beanz
Montero
This review may contain spoilers
Anybody else cry when it ended? Not me.
I lied. Very much me. I was not ready to say goodbye.
I don't watch a lot of BL. In fact, my first BL was 2gethertheseries which aired in 2020. I know nothing of the ones that came before but I have been on the internet a long time to know that a lot of queer Asian media is like so my expectations are always low.
But it turns out it was high-time I revise my opinion because Not Me genuinely blew me away. I have seen BLs that are progressive in their own way (Bad Buddy and Lovely Writer) but Not Me has to be the first one where they discussed social issues, lgbtq representation, corruption and the like in a plotline that was neither too complex or too simple to follow. The plot started off as ridiculous, two twins with a telepathic connection being afflicted with each other's pain and I was down with that, because who doesn't love a touch of ridiculousness in their queer media? But Not Me was like, hold my drink, I'm about to rock this old coot's entire world.
I soon found myself embroiled in a world of intrigue as Todd summons White to investigate the case of his twin Black, who's suspected of being involved in shady shit and is now in a coma thanks to it. He points White towards Black's 'gang' with the suggestion they might be the cause for him lying blackened and bruised and comatose in a hospital. From there, White (and I) are taken on a journey. Identity porn is ya girl's jam, so she knew she was in for a good time.
No character in Not Me is forgettable or cast to the side. Everyone is important, everyone plays their role well. I feel that if I were familiar with Thai culture and issues more I would be able to catch the nuances of the issues better but even then I could find myself relating. Because regardless of where you are, social injustice and inequality are something we (or our loved ones and the people around us) have all faced in some ways. As youth, we are especially frustrated by the way things are because we're more socially aware than the generations before us and these issues do impact us, whether directly or indirectly. We want to change the way things are, but there are factors in play that make it harder to do so. Dan's betrayal drove this point home beautifully, even if it was painful to watch. That there are people who want to do the right thing, and stand up against justice, but are unable to do so.
Furthermore, the addition of Gumpa, the older brother figure who's herding this band of well-intentioned fighters, proves that this fight has been going on for a long time. The way the show ends shows that it will continue and that it will be picked up by the people that come after us.
But there will also be people who will be against that, content to keep that world order. If they're not actively fighting against it, they're contributing to it by being complacent. Some of them don't understand it, deem it unnecessary or view people like Black's gang as miscreants or those looking for trouble. Attitudes that were reflected well by Methinee, Adul and Yok's mother. I appreciate how the Director kept the show rooted in reality. Even if it feels like the world is going to shit, there are still people out there who will try to make it less so and that humanity isn't so bad. That scene when the protestors who uplifted their fight and saved the boys from meeting their terrifying demise is just. No words, this Asian was too stunned to speak.
The portrayal of queer relationships and their development was another thing that struck a chord with me. The way the entire gang navigated their relationships, it reminds you that even though these are rebels who've chosen to become part of a resistance, it doesn't change the fact that they are still kids. That they are individuals who like us, want connections and room to explore their identities. Sean and White, Eugene, Black and Gram, Yok and Dan, Namo and Sean. Every relationship showed us something different but drove home a point: that queer relationships are just as valid as non-queer ones and there is no need to make it weird. Every character develops and in turn, brings about changes in their relationship and the whole thing was immensely satisfying to watch. I especially appreciated how Eugene and Namo were handled. Often BLs tend to treat their female characters badly, them existing in the show only to further the development of the M/M ship. But that wasn't the case here, oh no. My girls got their heart broke, dealt with it and emerged stronger than before.
I do wish Gram and Nuch had been a thing, but their dynamic was amazing the way it was too.
(I personally think Black is in a polycule with Eugene and Gram and no I will not explain myself.)
The cinematography, the music, the characters, the lessons this show taught, everything will remain with me for a long time. Gun Atthaphan blew me away with his portrayal of the twins. 11/10 will recommend.
I don't watch a lot of BL. In fact, my first BL was 2gethertheseries which aired in 2020. I know nothing of the ones that came before but I have been on the internet a long time to know that a lot of queer Asian media is like so my expectations are always low.
But it turns out it was high-time I revise my opinion because Not Me genuinely blew me away. I have seen BLs that are progressive in their own way (Bad Buddy and Lovely Writer) but Not Me has to be the first one where they discussed social issues, lgbtq representation, corruption and the like in a plotline that was neither too complex or too simple to follow. The plot started off as ridiculous, two twins with a telepathic connection being afflicted with each other's pain and I was down with that, because who doesn't love a touch of ridiculousness in their queer media? But Not Me was like, hold my drink, I'm about to rock this old coot's entire world.
I soon found myself embroiled in a world of intrigue as Todd summons White to investigate the case of his twin Black, who's suspected of being involved in shady shit and is now in a coma thanks to it. He points White towards Black's 'gang' with the suggestion they might be the cause for him lying blackened and bruised and comatose in a hospital. From there, White (and I) are taken on a journey. Identity porn is ya girl's jam, so she knew she was in for a good time.
No character in Not Me is forgettable or cast to the side. Everyone is important, everyone plays their role well. I feel that if I were familiar with Thai culture and issues more I would be able to catch the nuances of the issues better but even then I could find myself relating. Because regardless of where you are, social injustice and inequality are something we (or our loved ones and the people around us) have all faced in some ways. As youth, we are especially frustrated by the way things are because we're more socially aware than the generations before us and these issues do impact us, whether directly or indirectly. We want to change the way things are, but there are factors in play that make it harder to do so. Dan's betrayal drove this point home beautifully, even if it was painful to watch. That there are people who want to do the right thing, and stand up against justice, but are unable to do so.
Furthermore, the addition of Gumpa, the older brother figure who's herding this band of well-intentioned fighters, proves that this fight has been going on for a long time. The way the show ends shows that it will continue and that it will be picked up by the people that come after us.
But there will also be people who will be against that, content to keep that world order. If they're not actively fighting against it, they're contributing to it by being complacent. Some of them don't understand it, deem it unnecessary or view people like Black's gang as miscreants or those looking for trouble. Attitudes that were reflected well by Methinee, Adul and Yok's mother. I appreciate how the Director kept the show rooted in reality. Even if it feels like the world is going to shit, there are still people out there who will try to make it less so and that humanity isn't so bad. That scene when the protestors who uplifted their fight and saved the boys from meeting their terrifying demise is just. No words, this Asian was too stunned to speak.
The portrayal of queer relationships and their development was another thing that struck a chord with me. The way the entire gang navigated their relationships, it reminds you that even though these are rebels who've chosen to become part of a resistance, it doesn't change the fact that they are still kids. That they are individuals who like us, want connections and room to explore their identities. Sean and White, Eugene, Black and Gram, Yok and Dan, Namo and Sean. Every relationship showed us something different but drove home a point: that queer relationships are just as valid as non-queer ones and there is no need to make it weird. Every character develops and in turn, brings about changes in their relationship and the whole thing was immensely satisfying to watch. I especially appreciated how Eugene and Namo were handled. Often BLs tend to treat their female characters badly, them existing in the show only to further the development of the M/M ship. But that wasn't the case here, oh no. My girls got their heart broke, dealt with it and emerged stronger than before.
I do wish Gram and Nuch had been a thing, but their dynamic was amazing the way it was too.
(I personally think Black is in a polycule with Eugene and Gram and no I will not explain myself.)
The cinematography, the music, the characters, the lessons this show taught, everything will remain with me for a long time. Gun Atthaphan blew me away with his portrayal of the twins. 11/10 will recommend.
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