Reviews

One of the best. Like literally.

This drama has a very special place in my heart for real. It is SO SOSOO GOOD. One of the very few K-dramas that don't have forgotten plotholes that aren't actually forgotten, it gave us everything we needed so it's safe to say it had a satisfying end. The acting was on spot, the actors did what they had to do, and they matched the characters so well too, so it's safe to say it was a perfect cast. ESPECIALLY Kim Hye Soo, I genuinley believe I wouldn't love it as much if she didn't have this role. And for once in a blue moon, they showed what an actual mother is like in a K-drama. She was harsh when she needed to be and soft when she needed to be, but she was still a loving mother thinking of her kids in all of the situations.

Everyone really needs to watch it's so underrated T-T. Even my mom who's not a fan of K-dramas really enjoyed it (She was the one that introduced me to it LMAO, a bit ironic I think)

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Specific love journey

All characters are well played
Especially ~Seo Ji Hye [ Woo Do Hee ] her smile acting all is cloud nine
Main lead Song Seung Heon [ Kim Hae Kyung ] and Seo Ji Hye [ Woo Do Hee ] are best pair
Their chemistry in love scenes are mesmerising
Ost is also awesome
thank you
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THE Thai BL for the year

this series had everything to make it good, and they went ahead to create not only one of the most cinematically beautiful series, but gave life to characters I had never heard of to a degree that they immediately felt familiar.

nonkul and bright had such electrifying chemistry in the most minor moments, it was such an experience seeing them expand on their roles as their bond grew in the story.

i cannot say I’ve felt this way about a series since ATOTS and ITSAY. truly a gem. P’Tee, we may drive you crazy saying this, but IFYLITA truly deserves another season! here’s hoping that may happen someday, but even if it does not, this series gives me the overwhelming interest to pick up the books and actually read them.

a superb series, with a star studded cast, and cinematography that puts most releases to shame. they truly outdid themselves here.

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Soo good but that ending...

I got sucked up right into this. I couldn't put it down.
I wasn't sure I'd like Hua Qian at the beginning, but Zhou Ye's acting was great and i really believed she was her character. She was clever but not in an overpowered way and very funny and cute. Definitely a big part of why i enjoyed the drama was her.
As for the male leads, I'm not sure i hardcore shipped her with anyone. Was not a fan of Zhong Yelan, was glad she didn't end up stuck with him.
Zhong Xiwu was interesting to watch, i think i have a thing for watching a man pine after one woman. I did swoon at him a few times but he was also an asshole at others. As far as a male lead goes he wasn't the worst. Wish we could've gotten more romantic interactions with the main two, a kiss would've been lovely but even just more connection would've been enough.
I didn't dislike Hua Rongzhou but i didn't ship him as much as i thought i might. It was sweet how he just wanted to protect her but it felt like a good friendship on her side at least.
Now i was ready to rate this even higher then a 8.5 but the last episode threw me right off.
I mean WTF???!!!
If they wanted to to do this dream twist i wish they'd done it a bit earlier, it felt so jarring and shit to realise basically all of what happened didn't happen.
If they'd revealed it with maybe two or three episodes to spare we could've gotten more of a resolution. They played it off as a forgiveness and second chance lesson but we don't actually get much of the reality.
The romance too, we could've gotten more of a satisfying ending, especially since the end means near all of their interactions were in a dream and not real.
It just felt like a real let down. After a great drama it ends like that? "It was all a dream" wow
Really mixed up about this now but i still enjoyed the most of it.
Just wish they'd given more time in reality if they were going to basically invalidate the majority of the drama.

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Great Xianxia saga and painful love story ( ͒˃̩̩⌂˂̩̩ ͒)

To continue this large Xianxia saga (with sects, earthly and celestial immortals, merman, etc.) and the tragic love story ( ͒˃̩̩⌂˂̩̩ ͒)

PLOT S2:
After a painful separation, the ML, merman played by Ren Jia Lun, is now at the Court of Foxes. When she manages to escape from the Immortal palace, the FL (Dilraba) also finds herself there, very ill. To protect her, Chang Yi will hold her prisoner until her death (sacrifice). She then comes back to life as a fox, then finds a grieving Chang Yi and gets her memories back. But the war against Evil continues.

