this episode had the best highlights: pisaeng coming to terms with his sexuality (the fucking cinematography is phenomenal), max being frank and giving advices straight to kawi and pisaeng, kawi building his confidence and his gradual transition to worry less about the future and change his present
Hi everyone, it's your weekly IFYLITA enthusiast and I'm back with a few THOUGHTS on Ep 5 at first watchThe piecing of the mystery aspect of IFYLITA is masterfully done. So the principle is that every time Jom draws, a time-space wormhole thing opens up and he’ll somehow be connected briefly with his present timeline. The production team did a really good job crafting this because honestly this was not made clear at all in the novel. I wonder if they consulted with the author in order to get this narrative cleared but essentially the way this is puzzled and structured is just really well thought out.Khun Yai is truly the greenest flag my gad. Khun Yai is MY Mr. Darcy. No actually, in fact Khun Yai is much much better. The way Yai was so afraid that he’d done something inappropriate to Jom while being intoxicated lmao. Jom teasing drunk Khun Yai was equally adorable too. When Jom flirtily recited what Khun Yai said to him last night and then jumped when he remembered his place likeeeeee I love how self-aware Nonkul is playing Jom to be. Like you can really feel like this is a Panic Gay from modern time being transported back in time.I love Ming and his mom’s subplot. It pains me to see him being beaten by Mr. Robert even if I already knew beating houseworkers was a norm back then (that sinister man). Down-beat moments like these give depth to our seemingly comic-relief sidekick and I’m so happy we get to see Ming more than just Jom’s friend.A particular detail I like is by the end of the conversation where Jom told Yai about Ming’s situation, Jom says “fun dee na krub” (Sweet dreams) to Khun Yai to which he replies “ra tree sawat” (Good night, in the most formal way) and they both smiled at each other. There’s so much tenderness in the ways they say bid adieu and the tension is killing me.Like I know Ohm is supposedly his cheating ex but damn I love every scene between Khamsaen and Jom so far because Nonkul really brings out all the emotions to show a frustrated heartbroken gay. Jom is over his ex but I love that he can still feel bitter over this couple, because that’s so valid of him.One thing you have to love about Khun Yai is that he’s so damn intuitive to Jom’s feelings. Even if there’s just a single movement, it’s like Khun Yai can already tell something is troubling Jom or there’s something going on. The series is self-aware about this running gag too, love that little dialogue between them acknowledging it: “I have something bothering me” - “I’m starting to get used to it”“It’s not strange at all. Are making flower garlands suitable only fit for women?” - Khun Yai destroying gender stereotypes in 1927. WE LOVE YEW SIR.I think Ming - Mae Prik - Jom subplot in this episode highlights an important theme of this series which is “becoming the maker of one’s destiny”. Ming and Mae Prik have both said something similar about how they just need to accept whatever comes to them in the life of a servant, contrasting to Jom who has been thrown misery after misery but he’s not giving up on accepting things as is, even though things may seem rough. It’s such a shame that we can’t really have season 2 with Jom being sent back to 1800s because I think the point of the novel in having send Jom back twice in history is to have the first Jom be a passive version and the second time Jom be a more active version, determined to do whatever he needs to achieve “happiness”. Regardless, I think Nonkul is doing well to portray the complex person that Jom is to balance out the multi-faceted struggles our cute Jom face being stucked in 1927 and unfortunate events just keep popping up his ways.Khun Lek is the cutest kid my god. I need this kid to show up in every single episode to give me that 3 minute scene of domesticity from YaiJom because you can simply tell how whipped this man is from the way he’s staring at his little brother playing with his crush likeeeeeee… the dude ain’t hiding AT ALL. You know what this reminds me of, it's like when Mr. Darcy saw how easy Elizabeth got along with his little sister Georgiana. There is just something so sweet when one partner sees their family get along with the person they like #family #future-in-laws.I praise it every week but like the visual effects and sound really deserves all the praises. I sincerely hope everyone is watching the UNCUT version on Youku Vip (like me) or UNCUT on Gagaoolala because this show has perfect scoring and the sound REALLY adds to the effect of each scenes, especially dramatic and thrilling ones. The Youtube version is said to often have audio issues I think so I hope everyone is able to enjoy the same high-quality level series I'm watching right now!I'm so excited for next week already ahhhhh. The sulky Khun Yai? The classy Pride & Prejudice like confession? I love noble ML who loves to show affection through action more than words but then their partner is just slow so they need to spell it out in big bold letters. I CANNOT WAIT!
