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One for the BL history books
Didn't think I would find a BL better than I Told Sunset About You, but this show proved me wrong. I waited over a year for it and I'm so glad it didn't disappoint. If anything it surpassed all my expectations.Let's start off with the story. The pacing of the show was really good. It wasn't rushed or dragged, and the build-up for their romance was perfect. The show's concept is fresh and it's always nice to have a breather from the typical cheesy college setting we see in BLs.
The place they shot Pha Pun Dao village added a lot of color to the show and made it very realistic. It gave a good sense of how life is like in these villages and the problems they go through. This was what made it stand out so well from other shows.
Besides romance, the show had also taught me so many good lessons when it comes to personal growth. I enjoyed each and every episode and I'm going to miss getting excited for Fridays!
Next, acting. I thought this was going to be the weak point of the show since Mix is pretty much a newbie, and I was never a big fan of Earth's acting. But, they definitely proved me wrong. The amount of emotion and tension I felt from watching was amazing. Mix's acting is extremely impressive and Earth's acting had improved a lot as well. Overall casting and acting was good and there isn't anything for me to fault.
Lastly, music. I am not one to care about soundtracks/music in shows. But the music in this show really hit me hard for some reason. I wasn't tearing up in the last episode until the music started playing, and I ended up becoming a sobbing mess.
To summarise, I would 100% rewatch this show again and would definitely recommend everyone (not just BL lovers) to watch this. It's a really beautiful show. It has raised my standard for BLs and has proven that you don't need many kiss/sexual scenes to pull off a fantastic BL. Good job to everyone who worked on this!
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The production value was pretty good and seemed to be on par with Trapped. There were some awkward scenes nonetheless and I really disliked how they would sometimes zoom in on Xigu's face to show Haoting's perspective. It was awkward, unrealistic and cringe-worthy as hell.
The acting was pretty good. Honestly impressed considering the cast contained quite a lot of newbies (Juan Zhi, Xia De, Xia En, Wilson, Cheng Hao, etc.) Wayne's acting was incredible, especially during Episode 19 & 20. He expressed Haoting's emotions so well.
However, the main flaw of this entire series was the goddamn plot. For the most part, it was cute and I enjoyed it. But it was too simple. There was so little development despite the show having 20 episodes. There wasn't enough expansion. Even Crossing The Line & Right or Wrong had more substance and they only had 8 episodes. Felt as though they had too little ideas and that they could've done a lot more.
Another issue I had with this show (as well as Trapped) was that they lack detail as to how the main couple starts developing feelings for one another. It was too sudden. Developing feelings for a person just through observation (in the case of Haoting and Boxiang), is just unrealistic and immature. The way Haoting randomly decided to start courting Xigu was too quick and it felt like there was nothing to justify why he decided to do it.
I did not like the ending as well. If you're gonna give us a tragic ending, at least make it interesting and worth watching. Episode 19 & 20 honestly ruined the whole series for me because while I was an emotional wreck, I was also skipping through so many boring scenes.
To conclude, this show is worth watching, especially if you're a BL fan running out of shows to watch. Not the best, but enjoyable to say the least. Would I watch this all over again? Yes. But only from Episode 1 to 18.
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The plot was the biggest issue with the whole series. In every story, there is a "problem" that creates a foundation for how the plot flows. In this case, the problem was simply just Kao continuing to teach Non when he said he wouldn't. This was weak/insufficient and made the PeteKao storyline fall flat.
SunMork, on the other hand, seemed very rushed. Despite my preference for PeteKao, I think the series would've been better if they cut out some PeteKao scenes and spent more time focusing and developing on SunMork. Their relationship felt rushed and I kind of lost interest towards the end.
However, there were many parts that I absolutely loved and enjoyed. There were a lot of heartwarming scenes and I liked how this show dealt with the actual difficulties of being gay and wanting acceptance. Not many BLs have done this and honestly, more should.
The production value was typical for GMMTV (Meaning it's a lot better than most BLs out there). The acting was good for the most part. It's obvious that TayNew's chemistry is strong and both of them played their roles very well. Newwie especially was a delight to watch as he portrayed Kao's emotions so well.
On the other hand, Gawin (Mork) & Podd (Sun) don't seem to have any chemistry at all. Gawin's acting is a little awkward and it feels as though he isn't comfortable with playing a character in a gay relationship. Podd's acting was fine for the most part and I truly feel he should get more recognition.
The music was okay. I actually ended up really liking the dramatic intro music, despite it not fitting the show's theme at all. There really isn't much for music other than that.
In conclusion, despite its flaws, I mostly enjoyed watching this show. Got frustrated at the characters during many occasions (especially Non and Kao), which actually shows a good reflection of how well they played their roles. Plus, this show has a good ending which made it worth watching. I would definitely recommend it if you love BLs and are running out of shows to watch.
