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Boys in Love — More of a Casting Showcase Than a Memorable BL
Watching Boys in Love, I never had the feeling that GMMTV's main objective was to tell a great story. Instead, it felt like the company was introducing its next generation of actors and testing which pairings audiences would connect with. There's nothing inherently wrong with that—every studio needs new talent—but when launching new ships becomes more important than the story itself, the final product inevitably feels more like an audition than a fully realized drama.
The story is pleasant enough but also incredibly familiar. School romance, first love, misunderstandings, supportive friends... we've seen every one of these elements countless times before. The series doesn't really try to add anything new to the genre, and because of that, it quickly becomes predictable. It's cute, easy to watch, and harmless, but I rarely felt emotionally invested because the script never pushed its characters beyond the usual coming-of-age clichés.
The biggest limitation is naturally the cast's lack of experience.
This isn't a criticism of the actors themselves because everyone has to start somewhere. The problem is that their inexperience is visible throughout the series. There are moments where you can catch an actor looking slightly off-camera before delivering a line, waiting for a cue, or reacting a fraction too late during emotional scenes. Facial expressions sometimes arrive before the dialogue instead of naturally following it, and several emotional moments feel rehearsed rather than instinctive. These aren't major mistakes, but they're the kind of details you immediately notice once you've watched hundreds of dramas.
That being said, I don't think the newcomers lack potential.
In fact, quite the opposite.
Several of them already have the charisma needed to become popular if GMMTV continues developing them with stronger scripts and more experienced co-stars. Acting is something that improves with experience, and I can easily imagine some of these actors looking completely different three or four years from now. What we're seeing here isn't a lack of talent—it's simply a lack of experience.
The chemistry between the new pairings is also a work in progress. There are flashes of genuine connection, but it's clear they're still learning how to build intimacy naturally on screen. Instead of making me completely believe in the relationships, there were moments where I felt like I was watching actors trying to understand how romantic scenes should be played. That's perfectly normal for newcomers, but it also explains why the emotional impact remains fairly limited.
From a production standpoint, the series looks exactly like what you'd expect from GMMTV. The cinematography is clean, the pacing remains light, and the direction never becomes overly ambitious because it wisely focuses on making the young cast feel comfortable. The soundtrack is pleasant but ultimately forgettable, doing little to elevate scenes beyond what is already happening on screen.
I also think this is one of those dramas whose reception depends heavily on its audience. If you're new to BL, or if you're a younger viewer discovering the genre for the first time, I completely understand why Boys in Love could become a favourite. It's sweet, easy to follow, and introduces likeable characters. But after watching BL for many years, I've simply seen this same story—and many of its individual scenes—done with stronger writing, better performances, and much greater emotional depth.
Final Thought
Boys in Love succeeds as a showcase for GMMTV's next generation of actors more than it succeeds as a memorable BL. The cast clearly has potential, and I'm sure several of these new pairings will continue growing into excellent performers. Unfortunately, potential isn't the same as experience, and that difference is visible throughout the series. It's a pleasant introduction to new talent, but as a drama, it never rises much above average.
The story is pleasant enough but also incredibly familiar. School romance, first love, misunderstandings, supportive friends... we've seen every one of these elements countless times before. The series doesn't really try to add anything new to the genre, and because of that, it quickly becomes predictable. It's cute, easy to watch, and harmless, but I rarely felt emotionally invested because the script never pushed its characters beyond the usual coming-of-age clichés.
The biggest limitation is naturally the cast's lack of experience.
This isn't a criticism of the actors themselves because everyone has to start somewhere. The problem is that their inexperience is visible throughout the series. There are moments where you can catch an actor looking slightly off-camera before delivering a line, waiting for a cue, or reacting a fraction too late during emotional scenes. Facial expressions sometimes arrive before the dialogue instead of naturally following it, and several emotional moments feel rehearsed rather than instinctive. These aren't major mistakes, but they're the kind of details you immediately notice once you've watched hundreds of dramas.
That being said, I don't think the newcomers lack potential.
In fact, quite the opposite.
Several of them already have the charisma needed to become popular if GMMTV continues developing them with stronger scripts and more experienced co-stars. Acting is something that improves with experience, and I can easily imagine some of these actors looking completely different three or four years from now. What we're seeing here isn't a lack of talent—it's simply a lack of experience.
The chemistry between the new pairings is also a work in progress. There are flashes of genuine connection, but it's clear they're still learning how to build intimacy naturally on screen. Instead of making me completely believe in the relationships, there were moments where I felt like I was watching actors trying to understand how romantic scenes should be played. That's perfectly normal for newcomers, but it also explains why the emotional impact remains fairly limited.
From a production standpoint, the series looks exactly like what you'd expect from GMMTV. The cinematography is clean, the pacing remains light, and the direction never becomes overly ambitious because it wisely focuses on making the young cast feel comfortable. The soundtrack is pleasant but ultimately forgettable, doing little to elevate scenes beyond what is already happening on screen.
I also think this is one of those dramas whose reception depends heavily on its audience. If you're new to BL, or if you're a younger viewer discovering the genre for the first time, I completely understand why Boys in Love could become a favourite. It's sweet, easy to follow, and introduces likeable characters. But after watching BL for many years, I've simply seen this same story—and many of its individual scenes—done with stronger writing, better performances, and much greater emotional depth.
Final Thought
Boys in Love succeeds as a showcase for GMMTV's next generation of actors more than it succeeds as a memorable BL. The cast clearly has potential, and I'm sure several of these new pairings will continue growing into excellent performers. Unfortunately, potential isn't the same as experience, and that difference is visible throughout the series. It's a pleasant introduction to new talent, but as a drama, it never rises much above average.
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