I Told Sunset About You (2020)

Wow, This Is An Incredible Series -- Seriously Do Not Miss It

Top-level points: This is a wonderful production, and is well worth your time to watch it, and watch it again.

Detailed, committed – one might even say loving – cinematography that makes maximum use of color and natural scenes to produce enchanting images. A soundscape that catches you up and transports you – without your even knowing – into a whirl of emotions. Actors who enjoy wonderful mutual chemistry and craft performances of characters who have a LOT more depth than in most BLs. I am not a teacher, but I think this series is a “how-to” example of how to create a beautiful cinematic work that grabs the audience and moves them deeply.

All of that said, it is not perfect, although I can understand those who say it is. Sure,Teh had many reasons to cry (having sacrificed his future for love and obtained only what he believed to be rejection), but as a plot device the depictions of it were overkill. Billkin’s performances of Teh’s sobbing were I am sure very difficult to do, but sometimes they missed the target – as another reviewer commented there were moments when I wasn’t sure if he was crying or laughing. Just too much angst.

Another imperfection: I stand in awe of the music team’s work and the lovely soundscape they produced for most of the scenes – but they erred in the choices at the end. After the hug on Cape Promthep, the two protagonists have finally finally found each other and declared (in deeds if not in words) their mutual love. It is THE culminating moment of their dramatic arc – but ewwwwwww....the music that plays is a fluffy, airy little version of “Really Special,” in which the “Chai ry blauw” refrain just comes across as totally inappropriate. Fer Chrissakes, these two have just broken lifelong chains of fear and inarticulacy that had previously doomed them to constant mutual incomprehension. They are finally free and can have hope for the future. And this moment deserves more dramatic music than fluffy fluffy “Chai re blauw.” (Yes, I know some of the other lyrics were apt but that doesn’t cut it for me……it was the tune that was in my head as I was watching, and the reaction was NOT positive.)

But in the end, all of these imperfections are small. Taken as a whole, the work is a masterpiece, and the achievement of all those who worked on this masterpiece is very very large. So do watch it yourself – Personally, I think it’s even worth paying for, to see the top-quality HD stream from Vimeo (but I recognize that many people cannot afford the price, until maybe someday it comes down.)

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Now, having said that, I will offer some more detailed comments on various aspects, and on the first episode. Probably more detail than most people want, but if it bores you, feel free to stop reading. There’s too much emotion inside, and it’s therapeutic for me to write it out…….

Cinematography:

After the lousy flat cinematography in so many BL dramas, this one is like a garden blooming in the desert. Those who composed the visuals (Director Boss must have had some pretty good help) love colors, and idealize the natural scenery of Phuket. (All the gritty parts have disappeared from this reality.) And either Boss and Co. love the Sino-Portuguese architecture of the Straits Chinese cities or they just liked it as a convenient backdrop – whatever the reason, they have put together a stirring visual ode to Southeast Asia and it alone moves the hearts of people who, like me, love that region.

Soundscape:

The OST is wonderful wonderful wonderful!! Not only for the main songs which are excellent but for the creative use of the melodies to craft background music that grabs the viewer and pulls them into the emotional maelstrom. Skyline is a fantastic theme, and it is translated many times, with different vocalizations and instrumentalizations. There are several versions of “Skyline” that play during moments when Teh is tongue-tied and helpless because of what he perceives to be his “destiny” preventing him from loving another guy. Watch the scene in Ep 5 where Bas is announcing to their class that he really likes Oh, for the interplay between the “Skyline” piano and the wild, bereft look on Teh’s face……it’s a killer of a scene. (And those who complain about Billkin’s acting need to watch this……he’s fantastic.)

