When Oranges Fall

Ongoing Viewer Impressions of When Oranges Fall

I attended GMMTV’s *First Fall, First Love* event and have been following *When Oranges Fall* weekly ever since. Instead of posting separate long reviews here, I’ll use this space for shorter episode impressions while posting my full reviews on Medium.

So far, the series stands out because of its warm countryside atmosphere, nostalgic aesthetic, and the natural chemistry between Almond and Progress.

Episode 1: A Promising Start

Episode 1 successfully introduced Ko Neung and Ko Song through soft emotional tension and visually beautiful storytelling.

What I appreciated most was how the romance developed through small gestures instead of forced dramatic moments. The recurring orange symbolism also added charm and subtle emotional meaning to the story.

The chemistry between Almond and Progress already felt very natural from the beginning.

Episode 1 Rating: 9/10

Full review:
https://medium.com/@ryanl_3785/what-it-was-like-attending-gmmtvs-first-fall-first-love-a-fan-experience-and-episode-1-review-5f1bb5dc7ff0


Episode 2: Quietly Growing Closer

Episode 2 focused more on routine, friendship, and emotional familiarity between the leads.

From shared classroom moments and bicycle rides to nighttime conversations through their windows, the episode beautifully showed how closeness develops through ordinary interactions.

Almond continues impressing me with his restrained acting style, while Progress balances comedy and protectiveness extremely well.

One of the strongest scenes for me was the fishing sequence with Ko Neung’s father, which unexpectedly gave the episode emotional depth through its dialogue about life and searching for meaning.

My only criticism remains the pacing, as some emotional developments happen rather quickly. Still, the chemistry between the cast makes the progression enjoyable to watch.

Episode 2 Rating: 9/10

Full review:
https://medium.com/@ryanl_3785/when-oranges-fall-episode-2-review-the-distance-between-them-is-quietly-disappearing-2dc4e747cf19

Episode 3: Love Slowly Finds Its Routine

Episode 3 is where "When Oranges Fall" slowly shifts from simple friendship into emotional attachment.

What I loved most about this episode is how the romance continues developing through ordinary routines instead of dramatic confessions. Shared breakfasts, bicycle rides, studying together, looking through each other’s windows every night, and eventually communicating through a tin-can telephone all made their connection feel natural and sincere.

The series also continues using its 90s setting effectively. From strict haircut inspections and libraries to playing under the rain and the absence of phones, the atmosphere feels nostalgic without trying too hard.

This episode also introduced the first emotional conflict between Ko Neung and Ko Song through jealousy and misunderstanding. What made it work for me is that the characters themselves still do not fully understand what they are feeling yet, which makes their reactions feel realistic for their age.

Almond once again impressed me through subtle acting and emotional restraint, while Progress showed impressive range by balancing comedy, jealousy, softness, and emotional vulnerability in a single episode.

I also have to mention that Augar and Achi quietly became scene stealers this episode. Their basketball court scenes added emotional warmth and depth to the story.

The symbolism of oranges also became more meaningful here. For me, the oranges now represent unconditional care, small gestures of affection that continue even after misunderstandings and conflict.

My only criticism remains the pacing. Some emotional developments happen very quickly, and I wish certain transitions had more breathing room.

Still, Episode 3 beautifully proves that "When Oranges Fall" understands how love can quietly grow through routine and presence rather than grand romantic gestures.

Episode 3 Rating: 9/10

Full review here:
https://medium.com/@ryanl_3785/when-oranges-fall-episode-3-review-love-is-slowly-revealing-itself-in-the-quietest-ways-d2c7a8408b02

Episode 4: The Last Rain Before Realization

Episode 4 feels more like an emotional interlude than a plot-heavy chapter, but it serves an important purpose in Ko Neung's character development.

After Ko Song suddenly disappears due to a family emergency, the episode focuses on Ko Neung's growing realization of how important Ko Song has become in his life. His conversations through the empty tin-can phone and his reflections about the meaning of "the last rain" became some of the most emotional moments in the series so far.