Hi! I'm back with preliminary thoughts on EP 7... Can I just say whew.... I need to take a breather after this episode because... wow there's just so much to take in... INSANITY. I love this episode so much and this might be my all-time favorite of the series because that rain kiss, the olive oil scene.... jesus fuck i think i hit climax just watching this episode...Okay enough... onto my thought...Oh they’re insane… using this tragic sapphic love story to start to start the homophobic dad storyline in EP. 7… i really like that they portrayed it as news as well instead of having it be fictional.Khun Yai hugging Jom from behind with that smirk on his face… oh he is a BIG BABY. The nose scrunch Jom makes when he is hugging Khun Yai oh he is truly the cutest. I love them being happy and comfortable. NO ANGST FOR THEM.This whole conversation between Khun Yai and Jom on the book he’s reading. Gay men reading feminist book portraying women’s struggle… khun yai is an intellectual… feminists love khun yai… i love how his first instinct is to relate to the character, wanting to choose his own love life.OMG OUR GL STORYLINE. MY SAPPHIC GIRLIES. The chemistry is chemistry-ing. They’re so tender and I love the way Eungpung looks at Muey. I can’t believe we got our damn FIRST KISS at the same time Eungpung discovers Muey got beatings. So much hurt and comfort in this one small scene. Must protect Muey at all cost. The score broke me… it’s so sad to see all these women going through so much pain…I think it’s mandatory to have a shirtless Khun Yai and Jom scene every episode. Bright and Nonkul have the body of a Greek god… I love how they handle this Jom scene that was also vaguely similar in the novel… In the novel it was more crude but the way the series handle this scene with so much delicacy, so much sexual energy yet so intense… I choked as the music and Jom hit climax. My god. (In the novel, Jom masturbated after being hugged by Khun Yai on a windy night, but the series has re-envisioned that scene to be so much more elegant and delicate)Ming is the bestest friend. I love him so much, he defended Jom against that annoying Lamyai and immediately came to ask Jom about Khun Yai because he was worried for them. Ming is so ready to punch that annoying bitch Lamyai for exposing YaiJom. The conversation between Ming and Muey was so important because we had Muey convinced him that “love is love”... But I’m so sad that Ming is so heart-broken by Muey. genuinely my fave straight ghostship from this series because i love ming-muey solidarity.I love how Jom and Yai just confronted each other directly to resolve their “conflict”. My green flag gay couple I love you both. Can the episodes be longer I need them to be with each other all the time.The costumes and outfits for the party scene are insanely gorgeous. I am obsessed with the costume design of IFYLITA. Everyone looks so beautiful. I love how Jom comments on Khun Yai is such a child sometimes (because YAI REALLY IS BIG BABY).The lighting…. The color grading… I love how when Khun Yai is dancing with Bussabong, they’re dancing in broad light but Khun Yai only has eyes for Jom, who’s hurt while staring back at him. The angst from looking at the eyes of your secret lover while dancing with someone you’re not into.It’s so beautiful, every frame, every shot of Khun Yai dancing with Jom, who was mad but slowly begun to form a smile on his face. In their imagination, when Yai and Jom are dancing together, the lighting is dark, dim-litted like there’s only them left in the world, implicating Yai and Jom can only be “dancing in the dark”’ in secret, even though in their imagination their family would cheer and be happy for them. The OST for their dance scene was beautiful too.But why are they giving me Nonkul rapper all of a sudden? I’m laughing so hard pleaseeeeeWhoever did the lighting for this kiss under the rain scene, I sincerely hope your pillow is warm every night. That one silent beat before they started kissing passionately underthe rain. I AM OBSESSED. BEST KISS SCENE OF 2023 FOR SURE. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR AN EPIC KISS SCENE IN A LONG TIME AND IFYLITA JUST FUCKING DELIVERS! THE LIGHTING, THE CINEMATOGRAPHY, THE COLOR GRADING, THE SCORING, THE INSANE CHEMISTRY...