And for the use of vocalization, watch the Ep. 3 scene in the hammock on the beach . As the boys talk, there is just the sound of crickets near the beach. However, from the moment Oh begins his self-revelation, female voices in the background are drawing the viewer in, and creating a musical frame for the emotional moment – but then Teh just cannot bring himself to answer Oh's implicit declaration of love. So Oh says “Okay, whatever makes you comfortable. But I think you're jealous.” Oh’s love, at least, is clear. But Teh just cannot be honest. Then, high and clear, an "a capella" voice with a concert-hall echo sings key lines from Skyline. (Could that be Billkin, singing?) The subtitles don’t translate the lyrics at that point, so many non-Thai viewers may not recognize how poignant they are: "In the end of a love novel, normally, those who have been apart are brought back, so they can see each other again and say "I love you" one more time. But in my reality, our love cannot be like that." The music expresses Teh’s reality, where love cannot be; it has to stay “The love that dare not speak its name.” And the scene changes. Just superb composition, both audio and visual.

Acting:

The cast did an excellent job. The two leads are both so young and still a bit of “raw talent” -- I am just overwhelmed to think of the potential they both have. I hope they can fulfill it. They have such good mutual chemistry, and they have mastered the art of showing through the face what the character is feeling, deep inside. People have criticized Billkin for a “wooden” portrayal of Teh, but that is the whole idea – Teh comes near to being an emotional cripple. A character who has spent his entire adolescence hiding his feelings, he dare not let his emotions be seen, until they well up inside and he cannot stop crying. I think Billkin’s portrayal, which alternates wooden moments with raw emotion, is spot-on. That IS Teh. Even at the end, on Cape Promthep, after having gone through his own living hell with his family, he cannot bring himself to answer Oh’s question “What about you and me?” But Oh, who may yet qualify for sainthood, is willing to accept the silence. All he wants is not to be shut out of Teh’s life. Watch his face during this scene – PP Kritt brings to painful life the vulnerability of the hopelessly-in-love young man. (All I want to do at that moment is hug Oh, and reassure him that he is loved.)

The supporting cast is excellent as well. Nat as Hoon comes across beautifully as the empathetic brother. Bas, played by the very young and VERY talented Khunpol, is possibly the one character who tugs on everyone’s heartstrings in every aspect – he loves, he respects, he sacrifices selflessly. It is a great performance. And Smile as Tarn is convincing with all the conflicting emotions that flow through her. So much stronger than many of the actresses in the BL world. Also, the two kids who played young Teh and young Oh really did an excellent job, too. Bravo performances all around.

Episode 1: (huge spoilers here….really don’t read on unless you’ve already watched)

I have to say a few words about Ep. 1 because on first watching, it left me kinda cold…..like “why all this to-do about the kids?” I really wondered if I should continue watching the series. Frankly, I went on watching just because of the cinematic beauty – the lights and colors and images of SEAsia. I am sooooo glad I continued……

The thing about the first episode is that the viewer doesn't know what to watch for. It seems a bit disorganized with these scenes from the past life of the boys Teh and Oh, and then Teh doing some sort of university acting test and it kinda jumps around. (That non-linear storytelling is not a feature of later episodes.)

But omigod, now that I've been through the whole story and have gone back and rewatched ep 1 I would say it is a masterpiece. The cinematography -- use of colors, framing of shots, beautiful use of Phuket scenery (which only gets better as the series goes on)......it's all fantastic. And then the performances......wow. I was not a big fan of Teh -- in fact they both had asshole tendencies displayed in ep. 1. Only on re-watch can you really see Billkin's superb capture of the internal struggle that already had Teh locked into an emotional prison, and how that plays out on Billkin's face. If you don't know what you're looking at, that is so easy to miss.....

Note that the scene where Teh dedicates his audition performance to Oh, with tears brimming in his eyes -- that scene actually came several weeks BEFORE they "buried the hatchet" and became friends again. What that says: for five long years Teh kept Oh in his heart, so strongly that it came bubbling out in his university auditions when he thought of Oh. He WANTED to make up and be friends, but "couldn't push send." And then, a few weeks later, when the reconciliation finally happens, and The has cried for Oh, in front of the audition panel, Teh still cannot bring himself to tell Oh how important he is. When Oh says "we can be friends but maybe not best friends" look at Teh's face!!!!! He is crippled by fear. Five long years, and he can't bring himself to say "but I missed you so much." Instead he says "yeah sure, whatever you want." Pushing the love down.....hiding it inside.