I also appreciated how the episode expanded the symbolism of oranges, rain, and reunion while continuing to build the nostalgic atmosphere of the show.

Progress delivers his strongest dramatic performance yet, while Almond remains effective through his subtle and restrained acting style.

The fishing trip and sunrise sequence were visually beautiful and led to one of the biggest moments of the series so far: Ko Neung kissing a sleeping Ko Song, only to be witnessed by August.

The pacing remains fast, but emotionally this was one of the most meaningful episodes so far.

Episode 4 Rating: 8.5/10

Full review: https://medium.com/@ryanl_3785/when-oranges-fall-episode-4-review-the-last-rain-before-realization-7dcea3f814ad

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When Oranges Fall — A First Love That Feels Safe

I really loved this BL.

When Oranges Fall is a gentle coming-of-age story set in the late 90s, when LGBTQ+ identities were far less openly discussed. However, instead of using constant homophobia or cruelty to create drama, the series gives its characters a reassuring world in which they can slowly understand their feelings. That choice makes it incredibly easy to watch. The fears surrounding their relationship still feel real, especially because neither boy is comfortable talking openly about what he wants. However, the series never becomes emotionally exhausting. It allows them to be confused, hesitant and afraid without punishing them for falling in love.

The whole cast is also extremely cute. The friendships make the school setting feel alive, and the supporting characters create a warm environment around the central romance. They aren't simply there to fill the episodes. They make this feel like a genuine group of teenagers approaching the end of one part of their lives without fully understanding what adulthood will bring.

Progress and Almond, however, were something else. After already playing Noh and Phun together in Love Sick 2024, they return here with a very different kind of relationship. Their familiarity as acting partners helps the emotional scenes feel natural, but there is still a visible awkwardness between their characters that suits this story perfectly. Neither boy is completely comfortable with what is happening between them. Normally, that hesitation could weaken the chemistry. Here, it strengthens it. This is a first love developing during a period when two boys couldn't easily name their feelings, much less discuss them openly. Their uncertain looks, restrained movements and difficulty approaching each other feel appropriate rather than frustrating. Progress and Almond don't need exaggerated romantic scenes to make the relationship believable. The affection appears through small gestures, the time they spend together and everything they struggle to say directly. Their chemistry feels soft and slightly uncomfortable in exactly the way this romance needs. The acting is excellent because they make that uncertainty feel like part of the characters rather than a limitation in their performances.

The only part that stopped the series from being perfect for me was the transition into adulthood. The story spends so much time showing two boys who are afraid to communicate that I expected growing up to challenge them more. Instead, several problems are resolved very quickly and without the arguments or emotional confrontation I expected. Love cannot always be that easy, especially between two people who have so much difficulty speaking honestly. I didn't need unnecessary toxicity or a dramatic separation created only to extend the story. However, I wanted a little more resistance. Even one meaningful disagreement could have shown how their relationship changed once the innocence of school ended and adult choices became real. Perhaps this also comes from my own perspective. As an adult, I naturally compare coming-of-age stories with reality and with my own experiences. That sometimes makes me notice emotional steps that younger viewers may not feel are missing. The simplicity of the resolution may be exactly what makes the series comforting for other people. It didn't prevent me from loving it.

Final Thought

When Oranges Fall succeeds because it understands that a story about LGBTQ+ youth doesn't always need suffering to feel meaningful. It offers a warm and reassuring first love carried by an adorable cast and two leads who understand how to make hesitation feel romantic. I still wish the growing-up part had been explored more deeply. The relationship needed one final challenge to show that Ko One and Ko Two could communicate as adults, not only love each other as teenagers. Even without that, this remains a perfectly watchable and lovable BL that I will happily return to.

