The Sign (2023)

This is The Sign: TO WATCH

2023 and 2024 have shown to be such swoon-worthy years of LGBTQ+ Dramas from South East Asia. Episode by episode, series by series, they leave me baffled. Especially "The Sign" has been playing a big role in this immensely well-written and successful plotting.

Sometimes I’ve been just sitting there, pausing the drama and contemplating about my life and how a series can fuse all aspects and tropes I’d love to see displayed. I know that there are generally a lot of different and individual affinities, but this series has BLOWN MY MIND.

I am fond of this show, however, the trigger warnings are too soft. "The Sign" has brutal elements, therefore it should not be watched carelessly and it should also be less accessible for underage humans.

STORY/ PLOT 9.5:
The story has started strong but didn’t give away what this series by IdolFactory would be about just that easily. The portrayed story is a well-fused mixture of action, suspense, fantasy (mythology, paranormal activity) and, of course, a very gentle kiss of romance.

ACTING / CAST 9.0
We’ve come such a long way in micro-acting that I have hardly anything or anyone to criticize fiercely. I would say at most, it would be some of the supporting cast, some "over-expressive" ‘antagonists’ and Tack’s comic relief character Khem. But that’s just something that I thought of after a while, and over-expression is also a nice tool to carry the plot.

I was so invested in the story that my nerves were on a string, many characters came alive and their behaviour started to enlighten and annoy me. As a viewer, you often have a better insight into what’s happening, so it’s so nerve-wracking when characters seem to be so ignorant and oblivious to it. I mainly had my issues with Tharn when it came to the described obliviousness. EDIT: Everyone, not just Tharn, E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E ...

My all-time favourite cinematographic scene is the transition of Tharn´s grandmother in episode 11. That was next-level pleasing to the eye of a drama-obsessed viewer. I could argue that this is one of the most terrifically beautiful implementations of breathtaking cinematography I have seen in this genre for a long time.

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The benchmark for Thai BL dramas

Without any doubt, this is the best Thai BL drama ever made. The cast is fantastic and play against each other wonderfully. There is such chemistry among all of the principals, not just the leads, where the chemistry is almost palpable. The concept is ground breaking: the elements of love, crime, mythology, religion, family and mystery work together like a fine tuned watch! Idol Factory did us all a favor by taking on such a difficult project.

The nuts and bolts of the production are top notch, from the music, to the costumes, to the cinematography, to the special effects, to the scenery. Add that the already mentioned support cast's smooth performances and you have a really great series. Where the casting hits a home run is with the leads. WOW. Babe and Billy.....what a combination! They didn't just entertain us, they drew us into their world. I hope that there is another series waiting for them and us. And soon.

Was this a perfect series? No, of course not. There have been complaints with the pacing sometimes and so called "plot holes", but you have that in any series. I consider them at best minor distractions. My one disappointment was in the ending. It could have been done better. To me it looks rushed and cobbled together. However, that does not diminish the overall quality of the series.

Will I watch it again? Yes. But as much as that, I'd like to see the Inspector round up this crew and solve another crime. Perhaps this could be an ongoing crime/mysticism series. Saddle up Phaya and Tharn and the rest of this police squad and let them make the world safe for all of us.

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A brand new genre

This bl has become one of my top 3 with triage and manner of death, it had everything from storyline to amazing acting which you dont see often in thai bl, no cringing ass sh**t, the mystery and the comedy blend well. However i think the cases were that intriguing for me i gad no interest in them except the first case, i was more invested in our main couple and i think we didn't get enough interaction from them, they were always getting interuppted, i hated the editing it wasnt that bad but my god! they would cut off at the most crucial and emotional part and the audience were left hanging. Other than that billybabe killed it, cant wait to see them in another genre, this time lets focus in one genre and let the editing be good.

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I'm hooked and I want more!

Wow, I've never watched a BL like this one and I loved the plot so much!!!