But then immediately he begins the series of good works to try to help Oh. He cannot bring himself to tell Oh he likes him that much, but he starts helping him.....over and over again. Works of love that neither of them recognize -- oh, but on rewatch we recognize them. Instantly you realize how completely relatable Teh really is. And it culminates much later, with the cut-up workbook that Teh cannot use to get his own life back on track, because he cut it to pieces to try to help Oh. Teh was not the only one crying, at that point……

Rewatching Ep 1 will make that all now crystal clear.....Now it all becomes obvious; you know what is coming -- the hurt that Teh's fear and self-suppression will do later, to almost everyone -- Oh, Bas, Tarn, his mother and of course Teh himself whose life is derailed and who is nearly broken by it -- all that pain begins squarely in Ep1. Far more are the tears I shed on rewatch, knowing what is to come.

Fortunately (skipping forward to the end of the series), Hoon has helped Teh cross his own Rubicon……and he is able to declare himself to Oh. There is hope. Teh finally realizes that destiny does not bind him to be a slave to fear. (In the lyrics from an old Stephen Stills song “We are not helpless; we are men. What lies between us, can be set aside and ended.” )

The creative team is going to have to find another theme song (or some new lyrics for “Skyline.”) Or at least I hope so……if the second season smashes that hope…….it will kill me too.

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Maybe ke yi will be our always

Once again, I decided to watch a drama for the hype, and this time I was not disappointed. I hardly cry with TV shows but this one made me catch the feels a few times. There was just so much rawness.

Story:
Most dramas about the mundane world tend to bore me because I like a healthy sense of escapism. However, this drama had my attention from the very start. I love childhood friendships, and I love when friends stick through thick and thin with each other. That's why I was absolutely torn when Teh and Oh Aew had so many ups and downs, being friends in one moment and then resenting each other in the next. Teh is imperfect - he has seemingly many flaws but he also has a good heart. Honestly, I related to Teh on so many levels because of this. I could understand the reasoning behind his jealousy, regret, fear, desperation, and sacrifice. Friendships are difficult to navigate with such emotions, especially as a teenager. However, I can also understand people's reasoning for being upset with him. All of this negativity festering within made him hurt everyone around him. He made Oh Aew miserable because of his inability to be honest with himself. There are just so many implications as to why Teh acted the way he did. Regardless, friendship was a huge takeaway from the series for me. I loved all the playfulness and little jokes between Teh and Oh Aew, and their relationship with the other boys was pretty admirable as well.

Now for the romance part, it was very suspenseful. They turned something so innocent from their childhood like back scratching into something very different. I felt embarrassed to watch some of the scenes they had together because of how raw they felt, and they didn't even do anything too bad. But seriously, the change in their relationship was so slow and subtle that it makes you sit on the edge of your seat. Probably the most disappointing part to the development of their romance was their treatment toward their secondary love interests. Both Tarn and Bas were angels to Teh and Oh Aew, comforting them despite being rejected. I sympathized with Tarn so much because it hurts to have someone pull away from you and not give you any clear reason as to why. These two characters honestly made me question why Teh and Oh Aew got together in the end.

As an aside, I loved the incorporation of Chinese culture into the drama. It was hilarious to see the boys watch a cheesy historical Chinese drama and emulate the sword fighting and play. The cultural element really helped to suck me into the drama.

I don't have any other critiques for the story other than the fact that episode 4 was not on par with the first three. The melodrama was amped up, and this was the episode where a lot of the petty stuff happened.

Acting/Cast:
The acting is excellent. I very much believed that these characters were actual people. I was heavily invested in Teh and Oh Aew's friendship while it lasted. There was a lot of ugly crying, something that is extremely rare for dramas where the actors are meant to look perfect at all times. I was unsure of PP's acting at first, but I quickly grew to like him in his role as Oh Aew. His expressions were everything to me and he was very gentle.

