Affair (2024)

Unpopular Opinion

Okay unpopular opinion here- but I’m not too big a fan of this series.

First off- I want to acknowledge that the cast is excellent- their acting is brilliant, and the production value, music etc everything is really good. That’s why I had such high hopes.

Unfortunately my experience is not too good- primary reason being the storyline. The plot feels just way too twisted. But more than that- Pleng’s character bothers me. Again I don’t think it’s on the actress- rather the story or the screenplay. The whole burden, effort, personality and action all exist in Wan’s character- and Pleng is just someone ‘along for the ride’ She doesn’t seem devastated when leaving Pleng- in fact she comes across as a very self- absorbed and afraid- a character lacking any opinions or motivations. She is also quite horrible to Wan many times- who is obviously head over heels from the get.

I don’t know how different the novel is- I will read it soon- but Pleng’s character just put me off from the show. It feels like a one-sided love story to me.

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A Waste of Good Talent

The ending was a thudding disappointment, an enormous waste of the palpable chemistry between the leads, but I'm so glad we got to see the male lead's feelings being soothed, because that's what's really important. Nevermind he's a voyeuristic stalker who broke into someone's home, whipped out a gun, and threatened to kill two people, the script helpfully points out that he's blameless because the women drove him to it. We even get to see him presented as a hero based on a single moment of emotional clarity. This is capped with a teaser happy beginning for his potential new BL - because a man IS the most important character in a GL drama.

As long as men provide the funding for these shows, they will center men and a man's POV. That needs to change; but there is no excuse in any universe for a woman to write a GL script that panders so explicitly to exalt the male view at the cost of the integrity of the female characters. I'm talking to you, Ticha Aphaiwongs.

We got to hear a couple of truly [un]original period jokes. Because period jokes are so funny. In fact, there are so many yuk-yuk "she must be on her period" lines in Chao Planoy dramas that it seems that single misogynistic theme is the entire range of her "humor." At least we weren't subjected to fart jokes, so there's that.

Overall, the production delivered seven episodes of a well paced drama and one final episode of a hashed up kettle of hot mess that focused more on the tender feelings of side characters than the unfinished business between the leads.

SOUNDTRACK
I'm not sure one lovely, but thoroughly overplayed, song counts as a soundtrack. Nice song, though.

This issue may be relevant only for non Thai speakers, but the lyrics to the theme song weren't included in the alternate language subtitles, which was a shame because the song lyrics reveal more in 3 minutes about Pleng's seeming reticence to overtly commit to Wan than the script does in eight full episodes.

If you're interested, you may be able to find an English translation online. I ran across a Spanish version that I could understand (thanks to Señorita P, my high school language teacher). It was very enlightening of Pleng's character.

REWATCH VALUE
Episode 6, yeah; the rest of it, meh.

STORY / ACTING
I rated the story 5 and the acting 8. The premise, with its tropes of rich girl/poor girl, unrequited love, lesbian panic response, lovers separated through misunderstanding, had tremendous promise. As clunkily written (or perhaps translated, since I didn't read it in the original Thai) as the book was, it did much better with character development and conflict than the TV series. That said, both book and series had some profoundly stupid elements, so go into this with the full knowledge that you may occasionally want to throw a shoe at the screen.

This review focuses more on the final episode than the entire series, because the final episode was a disservice to the series, on the whole.

Starting out in episode 8, Pleng acknowledges she hasn't considered Wan's feelings and promises to do better, then promptly does worse. Even Pleng's reaction to perceived competition for Wan's affection was based on Pleng's feelings, not concern for Wan. Pleng showed more real concern for Wan's happiness when she ran away as a teenager than she did in the alleged happy ending finale.

If this series depicted a real relationship, I would be screaming for Wan to run fast and run far - a lifetime of being the one who loves most, gives more, wants more will be miserable. Pleng's adamant resistance to emotional and physical intimacy, even after the lovers have united and reconciled, is a huge red flag for the relationship. If one partner rejects the other's loving advances and, even on the honeymoon, openly disdains the importance of intimacy, married life is NOT going to be an improvement - as we later see.

I have no idea what plot function it served to have Pleng avoid intimacy and all but lecture Wan that marriage shouldn't be "all about that." On the honeymoon. [FYI: on the honeymoon it definitely should be "ALL about that."] The "honeymoon" the viewers got served up was a couple of tender teaser kisses and an abruptly truncated make out session that was more moment than session.

Pleng's resistance to physical intimacy was thematic throughout the series - unlike book Pleng, series Pleng was always lukewarm - but it was made explicit in the finale, so the producers left absolutely zero room to resolve it. Nor did they drop any clues that it was something they saw as needing resolution. If the pathetic jealousy response shoehorned in at the end was a resolution attempt, it was a dud. So much so, I hope Wan kept Neung's phone number.

