways from sunday because they're basically waving pride flags in 19-fucking-20 like bro please I'm trying to root for you. I've spent an entire episode just begging them to go inside. Is rain so nice to kiss in?? Just go inside, please. You dont even have to go into a room or close the door-- im reasonable, I can compromise, just, please, PLEASE go inside.

Around episode 9, my stress hit a critical point and I just sort of...stopped caring about the main characters because if they don't care anout themselves, why should I? I put down the series for nearly two months because I just couldnt take more anxiety disguised as cuteness. Like every time they had a heart to heart or romantic moment, I couldnt really get into it because all I was thinking was, "the door is open, isn't it?" (AND IT ALWAYS WAS. Which would prompt the thought, "these guys really wanna die, huh?" Because they MUST. Theres no other explanation.)

Much smaller gripe, but Jom losing his shit every time he sees himself or an image of the future really started grinding my gears. I can understand once or twice, but we're like 4 - 6 incidents deep and he still goes running and yelling after the image like he isnt aware every time it happens others can hear and see him running about like a chicken without a head. Like be chill, you already know you cant interact and you've literally experienced this all before??????? stfuuuu.

Ugh.
God.
Okay.

Lastly, the lack of consequence to any action (every action, really) took a lot of the tension out of this story. There's the romance between Jom and Yai for starters (I really relaxed after the father came to Jom to tell him to leave Yai alone because this is obviously set in 2028, not 1928), but it also goes for the lesbian CP, for Ming's decisions, for Fong Kaew's decisions, it's for servants speaking to masters like they're equals, it's for literally every single character. They'll do something that should have dire consequences and then they MAYBE get slapped for it. Maybe. Stern words and angry eyebrows do not build or deliver tension. The only consequences delivered are to a couple that's on screen once, for like three minutes. Very frustrating.


Now onto the good stuff:
The cinematography is beautiful, which I say as someone who does not care about cinematography or notice it unless it is insane. They did a good job making each scene very pleasing to the eye, this show is pleasant to watch. Even if you mute it, it will still grab your attention.

The music is great. It never felt unnecessary, overly loud or quiet, and more importantly, it never stole my attention from the show. A lot of times, unnecessarily sad music for shows can either irritate me or make me crack up, but each piece played fit the scene it was in.

The story is okay. I wasn't blown away by it like other reviewers, but I did enjoy the story once I released my hold on my disbelief and expectations. Without the expectation of too much realism, the story isdefinitely fun though it's not as nuanced as I'd thought it would be. I assume the book was better as shows usually have a hard time fitting a good story into 12 episodes while maintaining its quality.

Ignoring the depth of their stupidity, Yai and Jom's relationship was cute. They have great chemistry and really play off of each other well. I assume I'll enjoy the special episode more because my biggest problem with them was the time period. To the point that I did actual research on LGBT history in thailand, going as far as to find Thai resources, just to ensure I wasn't losing my mind and 1920 did indeed feel exactly what you'd expect for 1920 on LGBT issues. To put it more bluntly, neither couple would be alive, most likely, or at least out of jail, but ignoring that-- very cute couple.

I enjoyed the last couple episodes more than the first ten, the chemistry really is phenomenal and, when there's nothing else to worry about, it's positively showstopping. The music is occasionally overdramatic/mismatched but more often than not it's bangers after bangers (but in a classical sort of way.) I vivdly remember replaying a scene a few times (it was more of a transition, honestly) just for the music, so make of that what you will.

I'd definitely rewatch parts of this, but finally having finished it, it did not rock my world by a decent margin. Also, whatever accent it is that Yai has shows me the pearly gates every time he rolls an 'r' and that comprises of most of the parts I'd rewatch.



Today I learned that i cannot watch the special episode.

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Sense of Wonder

What a beautiful tender love story. The time travel element was a little confusing at times, but the overall story was well scripted. The 2 male leads had great chemistry and an affectionate respectful relationship. There were enough teasers to indicate a 2nd season.
Warrior Yai has a different perspective than scholar Yai so there's room for the storyline to be complex and compelling. It would be interesting to see a more intense relationship and possibly more physically passionate one with Warrior Yai. Hopefully, we won't have to wait long for their story.