PROS:
+ A great cast with as CL, Dilraba and Ren Jia Lun
+ Well-developed 2ndary characters
+ The storyline is addictive, you never know what will happen next.
+ The production is dynamic. We can see that the budget was high :) because the CGIs are of very good quality and the images, sets, costumes are amazing!
+ The OSTs are very suitable for this great saga.

CONS:
- Some inconsistencies in the storyline.
- A botched ending for the CL, with a lot of plotholes and an unexplained 300-year ellipsis... Too bad (๑•ิཬ•ั๑)

=> Despite everything, a MASTERPIECE not to be missed!!
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Grande fresque Wuxia avec sectes, immortels terrestres et célestes, triton, etc. Très bons CGI.

PLOT S2:
Après une séparation douloureuse, le ML, triton interprété par Ren Jia Lun, est désormais à la Cour des renards. Quand elle réussit à s'échapper du palais Immortel, la FL (Dilraba) s'y retrouve aussi, très malade. Pour la protéger, Chang Yi va la retenir prisonnière jusqu'à sa mort (sacrifice). Elle revit ensuite en renard, puis retrouve un Chang Yi endeuillé et ses souvenirs. Mais la guerre contre le Mal continue.

PROS:
+ Un super casting avec en CL, Dilraba et Ren Jia Lun
+ Des personnages 2aires bien développés
+ La storyline est addictive, on ne sait jamais se qui va se produire ensuite.
+ La réalisation est dynamique. On voit que le budget était élevé :) car les CGI sont de très bonne qualité et les images, décors, costumes sont au TOP !
+ Les OST sont très adaptés à cette grande saga épique.

CONS:
- Quelques incohérences dans la storyline.
- Une fin bâclée pour le CL, avec un trou de 300 ans inexpliqué... Dommage (๑•ิཬ•ั๑)

=> Malgré tout, un MASTERPIECE à ne pas rater !!

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Don't waste your time on this one

Let me get straight to the point what I liked about this BL:
1. It had a good start with a amnesia trope.
2. It had a good start for an angst love story of someone leaving for abroad and the lover meeting an accident.
3. There was backstory for this couple from cutie pie.
Rest is all about making money through sponsors and it was a promotional for 2 more BLs starring the main couple from Cutie Pie and the side couple from the same. It was a fan service for people who like this pairing. But that's it
1. Nat and Max pairing doesn't work for me. Both seem awkward with each other and to be honest both need a lot of acting classes. Max could do better paired with some other actor of his level and physical stature.
2. This was like one of those Marvel movies who's only plot is to cover the potholes of previous movies and set the stage for the next ones.
3. Filled with intense melodrama done by actors who make it look a wasted effort.
4. A CGI tiger when you could have added items from NatGeo or other documentaries?
5. The character of Diao was made to look pathetic as hell.
I don't think I should bash this BL any more. It probably has fed a lot of people and given them good opportunities. So kudos in making a project and I am hoping to see Max with some other BL actor cuz he's really got potential. But if you are choosy about BLs don't watch it. I am choosy so I dropped before things got more messy.

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Great storytelling and immersion.

An intricate storyline, compelling characters, and intense performances make "Flower of Evil" a compelling television drama. Throughout each episode, the series uncovers more secrets, lies, and suspense. The drama revolves around the life of Baek Hee-sung (played by Lee Joon-gi), a seemingly perfect husband and father who harbors a dark secret from his past.

The couple's relationship is put to the ultimate test as Cha Ji-won (played by Moon Chae-won), an intelligent and determined detective, uncovers the truth. As the plot unfolded, there were numerous twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. As a former detective myself, I really appreciated the story's investigative premise mixed with its narrative. Some shows portray the police as idots, but the police weren't like that.