The perfect ending to Jom's first arc in his journey
Dee Hup House really went all out for this show because I am LOVING the changes they made to the novel. Not rushing, still eventful but those who read the novels can confirm that the series moves super fast in comparison (in a good way) because the novel took 50% of the first book until Khun Yai finally asked Jom to move into his house to be his majordomo. The series has been able to incorporate a lot of Khun Yai/Jom scenes in order to give the people what they want, but also not a single scenes with supporting characters were irrelevant to our protagonist's storyline.The addition of Khamsaen crying scene though >>>>>> Like I love how Dee Hup House dealt with this storyline because Fongkaew, Khamsaen affair took up a huge part of Book 1 which is why as a reader, it felt very slow to me when I was reading the book, feeling frustrated about when Khun Yai can finally have more moments with Jom. But the treatment the script team has done to the changes has been able to keep the gist of the storyline the same but at the same time give us more Khun Yai/Jom moments together (like Yai jumping in to save Jom from Mr. Robert scolding, their good night scene at the pier, them shopping for clothes, these stuff weren't in the novel at all and so it does felt like there wasn't a proper buildup between Yai/Jom when you read the novel) while exploring other aspects to the characters (Ming's witty thinking of calling Yai to save Jom, Ming/Jom bonding, the GL storyline between Maey and Eungpung is gonna be saur juicy I just know it).Pacing was my biggest fear going into IFYLITA adaptation because of the original novel but after Episode 3, I'm much more confident that future episodes are gonna be insanely good (especially now that Jom is officially living with Khun Yai). But now I'm very curious as to what new addition they're gonna do with the rest of the series because we have not much Jom/Khun Yai moments left in Book 1 (their flirting era is already here ?) but Dee Hup House isn't adapting Book 2, only adding easter eggs scenes from Book 2 with Commander Yai due to budget issues ?. I'm super excited though like please give me things Book 1 did NOT give me (re: more 1928 Khun Yai/Jom moments after getting together) ?Nonkul's crying is always so pretty and I completely get the director's decision to make my man cry all the time over being homesick and heartbroken (and I'm so glad they're not glossing over it). Bright is just a phenomenonal Khun Yai. From his tones, his micro facial expressions, his subtle touches with Jom, his little smiles, the way he puts his hand behind his back when he walks around ?I already knew Bright and Nonkul did their homework prior to the filming because you can tell from the interviews that they did NOT skim the pages reading this novel but they absolutely read every damn page like real fanboys. But still to see Khun Yai come alive so vividly is so insaneeeee, especially at this part of the story (Ep 3/First 50% of the book) when Khun Yai doesn't have a big presence, not have much actions yet. Kudos to the production team for another stellar episode and I really can't wait for next's week episode ??
seriously the biggest complaint i have about this series is that the episode are wayyyyyyyy too short. now onto the review. last week, i was really upset we couldn't get to see max and kawi meetup but they showed us max and kawi meeting in this week's episode. i love max so much. max is a really good friend to kawi and i love how kawi explained himself to kawi about why he is the way he is to the world, to his friends. i teared up a lot when we got the lil scene of kawi calling his dad, it's just so heart-warming and a sweet reminder to always treat the people we love most in the world well. we got the usual "roadtrip" plot for this episode and it's nothing too unpredictable but i love how mature the characters are and for episode 4, everyone wears their heart on their sleeve and decides to be open about htheir real feelings (even if it means everyone got broken-hearted by the end of the episode). i can see the people getting mad at kawi for always yelling at pisaeng but it makes so much sense in his position to constantly push pisaeng away because he still thinks there's a chance for him to recreate the original future where pisaeng/pearmai ends up happily. gawin and krist have so much chemistry and like the tension between them in their almost kiss is INSANE!!!!!! i look forward to pisaeng taking kawi's advice and finally declare him hitting on kawi sooooo much (pls be next episode). kawi smiling at the plushie pisaeng gave him at the end of the episode is toooo cute ugh.