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Heartwarming Coming-of-Age BL Series

When Oranges Fall is such a heartwarming and comforting BL series that beautifully captures high school romance, friendship, and youth. I genuinely love the main cast, Almond and Progress — their acting feels natural, emotional, and full of chemistry. They truly bring their characters to life in a way that makes every scene feel sincere and memorable.

I also adore the side characters portrayed by Ken, Paul, Justin, and Keaton. Their presence adds so much charm, warmth, and fun to the story, making the friendships feel genuine and lovable.

What makes this series special is how it perfectly balances romance, friendship, and coming-of-age moments. It reminds you of the beauty of growing up, finding comfort in people, and experiencing young love for the first time. Every episode leaves a warm feeling in my heart.

I truly hope When Oranges Fall receives all the love and success it deserves. These talented young actors are undoubtedly part of the future of GMMTV, and I’m excited to see them grow even more in the industry.

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Vale la pena vedere When Oranges Fall?

Se ti piacciono serie stile Perfect10Liners, Boys In Love e My School President, te la consiglio molto!

I protagonisti sono molto bravi a recitare e anche gli altri attori non sono mica male! Ammetto di aver iniziato questa serie per KenPaul, visto che non conoscevo AlmondProgress, però in realtà mi hanno shockata un po tutti 😳

Mi sarebbe piaciuto vedere qualche scena in più con Keaton e Justin, ma forse le hanno tagliate visto che ormai Justin non fa più parte della GMMTV 😅

La storia in se è molto semplice, vista e rivista in molte serie e non solo della GMMTV.
Le OST di questa serie sono BELLISSIME, soprattutto quella cantata da Satang ❤️
Purtroppo però non consiglierei un re-watch perché alcune parti le trovo cringe e un po noiose ma tutto sommato è una serie molto carina, soprattutto per chi vuole farsi due risate ☺️

Tu cosa ne pensi? 😚

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Une romance qui a oublié son époque…

When the Orange Falls, est un drama qu’il me tardait vraiment de commencer. D’une part parce qu’il s’agissait d’une romance similaire aux ennemies to lovers, un trope que j’apprécie toujours beaucoup lorsqu’il est bien exploité. D’autre part parce que l’histoire se déroulait dans une période historique. Certes, il ne s’agit pas d’une époque très ancienne, mais ce simple contexte suffit généralement à apporter un charme particulier et une atmosphère différente des romances contemporaines. Malheureusement, si je pensais que la série allait véritablement s’appuyer sur cette période de l’histoire, je me suis finalement retrouvée devant un scénario beaucoup plus classique que ce que j’espérais.

L’histoire nous raconte la rencontre de deux garçons portant exactement le même nom. Devenus voisins, ils développent immédiatement une relation qui ressemble d’abord à une rivalité. Enfin… une rivalité toute relative, parce qu’à peine échangent-ils un regard que l’on comprend déjà où le scénario souhaite nous emmener. Ils passent davantage leur temps à se lancer des regards débordant de d’amour qu’à réellement se détester. On est finalement beaucoup plus proche d’un “qui aime bien châtie bien” que d’un véritable affrontement entre deux personnalités incompatibles. Cependant si l’un prend rapidement conscience de ses sentiments tandis que l’autre mettra un peu plus de temps à comprendre ce qu’il ressent réellement.

J’ai beaucoup apprécié la manière dont leur relation se construit au départ. J’aime énormément les romances qui naissent simplement de quelques regards, de longs silences et de petits gestes du quotidien. Il n’y a pas forcément besoin de grandes déclarations lorsque deux personnages dégagent déjà autant de tendresse simplement en partageant le même espace. C’est d’autant plus touchant que leurs situations familiales sont totalement opposées. D’un côté, Ko Song est un garçon particulièrement solitaire dont les parents semblent presque absents de sa vie. De l’autre, Ko Nueng grandit dans une famille chaleureuse, présente et aimante. Naturellement, il commence à inviter Ko Song chez lui afin qu’il puisse lui aussi profiter de cette ambiance familiale qui lui manque tant. Cette opposition fonctionne très bien et apporte beaucoup de douceur à leurs premiers rapprochements. J’ai également beaucoup aimé leur petite bande d’amis qui apporte régulièrement une touche de légèreté et de bonne humeur au récit.