The characters in "Flower of Evil" are multi-dimensional and well-developed, adding depth and emotional resonance to the story. Unlike a recent drama I watched (cough "Destined cough! With You") Baek Hee-sung's portrayal by Lee Joon-gi is particularly remarkable, as he flawlessly embodies the contrasting facets of his character. From portraying a loving husband and devoted father to a man with a troubled past, Lee Joon-gi's performance is commendable and adds layers of complexity to the narrative.

Moon Chae-won's portrayal of Cha Ji-won is equally impressive. This woman went through hell but she held it down. Her character's determination to uncover the truth and her conflicting emotions towards her husband create empathy and intrigue. The chemistry between the two leads further enhances the dramatic tension in the series. At times, it seemed as if they were really a couple. However, in episodes 12-13, I found the lack of communication between Hyun Su and Ji Won absolutely maddening!

It is a well-crafted script that makes "Flower of Evil" a top-notch series. The story's pacing is excellent, blending intense suspense with heartfelt emotions. Each episode reveals new information, gradually unraveling the mystery and heightening the suspense.

The series also excels in its execution, with visually stunning cinematography and a carefully curated soundtrack that complements the mood of each scene. The use of atmospheric lighting and well-choreographed action sequences adds to the overall cinematic experience, elevating the drama to a higher level. As a professional photographer, I'm always studying lighting at various scenes. Lighting is crucial to filming and photography.

"Flower of Evil" is a must-watch drama that combines mystery, romance, and thriller, creating an unforgettable viewing experience. With its compelling plot and strong performances.

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The perfect combination

This is without a doubt one, if not the best series of 2023.

I'm usually not a fan of historical series and when they have some fantasy and things like that (although I like the theme of time travel ) and the main reason is that they rarely have an ending that makes you feel fulfilled with the series, many end in tragedy or an open ending. and although in this series the final episodes are somewhat dramatic and have a touch of nostalgia and sadness, they do not leave you with a feeling of emptiness or that something was missing, the previous episodes, before the ending, are so incredibly well developed that it is easy for the audience to digest what is going to happen and feel like you/them ? lived what you/they had to live, so to speak.

Regarding the plot and the actors, from the first moment I was captivated with the way in which they approached the future(past) that the character was going to have, under that concept that they were destined to be together. I cannot describe how much I suffered while Jom suffered , I wanted to take care of him so bad. And they gave him the greatest Green flag as boyfriend. Yai Is just the ideal man. Both ML deserved to be loved the way they did.

The series is not only drama, it is not only romance, but it is also comedy and touches on sensitive topics in very well-addressed ways. The chemistry between the main characters is subtle at the beginning but clear and little by little it gains intensity without becoming morbid or exaggerated. The effects and production 10/10 always making you feel immersed. This series is without a doubt a masterpiece, hard to find in BL world.

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Cute YA teen drama

This drama is nothing extraordinary, it's just cute and intended for teenagers.

While some of the actors did a good job, I had a problem with the main character, Feng Cheng. Although he acted fine, I couldn't connect with him and there was no chemistry with the heroine. There were a few good performances from the secondary characters, and the main female lead was okay and fit the role. However, the ending was completely wrong. It should have been the Quatuor staying together to solve mysteries, and her identity should have been changed to a girl. Instead, we had two guys running away and a marriage, and somehow her brother took her place as official, which is essentially cheating.

The show lacked any real romantic moments, with only a kiss on the cheek and no love declaration or proposal. The last image was of them on the bed with wedding clothes, and her jumping on him, which was just ridiculous.

The first 22 episodes were slow, redundant, and boring, with the bully guy just bullying and the main character mastering archery within days. The prostitute's wig was ridiculous, and she was a completely not believable character. The special effects sounds were annoying, and the music was just average. While there were some funny scenes, they were not enough to save the show.

In conclusion, if you want a cute teenage costume story, then this show is for you. However, I cannot call it a romance, and I have no desire to re-watch it.