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The series starts off very bright and optimistic, but later takes a dark turn in episode two. If you're looking for a romance BL, search somewhere else because this show is basically unrequited love gone wrong. Despite only being three episodes, I felt my heart literally ache so many times. Compared to other shows, I think it gives a rather good idea of what rape victims have to actually deal and struggle with. However, if you're uncomfortable with issues/scenes concerning rape, suicide, and self-harm, I would suggest avoiding this show.
I felt the ending was fine. I don't know why I saw comments saying they were surprised/shocked? It felt it was more of a question mark that was meant to be left alone.
All in all, there was a lot of substance in this series despite being only three episodes long. Would definitely recommend everyone to watch it. I wouldn't want this series to have a sequel, but I honestly wouldn't mind a show about Bright and Pramote :)
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There was a point where the relationship between Kongpob and Arthit started becoming a little stale but good thing there were side stories to help me continue watching. I do hope to see more of the other characters though. Wanted to see more of Yong and Nai as well as Tew and Dae.
Overall, I would say this was a nice continuation from the first season and most likely a great ending to the series. But once again, I would complain if there's a third season.
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Production value was great and of course with talented actors like Singto and Ohm, you can't go wrong. Singto's acting here was excellent and it's wonderful to see how much he progressed over the years. Ohm was amazing as well and his crying scenes made my heart ache.
The plot was clear, simple and interesting. I really like how the show addresses a few aspects of how coming out for gays can be hard. It's not one of those "I don't like guys, I'm only in love with him" type of show. I also loved how the show didn't drag on, and each episode brought up a new finding or issue. There was always something to look forward to.
Unlike many Thai BL's I've watched, conversations weren't too long and rarely were there any boring scenes. In fact, I felt that it could've been a little longer, especially when they were finding out why Mes died. It felt a little sudden and rushed. I also really like how the show addresses a few aspects of how coming out can be hard. Nonetheless, there were times where it just didn't add up. Like why didn't Thun's mom see Mes when she entered the room while he was there?
The romance between Mes and Thun was so sweet and innocent. It really warmed my heart. It was just two people developing feelings for one another, just that one was sadly a ghost. There was nothing sexual except for some cute kisses. The ending didn't go as I expected. But it actually opens up a possibility of a season 2 since they ended it off like that. Let's hope it actually happens!
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The plot was really great. Even the side stories were fun to watch. The relationships were nicely developed. Production value of the show was really good as well. The story flowed smoothly. The ending was perfect for me. I would still like a season 2 of course!
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However, I felt that Singto's acting here was awkward (It has obviously improved over the years), and some others just couldn't act. Acting and production value wasn't excellent, but neither was it too bad for me to not want to watch it. There was a lot of still room for improvement but it is obvious how this show paved the way and also influenced Thai BLs.
I've rewatched this show once and will most likely rewatch it again in the near future considering it's sadly the only BL my country made available on Netflix.
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However, after running out of BLs to watch, I gave this series a try. It was way above my expectations. I would personally recommend everyone to not watch the first series and just jump to the second one. This comes from the fact that the first series is packed nicely into the first 4 episodes of 2Moons 2, allowing us to understand the plot. This 4 episodes really helped me adjust to the new actors.
The new actors are great. Their acting is much better than the previous cast and their scenes aren't as awkward. They also portray their roles much better. The storyline wasn't very exciting, but it was better than the first series. The romance between Kit & Ming was so sweet. Forth & Beam were exciting to watch as well.
There was still room for improvement nonetheless. Just like a lot of other BLs, there were parts which could've been shortened or cut out. I once again had to keep skipping scenes that just seemed boring and insignificant. Nonetheless, I'm glad it ended off with a cliffhanger. Extremely excited for 2 Moons 3!
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This show is by far the best among the HIStory franchise. The story was great but I personally didn't like how different episodes varied in terms of length length. The cast was perfect and production value was greatly improved. The music was pretty alright as well, especially
I liked how the romance between the couples slowly blossomed. There wasn't any rush and neither was it too slow. It was nicely developed throughout the 20 episodes. I also liked how the flashback scenes were placed and they gave great detail to the storyline. Also, the ending was a little sad but perfect. I would 100% recommend you watch this, especially if you're a new BL fan.
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Cute but extremely predictable
This is a plot that is all too familiar and predictable. Everything I expected to happen, happened. I would be lying if I said I didn't like it. Cute cast members and silly romance? Of course I'd enjoy it. But 12-episodes of this slow burn was a little exhausting to watch. They could've compacted this storyline into 8 episodes and still have time to spare. It was a little anti-climatic as well.GunTinn were nice to watch. The supporting characters were honestly not that impressive. Did not care for the side couple. Tinn and Gun's mothers were great though.