Hi! Everyone is probably used to seeing me here already. I jotted some thoughts down for this episode but my mind went completely blank after seeing the preview for next week's ep.Jom not being used to walking so many flights of stair. HE IS ME! #relatable. The glint in Khun Yai’s eyes bc of his excitement to show Jom the Xmas party. I love them. That little noise Jom made when he caught that Khun Yai was lying about not remembering anything from his drunken confession, I’m going through the worst case of cute aggression for Jom. Also can we talk about Khun Yai pulling out the chair for Jom like he's such a classy gentleman... I could understand why Jom likes him... I too... would fall for Khun Yai.I love they’re finally introducing us plots other than Yai/Jom romance and the mystery fire drama/Fongkaew will accompany us along with the romantic subplot. They’ve made James into such an important character too (god bless the writers of this series). James and Jom’s conversation was soooooo important and I love queer portrayal in here, they’re not afraid to show us GAY in the 1920s and I love hom Jom ominous words of how all of that is “completely normal” and not weird at all. They’re all my precious gay I LOVE THEM. Watching James’ confession, I gotta admit y’all… I slipped a little… Jom/James coulda been saurrrr cute! But like it’s such a heart-warming convo between them (pushing Jom to be a bit braver in love). IThe crazy genre shifts in this drama is insane though. One minute I was so emotional about James/Jom convo, the next I’m laughing out loud being of Khun Yai being Big Sulky Baby to his Jom and then I’m getting chills from the time wormhole scene after Jom draws his Santa Claus picture. I really appreciate how ambitious this production is and how they nail every single genre they’re trying to incorporate into the drama. There is not ONE single missing beat. Everything hits just right for its genre. We cycle exactly back to the first episode horror-ish opening scene tooooo. INGENIOUS! I’m obsessed.FONGKAEW-JOM SOLIDARITY! This series just keeps giving and giving. I love how we’re getting Jom gradually dispel-ing the prejudices he had about Fongkaew in the first place because he was still mad at her modern descendant for stealing his ex. Jom has always been nice but to have Fongkaew become a new addition of Jom support system in the 1920s is so lovely. I cannot stress how much I’m loving the depth being added to characters in this series.The highlight of this episode has GOT to go to Khun Yai. I mean I keep talking about how he’s Mr. Darcy every week but this week, Bright Rapheephong absolutely knocked it out in the park with all his facial expressions and gazes. From being an excited puppy in love, to the big sulky baby that he is to the damn confession asking whether he needs to write love poems for Jom to understand him. THIS IS PEAK MR. DARCY AND IM IN LOVECooking as a love language… as a novel reader, i need to applaud the writers for incorporating everything that was crucial in the book even though they’ve completely changed up the orders in which things are happening. BUT IT MAKES SENSE.THE CONFESSION SCENE IS SO BEAUTIFUL. Khun Yai is so mature and so in love with Jom, I’m actually devastated. Jom shyly accepting Khun Yai’s confession is so adorable. I did NOT know Nonkul could be this adorable and he’s killing meeeeeeee. His little smiles are so infectious because tell me why I have the stupidest grin on my face whenever Jom does his little gay eye smile.Their first kiss was so tender dear god. The screamed I let out loud to hear Jom and Khun Yai reciting those exact dialogues from the novel. Their gazes, their lingering tension after the kiss. They are so soft I’m absolutely defeated, melted into puddles.DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED WE’RE GETTING RAIN KISS SCENE NEXT WEEK!?!?!??!?! JOM YAI ALREADY BEING CAUGHT ON BY OTHERS? BALLROOM DANCING SCENE???!?!??! KHUN YAI AND JOM IN THEIR HAPPY ERA SCENES??!?!!? This show needs to stop wow-ing me because I need to keep my low expectations but IFYLITA is making this so hard for me right now.IFYLITA KEEPS SERVING AND SERVING AND SERVING. THE GORILLA GRIP THIS SERIES HAS ON ME IS UNEXPLAINABLE!