Music:
The OST is everything. It added so much to every and wasn't too overt at any point. I enjoyed the music box version of "Skyline" a lot, andI'm honestly just weak for historical OSTs. The ballad/Billkin's love song was lovely. The composition of the song just really sets the mood. I really hope they release the whole soundtrack (including the instrumentals) on spotify.

Overall:
The director, screenwriters, cast, and crew did not come to play with this one. They brought it all. This series just felt so magical yet real at the same time.

Ke yi ma? Ke yi.

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A Cinematic Masterpiece!

This review will not be able to truly emphasize how amazing this series is because you have to experience it yourself to fully grasp the majesty that is ITSAY but I will try. It encompasses raw emotions, youth, yearning and learning about oneself like no other show I've watched this year. I wouldn't even consider it a BL to me it's a beautiful coming of age and love story. BKPP at their best! superb acting, they made you feel those emotions coupled with one of the best OST Billkins beautiful voice and PPs soft tender voice. All the writers for the story should feel proud with this amazing story they created P'Boss, P'Goy P'Naron P'Karakade! P'Boss is a genius director you wouldn't have what itsay is if it wasn't for his directing. Cinematography made it feel like a movie and not a series the way they use the lighting and environment of Phuket allowed for beautiful scenes that enhanced the experience. When people started commenting that it was one of the best bls ever I didn't want to watch it. I didn't want anything knocking down my number one (Tharntype) so I held off, I was hesitant, in my mind I was saying "nothing can replace Tharntype" then I watched it... sorry Tharntype you are no match, no bl is a match for this series, now don't get me wrong I still love Tharntype, and I consider it at the top of my list, but itsay shattered my preconceptions of what a bl series should be altogether. It is what it is a Cinematic Masterpiece. Go watch it!

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11/10

I'll try to keep this short as much as I can.

This is def one of the best Dramas of all time, and I'm not just talking about BL or Asian. I MEANT ALL DRAMAS I'VE EVER WATCHED.

What makes this show a 11/10 for me:

- FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE SEXUAL TENSION OF TEH AND OH. MYGAAAADD I CANT WITH THESE TWOOOO
- Killer chemistry between the main leads as Best Friends, rivals, and lovers. They're obviously soulmates!!
- How they portrayed their role. All those crying scenes. They didnt give a damn how ugly they looked or if their salivas are dripping or they have a runny nose everytime they cry. Such talented actors. They're still young but you'd be amazed by how they project themselves on screen. KUDOS GUYS!
- Cinematography and Videography. Camera movement is perfection may it be in a running or steady scene.
- All those scenes where the camera didn't change angles just goes to show how talented the actors are having embraced their characters' persona and memorized their lines perfectly and characters by heart.
- OST. I'M FREAKING INLOVE WITH ALL VERSIONS OF IT both in Thai and Chinese. And the mainleads sang each their versions tooo. Super talented.
- Storyline. The conflict and goal may seem simple, but the journey is really unpredictable and it touches your heart and you can relate to some of the characters in so many ways.
- Script. The timing of what was said, how it was said, when it was said, and why it was said, FREAKING BRILLIANT!!
- There were a lot of scenes where no words were spoken and the camera is just focused on the expressions of their faces yet you would be missing a lot if you dont get to see those. The more they dont say anything, the more you get what they're feeling
- Beautiful places and streets in Thailand.
- Incorporation of the Chinese language.
- Very sensible and realistic. Sensible in a sense where they didn't went with the stereotypical bl stories by destroying the image of each other main lead's liked person at first. Their roles are significant to the mainlead's charactee development.
- Hoon. Teh's brother. I'd want to have a brother who listens and gives advices like him.
- Bas. He's soooooo cuuuuteeee
- Teh and Oh's cute teases of each other.
- The title 'I Told Sunset About You' is so powerful, whoever chose it, I'd consider a genius.
- The series is not that long to watch too.

