This review may contain spoilers
Authentic queer story with flaws - but a must watch nonetheless
Beautiful story and cinematography - the opening was really touching and a great start to the show.
The show was set to explore religious guilt and teenage love, and I did think that was greatly portrayed. However, it is around episode 5 and 6 that they kind of drop the show on the floor. Tanrak spends all of his relationship with Barth being scared of being found out, and Father and Kongdech are kind of hostile towards him when they do find out. But then we get a long time skip to the future, where they are both suddenly okay with it and they're all hugging?? It wasn't at all satisfying and it felt rushed and fake.
Of course I want happy endings to queer shows - but with an authentic, realistic story like this I would have liked to see more how they got to the happy ending. It seemed as soon as their relationship properly started, the story ended. I would've liked to see more of what made Kongdech change his mind, along with Father. Maybe the show would've worked out if the timeline was longer, instead of huge jumps in episode 1 and 6 between past and future, or if it was switching between past and future every episode.
Because to me it seemed like what the show said was "gay marriage is legal, which means everyone is accepting and okay with it now," which I don't think was their intention, but it made it feel less authentic nonetheless. And also some of the scripting was badly done, and they were often overexplaining what they were doing, though many shows have unfortunately started doing that now.
Despite its flaws, though, I do think this show is worth watching. Gemini and Fourth are such good actors and carry the roles so well. The building of their relationship is well done and Tanrak saying "I am not Gods favourite son either," before their first kiss was one of the best scenes in TV that I've seen lately. Happy christian queer stories are needed, and I am happy that this show has been made and released!
The show was set to explore religious guilt and teenage love, and I did think that was greatly portrayed. However, it is around episode 5 and 6 that they kind of drop the show on the floor. Tanrak spends all of his relationship with Barth being scared of being found out, and Father and Kongdech are kind of hostile towards him when they do find out. But then we get a long time skip to the future, where they are both suddenly okay with it and they're all hugging?? It wasn't at all satisfying and it felt rushed and fake.
Of course I want happy endings to queer shows - but with an authentic, realistic story like this I would have liked to see more how they got to the happy ending. It seemed as soon as their relationship properly started, the story ended. I would've liked to see more of what made Kongdech change his mind, along with Father. Maybe the show would've worked out if the timeline was longer, instead of huge jumps in episode 1 and 6 between past and future, or if it was switching between past and future every episode.
Because to me it seemed like what the show said was "gay marriage is legal, which means everyone is accepting and okay with it now," which I don't think was their intention, but it made it feel less authentic nonetheless. And also some of the scripting was badly done, and they were often overexplaining what they were doing, though many shows have unfortunately started doing that now.
Despite its flaws, though, I do think this show is worth watching. Gemini and Fourth are such good actors and carry the roles so well. The building of their relationship is well done and Tanrak saying "I am not Gods favourite son either," before their first kiss was one of the best scenes in TV that I've seen lately. Happy christian queer stories are needed, and I am happy that this show has been made and released!
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