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Why 7 and why not more

So let me get straight to the points why it was worth 7.
1. There was sincere chemistry between the MLs.
2. There was minimal NC scenes and sometimes we need such BLs about young lovers and school life.
3. I liked the character of Kang and his dad as well.
4. The concept was clear from the beginning. There were no unnecessary sub plots and it was a good casual watch for dinner time.
5. Had good scenic visuals and symbolisms.
Okay now the points why I couldn't give more than a 7
1. The other couples and pairings were absolutely unnecessary and much incomplete without any real chemistry.
2. Some parts seemed a drag and I skipped some scenes especially in the middle section of the drama.
3. There wasn't anything dangerous about this romance as compared to the dangers in other bl dramas. Probably the Thai name makes more sense but the English title lacked its vitality throughout.
In and all, it was a good watch for people who want to focus on the main couple and need a relaxation bl drama after Only Friends trauma.

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Need more of these dramas

I started watching this drama because i stumbled upon on it in my netflix home page, and when i watched the trailer i was immediately attracted to this drama.
The overall story in the drama was good and it matched with the romance story.
Pros
• First of all i ♡ the music in this drama
• i love the fl sm, like her hair and outfits and everything! (I read a comment abt someone criticizing her hair and jm coming for whoever wrote that)
• i also rlly like the ml, hes not like the cold arrogant rich bad boy like the typical ml. He is very quirky and confident (like in the tittle of the drama "cocky prince")
• i ♡ the main couple, surprisingly they're mature and there's no unnecessary breakup or stupid misunderstanding which tend to frustrates me in dramas
• i ♡ the other characters as well especially the ml's assistant in the drama, i kinda fell for her lol

Cons
• I hate the fl's ex bf.

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For Romance Lovers - Romantic, Sensual, Emotional

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75

I’ve always enjoyed watching Thai period dramas to learn more about Thai culture. Even though time-traveling is not my jam, the trailer of “I Feel You Linger in The Air” piqued my interest. I am so happy that I waited for it to finish airing and binge all 12 episodes at once. It’s a wonderful and romantic drama that focuses on the love story of the main leads. As a romance lover, this is definitely my cup of tea and I get the satisfaction I couldn’t quite get from “To Sir, With Love”. But if you are picky about the time-traveling, you might not be satisfied.

What I Like:

1. Main Romance - First and foremost, I love the development of romance. Even though it feels slow, it's actually not. It takes them about half a drama to confess their feelings, so in a way, that’s a pretty decent pace. Yai is so smitten and in love from the second he laid eyes on Jom. The love is there right from the start and continues to build throughout. Jom’s love is undeniable and he’s so in tune with Jom’s feelings and thoughts. Drunk confession through poetry? Sign me up for more! As mentioned, their love story is central to the plot and you follow their journey every step of the way. Their romance is beautiful, ROMANTIC, sensual and passionate.

2. Chemistry - Amazing and off the charts. Who knew olive oil can be so sexy? There are many Thai BL dramas that are way more sexual and with more explicit sex scenes. But in “I Feel You Linger in The Air”, I think their touching, caressing, hugging and kissing are WAY sexier and more romantic than any explicit sex scenes. **Check out ep 7** ? I can feel their emotions throughout these scenes. There’s one scene that’s a little more sexual, but the emotions behind it are telling us a very different story - elation, sadness, longing, desperation.

3. Acting - There is no typical Thai overacting, or having the camera stay at someone’s face for 5 seconds too long. The acting is as natural as I could have hoped for in a Thai drama. Nonkul (as Jom) and Bright (as Yai) did an admirable job. Even though I don’t think they are excellent, I believe in them and their acting (still some room for improvement). The supporting cast also deliver good performances.

4. Music - For such a gentle and romantic drama, I am glad the drama is not overloaded with songs played over and over again. For most of the drama, we hear gentle background music that mostly complemented the scenes. It was quite interesting that Swan Lake was played during two scenes when Jom and Yai are evading/dancing around each other about what just happened. The few songs that the drama has are lovely and played mainly towards the end of the drama more often. The lyrics also complement the scenes very well.

5. English - English that sounds English and doesn’t hurt my ears! Sweet James is played by Kimmy G (Thai-British) and Robert is played by Attila G (Thai-Swiss). I am so glad they are casted in these roles. Not only are they good to look at, they are lovely to hear from, esp. James.

