when chemistry isn’t enough
Since watching High School Frenemy, I became a fan of SkyNani. After all, they broke away from GMMTV’s familiar formula by making a bromance instead of a BL. Similar to The Untamed, the pair built a loyal following through their chemistry alone.
But unlike The Untamed, I think a bromance can only sustain its appeal for so long. This is one reason I appreciate that other Asian countries don’t always follow the Thai BL formula. Sometimes pairings become forced, and actors end up playing roles that don’t truly suit them. Yes, they can cry on cue or exchange intense gazes, but chemistry alone isn’t enough.
If I’m being completely honest, I think Sky and Nani are stronger as individual actors than as a permanent screen pairing. I’m also glad they don’t participate in the song-and-dance fan events that many BL couples do. In my opinion, that preserves their value as actors rather than turning them into fan-service personalities.
As for Wu, it started with tremendous promise but quickly lost its momentum. The opening episodes were compelling, yet the story soon became predictable and, at times, overly sentimental. More disappointing was the lack of meaningful character development. Nearly every major character occupied a pivotal role in the narrative, yet few were given the depth they deserved. The supporting cast, rather than enriching the story, often felt underutilized.
The biggest indication that the series wasn’t working for me was that I found myself rooting for the antagonists. When the villains become more compelling than the protagonists, it’s usually a sign that the emotional investment has shifted.
I also think the series suffered from its length. Recently, many Thai BL dramas have shortened their episode counts, perhaps following the trend of Japanese dramas. But what works in Japan doesn’t necessarily translate elsewhere. Japanese storytellers have mastered the art of concise, tightly constructed narratives. Simply making a series shorter doesn’t guarantee better pacing. In Wu, I felt there was enough material for a longer series that could have explored its characters and themes with greater depth.
I’m sure many fans will disagree with my assessment, and that’s perfectly fine. I’ve long accepted that we don’t all see stories the same way. It would be a rather dull world if we did.
In today’s BL landscape, where dozens of new titles are released every year, audiences have more choices than ever before. Ironically, while the quantity has increased, I can’t help but feel that the overall quality has gradually declined.
But unlike The Untamed, I think a bromance can only sustain its appeal for so long. This is one reason I appreciate that other Asian countries don’t always follow the Thai BL formula. Sometimes pairings become forced, and actors end up playing roles that don’t truly suit them. Yes, they can cry on cue or exchange intense gazes, but chemistry alone isn’t enough.
If I’m being completely honest, I think Sky and Nani are stronger as individual actors than as a permanent screen pairing. I’m also glad they don’t participate in the song-and-dance fan events that many BL couples do. In my opinion, that preserves their value as actors rather than turning them into fan-service personalities.
As for Wu, it started with tremendous promise but quickly lost its momentum. The opening episodes were compelling, yet the story soon became predictable and, at times, overly sentimental. More disappointing was the lack of meaningful character development. Nearly every major character occupied a pivotal role in the narrative, yet few were given the depth they deserved. The supporting cast, rather than enriching the story, often felt underutilized.
The biggest indication that the series wasn’t working for me was that I found myself rooting for the antagonists. When the villains become more compelling than the protagonists, it’s usually a sign that the emotional investment has shifted.
I also think the series suffered from its length. Recently, many Thai BL dramas have shortened their episode counts, perhaps following the trend of Japanese dramas. But what works in Japan doesn’t necessarily translate elsewhere. Japanese storytellers have mastered the art of concise, tightly constructed narratives. Simply making a series shorter doesn’t guarantee better pacing. In Wu, I felt there was enough material for a longer series that could have explored its characters and themes with greater depth.
I’m sure many fans will disagree with my assessment, and that’s perfectly fine. I’ve long accepted that we don’t all see stories the same way. It would be a rather dull world if we did.
In today’s BL landscape, where dozens of new titles are released every year, audiences have more choices than ever before. Ironically, while the quantity has increased, I can’t help but feel that the overall quality has gradually declined.
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