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Best BL of 2023

Production quality, acting, script is all top notch! This is such a beautiful story and they did not only focus on giving the main characters purpose and reason, they also took their time to shape the side characters. It felt so real. Although the time travel concept is nothing new, they did use their own twists and overlapping tricks which made it all look more well-rounded.
I was confused at the ending. But since I found out there will be a second season, I will give it the benefit of the doubt that this is just part of the bigger picture, since the rest of the show was so well thought-out. The only reason I didn't give it a full 10, is because I generally don't enjoy dramas as much in the time he travelled to. I am looking forward to the second season and I can only recommend this show to anyone interested in a heartfelt Bl romance.

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The Ratings Speak for Itself

This series? It's my favourite BL of all time. Not just 2023, no.
It is perfect, it is flawless. I knew this when I finished the last episode, but purposefully waited for a while before writing this review, just in case my feelings on IFYLITA changed. But, it didn't.

I watched the UNCUT version, which you can find alongside the CUT version on the YYDS Entertainment YouTube channel.

Will it be perfect for everyone? Certainly not! If you don't like historical fantasy with time travel and reincarnation tropes, or if you feel that one-hour episodes are too long, then I'm sure those things may affect your enjoyment levels. But for me, it didn't. And I believed I'd never like historical fantasy before watching!

What's there to say that others haven't said yet? But to prove a point, I will shower this series with the praise it deserves nonetheless.

The main leads' chemistry and acting is *chef's kiss*. I have never cried as many times due to the sheer emotional impact during a series than IFYLITA.
The side characters are all intricately important to the plot, they have their own lives and motivations, make their own choices and deal with their own problems.
The cinematography, scene work and levels of detail in shots are a clear result of focus, love and skill.
The plot is multilayered and deals with realistic issues despite the various fantastical elements (time travel, reincarnation).
There are so many plot twists in the best of ways, mainly in how you'll dislike or hate certain characters you'll grow to like and appreciate later on (except for one character hah).

Jom and Khun Yai do not only have sweet moments, and scenes where they confide in each other and depend on each other emotionally but also have sizzling kisses and standout sexual encounters. There is no angst for the sake of the audience--everything happens for a reason, naturally, and logically. Products of the era Jom has found himself in, or products of the characters and their actions.

P.S. There's also a surprise side couple, that I won't spoil, but I promise you they're lovely.

TLDR; I would sell my soul to watch this series for the first time again.

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Best Quality Thai BL to Date

This show is definitely the best quality Thai BL to date, and it also outshines many other countries BL's for the quality of the story, acting and production value. Let's break it down:

THE GOOD:
- With regards to acting, they all had their designated roles and respective range of emotions to portray and they nailed it.
- For casting, no one was lacking, honestly. I personally really liked Jom, he was a mature ML the likes of which is very rare in BL's in general. In BL's the ML's (especially the 'sub' ML) are usually overly emotional, foolish, unreasonable or just don't have much control over doing things sensibly and sometimes they even lack dignity, but Jom was very centered and self respecting which was just fantastic imo. I really think we should see more of that.
- The story felt very complete imo and the production value was good for the show too, the location for shooting was very suitable and believable.
- The characters in this are all very likeable, honestly, and their relationships and relationship developments were so well paced and portrayed. From the 'higher class' to the 'slaves', all of the relationships and friendships had their own depth and importance to the story.
- The supernatural nature of this story was well written, and it was just enough to be a little eerie and interesting, but subtle as well, not overdone.
- The ML's chemistry was spot on. A sensual approach to intimacy more than a sexual one, so it was sexy but also emotional and quite beautiful.
- The secondary couple was GL, which was such a nice change and so well portrayed as well, also good chemistry.
- The choice Ueang Phueng made to terminate her pregnancy was well written and portrayed well, it was also an important story line with a final decision that was totally understandable and I think it was another very mature detail in this show.
- There was no overly predictable scenes and especially no awkward, comical long drawn out slow mo scenes. Also, everyone wasn't conveniently in everyone else's business all the time for no good reason.

