This review may contain spoilers
Love Upon a Time stood out so much compared to the standard BL formula
Wow, where do I even start? For me, this was easily one of the best Thai BLs I’ve watched so far.
It’s so refreshing to watch a historical series where the plot actually drives the show, rather than just using a thin storyline as an excuse to jump from one intimate scene to the next.
I honestly can't believe I watched an entire series without skipping a single scene, and that it had an actual plot! The producers clearly started with a solid storyline and built a genuine show around it, rather than just using the project as an excuse to have the actors engage in overly sexualized scenes.
The time-travel aspect felt grounded and well-paced instead of being all over the place, and the characters had real depth.
I have to say, Klao is officially one of the best "bottom" characters in Thai BL history.
Having a character who isn't just a passive, trope-heavy submissive, but rather a witty, capable person who stands up for himself, is a huge breath of fresh air
He threw punches when he needed to, never solely relied on the "top" to save the day, and had a vibrant personality that didn't just revolve around tired tropes. He was smart and grounded in his interactions, and I absolutely loved his dynamic with Prim and the other women around him.
Meanwhile, Phop easily joins the list of best Thai BL tops. He is the ultimate green flag (and the fact that Net is absolutely delightful to look at certainly didn't hurt). I got so emotional watching him fight for his love in an era where it wasn't accepted.
Even the second leads had a really wonderful plotline in their previous lives and weren't annoying in the slightest. As for the finale, it genuinely satisfied me. It was truly the best happy ending we could have gotten from a time-travel plot.
Overall, I am incredibly happy with this drama. While the acting could have been significantly better in certain scenes, especially from JJ, it was still highly enjoyable. The main leads had insane chemistry without it feeling overly explicit or borderline pornographic. Even the intimate scenes felt deeply tender rather than exploitative. I will definitely be keeping an eye on Net and JJ for future projects.
"To a love unbound by gender, standing resolute against the tides of time."
That was the perfect line to end the show. It left me so emotional, especially knowing how many real people throughout history never got to have their happy ending
It’s so refreshing to watch a historical series where the plot actually drives the show, rather than just using a thin storyline as an excuse to jump from one intimate scene to the next.
I honestly can't believe I watched an entire series without skipping a single scene, and that it had an actual plot! The producers clearly started with a solid storyline and built a genuine show around it, rather than just using the project as an excuse to have the actors engage in overly sexualized scenes.
The time-travel aspect felt grounded and well-paced instead of being all over the place, and the characters had real depth.
I have to say, Klao is officially one of the best "bottom" characters in Thai BL history.
Having a character who isn't just a passive, trope-heavy submissive, but rather a witty, capable person who stands up for himself, is a huge breath of fresh air
He threw punches when he needed to, never solely relied on the "top" to save the day, and had a vibrant personality that didn't just revolve around tired tropes. He was smart and grounded in his interactions, and I absolutely loved his dynamic with Prim and the other women around him.
Meanwhile, Phop easily joins the list of best Thai BL tops. He is the ultimate green flag (and the fact that Net is absolutely delightful to look at certainly didn't hurt). I got so emotional watching him fight for his love in an era where it wasn't accepted.
Even the second leads had a really wonderful plotline in their previous lives and weren't annoying in the slightest. As for the finale, it genuinely satisfied me. It was truly the best happy ending we could have gotten from a time-travel plot.
Overall, I am incredibly happy with this drama. While the acting could have been significantly better in certain scenes, especially from JJ, it was still highly enjoyable. The main leads had insane chemistry without it feeling overly explicit or borderline pornographic. Even the intimate scenes felt deeply tender rather than exploitative. I will definitely be keeping an eye on Net and JJ for future projects.
"To a love unbound by gender, standing resolute against the tides of time."
That was the perfect line to end the show. It left me so emotional, especially knowing how many real people throughout history never got to have their happy ending
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