Hi! I'm back with preliminary thoughts on EP 7... Can I just say whew.... I need to take a breather after this episode because... wow there's just so much to take in... INSANITY. I love this episode so much and this might be my all-time favorite of the series because that rain kiss, the olive oil scene.... jesus fuck i think i hit climax just watching this episode...Okay enough... onto my thought...Oh they’re insane… using this tragic sapphic love story to start to start the homophobic dad storyline in EP. 7… i really like that they portrayed it as news as well instead of having it be fictional.Khun Yai hugging Jom from behind with that smirk on his face… oh he is a BIG BABY. The nose scrunch Jom makes when he is hugging Khun Yai oh he is truly the cutest. I love them being happy and comfortable. NO ANGST FOR THEM.This whole conversation between Khun Yai and Jom on the book he’s reading. Gay men reading feminist book portraying women’s struggle… khun yai is an intellectual… feminists love khun yai… i love how his first instinct is to relate to the character, wanting to choose his own love life.OMG OUR GL STORYLINE. MY SAPPHIC GIRLIES. The chemistry is chemistry-ing. They’re so tender and I love the way Eungpung looks at Muey. I can’t believe we got our damn FIRST KISS at the same time Eungpung discovers Muey got beatings. So much hurt and comfort in this one small scene. Must protect Muey at all cost. The score broke me… it’s so sad to see all these women going through so much pain…I think it’s mandatory to have a shirtless Khun Yai and Jom scene every episode. Bright and Nonkul have the body of a Greek god… I love how they handle this Jom scene that was also vaguely similar in the novel… In the novel it was more crude but the way the series handle this scene with so much delicacy, so much sexual energy yet so intense… I choked as the music and Jom hit climax. My god. (In the novel, Jom masturbated after being hugged by Khun Yai on a windy night, but the series has re-envisioned that scene to be so much more elegant and delicate)Ming is the bestest friend. I love him so much, he defended Jom against that annoying Lamyai and immediately came to ask Jom about Khun Yai because he was worried for them. Ming is so ready to punch that annoying bitch Lamyai for exposing YaiJom. The conversation between Ming and Muey was so important because we had Muey convinced him that “love is love”... But I’m so sad that Ming is so heart-broken by Muey. genuinely my fave straight ghostship from this series because i love ming-muey solidarity.I love how Jom and Yai just confronted each other directly to resolve their “conflict”. My green flag gay couple I love you both. Can the episodes be longer I need them to be with each other all the time.The costumes and outfits for the party scene are insanely gorgeous. I am obsessed with the costume design of IFYLITA. Everyone looks so beautiful. I love how Jom comments on Khun Yai is such a child sometimes (because YAI REALLY IS BIG BABY).The lighting…. The color grading… I love how when Khun Yai is dancing with Bussabong, they’re dancing in broad light but Khun Yai only has eyes for Jom, who’s hurt while staring back at him. The angst from looking at the eyes of your secret lover while dancing with someone you’re not into.It’s so beautiful, every frame, every shot of Khun Yai dancing with Jom, who was mad but slowly begun to form a smile on his face. In their imagination, when Yai and Jom are dancing together, the lighting is dark, dim-litted like there’s only them left in the world, implicating Yai and Jom can only be “dancing in the dark”’ in secret, even though in their imagination their family would cheer and be happy for them. The OST for their dance scene was beautiful too.But why are they giving me Nonkul rapper all of a sudden? I’m laughing so hard pleaseeeeeWhoever did the lighting for this kiss under the rain scene, I sincerely hope your pillow is warm every night. That one silent beat before they started kissing passionately underthe rain. I AM OBSESSED. BEST KISS SCENE OF 2023 FOR SURE. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR AN EPIC KISS SCENE IN A LONG TIME AND IFYLITA JUST FUCKING DELIVERS! THE LIGHTING, THE CINEMATOGRAPHY, THE COLOR GRADING, THE SCORING, THE INSANE CHEMISTRY...
When Khun Yai brings Jom to his house , we get to see a stunned Jom who is taken aback by the familiarity of this house (which Jom will eventually put it all together that everything is fated and him coming to Khun Yai’s house is DESTINY) because it reminds him of his current renovation project back in the present. We get a shot where Nonkul pauses a bit and blinks before stepping into the house and I just love how the series are using very subtle shots to show the inner feelings of the character.Khun Yai is just so caring with Jom, he’s constantly asking Jom if he’s okay, if he likes his room, his food, assuring Jom that everything will be alright. Khun Yai (un)intentionally blurting out that he likes [it] too when Jom replies that he likes his room had me screaming in my pillow.I think it’s the perfect episode for the age reveal of Khun Yai (20). Episode 4 is a monumental episode for Khun Yai and Jom’s relationship because we are finally getting to see Khun Yai going all out with his subtle flirting games (and he is killing it). Both Jom (and us the audience) finally knowing Khun Yai’s age is logical because it explains well why Yai seems both mature but also has that cheekiness and playful-ness of a young man in love for the first time in his life. I’m not sure if it’s too early to make this judgement but I think Khun Yai’s motivation and background story is more