There was no BAD or UGLY in this.

HIGHLIGHT:
- The emotional depth of this was great and wasn't buried under the idea, and in favour of, the show technically being a BL.

I would 100% recc watching this.

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The boy who Lingered a bit to long in the air

This is one of those dramas that had me wondering what is it I am missing here... Why are people rating this with a 10 star rating when literally nothing what so ever makes sense. As I spent half the drama wondering when the leads will get shot with a shot gun and if they have any type of risk assessment skills what so ever... Or I don´t know awareness of the time they lived in, as both leads in 1928 acted as if it was 2028... The acting is 1/2 cringe 1/2 decent. The pacing is off and it feels like they filmed half of the drama in slow motion just so they could stretch the time and get more for their money... making it draggy as ****

But if you can look passed that, the romance is decent, the skinship pretty and both boys had indeed worked quite a bit on their upper bodies whom they show us more or less every episode or so...The side stories of the lesbian couple, the house slaves/staff and the second wife are a lot more interesting than the time traveling dude.

There is also a really cute pig in this. Not really a drama I recommend, but it did have it's moments and apparently others call it a masterpiece so if you do not mind the cons I mentioned go for it... I hope you have a better time than I did.

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Incredible thai BL

I’m not usually someone who leaves a review, but this show is worth it. The story is intriguing and well executed much better than most of the thai BL’s this year. It truly is a love story between two people who are trying to be together in a time where love between the same gender was unacceptable. This is further complicated by the fact that one of them is from the future.
Many thai BL’s have an interesting concept like this, but “I feel you linger in the air” manages to do this plot justice.
I would also like to point out that the chemistry between the actors and the acting itself was superb.

In summary, I highly recommend this series to people who are looking for a well executed story, with good acting and great chemistry. It has funny, sad and absolutely heartwarming moments. Moments that are further enhanced by well times background music.

Absolutely recommend 10/10!

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Fated romance and beautiful production.

I remember watching the pilot for this drama just over a year ago and being very excited. I'm happy to report that is one of the best BL dramas I've seen so far coming out of 2023.

Starting off with the best part about this drama, the production. This has one of the best production values I have seen from a drama coming out of Thailand, and completely exceeded my expectations. The cinematography created a dreamy atmosphere. The set, costumes and scenery were all lovely and thoughtfully composed.
One of my favorite parts was the soundtrack. Unlike the series that put the same 3 or 4 background songs on rotation until your ears bleed, IFYLITA had a vast and wonderful selection of music. Aside from the occasional poor sound cut off, the music was well mixed and of a much higher quality than about 80% of the dramas I’ve seen. The theme songs worked well with the soundtrack and the body of music used for the show was very cohesive.

The story also exceeded my expectations. I knew that IFYLITA would be to my taste due to the tropes that they used. The mystery and suspense of the connections between the two worlds kept me very intrigued, and was my favorite part of the story. The fated romance between the main characters felt legendary. The actors did a good job with their roles. Bright made Khun Yai feel like a tender young man experiencing his first love. Nonkul did a great job with all of his emotional scenes, though I didn't exactly love the portrayal of his character (more on that later). I liked the family drama aspect, and watching how the parents developed.

Now, as much as I loved this drama, it still isn’t perfect. Overall, I would say the character writing was great, but Jom was definitely frustrating at times. Largely, Jom was a little boring and I couldn’t really pick out any defining personality features (aside from him being agreeable or acting like a lost puppy). Jom is mainly just strung along, and never really makes any decisions for himself. In the beginning, he would get in trouble for the same kinds of things over and over, and when confronted he could never think up a good excuse. Of course all of these things got better as the show carried on, but it's still disappointing as Jom's personality in the novel is clever and a little feisty.
Another fault was the lack of awareness from Jom and Khun Yai. I’m surprised that their relationship wasn’t on the front page of the newspaper. At times they were so conspicuous that I felt anxious more than anything during romantic scenes.