Oops sorry I know I said to keep it short. I got carried away while writing the review. What can I sayn I just love everything about ITSAY.

Definitely highly recommended!!!!

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OMG

This is one of the best series I've watched all 2020 and I fan girl screamed so damn hard! It definitely deserves all the love it's received. It's an emotional roller coaster but instead of feeling sad, I mostly felt anxiety. SO MANY times you're going to be tricked and wanna scream "WTF?!" But it's an amazing story none the less. The boys have great chemistry with each other which makes the story so much more convincing. It was nice to seem some new faces and this lead role will definitely put them in the spot light in the future. The name seems weird... until the very end, it'll all make sense (I love stuff like that). Now the wait for S2 begins...

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I TOLD EVERYONE ABOUT THIS DRAMA

This is a real masterpiece. There was not a single thing I hated about this drama. The story was so down to earth and it has the ability to really take all your attention. The characters are fairly realistic and you will catch yourself getting so invest in their "life" that you will be able to resonate with them or at the least understand them. Not only you will like the main leads, but you will also fall for the side characters. The cinematography was amazing, the music was well chosen and the dialogues felt really natural. If unseeying something was possible, you would totally unsee this drama just so you could experience watching it once again for the first time.

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A piece of art

I am speechless, I'm not trying to over-glorify it. I have watched tonnes of BL dramas and this series by far is the most exquisite. I found myself trying to give any of the rating less than perfection but I just couldn't, I would deem myself a liar if I did that. There were times that I had to pause the video while watching sinceI felt like sobbing. The cinematography is immaculate and beautiful, the colouring is so calming. Top notch acting, especially the two main characters, they made the whole thing so beautiful. I would say that the lines were minimal in this series but they never ran out of conversations. All the actors communicate with their facial expressions, body language, and their eyes pretty amazingly. The story flows like water, it was really like watching a piece of art coming together before your eyes. This series is a masterpiece, created by all the people involved in the making of the series. It was such a privilege to be able to witness it.

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This is gonna make you cry!

This is one of the best romances I have ever seen... I generally binge on a lot of dramas just for the pretty faces and the good feels... but this was not one of them. The 'teen' in their teenage was so glaringly obvious and makes you want to hold all of them and give a good hug! The actors were so in character, every single one of them. I didn't connect with all the crying in the first episode.. but it made me curious for the rest..and boy was I glad I continued!!!
Reasons why I LOVED this drama enough to write a review for the first time ever:
The chemistry felt real.
There were no unnecessary toxic and mean characters.
The struggle felt real. The story was believable.
Did I tell you that their chemistry was off the charts??
It portrays the teenage mood swings and confusions perfectly!
Some of it felt gross but in a way that we are all gross and stupid and disgusting and weird during our teenage, at least I
was... so it made things more real than glossing over and prettied up.
While rarely the music felt a bit off, it was ON POINT every other time, making the scene even more perfect.
There were no useless scenes giving explanations and spelling out things. Every shot was necessary and added to the story instead of dragging it. The details of the purple and red hibiscus and the words they write... every single thing was given thought and reason.
This is a true slice of life drama, the kind I like.

Weirdly the person I connected most to was Tarn in the last episode... though I didn't like her till then.

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Likely the best BL series for 2020

I didn't have high expectations going into this series. In fact, I didnt have any expectations at all.

The surprise that came following the first episode and then on was pleasant. There aren't enough words I could use to describe how good of a series this was. The two main actors are absolutely amazing. Their ability to show pain, love, and longing is something I havent seen in a while - the last being in History 2: Boundary Crossing. The chemistry between the mains was also incredible good.

The best moments were the silent ones, where it told a story louder than spoken words could. What an absolutely fantastic series. Can't wait for the continuation of this storyline.

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Gorgeous, Sincere, and Compassionate

I'd heard people calling this show a masterpiece and thought "Right, sure, whatever." And then, of course, I actually saw it.