I mean, I get to enjoy the best of both world: the investigation of crime in real life and the investigation of past lives in dream life. Not to mention how it involves, dragon element, which is not commonly seen in BL.

Omg, this is like SO good that I'm so grateful that this is produced and I want more BL like this please!

It has such a refreshing plot, especially if you've watched so many BLs like me, there are just too many repetitive plot that you'll find this one a gem!

I love the story, the CGI and the flashbacks in last episode is best flashback in century! The timing that they paused the scene, and introduce flashback with the right music, it hits home!

It really keeps me on the edge- I am SO thrilled by it. Plus, the NCs are really romantic and sensual- I love it (and want more lol)

Overall, it's really enjoyable. If you find episode 1 hard to get by, you can skip bits of it, and once you get to a point where they start talking about the dragon, boy, you can't stop watching!!!

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I would Strongly recommend this Bl to anyone ????

As a long-time fan of Thai dramas, I was excited to watch “The Sigh.” Right from the beginning, I was captivated by the main characters, Tharn and Phaya. Tharn, portrayed by Babe Tanatat Phanviriyakool, has always had premonitions about people, sensing their good and bad qualities. His abilities make him a valuable asset to a team of special investigators. Tharn’s bright and cheerful personality drew me in immediately. I felt a connection to him, even though our circumstances were worlds apart.

Phaya, played by Billy Patchanon Ounsa-ard, is Tharn’s partner in the special investigation team. He is clever and charming, and his chemistry with Tharn is undeniable. Their partnership starts off focused on solving cases, but as the series progresses, it becomes clear that there’s something more between them. Their romance is a key aspect of the series, adding an extra layer of depth to the story.

Throughout the series, Tharn and Phaya face many challenges, both in their personal lives and in their investigations. But their love for each other never wavers. It’s clear that they make each other stronger, and their romance adds an extra layer of depth to the story.

Overall, “The Sigh” is a fantastic Thai series that I highly recommend. The supernatural elements combined with the engaging mystery plot make for an exciting watch. The characters, especially Tharn and Phaya, are well-developed and likable, and their romantic relationship is a highlight of the series. Whether you’re a fan of Thai dramas or just looking for something new to watch, “The Sigh” is definitely worth checking out!

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a solid 9.5

Bravo Saint!!
Overall this was every well done. I do have a couple of things that annoyed me though. They had the
Tharn character explain why he was brought back and I guess explained it well enough but they didn't show it. I think that the viewers needed to see that even if they watered it down. I think having him just pop up while
Phaya was out walking was a let down. The way his grandma suffered because she thought that he was lost forever and they didn't show them reuniting was also a let down. I could've done without the part of the story about what happened to his parents as well. I personally would've liked it if they had some other story for that part of the show but I could live with it I guess. I loved seeing Saint at the end of the final ep. They got everyone wondering in a wtf moment as to what that was all about. I'd say its a 9.5 just because we didn't get to see Tharn make Chalothon understand finally what all he has done.

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Emotional and thrilling story

Deep down in my heart, it's a 10/10 but because of some details and some parts which are making me roll my eyes and it also got in my nerves, it's a 9,5 but still a great serie. Worth the watch and I personally love everything they managed to show us such as the cultural references and some investigations (people didn't really like actions scenes but I love it). It was not boring for me, it was entertaining from the beginning to the end. But also the romance between the two main leads.

As I'm a Buddhist (yeah I know I don't like to share about religion and on) but I would say, I can relate to it more and I'm enjoying so much with the belief, the past life and the legend of Naga and Garuda.

The production of this show sets the bar high, it has some really beautiful scenes but I didn't really like the pixels and I didn't mean to see everything, it just that if they have to pixelize then, they could use another angle and it still could turn well!
I was a bit annoyed, mainly because some scenes were interesting but they cut it quickly (then maybe it's an editing problem).