When it comes to the plot and pacing, there were never any horrible scenes, but there were some patches where the pacing fell into a slump. For a good portion of the show, the build-up tension, and execution would work together wonderfully and make some wonderful and thrilling scenes. Despite this, there were a handful of plot points and reveals that felt anticlimactic in comparison. There were also a few times where subpar acting was carried by good writing, or lackluster scenes were carried by good acting. The ending was a little rushed, and once again I feel they could have switched up certain reveals and pacing for dramatic effect.

Overall, any faults of this show pale in comparison to its good qualities, and I will always look at it fondly. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this series, and I plan on rewatching it soon. Since watching it, I have completed the novel and throughly enjoyed it. I recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the series. Hopefully we get a season 2!

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For Romance Lovers - Romantic, Sensual, Emotional

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75

I’ve always enjoyed watching Thai period dramas to learn more about Thai culture. Even though time-traveling is not my jam, the trailer of “I Feel You Linger in The Air” piqued my interest. I am so happy that I waited for it to finish airing and binge all 12 episodes at once. It’s a wonderful and romantic drama that focuses on the love story of the main leads. As a romance lover, this is definitely my cup of tea and I get the satisfaction I couldn’t quite get from “To Sir, With Love”. But if you are picky about the time-traveling, you might not be satisfied.

What I Like:

1. Main Romance - First and foremost, I love the development of romance. Even though it feels slow, it's actually not. It takes them about half a drama to confess their feelings, so in a way, that’s a pretty decent pace. Yai is so smitten and in love from the second he laid eyes on Jom. The love is there right from the start and continues to build throughout. Jom’s love is undeniable and he’s so in tune with Jom’s feelings and thoughts. Drunk confession through poetry? Sign me up for more! As mentioned, their love story is central to the plot and you follow their journey every step of the way. Their romance is beautiful, ROMANTIC, sensual and passionate.

2. Chemistry - Amazing and off the charts. Who knew olive oil can be so sexy? There are many Thai BL dramas that are way more sexual and with more explicit sex scenes. But in “I Feel You Linger in The Air”, I think their touching, caressing, hugging and kissing are WAY sexier and more romantic than any explicit sex scenes. **Check out ep 7** ? I can feel their emotions throughout these scenes. There’s one scene that’s a little more sexual, but the emotions behind it are telling us a very different story - elation, sadness, longing, desperation.

3. Acting - There is no typical Thai overacting, or having the camera stay at someone’s face for 5 seconds too long. The acting is as natural as I could have hoped for in a Thai drama. Nonkul (as Jom) and Bright (as Yai) did an admirable job. Even though I don’t think they are excellent, I believe in them and their acting (still some room for improvement). The supporting cast also deliver good performances.

4. Music - For such a gentle and romantic drama, I am glad the drama is not overloaded with songs played over and over again. For most of the drama, we hear gentle background music that mostly complemented the scenes. It was quite interesting that Swan Lake was played during two scenes when Jom and Yai are evading/dancing around each other about what just happened. The few songs that the drama has are lovely and played mainly towards the end of the drama more often. The lyrics also complement the scenes very well.

5. English - English that sounds English and doesn’t hurt my ears! Sweet James is played by Kimmy G (Thai-British) and Robert is played by Attila G (Thai-Swiss). I am so glad they are casted in these roles. Not only are they good to look at, they are lovely to hear from, esp. James.

6. Production Quality - Cinematography is beautiful. Jom’s house looks classic from the outside and the rooms look simple but gentle. The costumes are not elaborate but they seem to match the 1920’s style. The male cast looks handsome in their suits and the women look beautiful in their dresses.