Sonya Saranphat Pedersen and Lookmhee Punyapat Wangpongsathaporn, the two leads, put so much heart into this series, they deserved a better send-off in the final episode.

Throughout, Lookmhee never wavered in her portrayal of a young girl / woman certain she belonged with her soul twin and willing to sacrifice anything to live that dream. Every moment of Lookmhee's performance rang true to the character.

Sonya deserved a less emotionally stunted, self-centered character. In Pleng, Sonya was saddled with a character who never became fully vulnerable with her partner, in contrast to Wan's gaping emotional wound open for all to see. I would like to see what Sonya could have done with a character that showed some insight and emotional development. In absence of that, with limited exceptions both the actor and the character seemed self-conscious and uncommitted. Lookmhee's Wan exudes hunger and craving for Pleng, but Sonya's Pleng never returns that intensity. Her physical surrender to Wan seemed more conciliation than craving.

Eight episodes should have been enough for Pleng's emotional development to at least move the needle, but even at the end Pleng showed less concern for Wan than for creepy playboy Earth (a more benevolent character in the novel). As an actor, Sonya didn't have a lot to work with, based on how the character was scripted; still, the portrayal lacked the vulnerability and desire the character desperately needed.

SPOILER AHEAD

Spoiler, but it needs to be said: Whoever decided to end the show with one sided foreplay deserves to never get near GL drama again. Or any drama, ever. That was a queer baiting nonsense slap in the face for viewers who deserved so much better.

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The funniest thing happened to me with this drama. I watched the first trailer when it dropped some time ago and was not impressed, I read the synopsis and decided that this is not for me, yet I still jumped into the first episode as soon as it got realesed and fell in love instantly. I was looking forward to every single episode completly capitvated by the sizzling chemistry of Sonya and Lookmhee. They just got something that kept my interest till the end, even though the plot started to crumble down in the second half.

Wan and Pleng's chemistry is stellar. Sonya and Lookmhee can act restrained desire and sexual tension like it's nobody's business. I think this is the first GL pairing that works so well for me. Usually I think that one person is doing better than the other when it comes to romantic or intimate scenes and is overll more "into it", but LMSY are so comfortable and natural with each other, they totally won me over. I could believe their tears and saw sparkles of feelings in their eyes.

I've never had a problem with anything that happened in the first half of the show. Self sabotaging petty schemes, tumultuous unresolved feelings, irrational actions - it all makes a very compelling depiction of teenage angst where nonsense makes sense. Both actresses did a very good job, their natural and intense chemistry added another layer to this complicated relationship. Pleng's reserved nature and Wan bold personality makes an interesting combination - one always hides her feelings and feels like she doesn't deserve the other, when the other doesn't hide it at all to the point that her love becomes an obssesion.

The thing is, the characters don't go beyond that. We have a time skip of 13 years and they both are the same as they were as teenagers, even though the circumstances are vastly different this time. The push and pull and jealousy never stops and it doesn't make much sense later in their life. I've been told that this type of running in circles is a Chao Planoy's modus operandi but it's such a lazy way to keep the conflict going. There are some valid points that make this "affair" a bit more complex (Pleng's psychological issues due to her past, the guilt that she must felt for basically throwing Ek in the middle of their petty drama, Wan obsessive behaviour that went so far that she didn't even care that she and Pleng could be potentially related) but they are left to our interpretation, instead the show is more focused on Ek going psycho and Pleng going back and forth with her decisions.

The last two episodes got me thinking that perhaps I was just blinded by the main actresses' natural charm all along. It exposed the flaws of the script that I was able to ignore up to that point. The penultimate episode was supposed to be the height of the angst, as the major plot point got revealed, but for some reason it mostly focused on men and not the main couple. It basically showed that there is always a man waiting to lierally save the day whenever woman is struggling. The notion that women cannot deal with their own problems, with their own relationships, without a man stepping in rubbed me the wrong way. Especially because it is a wlw relationship and this type of heteronormative chivalry is not necessary here. Now, the last episode was simply all over the place. Introducting a new character and semi-new conflict in the last 30 minutes of the show is just dumb. Also can we stop giving the last minute redemption arcs to people who showed no remorse before? We need more character development, not sudden changes of heart.