But overall, I really appreciate this show and it's the rare one I watched several times lol
Thanks to this, I really love the acting of Billy Patchanon and also Heng Asavarid (he's a great villain, I love to hate him so much as Doctor Chalothorn!! Really he was the high light of this show, he was annoying yet entertaining and got me goosebumps).
I also like the rest of the actors / characters but for me Dr Chalothorn is the high light lol

The final episode was great but at the same it has flaws and there's a part in which I felt it was recap or a fanmade video so I mean, It was not that necessary, they could use this time to add some extra interesting scenes to develop the story (but I would say I didn't mind it but it just, it took "more" time than I thought. )

Lastly, I love that intro song and the rest are cute and nice to listen.

I would rewatch it despite some flaws but I want to say it's still a pefect serie since I really enjoy it.

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The first BL that touched on an Epic plot theme and did so successfully!!

Over all a solid show with a solid closing. How a show ends can make a lot of difference and The Sign managed to bring it home nicely and on a 'happy ending' note, albeit a little rushed, it was still satisfying. So,

THE GOOD:

- The action scenes in all episodes were enjoyable.
- The same can be said for their intimate scenes, especially the final one in ep 12. I enjoyed the soft intimacy of it the most, the talking, touching and closeness was ? Many BL shows underestimate how much weight non-sexual intimacy and simple kissing carries but the The Sign really served in that department many times. We got plenty of non-sexual intimacy in this show, which was really awesome. That said, their sexual scenes (and the actors chemistry) was on point too. They rate third for me in BL actor male lead chemistry after watching this series.
- All of the cast really did a fantastic job acting.
- The portrayal of them being cops in physical fitness, fight scenes and weapons handling was very well done, I really enjoyed that aspect this show!
- I was also fine with the CGI, I'm not overly picky about that. I don't much care about how good/bad CGI is as long as it's passable, it's more about a story for me. CGI passed muster though, by a good margin.
- I like the mythical Thai culture story in The Sign, my first time learning more about the whole Naga origin thing (outside of fanfiction), and it was quite enjoyable.
- I loved how fluid Tharn (Babe) moved in the deep water scenes! I felt like he really gave water-being vibes! I'm not sure if it was edited that way, or if Babe is just a good swimmer, but it was really well done.

Nothing bad in this, so I'll say -
THE WEAK POINTS:

- Well we all know that the police work was often abysmal in this ?
- I am a bit disappointed we didn't get a bigger final fight scene between Phaya and Chalothon in the final, just a bit of a struggle, but it was still a great scene, quite intense, emotional and meaningful.
- On the topic of this being Babe's first role, he really did a great job. However I will say, that while Babe really nailed his heavy emotional/crying scenes, I do think he could improve a bit in the verbally and visually expressed anger/affection/shock area. In some instances when he was angry or shocked or affectionate, I found it was a little lacking, but not in anyway that badly affected Tharn's character. Perhaps because Tharn's character was meant to come across as quite level headed and a bit reserved, so it wasn't overly noticeable.
- Billy's facial hair shadow is ep 12 just did not work ya'll, his face kinda looked dirty ?
- Dujdao. I'm still not sure what the purpose or dead-like portrayal of this character was intended to represent.
- The final 2 eps did feel a little rushed.

There are no ugly points in this show, so next is,
THE HIGHLIGHTS:
- YAI/GAP!!! I was both attracted and experiencing body envy when looking at him.
- Billy's acting. My first time seeing him and I think he emotes very well honestly, across the board of emotions.
- The fight scenes! Super power/video game-esque and visually appealing!

There are unanswered questions and open ends, but HOPEFULLY that means we'll get a S02 and since all the main history and character intros are largely out of the way, we might get a more fleshed out story on the main characters, and even some insight into the history of Garuda Sakuna and Wansarat. I could easily go for more fight/action scenes tbh. That would be fun! I also wouldn't mind seeing more about Yai and Sand, I mean, we got Khem and Thongthai's backstory, now I'd like Yai and Sand's getting together story and more scenes with them. Their reunion scene in ep 12 was ? I would love to see more.