6. Production Quality - Cinematography is beautiful. Jom’s house looks classic from the outside and the rooms look simple but gentle. The costumes are not elaborate but they seem to match the 1920’s style. The male cast looks handsome in their suits and the women look beautiful in their dresses.

What I have Mixed Feelings or Don’t Like:

1. Time-Traveling/Ending - I don’t necessarily feel that the ending is rushed, but it was not satisfying. The drama did not really explain the last few scenes in the finale. What if there’s no season 2, then it leaves a big question mark about how this ending makes sense. A special episode is fan service and doesn’t really match the tone with this beautiful melancholic drama. Having said that, I like how unique the drama ties the visions to _______ (it would be a spoiler if I write that out).

2. Villain’s downfall - Many viewers like me are waiting for the downfall of the villain. I don’t think he’s THAT bad compared to other villains I’ve seen, but the exposure of their crimes is really anti-climatic. Even if that place and time are best for such an exposure, the way it was done doesn’t make sense to me. It seems too easy without much resistance. I was hoping for more.

3. Side Stories - Maybe due to the focus of the leads, the other two couples didn’t really have a lot of screen time. I think their stories could be interesting as they are vastly different from the main couple, but not enough time is dedicated to them for viewers to know their backstories to make me root for them even more.


Overall, I strongly recommend this drama for romance lovers who like a slower-paced, passionate and a more melancholic love story (with some cute scenes). You will go through so many different emotions with the leads and will love it.



Other Random Observations:
1. Did you notice Jom likes to blink very slowly, or close his eyes a few seconds too long right before he’s expected to say or react? For some reason, it bothered me. LOL (I know I am insane).
2. I will forever remember this couple when I see olive oil. LOL
3. James and Ming are both so sweet, kind and nice. Great friends to have!
4. Jom and Yai are the most careless forbidden lovers out there. I worry they will get caught every time they are so open with their affections.



Completed: 11/5/2023 - Review #373

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I loved this show and hated the ending, but not for the reason you think.

This is pulled from a bit meta analysis post I put on tumblr, I'm usign this as my back up so I'll be covering lots of stuff. Historical context, language stuff, filming techniques, and finally a full review including all my issues with the ending. Here's th equick review first:

I truly loved this time travel romance. IFYLITA is an exquisite BL, from filming techniques to narrative framework (much like Until We Meet Again). Steeped in history and family drama it edges into lakorn (but no as much as To Sir With Love and with way less scenery chewing). This is an elegant and classy BL... from Thailand which normally doesn't even try for classy. The main couple (both as a pair and individuals) were excellent, particularly Bright (Yai) whose eye-work acting style is a personal favorite of mine. Pity about the ending. Oh it wasn’t that sad but it wasn’t good either. This show should easily have earned a 10 from me except that it fumbled the… erm… balls. Argh. Whatever. 9/10

Some Historical Context for I Feel You Linger In The Air - Thailand 1925-1932

I love history and so here's some info that any Thai watcher would likely know, but the rest of us might not... ready?

The Historical Stage:

Burma (now Myanmar) to the west is occupied by the British. The French hold Vietnam to the east. Everyone is bickering over what would become Cambodia & Laos. China occasionally gets involved from the North (also, lots of immigrants from China at this time accounting for a large percentage of the merchant/middle class) Eventually, Japan would invade during WWII. In part, The Kingdom of Siam was kept a "neutral" party because none of the surrounding colonial powers wanted to risk offending any of the other players in the area. Siam re-negotiated sovereignty in 1920 (from USA) and in 1925 (from France & Britain). But during the time of this show (late 1929) it was back to it's customary type-rope balancing act of extreme diplomacy with the allied western colonial powers that surrounded it.

Recognizing that Thailand was never colonized (although it was invaded), it's boarders were constantly nibbled at and it was "ambassador-occupied" off and on by westerners whose military backing and exploitive business concerns simply outmatched the monarchy, especially in the technology department (as well as by reputation on the global stage at the time).