It's not a terrible show but I'd say that the level of enjoyement will realy on how much you like the main pairing. The writing is not the best. I think we need to put Chao Planoy's Universe to rest and get more original scripts or adaptations of other people's works, because hers are just too shallow and overcomplicated. This drama is solely carried by the main actresses. I enjoyed it a lot more that I could possibly imagined only because of them. My rating is a reflection of that fondness, if I tried to be more objective it would be lower.
8/10

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MY NEW FAV GL

I didn't know anything about Lookmhee or Sonya before watching this and didn't have much expectations for this series but omg I loved this so much. Definitely going to rewatch this a lot while waiting for their next series (it has been confirmed they will have one!!)

Starting off with the chemistry and acting. Sonya and Lookmhee are definitely setting a new standard when it comes to both. Maybe it's because of the fact that they have been friends years before the series, but you can tell how genuinely comfortable they are with each other, which made it so all of their scenes together feel very natural. As well as having amazing chemistry, they both are amazing actresses individually, so when they come together it's even better. I find it crazy that this is their first time being main leads in a series. You can tell how good they are especially in some scenes where some of the other actors weren't really giving their best performance, I think it may have not been as noticeable, but when you are in the same scene as those 2 you really need to give it your all.

I genuinely don't think I would have enjoyed this series as much if it weren't for LMSY. If it were anyone else this would have just been some other GL series but they made it truly special. No one else could have made me feel as connected to these characters or the story. My main complaint is the men, too many and too much screen time imo...so I hope for their next series that complain is seen and the company takes note of it.

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My favorite series of 2024! The best!

The series is based on Cha Planoy's novel of the same title. I have read the novel before episode 1 started airing and was eagerly waiting to see this series because the story in the novel is so good - full of drama, plot twists and a very genuine solid love between childhood friends, Wan and Pleng.

I have been watching a couple of GLs lately, some I don't even continue to ep 2 or finish because of cringey acting or unlikeable characters. But, trust me, Affair is totally serving natural, raw and convincing acting. No cringe, no awkward scenes. And, because of this, I have been obsessed with this series. Sonya (Pleng) and Lookmhee (Wan), the leads, gave it their all in portraying their roles and did the scenes wholeheartedly and without hesitation. Their intimate scenes reflects the passion, desire, longing and love that they feel for each other - and will totally keep the audience wanting for more. Their acting is impressive that's why I am grateful for these two for giving us such a great show.

The story, if you have not read the book, is very unpredictable. But even if you have read the book, it will still leave you wanting to see the next episodes. That's how good it is.

I think if you're a sucker for true love films, or for fighting for love against all odds, you have to watch this series. I think this is for everyone - straight and non-straight. It is a masterpiece.

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What I liked and disliked

Liked

1. Storyline was amazing ngl. The story was quite interesting tho.

2. Chemistry between lmsy are too good. They're quite benzgarfield coded. I hope we can see them more in future.

3. LMSY acting are phenomenal. Sonya's crying scenes
were on top. Both of them did full justice to wan and pleng . Um is also a great actress. She NEVER fails to make me hate her

Disliked

1. Too many men. Earth and Frank are basically fillers. Pit babe and tldhlb had little to no women but why affair had 3?

2. Lack of character development from pleng. After 13 years she slightly got matured but remained the exact same. Leaving wan, convincing wan to stay with ek and being all uwu "I'm just a girl"

3. Family obstacles. When will gls stop having this type of angst? Maybe if they stop adapting same author's novels

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Not Quite the 'Affair' You’d Expect!

I wanna review both novel and TV adaptation here, so bear with me or you can simply scroll down.

Chao Planoy's books, like many GL novels, are full of red flags. Actually, it’s not just Chao Planoy—many GL novels often have similar issues cos not all novels will be like R4U or TLP. Anyways, in this case, the storyline of 'Affair' feels incredibly contrived, with several parts that making no sense at all.

While the TV adaptation made some changes, the novel still struggles with some questionable character dynamics. For example, Pleng, who is insufferably self-absorbed, becomes slightly more tolerable as an adult. Then there's Eak, another walking red flag. But because it’s a Chao Planoy novel, of course, there had to be a guy in the mix. Fast forward to the future, and after being apart for 13 years, Pleng still has no clue about Wan’s life. Yet, she decides to meddle again, pushing Wan to meet Eak—why? It’s baffling. However, as for Pleng, once she realizes her feelings, she tries to make up for her past mistakes, even chasing after Wan and stepping in to get slapped by Wan’s mom at one point. But despite these moments, Pleng is still far too self-centered to deserve someone like Wan. In fact, no one in this novel really deserves Wan—every character seems to fall short. Overall, while the novel tries to redeem its characters in some ways, the overwhelming number of red flags and questionable decisions make it hard to root for anyone, especially Pleng. Wan was quite clear about everything from the beginning and the girl had to suffer a lot due to some twists and turns!