En revanche, une fois la romance réellement lancée, j’ai trouvé que certains comportements perdaient en cohérence. C’est particulièrement le cas de Ko Nueng. Pendant plusieurs épisodes, tout laisse penser qu’il attend exactement ce qui finit par arriver. Pourtant, lorsque Ko Song l’embrasse enfin, il réagit comme si celui-ci venait de commettre quelque chose d’impensable. Il le fuit, lui en veut et finit même par prétendre qu’il ne le considère que comme un simple ami… alors que tout, absolument tout dans son comportement jusque-là racontait l’inverse. Et lorsque Ko Song décide finalement de prendre ses distances, c’est cette fois Ko Nueng qui se met en colère. Toute cette mise en scène m’a semblé inutilement artificielle, d’autant plus que l’épisode suivant les voit déjà s’embrasser de nouveau. Ce faux conflit m’a davantage donné l’impression de créer du drama pour créer du drama que de développer naturellement leurs sentiments.

La suite semble poursuivre ce chemin. Après la période de lune de miel arrivent les inquiétudes concernant l’université. Ko Song travaille sans relâche afin de réussir son entrée en faculté de médecine tandis que Ko Nueng, lui, ne supporte plus l’école et ne sait toujours pas quelle direction donner à son avenir. L’un privilégie son avenir, l’autre souhaite simplement profiter du temps qu’il leur reste ensemble. Ce désaccord est plutôt crédible et permet enfin d’aborder un conflit reposant sur leurs personnalités respectives plutôt que sur un simple malentendu. Si j’ai apprécié que le drama prenne le temps de montrer les conséquences de leurs résultats, leurs réactions, leurs discussions et leurs doutes, j’ai encore une fois eu beaucoup plus de mal avec l’ampleur dramatique que le scénario cherche à donner à cette séparation alors qu’ils vont finalement étudier dans la même ville… et même vivre ensemble. Là aussi j’ai eu le sentiment que la série amplifiait artificiellement une situation qui ne le nécessitait pas vraiment.

Mais mon plus grand regret concerne le contexte historique lui-même. Visuellement, il est très réussi. Les décors, les costumes et la palette de couleurs créent une ambiance particulièrement douce et poétique (même si il aurait fallu doser la apparition de la bande-son originale par moment). Mais dans les faits, cette époque n’a pratiquement aucune influence sur le déroulement de l’histoire. Les romances pourraient se dérouler aujourd’hui que cela ne changerait presque rien. Pourtant, venant du même studio que Ticket to Heaven, je m’attendais justement à ce que cette période de transition soit utilisée pour montrer les difficultés qu’une relation homosexuelle pouvait rencontrer à cette époque. Ici, les familles semblent accepter sans difficulté que leurs fils aient des petits amis, comme si ce contexte historique n’avait absolument aucune incidence sur leur quotidien. Finalement, j’ai eu l’impression de regarder une romance contemporaine simplement habillée avec des costumes d’époque. C’est dommage, car le potentiel dramatique existait réellement et aurait permis d’apporter beaucoup plus de profondeur à l’ensemble.

Au final, When the Orange Falls reste un visionnage très agréable. Les différentes romances sont adorables, les personnages sont incroyablement mignons, et j’ai sincèrement pris plaisir à suivre leur évolution. Pourtant, j’en ressors avec un sentiment assez mitigé. Mon compteur émotionnel n’a jamais réellement été stimulé comme je l’espérais. Le contexte historique promettait une histoire plus complexe, plus douloureuse et plus ancrée dans la réalité de son époque, mais le drama choisit finalement de rester dans une romance assez classique où les principaux conflits demeurent relativement superficiels. J’ai passé un très bon moment devant cette série, mais je ne peux m’empêcher de trouver dommage qu’elle n’ait jamais osé exploiter pleinement tout le potentiel que son univers semblait pourtant lui offrir. C’est une jolie romance, pleine de douceur et de personnages attachants, mais il lui manque cette profondeur émotionnelle qui aurait pu la rendre véritablement marquante.

