Night13

The headline might make it sound like a copy or a direct adaptation, but no worries it never feels like one.


I had been excited about this show ever since the trailer was released. Despite that excitement, before watching it I had seen comments saying things like “don’t watch this if you’re looking for the kind of BL produced by those X companies. ” and ain't gonna lie I backed down a bit. At first, I thought people were saying this because the series features more mature men and has fewer NC scenes, similar to Mandate, Spare me your mercy or other more mature productions. But they were actually right. This is a completely different kind of series.

The main couple has a remarkably social circle that includes many different people from the LGBTQ+ community. Throughout the series, these characters face all kinds of difficulties, ranging from assault and violence to unemployement, aging, and even death. Despite everything they go through, they continue to support one another and find ways to move forward.

The series gets its title from the fact that, in each episode, the characters encounter a problem that keeps them awake at night. The person at the center of that problem can be almost any character in the story. They are someone connected to the main couple, who then do everything they can to support them.

One of the main characters is also a cartoonist, and the series occasionally brings the comic-book universe he created to life through animated scenes. These scenes often represent the way he processes the problems he is facing, adding a distinctive visual elements to the story.

The show also explores subjects beyond LGBTQ+ identity, including contemporary relationship dynamics such as polyamory and monogamy. It even touches on the use of AI at one point. Although the central focus remains on its main gay male couple, this series should never be viewed simply as a “boys’ love” or “men’s love” drama.

Its references to real events, such as Sao Saw Et, are particularly interesting. Combined with the amount of information it provides and its consistently open-minded approach, these elements sometimes give the series an almost documentary-like quality.

There was even an episode explaining how a “Public Documented Will” is prepared. I am not sure whether this is something specific to that region or something that exists worldwide, but it was the first time I had ever heard of it. I was fascinated by the fact that I could learn so much from a show.

!!!One final warning!!!: the level of bullying in some eps is quite intense, so I would especially caution anyone who may be triggered by it. There were a few scenes that left me staring at the screen with my mouth open and made me physically set my laptop aside for a moment.