MikeO

I noticed what appeared to be a German name in the opening credits This series hits different than any Asian BL I’ve seen. It has a Donnie darko vibe

This took me months to finish. Like enjoying the taste of wine for the first time. Bitter and sour at first then smooth and tasty, and by the last episode an incredible complex aftertaste that made me really appreciate it. One of the best BL finales ever. Primo vintage.

yes. I loved the first two episodes so much I'm scared to watch the next two for fear my high expectations will come crashing down. I LOVe this show. Getting up the courage to watch.

This is as good as BL series get. This more realistic portrayal hits with those of us living in the real BL world. The tough breakup, "let's no make things complicated", and the struggles that come with being both poor and gay are themes that truly resonate. Earth's acting, and the two kids from "My School President" were the standouts to me in a sea of standout performances from GMMTV's best. Storytelling at its best. I'm two eps into "The Eighth Sense, and these two series -- along with MSP -- are the top series of 2023, in a year really blowing the ceiling off quality BL writing, acting, and production.

Im sticking with the promise . It’s not that show is bad, but like snowregret, it just did not live up to the “promise” it showed me in the prequel to rise to possibly top 1 percent status I am pretty much out of the demographic for the slide whistle bongo drum light slapstick that’s a formula for most BLs. I have now seen so many, I admit I’ve turned into a snob. But I really appreciate great writing, cinematography and acting on those rare occasions where it rises to a truly special level in the BL genre. My standards are impossibly high now and I didn’t mean to disparage the show. Snow’s comment just hit a nerve with me (in a good way) and I had to respond. There’s so much worse to pick on than the promise. It didn’t pull a check out …where. Really solid pilot de evolved into a WtF for me

I think some of your criticism of Thai BL is fair as far as “assembly line” of plotless pretty boy shows goes. So I wanted to let you know about one show that gets even closer to sunset/moon series excellence than even the The Promise prequel does in my opinion. And by episode 2 of the the new series I find myself further away from epic Sunset standards again.

But I’ve found one that belongs in the same conversation at least.

It’s “Moonlight Chicken” ( though the plot is a little closer to the real or at least realistic world of BL and not the fantasy fluffy world where couples stand by each others’ side forever) starring Thai Bl A listers but with a fantastic script, cinematic sheen and world class direction. No cowbells and slide whistles. Give it a try. I’ really enjoyed the Promise Prequel (but the first two eps of the new series far less) and the PP Krit shows left a void for creative excellence that I’d had to get recently from Korea and Japan. But this GMMTV show should really ring that bell for you too. Moonlight Chicken. It’s everything that checkout, Ah Long Nai and Bite Me is not, just to name a few Thai BL bottom of the barrel scrapers.

Well said. This was a rare BL series. for those of us who live in the real BL World. I will say, those two kids from My School President are incredible actors .and they held their own with superior veteran talent. This show was special.

This was one of the best BLs I’ve seen.. Especially well acted, written and produced. Authentic and so much closer to the true nature of the real BL World, for those of us who have lived in it

I have to say a month after I wrote that I’ve finished 6 episodes of Moonlight Chicken. I thought My School Was such a refreshing take on the high school BL genre but moonlight. Chicken is one of the greatest BL shows I’ve ever seen. I understand that fourth and Gemini shot that before MSP aired. But wow are those two and earth and mix just spectacular actors. I’m in awe of the greatness of Moonlight Chicken

Still a solid show ten episodes in, though for me has come back to earth after hitting a nearly all time great level for a BL series in earlier episodes with really innovative ensemble writing and musical sequences embedded in the story line Episode Five was the peak … one of the best episodes of any BL series. That level is admittedly hard to sustain., but by no means am I selling the overall show short. It’s still way better than most. And Fourth is a superstar actor and singer. One question, was this show always slated to have 12 eps? I thought it was originally supposed to be ten. I’m wondering if the success prompted GMMTV to add weeks to the production. I’m glad we’re not saying goodbye yet even if I’m mistaken

When moon light chicken was announced, earth mix had just broken through to the A-list. But now a year and a half later, we have legitimately six prestige BL actors all in this one series. We are going to look back at this lineup in the equivalent way we might look back if say in 2020 there was a new series featuring Tay/New, Mew/Gulf and Off/Gun. I’m assuming people feel the same as I do that even though we’re not complete their first series as I write this, fourth and Gemini are a already heavy hitters in the BIL ecosystem Whatever that proverbial. “ it” is, those two most definitely have “”it.” and are in the same league as the other four actors even if not as much experience under their belt