In other words, the farang in this show (James & Robert) were always gonna be both the baddies and the power players of the narrative. (Farang is the Thai word for non-Thai's of European descent, the word means guava.)

The king of Siam at the time (Vajiravudh AKA Rama VI) was initially somewhat popular but also regarded as overly extravagant since Siam had been hit by a major postwar recession in 1919. It should also be noted that King Vajiravudh had no son because he was most likely gay (which at the time did not much concern the Siamese popular opinion, except that it undermined the stability of the monarchy leaving it without an heir).

He "died suddenly" in 1925 (age 44) with the monarchy weakened and succession handed off to his younger brother.

In 1932 a small circle of the rising bourgeoisie (all of whom had studied in Europe, mostly Paris), supported by some military, seized power from the monarchy in a practically nonviolent Siamese Revolution installing a constitutional monarchy. This is mentioned in IFYLITA in the last few episodes but did not (apparently) appear in the original novel.

Siam would then go through:

dictatorship, WWII, Japanese invasion, Allied occupation, democratic elections, military junta, the Indochina wars, communist insurgency, more democracy and popularization movements, multiple coups, more junta, more monarchy,

eventually leading us to the somewhat chaotic insanity of Thai politics we have today. (Which is, frankly, a mix of monarchy, junta, democracy, egocentric popularism, and bribery.)

The Filming of I Fell You Linger in the Air

The director if this show, Tee Bundit (Hidden Agenda, Step by Step, Lovely Writer, TharnType), has never particularly impressed or offended me as a director. I would have called him simply "workmanlike" in execution: not offensive, serviceable.

So much so that I spent some time hunting for info on IFYLITA's cinematographer (who remains uncredited on MDL) because this one, of all Tee pantheon, is ultra stylish. It, frankly, felt too good for him.

Specifically, there is a repeated visual motif in intimacy scenes of either Yai or Jom being filmed from behind a screen/drape/curtain making them seem more translucent, like a ghost or spirit. While the other half of the pair is filmed with sharp clarity. In the first half of the series this is more likely to be Yai (an unknown and mysterious element), as the show progresses, it's more likely to be Jom (the person outside of place and time, destined to vanish all together). This cleverly conveys story, tension, and foreshadow (future shadow?)

Occasionally we shift over so they both become obscured and then clear again.

This stylized version of dirty framing and filters is used to foreshadow and then constantly remind us about that Jom slipped (and is slipping) through time and the disconnect that causes to his sense of reality and purpose, and to his burgeoning relationship.

For example, the scene where Yai is drunk and asleep in his bed. The first time Jom is sitting in a chair drawing him. Yai is blurry behind the screen while Jom is solid and sharp.

This filming technique combined with dirty framing is being used to give the watchers the impression of looking at something we maybe shouldn't, like we are being creepy and intruding on their private time. After all, they can see EACH OTHER clearly, it's only us who have the visual impairment.

This gives us a sense of doom and discomfort and slight sensation that we shouldn't be there. We shouldn't be watching. But ALSO that we too are outside of time, filtered by the future.

In other words his sense of displacement is being used to trigger ours visually.

It's all quite clever.

It's both beautiful and atmospheric and discomforting and touch stressful. Meaning that it is ALSO a visual vehicle to drive narrative tension. As effective as scary music, perhaps more so in this show (since I personally found the musical motifs and refrains somewhat overused.)

Linguistic corner

The word for reflection and shadow is the same in Thai.

Note on the por/phor/phô honorific in Thai

I have not encountered it before in BL. I am indebted to @embraceyourfandom for the following information;

Phô is a paternal honorific, luang phô is used for respected monks. It basically means father. And is oft seen as male honorific for village elders. It's also used as a male prefix in the names of several occupations like:

พ่อครัว phô khrua (khrúa= kitchen -> chef) พ่อค้า phô khá (khá= trade -> merchant) พ่อมด phô mót (mót= person of occult knowledge -> wizard) พ่อบ้าน phô bân (bân =house -> butler) - most relevant

So, Yai's use is probubly foreshadowing that Jom will be a butler for his house, and is primitively referring to him with this title.