well crafted in the series as well because we also gets a glimpse of the conflict between Khun Yai and his father and Yai’s struggle to do things HE WANTS or to be an obedient son, whereas this was all pretty nonexistent in the novel.The poetry reading scene is so cute. We start with Khun Yai offering his favorite dessert to Jom and there’s just this huge smile on Khun Yai’s face (the man is WHIPPED), this is the 2nd time in this episode where Khun Yai says he likes that Jom like (something). Khun Yai then makes Jom read his book for him and we finally get a moment of modern Jom back that is just hilarious. Jom doing this whole rant about infidelity, hating men with multiple wives, cheating men is absolutely adorable and I love that Jom isn’t afraid to speak his mind (which makes Khun Yai all the more intrigued). It really was the perfect set up before the drunken confession where Jom told Khun Yai that if he keeps being flirty with poetry like that, he would have 10 lovers to which Yai replied with “Lovers? For me, ONE is enough.”Before our big drunken confession scene, we get Jom fixing his suit & tie and Khun Yai comforting Jom that everything will be alright and assures him that he does what want (choosing Jom to be his majordomo) because throughout this episode Jom’s biggest dilemma is not understanding Khun Yai’s determination to choose him and protect him against the opposition of his parents or the other maids. Khun Yai also tells Jom to sleep early but we still get Jom waiting up, worrying for Khun Yai when it’s so late and he isn’t back yet (domesticity at its peak).This whole scene is just adorable and that shot of Jom right after Khun Yai leaves and Jom touches his face because of the butterflies he be getting (same bro SAME). Jom scrunches his face into a huge smile before facepalming himself and I think Nonkul has absolutely stolen my heart because how can our protagonist be SO DARN CUTE (i get Khun Yai man… i get him i really do)THE DRUNKEN CONFESSION SCENE. I paused every 2 seconds I kid you not. It was so tension-filled and tender and just soft. Khun Yai using that drowsy voice to recite romantic poems and that intense gaze, I AM ABSOLUTELY FLOORED. No but like we need to talk about every single one of Khun Yai’s movements in this scene because I think everything is perfect from the way he nuzzles onto Jom’s lap, his thumb caressing Jom's hand when Jom recalls his ex, the hurt in his eyes seeing the person he likes in pain from having sad memories of a past lover. Bright is such a phenomenal actor and I need everyone to perceive him right now like my dude is BRINGING Jane Austen Male Lead A-GAME. Like if you told me this was Bright’s first male lead role ever, I would call you a liar because how????????Muey and Ueang Pung are so sweet. Their scene is so tense though, I can’t believe we’re getting a GL storyline in this, it’s such a pleasant surprise addition to the series. And I think it compliments well to have two different master x servant love storylines and I can’t wait to see how their story unfolds.Ming is such a supportive best friend. Ming constantly reassures Jom that things will be alright, defends Jom from a jealous maid who said mean things to him. While the novel did not explore any supporting characters, the series is giving us an indepth look into the supporting characters to explain the ways they are and why they treat our protagonist Jom the way they do. I love how we are given a glimpse into Ming’s background story so we know that he also wishes to escape Mr. Robert’s household but is unable to do so because of the circumstances. Despite the hardships he face, Ming is not bitter and envious of Jom’s opportunity to work in Khun Yai’s household but remains ever supportive and promising him they’ll stay friends. Jom and Ming are so cute, I shall protect them at all cost.I love that Khun Lek kid, he’s so adorable and it’s really nice to have the light-hearted moments between Khun Yai, Khun Lek and Jom in between the crazy tense scenes.The cinematography and the score remains immaculate and perfect as always. IFYLITA really proves itself to be an invested series with each and every episode. Looking forward to next week’s episode already
I know this sounds like very weird comparisons but I'm getting so much Pride & Prejudice/Atonement vibes from this series so far. Something about the saturated greens of the series coloring, the cinematography... every shot of this drama is so artistic ? The cinematography is just gorgeous, it totally screams BUDGET and INVESTMENT! The beautiful cinematography makes the series feels more like a Netflix-level budgeted miniseries (think Girl From Nowhere, ITSAY, Bad Genius The Series) than your average BL series or a one31/CH3/CH7 Lakorn. Even though IFYLITA seems to be receiving quite good reception locally, I have a feeling it's going to become the most underrated bl gem of 2023 in the bl-sphere internationally... You can just feel the amount of investment and work put into IFYLITA , there's such a delicacy to the production that can't really be put into words... just absolutely breathtaking, slow but not dragging, pacing adjusted for a lot of world building and giving us a context of the bigger picture surrounding the 1927 setting.I really like that detail where they had Jom having a premonitious dream about future him and Jom + present Jom. I think this small detail is so neat considering it happening at the same time present Jom also saw such vision before crashing his car and transported himself back to 1927. It also justifies Khun Yai's instant attraction and interest in Jom. Khun Yai is so Mr. Darcy-coded I love him so much!