Ok. I'll get over to Facebook and get involved. Thanks for thinking of me reef

"fitting songs' and "characters grow" are spot on main ways the show get a great and not just good stamp from me. It's funny. Most of us are willing to live with really mediocre BL content because the genre is so specific, and producers likely make more money via monetized YouTube, licensing to subscription services or trying to generate their own patreon revenue if they just stick to what works. So, we get locked into a sort of passable normal. And clearly, there's a market for shows that are filler between NC scenes or the kind that are heart flutteringly and plotlessly cute where nothing happens. And there are some really sold BL's that check a few boxes but fall short of best-of-all-time league. My Only 12% or Love Mechanics shore up the good not great examples. . Really well done, solidly acted, even a good story or such a well worn plot.. Some are really terrible - like Bite Me, Ai Long Nai,, That's My Candy, the Second Season of What the Duck. ....but even that's pretty rare. Some are super ambitious but fall short of the high level they were shooting for. Til the World Ends was that for me. Don't get me wrong, a noble effort.
But every once in a while, and I count maybe two every year, where you know you are getting a show where the talent just pours out of the TV screen. I love it when it happens. For me, Triage, A Thousand Stars, Ep 5 of Bad Buddy, Semantic Error and I Told Sunset About You , Eternal Summer, Cherry Magic, Teddy Bear Miracle come to mind off the top of my head I honestly think School President is close to the level of Sunset from an artistic perspective. Sorry I know I'm rambling. I just know how special this is and I'm trying to get all admiration out while the show is still hot.

It's not for everyone, but it's one of my absolute favorites. It won't pull a Make Our Days Count on you because it basically puts billboards up in your brain from episode 1 that advertise, "sad ending" MODC threw an epic curveball at the audience and basically bait and switched into something else entirely in its final episode (which I happened to love, but I'm definitely the minority and understand how jarring it was for many people). Here there are no surprises, though if you decide to watch it, watch the wardrobe in the show's final scene and ending credits....I'd argue it's actually a happy ending in a way. Bu I digress..and sorry for TMI'ing you. Shalmali, if your BL rules are strict: heart-fluttering and light and fluffy only, maybe you skip Eternal Yesterday.. However, if you look at BL more as an artistic medium when it's at its very best and accept that the really well made ones grab you by the heart and fill you full of intense emotions , even when you know the story is fictional the first place...Think about the talent it takes to pull that off. -- fictional people I want in my life..even if its only for an hour a week and ones I actually miss a lot when it's all over.

Oh,RP that's great to know. I have no US based BL fan friends. Even my gay friends say "Beeee What" when I mention the genre to them. I will definitely join. It would be great to see not only more fans from the states but American BL emerge as a genre. We could sure use some of the soft power it could deliver culturally considering the totally dumb political environment of intolerance that seems to have swept across the across the nation. "Don't say gay" ..my ass!. It's hard to fathom how far more conservative nations like South Korea are so much more comfortable with the idea of hypothetical world where coming out is an anathema. And of course, gay men and women are the side couple in the BLd world ...straight women are the main leads , and they would embrace BL they way they'e embraced Boy Bands in the past. Count me in and thanks.

Thanks. I guess he was assistant dir on TOS. But he makes magic wherever he directs.

I agree. Their performances are next level.

Oh P’aof! The director of Thousand Stars, right? That explains why I cry laugh and get so touched by MSP. It hits me like the villagers did in that far way land.

Well said and agree. Did you see that Taiwanese BL over the summer About Youth. That’s another that felt very authentic and was in great hands as far production craft goes. Given how beaten down the school bl genre is, it’s an accomplishment to deliver anything memorable. MSP hit the jackpot in terms of the talent on camera and behind I mean those two kids are 18. They have talent. And a director that pulled seasoned performances out of those kids

I hope I didn’t oversell it. But you sound as jaded as I am about tropes and bad execution. Then every once in a while something comes along. T -047s music in second chance the series or the direction snd cinematography in You’re My Sky …that gives the school BL trope it a nudge above standard fare. Those shows each had flaws and this one is better. And MSP is “good” like that for the first four eps. Then it jumps to great in 5 in my opinion