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告白以前的親吻，是整部劇裡最大的衝突

這部劇的衝突沒有很多，劇情不複雜，也沒有特別突出，基本上算是個可愛的小品。

攝影的調色偏暖色、場景皆開闊拍攝，畫面比例像電影，和之前GMM家其他劇不大一樣。

演員選的年紀算小，但是角色歷時跨幅大，從十年級（高一）到大四，除了關鍵的時間高二、高三——兩人產生感情，並且面臨感情危機——之外，多數時間段都拍的挺快，還會帶到其他角色的cp。關於時間跨度大，衝突卻不多的劇本裡，原本可能沒有什麼興趣，但就是由於演員的魅力和對於角色人設的演繹讓我忍不住看下去。

Progress 演繹的主角大Ko是個很單純可愛的人，會體貼別人，有自己的小劇場，又很會享受自己的一方世界；Almond 演繹的小Ko則有點悶騷斯文帶點腹黑，少年老成；剛好這兩人一動一靜。

另外，我覺得很有腹黑潛力的是Ken飾演的Augar，不但曾經喜歡過大Ko，大家都不知道，而後又在追求Achi的過程中，玩一些小花樣，和身體刻意接觸，顯示其內心世界和外表看來單純的運動男孩是完全兩種人。

我比較好奇的是故事發生在90年代的泰國哪裡，另外，潑水節臉上塗抹ดินสอพอง，我原本以為是緬甸的Tanakha。

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Siento que esto es lo que pasa cuando un director está en su elemento.

Y es precisamente en lo que destaca Siwaj: el slice of life, el agarrar un pedazo de la vida de un personaje y simplemente contarlo.

Desde My only 12% (curiosamente, también de Siwaj), no había visto un slice of life tan bien contado. Se siente la forma en la que el director retrata la adolescencia, el crecer y el cambiar; cómo las relaciones evolucionan contigo y cómo, aunque no siempre vayan a permanecer a tu lado, entiendes que todos cambiamos y seguimos caminos distintos.

Los mejores aspectos
1. Dirección y ambientación
Siento que, igual que en My only 12%, Siwaj sabe ambientar muy bien las series situadas a inicios de los 2000. Sabe cómo sumergirte en la historia, no solo con el vestuario, sino también con la ambientación. Muchos de los espacios se ven tal cual una habitación o un salón que realmente están siendo habitados. Te crees que pertenecen a esa época, crees que los personajes tienen la edad que te dicen que tienen, porque la serie no solo te lo dice, sino que te lo muestra. Todo se siente natural y logra transportarte a ese tiempo.

2. Los personajes y sus relaciones
Voy a decirlo desde ya: la serie funciona porque la mayor parte de sus personajes son el alma de la historia, especialmente P'Ko.
Es uno de esos personajes tan entrañables: alegre, coqueto, divertido y extrovertido. Es el corazón de la serie. La historia evoluciona porque él evoluciona, y es él quien nos lleva de la mano para mostrarnos cada etapa de su vida. Siento que yo materné a ese chico y, al final, me alegró verlo conseguir lo que consiguió.
Y no podemos negar las relaciones que lo rodean. Ko Son es la razón dentro de la serie; es esa ancla de P'Ko que evita que se pierda, pero también representa el lado más sensible de la historia. Los otros personajes, como August, Achi y Augar, muestran diferentes versiones de la adolescencia, del crecer y del madurar, y cómo las personas que conocemos pasan por nuestras vidas, pero siguen siendo importantes en quienes terminamos convirtiéndonos.