What I have Mixed Feelings or Don’t Like:

1. Time-Traveling/Ending - I don’t necessarily feel that the ending is rushed, but it was not satisfying. The drama did not really explain the last few scenes in the finale. What if there’s no season 2, then it leaves a big question mark about how this ending makes sense. A special episode is fan service and doesn’t really match the tone with this beautiful melancholic drama. Having said that, I like how unique the drama ties the visions to _______ (it would be a spoiler if I write that out).

2. Villain’s downfall - Many viewers like me are waiting for the downfall of the villain. I don’t think he’s THAT bad compared to other villains I’ve seen, but the exposure of their crimes is really anti-climatic. Even if that place and time are best for such an exposure, the way it was done doesn’t make sense to me. It seems too easy without much resistance. I was hoping for more.

3. Side Stories - Maybe due to the focus of the leads, the other two couples didn’t really have a lot of screen time. I think their stories could be interesting as they are vastly different from the main couple, but not enough time is dedicated to them for viewers to know their backstories to make me root for them even more.


Overall, I strongly recommend this drama for romance lovers who like a slower-paced, passionate and a more melancholic love story (with some cute scenes). You will go through so many different emotions with the leads and will love it.



Other Random Observations:
1. Did you notice Jom likes to blink very slowly, or close his eyes a few seconds too long right before he’s expected to say or react? For some reason, it bothered me. LOL (I know I am insane).
2. I will forever remember this couple when I see olive oil. LOL
3. James and Ming are both so sweet, kind and nice. Great friends to have!
4. Jom and Yai are the most careless forbidden lovers out there. I worry they will get caught every time they are so open with their affections.



Completed: 11/5/2023 - Review #373

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an enchanted, lavender, and heartfelt love story.

I must admit that I'm not typically a fan of historical BL series, but when I stumbled upon IFYLITA, I couldn't resist giving it a shot. And let me tell you, it didn't disappoint... AT ALL. This series offers a unique blend of suspense, intrigue, and the opportunity to connect the dots yourself (the way Jom connects the dots to his masterpieces called drawings), making it a thrilling experience from start to finish.

One of the standout features of this series is the setting. The portrayal of the countryside in the 1920s serves as a breath of fresh air compared to the urban settings we often see in BL series. Watching the serene environment can make you feel relaxed one minute, but it's the series' ability to make you shift between emotions that truly sets it apart. One moment, you're as calm as the peaceful countryside, the next you're seething with anger at the societal system (especially those punishments), and the next you're genuinely concerned about the fate of the characters, especially Jom.

Unlike other series where you're primarily concerned about what happened in the past, IFYLITA ingeniously flips the script, leaving you wondering about what will happen in the future. It's a brilliant plot twist that keeps you engaged and invested in the storyline, don't ya think? Anyway, you'd know what I'm talking about when you see for yourself.

Perhaps it's because I'm a history enthusiast, but this series has rekindled my passion for the subject. While watching the show, I found myself frequently turning to my trusty Microsoft Bing tab to look up unfamiliar words and concepts. It's astonishing how, within just 33 hours of spaced-out watching, I learned so much about Thai history, even without the series explicitly teaching me. IFYLITA ignited my curiosity about the master-servant and peasant-elite relationships in 1920s Thailand, prompting me to delve deeper into that period. Why am I today years old learning that Bangkok wasn't the capital of Siam back in the day???

As for the series itself, it holds so much untapped potential that I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing unravel in the upcoming episodes. For now, I can confidently recommend IFYLITA to any BL fan who's in need of a refreshing break from the typical city-life BL series we're accustomed to. It's a captivating journey through history that will leave you craving more, and I can't wait to witness how it all ends, as I can barely see the end of the tunnel via a lavender haze. Each episode lifts my fearful feet higher to the next step in the haunted house of my mind (similar to the one in this show lol), and watching it at night in my dimly lit room adds to the eeriness I feel concerning the future of my loved couples. That's how good this show is. But, before I leave, I wanna scream "f*** you, Robert!!!"

Thanks for coming to my TED Talk. :)

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