All that said, phô can also be used by a "man who is older/higher on hierarchy to refer to a younger/lower on hierarchy man with intimacy and/or affection."

I think all this has to do with Jom's demonstration of education. Yai figured out early on that one of the reasons Jom doesn't belong and cannot fit in with the servants is that he is more educated than a peasant (of this time period), which for Yai adds up to him being originally from a higher status and possibly wealthy family, especially since Jom speaks English and has travelled (he has a non-northern accent).

There is very little Thai middle class at the beginning of the 1920s since trade is being dominated/dictated by the West, or Chinese merchant operations, and Siam is a monarchy. So for a nationalize Thai citizen educated means military, landed gentry with trade operations (like Yai), royal/political/diplomatic connections, or... none of the above. This changes, especially in the south, throughout this decade (as it did in other parts of the world). So there is a rising bourgeoisie going on in the background but it's not that obvious in Chang Mai at this time.

What Jom's educated lack of status means to Yai is that Jom's family either got wiped out or politically disenfranchised possibly as part of the 1912 attempted coups (or even WWI)? This would be mystifying for Yai because Jom doesn't act like he comes from a military family at all. So his background and status is very confusing for Yai, but Yai does know one thing...

Jom is NOT lower class by the standards of Yai's temporal worldview and existence.

For a young man to be educated and yet entirely alone is very dangerous and suspicious. Also, let's be clear, Jom doesn't look or act like a laborer. He red flags "cultured" all over the place.

Yai is paternalistic and caring towards Jom out the gate because Yai has a big ol'crush but also because he recognizes "his own" is trying to survive while isolated and scared.

Yai wants to rescue Jom. Yai is an ineffectual 20 year old gay intellectual. But poor thing sure tries.

Let's Talk About How I Felt About I Feel You Linger in the Air

The historical aspect was great.

I adore historical romances and we almost never get them in BL. I was always gonna be biased towards this show. (As indeed I am towards Nobleman Ryu's Wedding, Tinted with You, and To Sir With Love.) Aside from some classic Thai BL production issues (less than normal, this is very high production value for Thailand) and my issues around the sound track and repetitive repriens (which frankly were more noticeable because I binged the last half) I have no complaints on that score (heh heh).

The surrounding support cast were all quite good and we even got us some lesbians!

The emotional and narrative tensions were excellent.

Any issues I had with pacing came from focus on characters that didn't interest me, but probubly did interest others. I wasn’t wild or particularly interested in the family drama or the side characters/couples, but they were necessary to make this a fully fleshed story with historical context and to give Yai much needed characterization. Also this use of a ensemble cast is very close to Thailand's lakorn heart, even thought this one had way less scenery chewing ludicrous soapy drama (thank heavens).

I was delighted that external threat, stressors, and conflict drove this plot. That's refreshing in BL.

I have no arguments with the chemistry and kisses and sex scenes were tasteful and lovely, occasionally even heart-wrenching, and it's nice to see Thailand especially use physical intimacy to drive plot, and not the other way around.

I love historicals partly because every tiny touch can have such lingering significance, they're very elegant in their chaste physicality. This show didn't need to move into higher heat, but I'm grateful it did because even that was very well done. Thai BLs can often feel clumsy around intimacy, but not this one.

The final sex scene before Jom and Yai separate forever utilizes the ubiquitous director's-favorite-romantic-moments-flashbacks (required of all Asian romance dramas) but with acceleration and tension driven by the noises of sex, which I've never seen/heard done before. In other words: climax of sex = climax of the romance story, I see what you did there, Tee. Clever. Very clever. Bit on the nose… erm… on the… well you know what I mean.

Like all Thai BLs this wasn’t perfect, but for me this is as close as Thai BL gets to high quality romance and that’s what I want the most from my drama watching experience (if not necessarily my Thai BL experience).

But... and you knew the but was coming didn't you?

I absolutely hated the ending.