Algunos aspectos negativos
Nada de esto arruinó mi experiencia, pero sí hubo cosas que pudieron sentirse mejor desarrolladas.
1. La relación romántica de los protagonistas
Siento que su relación durante la adolescencia estuvo muy bien construida. Desde su primer beso hasta la pelea cuando descubren que uno de los Ko se va a mudar, todo funciona porque retrata una relación queer adolescente. No necesita ser explícita ni depender de grandes muestras de afecto para transmitir lo que sienten.
Lo que sí no terminé de creer fue su relación cuando llegan a la universidad. Siento que se quedó estancada en la adolescencia. Y no solo por la actuación de los actores, que, a mi parecer, son muy jóvenes y no terminan de verse como personas de 22 o 25 años; incluso hubiera preferido que eligieran actores un poco mayores para interpretar esa etapa.
También siento que la forma en la que escribieron la relación hizo que nunca terminara de evolucionar. Muchas de las decisiones que toman hasta el último capítulo parten de querer cuidar al otro, pero nunca vemos esa parte incómoda que también tienen las relaciones: discutir, equivocarse, hablar de lo que les molesta o aprender a resolver conflictos. Y, aunque ambos personajes reconocen que esa es una de las dificultades de su relación, el hecho de no hablar de lo que los incomoda, siento que la serie nunca termina de mostrar que las cosas realmente están cambiando. Y por no mencionar que se sienten que los personajes parecen incomodos el uno con el otro cuando son adultos.
Por eso, para mí, su relación nunca avanzó más allá de lo que nos mostraron en la adolescencia. Me hubiera encantado ver cómo evolucionaban juntos, aunque hubiera sido recién en el último capítulo.

Conclusión
En conclusión, When Orange Fall, a pesar de tener algunos de los problemas que suelen repetirse en las series de Siwaj —como la resolución de los conflictos o, muchas veces, la falta de ellos—, hace muy bien su trabajo de contarte una historia que merece ser contada. Logra capturar esa parte de la adolescencia que es muy bonita de vivir: crecer, cambiar, dejar personas atrás y seguir encontrándote a ti mismo. Muchos directores intentan plasmar esa etapa, pero pocos logran que se sienta tan cotidiana y tan genuina. Y creo que esa sigue siendo la mayor fortaleza de Siwaj.

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Vou sentir saudade!

Fazia tempo que não assistia uma bl de adolescentes tão linda,encantadora e inocente.
Assisti a transição dos personagens de adolescentes para início da vida adulta, é sempre emocionante. E foi o que essa bl fez. Como ela foi escrita e cheio emoções, foi um dos motivos no qual me fez apaixonar por ela. Agora o melhor mesmo, foi a entrega dos atores para os personagens. A amizade foi uma coisa que também me pegou muito. A união deles foram tudo para mim. Agora o amor, esse sim, foi a cereja do bolo. Sabe aquele amor inocente? Pois bem, tivemos muito disso e foi lindo de ver.

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NÃO DAVA NADA?

me surpreendi muito com esse aqui!!!! por ser um bl com uma sinopse mais simples, fiquei com medo de serem muitos episódios pra pouco assunto, mas conseguiram dividir tão bem, estou tão aliviada!!!!!

o casal é tão fofo e bem desenvolvido, a construção do casal é a evolução pessoal e como casal e linda demais e tão bem feita!!!

os secundários são um SURTO de fofura, ficava muito emocionada quando eles interagiram juntos

o aprendizado dessa série foi muito certeira, trazer esse lado de dúvidas do futuro, medo de crescer, se adaptar e evoluir juntos quando as coisas mudam foi muito bem pensado!!!!

sobre o terciário, fofos mas não tão desenvolvidos quantos os outros dois (nem vou entrar no tópico do ator🫩)

new paguei pau pra você

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