This show is incredibly compassionate and detailed - perhaps more so than any queer movie or television show ever aired. Rather than attempting to placate viewers with BL tropes, this show steps into a queer mindset and asks "How would it really happen?" and "What are the real internal obstacles to this love?" There's never an attempt to insert artificial drama. No evil exes, no random tragedies, no one-dimensional homophobic bullies. Teh and Oh are multi-faceted characters with dreams of their own, trying to figure out what is going on between them, because it isn't clear - as it often isn't in real life. Is this friendship? Is this love? How do they know? With no role models, no representation, Teh and Oh are left on their own trying to figure what is happening between them and many of the side characters are eventually brought into the crossfires. At times, everyone behaves poorly, and it is abundantly clear from the acting of the cast that each actor portrays their character as if they themselves are the main character.

As for the story: there are scenes here that are so lovingly and sensitively portrayed that you can't help watch them over and over again. There's also a concerted effort to show, not tell - red hibiscus vs purple hibiscus, the smell of coconut shampoo, the evolution of the back massage. Each character has a rich psychological framework they are operating out of, and the show displays their inner life with an enormous amount of non-verbal scenes. At times, I think there's almost too much detail in the stares for the average person, but I'm not sure how much of a cultural background features into eye contact. Do Thai people stare at each other that much and that long? I mean, maybe right? As an American, I can't exactly say. The story comes across as very Thai, as well, and at times Americans (and maybe other non-Thai folk?) may struggle to figure out exactly what's happening, given the inclusion of a myriad of Thai customs not always explained to the non-Thai perspective. Some people might complain that the story moves too slowly - but I would argue that it goes at an extremely believable pace, even slightly too quickly. For instance, some of the necessary backbone of Teh and Oh's relationship is glossed over as the story moves into their romance. People eager for their romantic interactions might not mind, and PP Krit and Billkin certainly have great chemistry. But on the most technical level, I think we needed to see more of what Teh and Oh like about each other as people. They're certainly playful and they understand each other extremely well; they also share a passion for acting. But I don't think it's ever made clear why exactly Teh is so in love with Oh. To be fair, Thai BL rarely explain the logic behind the passion, and teenagers in general tend to be less logical about these sorts of things, but a little more logic might have given the show a more mature perspective. Towards the end, there's maybe one or two scenes (I'm thinking specifically the Chinese New Year scene) that feel like they're milking the emotions more than necessary - I'd argue we could have done without Teh and the song and just had a red hibiscus make its appearance to be effective. But other than that, there really is so much stunning writing and deeply honest conflict that makes the story feel unique, believable, and genuine in its attempt to explore the lows and highs of the characters.

The acting: I mean, it is definitely good - and in part due to the director. The director has such a strong sense of the smallness of looks and touches. It's all very subtle, but very detailed. Again, all actors give their characters complex and specific interior lives. The chemistry is also really lovely between Billkin and PP. And of course, the actors who play Tarn and Hoon are just wonderful.

The music: absolutely stunning. All of it. Sensitive and - as I think I saw another review put it - wise. And there's such a tenderness and compassion in the music; you can tell that the composer really loves these characters and so hopes they find happiness. There's also a lot of emotional complexity to the music which greatly aids scenes that are extremely subtle. You will more than likely be humming a few of these songs when the show is over.

The cinematography: also, absolutely stunning. Careful, lavish, meticulously thought-out, very high production. This is a project that people really, truly cared about, and it shows on every level.

Rewatch value: I NEVER rewatch BL dramas, but I've watched nearly ever scene about three or four times now. Again, every scene is so complex - there is so much hidden symbolism and psychological warfare - that you won't be able to pick up on everything the first time around. But as you rewatch, things just become clearer and richer. And there is SO much to talk about. I Told Sunset About You investigates queer love with an honesty unparalleled at this point and there are scenes and conflicts wholly accurate to the queer experience that have never been displayed before. I Told Sunset About You never tries (or almost never tries) to make the experience melodramatic - it is sincerely invested in helping you see how difficult - and how beautiful - queer love truly is.

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