Coming back to the drama, well the casting was great, no doubts here. The background music and OST are well-suited too. And yeah, I can see everyone hating Wan's mom (some are even calling her Lada's mom from TSOU) , portrayed by Um Apasiri Nitibhon, well, it actually means she is an amazing actress for she is playing her role quite well, making it realistic.

P.S.: Pleng and Wan - they could actually be sisters (don't panic, they are not) for they pretty much grew up together in the same house, raised by the same parents. I just don’t get why so many GLs choose these cringeworthy, off-putting storylines. I mean just go through 23.5, Reverse for you and reverse with me, you'll get my point!

Verdict: If you're just looking for some drama and steamy, love-dovey moments, go for it—the leads have undeniable chemistry. However, I do wish the storyline was more gripping and realistic.

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The bar is high!

The list of Thai gls, or just any glsI I've seen in general, is very long, and yet I'm confident in saying this one is my favorite! Or at least one of my favorites. I found myself hooked as soon as the trailer came out for it months ago. I was so so so excited for this show to come out! And each week, I was eagerly waiting for the next episode.
The leads had great chemistry, and I can't wait to see them together again! (assuming they're going to do more projects together, given the success of this drama). The success of this drama is totally deserved in my opinion; please watch this if you haven't and you like gl!

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A great show that doesn’t quite stick the landing

Over the past eight weeks Affair the Series has been a big part of my fridays and given me something to look forward to at the end of each work week. I deeply miss wanpleng now that they they have gone back to the book. The first six episodes of this show really showcase what a peak gl series can be. Intriguing complex characters, usually pretty solid editing and sound design but the best part of this show is the the lead actresses.

Sonya and Lookmhee really put so much love and hard work into this series and it shows. They have to be the best actresses that I’ve seen in a GL thus far. Whenever a scene called for high emotion the two did amazing jobs at portraying it an a realistic way. A standout scene that sticks out to me is when Pleng’s father kills himself and her mother goes into cardiac arrest. Sonya’s screams are filled with so much intensity, pain and despair that it geniuenly haunts me.

The chemistry between these women is just amazing to see. They portray pleng and wan’s love for each other in such a palpable way that even with the many flaws that both characters have you are still rooting for their love in the end. And that’s not even mentioning the NC scenes which are just. Wow! They have really brought a new level to GL love scenes.

I love this show dearly but it doesn’t not come without it’s flaws. The biggest two being the pacing and plot, which a stronger emphasis on the latter. Both of the issues are strongest in the last two episodes of the show.

The biggest issues having to do with pacing are in large part due to the episode count. 8 episodes was not enough to portray this story in a satisfactory way. Many scenes were scrapped that you see in BTS footage that would’ve been a delight to see in the show. Simultaneously however it feels like so much screentime was given to explore side characters. I wouldn’t be against this in a longer show but since this show only has a limited amount of time it was unnecessary. As mentioned before the weakest part of the show is the plot in the last episodes. It’s odd but in a way I can’t find words to describe it like some dialogue choices and character decisions just makes it feel like things are happening without reason.

Overall, I do think the good far outweighs the bad in this show. And if you are interested and haven’t checked it out yet then I highly recommend you to.

P. S. Pleng is babygirl.

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my opinion!!

I've never been into Thai gls until I started tsou in late July, I liked it, so I explored more into the Thai gl shows, I've watched blank, 23.5, dream and when affair was released it was suggested on my YouTube and I watched it cause why not, I had no idea what goes on in it, or how the storyline would play out but let me say, right after watching the first episode I said I think this one would be a rlly good one, and man I was right I was hooked!!

after the 3rd episode I could NOT be patient at all to wait so I read the novel in 7 hours.

my point is this is the best show I've watch and the acting, the storyline/plotline is amazing, it has drama, emotions everything is involved and it's beautifully carried out in Affair.

Lookmhee and Sonya's acting in Affair is absolutely stunning, how they convey the emotions of wan and pleng, the longing need for eachother after 13 years being apart it's insanely good. They're so good at showing emotion that I could feel what they feel, it's beautiful.

For music yes, I'm literally obsessed with the OST that I listen to it on repeat on Spotify. beautiful meaning, great beat it's a great Ost song.

As for love scenes. it's great. no words. great chemistry just great omg. and the whole show is just a cinematic masterpiece sooo guys pls watch it!!


Rewatch value is 10/10 cause I've been rewatching since the show came out while waiting for the epsiode to come out, it's such a good show I'll definitely rewatch the whole thing after a few weeks cause rn I'm real sad about it ending and to rewatch I need to mourn the show a bit.

I'm so glad LMSY got another project together, they did amazing in Affair and I'm so happy they're well known now. still quite sad on how Affair being underrated.

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