All said, I have no regrets about watching this, I would absolutely rewatch it in future and would definitely recc it IF someone is into action themes and supernatural plots! The Sign has met the latest BL standard (for me), which was set by IFYLITA last year.

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Boring crime & fantasy mash up

Huh?!?!? What the hell was that ending? Did they suddenly run out of money and took a shortcut? It feels like about half an hour is missing there.....

The series was not as good as the first episodes promised it to be. The story of Tharn and Phaya, the latest reincarnation of legendary divine star crossed lovers, suggested a lot of drama and the added police subplot let us hope for some interesting action. But, after the first four episodes, the writers apparently did not know what to do with the excellent idea and everything went belly flop.
While the fantasy part of the drama, was gripping, the police part was ridiculous. As I was watching, I started writing down all the silly things they did as so-called special police force but after I filled out two pages, I decided to stop! I just wanted to ask the cast and the crew why they did not at least watch a few episodes of CSI in order to understand the police work. the level of stupidity is mind-boggling. And unfortunately, it even rubbed on the good i.e. fantasy part of the drama with main characters (Tharn) behaving more and more idiotic as the story progressed.

Good parts:
- training camp and lots of naked hot bodies (i am shallow, sue me!)
- action scenes choreography
- special effects were excellent
- Naga festival and the whole Naga & Garuda legend
- side gl story
- grandmothers (why are there so many cool grans in thai bls?)
- moping Phayu styling
- subs describing music were very creative: exciting sound, lovely sound, romantic sound, thrilling sound etc. etc.
- friends group
- skinship (the guys are obviously very much at ease with each other)

Awful parts:
- policework
- Tharn losing braincells as the plot progressed with his reactions getting dumb and dumber
- the ending (Tharn spent a couple of months talking to the bad guy who had been holding grudge for an eternity and everything is forgiven?!?!? You must be kidding me?) and the writing in general

What an utter disappointment! This should have stayed on my dropped list but I did not have anything else to watch so....
The actors were all excellent though the actor playing Phayu has a forgettable face, so much so it took me three episodes before I managed to recognize him in a scene with others. The writing was terrible. Cinematography and special effects were stunning. The episodes vary in length from 45 to 90min. Most of the later episodes I spent playing games and barely watching especially crime investigation scenes.

This drama had a promising premise but the execution is lacking and the mixture of fantasy and crime drama does not really work.

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One of the best BL series of 2023-2024! RECOMMENDED 10 OF 10

I have watched countless BLs and I drop what I want to drop because of lousy story or lousy chemistry and acting from the actors. This is also the first time I am writing my PERSONAL OPINION regarding a series because I want you, whoever you are reading this, to really invest time in watching THE SIGN?

Let's divide this review to parts, according to: STORY, CASTS' CHEMISTRY AND ACTING, SFX.

1. STORY
10 out of 10
Having been able to follow The Sign since the airing of Episode 1, I must say that the story started strong and ended strong.
It is not unusual for a series that has many storylines to easily mess up and get confusing but The Sign proved to be different. Watching this series, you get to experience excitement, angst, love, and everything that has made this series beautiful. It is notable that they have incorporated a Thai tale which the viewers get to learn a little about Thai culture. I must say that the directors and producer have achieved their goal for this series.

2. CASTS
10 out of 10
The casts chemistry is everything! From the main characters to the supporting roles, the acting which really pulls you into different kinds of emotions. You cry when they cry, you blush in their love scenes. It's very hard to tell that some characters have little to no experience in acting at all, especially Babe who plays Tharn. I just knew that he was a newbie in acting when I reached halfway the series. As for Billy, I have watched SCOY so I know he can really act and have great chemistry with his onscreen partners, but THIS ONE just HITS DIFFERENT? Kudos as well to Gap, who plays Yai (he played it so well), Tack and Poom, who i wished had more screentime, Heng that got me imagining of slapping his character senseless coz he played the villain so well and Surprise as well?

3. SFX
10 out of 10
I remember when Saint (producer) said he has to spend millions for the SFX and it did not fail, it DELIVERED!

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