Country Boy 2 (2022)

Another Wayufilm masterpiece

The history of BL series is a history of iconic BL couples – from Off and Gun over Max and Tul, Boun and Prem, Elijah and Kokoy, Ian and Paolo to Ohm and Nanon - names that make BL fans send their ships sailing. For me, Mon and Oak belong in the same category, although they are so different from all the others. They have been playing together in short films and series for more than three years, growing up together as actors and personalities, carefully guided by Director Nicchi. Their movies like ”Key Love”, ”My Friendship”, and of course ”Country Boy” are among the best the genre has to offer. Even a music video (”Just Like That”) proves how talented these two actors are, and that they are a perfect match.

I was sad when Oak announced the end of his acting career in a tearful video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zobLJdV2DHk). Fortunately, fans kept asking director Nicchi to produce a sequel to ”Country Boy”, and luckily two fans, John Piccone and Solipsism5, who actually met here at mydramalist, offered to finance ”Country Boy 2”. Many other fans donated smaller amounts of money, too, and Nicchi succeeded in persuading Oak to return to the screen, which made this movie possible.

The plot is simple. Keptawan, the Country Boy (Oak Puwanart) leaves his homestay, which is his comfort zone, and goes to Chiang Mai for a month as a trainee in his uncle's café. He has problems to adapt to working in the café and to life in the city, he is bullied by his uncle when he keeps making mistakes, and he feels lonely because Nubdao (Mon Hatsawatchon) doesn't have time for him because he is preparing for his final exams.

It takes four weeks until the two boys, who shyly hugged when Nubdao and his friends went to stay at Keptawan's homestay for some days in ”Country Boy”, finally spend a day together, and this time it is Keptawan who helps Nubdao overcome his crisis with the simple truths that a country boy knows. When Keptawan returns home, Nubdao is already waiting for him. The boys confess their love to each other, and their shy kiss (or should I say peck?) feels more emotional than many kisses at the end of 13 episodes of high end series.

A word about the actors. Mon is very experienced in the meantime, and it shows in this movie. Oak feels a little OTT sometimes, but he plays the simple, clumsy, yet somehow wise boy from the countryside very authentically. There are only a few supporting characters: Keptawan's mum, who doesn't come across as grumpy as in the prequel, her brother, the owner of the café, the ”villain” of the movie, and Ju, whose name, which sounds similar to the Thai word for 'dick', is a running gag, are all very natural and contribute to the authenticity of the movie.

I was a little skeptical when it was announced that a major part of the movie would be set in the city, because the landscape around Keptawan's homestay was a beautiful setting for the first episode. But we do get the rural setting again, and the places in Chiang Mai (the café, Nubdao's room, some street scenes) are well selected. Cinematography, sound and OST are very good for a budget production.

I admit I am not objective when I write about a Wayufilm production, and especially a movie starring Oak and Mon. I love those boys, and I appreciate Director Nicchi's work very much, so all in all I can only say that in my opinion, this is another masterpiece that takes you on an emotional journey.

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Sure, it's good... but a 10? YES!

Anyone that has read my other reviews may have noticed that I am not particularly generous with 9s and 10s when it comes to ratings. So why a 10 for this one? I will do my best to explain below. Here are my pros and cons:

PROS:

THE MAIN COUPLE. They are as wholesome and endearing as it gets. Nubdao (Mon) is not only beautiful, but shows a real vulnerability as well. Keptawan (Oak) is the real star here. As the uneducated country boy, he plays the part with what, at first, might come across as over-the-top acting, but it ends up working. You can't help but root for him, he totally sold me on his character.

MESSAGES. This short gay love story conveys some important messages. Keptawan shows us that, despite life's slings and arrows, maintaining a positive attitude can get us through just about anything. His mother is a wonderful role model as a supportive parent of a naive, gay son. And Nubdao shows us that love can strike unannounced, when you least expect it. (One of my favorite moments was when Keptawan found Nubdao waiting in his room, and Keptawan's reaction.)

THEME SONG. Can't get enough of it. Mon sings so nicely.

CONS:

BREVITY. The plot line is just fine, but it would have been nice to know more of the background of the characters. What happened to Keptawan's dad? Why does the uncle harbor such hostility toward the mother? Did Nubdao abandon his career to stay with Keptawan? None of these are dealbreakers for me, but it would have nice to know a bit more.

When I watched the first Country Boy, I thought it was sweet but wasn't quite sold on it -- I think I gave it a 7.0 rating -- mainly because it was hinting at romance but delivered more of a bromance. And, since it seemed like that might be it, I was a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I don't need skinship and make out/sex sessions to enjoy a BL series. But I was a little confused as to what we were supposed to get out of it, other than a cute story. Thankfully, Country Boy 2 changed all that for me.

At the end of the day, I found myself not only anticipating these episodes much more than I have with some other, more high budget (and longer) popular BL series. And I've already rewatched both episodes a few times and will continue to do so. I'd love it if they come up with Country Boy 3. Can't get enough of these two!

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