It wasn't sad, don't worry, but it also wasn't good. SPOILERS HERE ON OUT

There is a long drawn out separations sequence and then Jom returns to the present, drowning from a car accident. Jom is "rescued" by an moustachioed iteration of Yai from the distant past (who we met once before) and then wakes in hospital. Some time later, Jom returns to the house in Chang Mai where Yai turns up and they reunite.
The end.

There is a stinger featuring Jom once more hurled back in time, only further, meeting the warrior mustache Yai once more.

Okay, that's all I knew and all I saw.

Confused? So was I.

If this had been a regular time travel romance: Yai would have been the EMT or doctor attending Jom when he woke up and their "this time period" romance would commence. With either shared memories, or not.

Had this been set up for audience comprehension in line with the original novel, we should have had flashbacks from both Present Yai (he's not the same one, as it turns out) and deep-past Moustache Yai interwoven throughout the series. Preferably with some focus on Present Yai's quest for reunion with Present Jom AND Present Yai's own experience with visions and memory of his past lives.

A full explanation of the ending is here. This explanation of the 3 different Yais makes me like our ending more. But I shouldn't need to read Cliff's notes from some random y-novel reading fan on Tumblr to understand what's going on in a series!

There is supposedly a special happening with Jom + Present Yai.

There was unquestionably a failure in adaptation in the finale of this show.

As a fan and watcher, what I actually felt was deeply confused and hurt.

I also felt that this was a disingenuous un-earned throw away happy ending, since I had no idea who this new Present Yai was and no investment in his character. I simply didn't believe he was the same Yai (Bright is too good an actor, he was clearly a different older personality).

So the fact remains that past Yai, our Yai, the 20 year old boy we grew to understand and love, is abandoned in the past to suffer alone for the rest of his life. And THAT is an unhappy ending for one half of my beloved pair. Yes Jom gets a new Yai in the present day, but it's not the same Yai. They have no developed relationship, and Jom is doomed to leave even this new Yai and slide into the past once more. That's barely even happy for now for Jom's character.

As a result of my deep sadness for 20-year-old Yai in particular, I'm not going to be able to rewatch this show. The whole thing was rendered not just confusing but the opposite of comforting by the final 15 minutes. I'm tempted to dock it two whole points - one for the ending and the other for the lack of rewatch potential.

But the first 11.5 eps were SO GOOD.

This is one of the only times where I am actually hoping for a second season, while simultaneously being wary of the screen writing and production team's capacity to give us a satisfying one.

Industry wise? I honestly don't think we can hope too hard for a full season 2. This was an expensive show with flawed/limited distribution and little sponsorship. I don't see how they'll get funding for a second season. Unless we see this show up on like Netflix or Viki, I urge you not to hope too hard and be disappointed.

In all honestly?

I started typing up this blog post thinking Thailand was finally, after 5 years, going to earn another 10/10 from me but I just can't in good conscious give it that. It's been days and I'm still upset about that last episode.

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WOW

WOW. ALL THE TWISTS AND TURNS IN THIS DRAMA... SO GOOD!~~!!!!!

like the intro to all the black ops members abilities and their backstories... SO CUTE. and how they all overlap.. omfg. and mihyun and her husband flying guy's story GUHHHUHGUIHGI I'm so happy he wasn't dead ACK HES ALIVE..... i just wish I could've seen more of him and his family together cuz its been like what.. 16 years?? less? more??? the last fight scene was CRAZY MAN. and the frank guy????? who can't die????? like what and the ending... omfg .like so excited for a season 2 cuz they better come out with one. i didn't really like the younger couple huisoo and beongseok that much ig they were cute. but OMG the other guy with abilities,,,, I cant remember his name. the class president guy??? BRO IM OVULATING I LOVE HIM HES SO HOT BRO. i cant with him. and also the jang kisoo guy and the vlogger girl. like how kisoo has a crush on the vlogger gir... SO CUTE HEHEHEH omg. this story was so well written . the beginning was bad, but the middle was sooo good. esp when it went to the agency and stuff so good. i don't usua..y like action dramas but this was so amazing. AND MY WOMAN HAN HYOJOO I LOVE HER SOOOOOO MUCH. SO MUCH,.

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