Between the two main leads, Fourth is definitely the better actor. Gemini's acting still comes off a little unnatural at times. This was a very typical GMMTV production and is honestly just above average in terms of BLs. Don't really get the hype. FourthGemini's acting and chemistry in Moonlight Chicken, and even their storyline (Liming & Heart) in that show surpasses this by a mile.
Music was great too!
If you're a new BL fan, just into fluff BLs, or are simply running out of good quality BLs, I would definitely recommend this.
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Ae & Pete were fine at first but their story took off too early and it stayed constant. It got really boring and repetitive towards the end, especially since they're the literal 'main couple' so they got more screen time. Very cute nonetheless.
Tin & Can were doing fine until the ending. I only continued watching the second half for them. I don't know who decided it was a good idea to ruin their relationship at the end, leaving us with a very heartbroken Tin. Still praying that we get to see more of them in the future.
Kengkla & Techno as well as Tum & Tar were complete side stories, with almost no relevance. The show would've been the same or even better without them. Both couples were a distraction and their story lines were boring and underdeveloped. Kengkla and Techno story line was actually completely unnecessary.
Basically, one couple was getting too much time and two couples barely had any time or details to their story.
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This review may contain spoilers
This was much more interesting than season 1 and the cast's acting improved quite a lot. One small issue in terms of cast was that there was too many of them, and it was starting to get confusing at one point. The story line also started to seriously drag. Especially the last 5 episodes. It became EXHAUSTING to watch. The main couple (Tee and Fuse) started to become really annoying and draggy. Frame and Book was the only reason I continued to watch.However, there are so many concerning issues with this season that made me uncomfortable or even disgusted.
1. Fuse literally cheating on Jean, chose Jean instead of Tee, broke up with Jean the moment he found out she was cheating, and ran back to Tee right after that - Sends the message that it's okay to cheat and that you should always have a back-up?
2. Tee accepting Fuse right after the break up. Despite the fact he was only second in Fuse's heart when Fuse had to choose between him and Jean. - That's just sad.
3. Frame almost having a threesome with his boyfriend's ex and the school teacher? And then the teacher giving advice as if they weren't about to have sex with a student? - Potential pedophilia + teacher-student relations?
4. Wit and Yok's mom... What the hell was that even. Aren't this kids like 16 in the show and in real life? I don't know what the hell was going on but it creeped me out. - Pedophilia
Anyways, this show could've been so much better. There were a lot of great scenes though
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This review may contain spoilers
Exciting series! Got me interested in Thai BLs again.
This is my first review on this website since 2021. After the release of shows like ATOATS, ITSAY, and KinnPorsche, the bar for Thai BLs was set so high that I no longer felt satisfied in watching most of them. However, Only Friends has become one of the few series to capture my attention and get me back on track to obsessing over BLs. In a time of countless fluffy lovely dovey BLs, this show sticks out for the hot mess that it is. It is drama-filled but remains very realistic. Despite that, its ending remains its biggest flaw as it felt like there was something missing. I'm just hoping it means there's a season 2.It showcases three different couples, each representing common issues and complexities that come in relationships, even more so in gay relationships. Mew & Top: Infidelity and the ability to trust again; Ray & Sand : Second best and a partner struggling with addiction; Boston & Nick: FWB and unrequited love between an easily attached pick me and a douchebag that's not interested in commitment.
MewTop are basically the main couple of this show. Mew starts off as a boring but very relatable character. The complete 180 in his personality was probably one of the best highlights of the show. My mind always goes back to that scene in episode 6 where Mew confronts Top, which just left me gagged. Although I was rooting for Mew to NOT get back with Top, the way their relationship carries on accurately represents the reality of how unfaithfulness is usually dealt with - a second chance and the hesitancy to trust again. To be honest, they got really boring towards the last few episodes.
RaySand were honestly the stars of the show. Sand was such a sweet character and so loveable. Ray was messed up but you couldn't help but root for him. Loved their story. Just wished they took out the part with Boeing because that was unnecessary. They had gone through more than enough.
Boston & Nick really added more spice to the show. Their plot becomes a bit uninteresting during the second half but I'm glad Nick realised in the end that he deserved better.
Acting:
This show sticks out not just for its plot, but for having some the best acting I have seen in BL history.
Book was excellent in this series. I get chills watching his acting in episode 6 & 7. Also, the chemistry between Book & Force has improved ten-fold from A Boss and a Babe. I think these roles suit them a lot more. Force's acting still feels a little stiff.
More importantly, First & Khaotung gave us a performance of a lifetime. I am not kidding when I say that Khaotung should win an Emmy for his performance in Episode 10. I have teared up every single time at the last scene. First did amazing too and the chemistry he has with Khaotung is one of the best I've seen in BL history.
Neo and Mark did a really good job as well, especially in the steamy scenes. It is very difficult for me to erase Neo's comedic image but I think this series really helped me in taking him more seriously. Mark did a great job in conveying how his character felt and he seems to fit BL roles a lot better than I thought.
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