As a reader of the books, my biggest fear is how they would adapt the book into the show when they it took the author 30% through the the book before Khun Yai and Jom first meet when Yai saves from the water. But boy did the screenwriting team pulled through and made a LOT of positive modifications so the introduction is still intriguing without feeling redundant or feeling like there's a lack of interactions between the two male leads. Huge kudos to the director and screenwriters!I love the immaculate details like the use of local accents and dialects. Nonkul's micro facial expressions are superb and the transitions between the past/present scenes with his ex is done so smooth. I was floored and I AM PAINED!
I want to give Pisaeng a hug everytime he shows up on screen like he's just such a damn perfect love interest. A really nice detail I like about PisaengKawi is that I love how Pisaeng constantly tries to get Kawi to be himself because he knows how unconfident Kawi is but he isn't afraid to call out Kawi being so prejudiced and judgmental of others around him. Krist looks like he's having so much fun playing the big baby that is Kawi. The confrontational scene between PisaengKawi in the future is crazy good and I can understand and empathize Kawi's confusion and actions knowing him becoming good friends with Pisaeng had altered the future and resulted in Pisaeng's 10 year crush on him. Similarly with the book, time travel uncle shows up and reminds Kawi that he doesn't have many times back and forth so he needs to spend it wisely so it'll be interesting to see future episodes where Kawi spends most of his time in the past. Halfway into the episodes, we can already see Pisaeng incessant flirting with Kawi which causes Kawi to constantly avoiding them getting closer and becoming friends. I like that Kawi was able to at least fixed his friendship with Max in this episode even though we couldn't see their makeup meeting. I understand it hurts to constantly see the characters we love unintentionally hurt each others, saying things they don't mean, or miscommunication (oh the angst, the damn angst) but I think the characters are naturally progressing how they should be. From episode 3, I can already see how the TV series is greatly different from the novel and I'm super excited to even more angst and drama that is to come. I think PisaengKawi's journey to falling in love and realization of feelings is not gonna be smooth sailing but it's really natural and authentic. I love the scene where Kawi googles the winning lottery number and uses it to win a lot of money for himself. Top notch writing because I WOULD TOO.
If there weren't enough PisaengKawi from the first episode, the second episode totally makes up for it. The episode opens up with drunk Kawi and Pisaeng running away together and ending up in a park. Their scene touches briefly upon Pisaeng's loneliness despite being "handsome and popular". I love that Kawi is going back and forth between the past and the future and we can already see how each time he goes back the future has already changed that it's irreversible. The whole montage of Kawi being a big baby and getting Pisaeng to buy him whatever he wants is just adorable. Pisaeng is too damn nice. I need me a Pisaeng as well. The way the episode ended with future groom-to-be Pisaeng standing in front his best man Kawi confessing he can't marry Pear is actually fucking insane and had me screaming into my pillow. The bonus scene being that Pisaeng kept trying to get Kawi that stuffed animal is toooo adorable. Homeboy so whipped. As I read the book, I get that the future change ups are a bit different from the novels and they definitely toned it down (though I'm not sure how much because this is only ep 2) but I feel like the spirit has remained the same and I love how the drama is taking a safe approach to adapt for it to reach wider range of audience (admittedly it would have been crazy to get Kawi waking up to being ***** and then finding out he's Pisaeng's cheating partner). Gawin and Krist's chemistry is unexpectedly really good. I had my reservations at first because Gawin had to replace someone who was a literally walking definition of the character in the novel but he's doing such a great job as Pisaeng, everyone should give Gawin his flowers. I kinda already knew he was gonna do well because Pisaeng and Mork are similar kind of badass boys who won't take no for an answer but Gawin is really good. I hope everyone keeps watching for my boy Gawin.
Episode 1 starts out strong by introducing the premise of the series and the characters very well. At first look, you get a thorough understanding of the person Kawi is and the struggles our protagonist faces. I found the scene Kawi shared with his dad when he travelled back in time and convinced his dad to get treatment so heartbreaking. The bantering between Kawi and Pisaeng in the locker room is too cute and Gawin is just too good at playing the attractive love interest intrigued by our dorky and adorable Kawi. My only complaint is that the episode should be longer so we can have more scenes between Kawi & Pisaeng because the scenes where the time travel uncle and Kawi already takes up more than half the episode (which understandably cannot be cut or we wouldn't get the logistics of how their time travelling works). Nonetheless, the first episode pacing was good and kept me on my toes for the second episode and for more Kawi & Pisaeng.