The projector turns on. The big screen lights up. The images roll. The movie within the movie begins. The latter is a kind of Filipino-style surrealism that will soon envelop us. “For adults only” can be read on a curtain after crossing the porch. Meeting point for hustlers and scammers. Prostitutes and homosexuals offer sexual services sitting in their seats or in the main lobby. Transvestites and bisexuals kiss or have oral sex with anyone in the dark while the unsurprising gaze of a child on a bicycle. The room remains in darkness with the smell of overflowing semen. There is no celebration of flavors with popcorn, candy or hotdogs. A labyrinthine space with more than one surprise in every corner.
Service (Serbis, in Filipino) is a 2008 independent drama film directed by Brillante Mendoza, leader of a generation of new Filipino filmmakers who leaves a trail of wonder wherever he goes. With this, his seventh film, Mendoza was the first filmmaker from his country invited to compete for the Palme d'Or in the official section of the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. It is also the first Filipino film to compete in that important international film event since Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim, by Lino Brocka, in 1984.
The script, written by Armando Lao and Boots Agbayani Pastor, shows us thieves fleeing from the police roaming the hallways of the theater. Mothers with infants looking for another child, also a minor, who may have entered the dark room to meet with gays. Sellers of flowers or watermelon seeds walking through what was once a prestigious establishment that became a dilapidated movie theater dedicated to presenting double programs of erotic and pornographic films from the 70s, to advertise their products for sale. People going up and down stairs in an endless maelstrom of sound, noise and movement.
Transvestites and prostitutes showing their bodies to the moans of the movie lovers in the background as if they were being exhibited on a catwalk. Homosexual couples at the entrance to the bathroom waiting their turn to let off steam, but not the urge to urinate but the sexual appetite.
Family problems aired in everyone's ear. Sewer water that floods the bathrooms and nooks and filters down the stairs to the ground floor. Between the stench and the squalor, we will soon learn about the various family plots that will become intertwined with the comings and goings of the public and clients.
Claire Villareal's montage allows us to appreciate the graffiti on the walls of the bathrooms or hallways that display penises or vaginas with the names of their owners along with the telephone number and the price to be paid by the potential client. Layers of paint with a broad brush to hide graffiti. Posters of gay and erotic films hanging on the walls. Lazy people are the only ones who do not have entry permission, as can be read on another sign at the entrance. A runaway goat pacing in front of the projection screen after entering through a hole in the wall. Lights that turn on. The luminosity invades the stalls. Pants that are pulled up in a hurry, zippers that close in an enigmatic frenzy, shirts that hide nakedness are placed again on the unsheltered bodies. The lovers run in terror due to the terror of being surprised. The four-legged animal on the run and in pursuit a herd of two-legged animals that bleat as much as that one.
Two cinemas closed due to the economic crisis and this one, the only one open, does not generate enough income to feed everyone. Rolled films pad the walls before rolling across the floor to the Philippine Rabbit Line bus that links Angeles City to Manila. The city, doors outside, like another spectator of the film that rolls inside the building. People on the streets coming and going and fixing their gaze on the posters to discover that it is not the one showing the film they expect to see.
If viewers have their party at the Family cinema, the Pineda family, a matriarchy around which children, grandchildren, cousins ​​and nephews swarm, also has its treat. Together they run an old, baroque, grimy, decadent and labyrinthine cinema, which in turn serves as the home of the family clan, a kind of microcosm in which women, especially the two mothers, play a central leadership role in all the events. senses, moral authority and control of the property and custody of its members.
Nanay Flor, the matriarch, her daughter Nayda, her stepson Lando and her adopted daughter Jewel are in charge of selling tickets, meals and candy. His nephews, Alan and Ronald, are respectively the painter and the projectionist. While the family members go up and down the stairs in their daily chores, what happens in the living room and the more than populated hallways is foreign to them.
Bigamy, unwanted pregnancy, hasty commitment to silence what others will say, possible incest and boils on the skin are part of the daily challenges faced by this troubled family. And there, before them all, the true “star” of the show: a huge, dilapidated movie theater that serves as a family business and living space.
The exploration of family dynamics, particularly the relationship of Nanay Flor, played brilliantly by Gina Pareño, and her daughter Nayda (Jaclyn Jose), adds depth and emotional resonance to the story. The cast also includes Coco Martín, Dan Alvaro, Mercedes Cabral, Julio Diaz and Kristofer King.
As the film progresses, the plot becomes increasingly absorbing, drawing viewers into the journey of what happens in each space of the film establishment. Gian Gianan's music helps with this. Photographed by Odissey Flores, the raw, arid images, infused with a moving intimacy, enhance the emotional resonance of the story, while subtle touches of ironic humor serve to increase the tenderness aroused by the members of this surprising fallen gang. .
Mama Flor under the clock that relentlessly rings, with her best clothes, waiting for the curtains to come down. The cinema is silent. People go out. Among them Alan, backpack on his shoulders, fleeing from responsibility.
The tape burns. The projector turns off. The big screen goes dark. Images die until the next day. The movie within the movie ends.

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It is not original, but it is unrealistic in sweetening the reality of prisoners in Thai prisons

'A Prayer Before Dawn' is a prison drama directed by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire. Based on a true story collected in the book "A Prayer Before Dawn: My Nightmare in Thailand's Prisons", by Billy Moore, it tells the life in prison of a young British man with a problematic past and addicted to heroin, who ends up being confined in one of the Thai prisons, considered among the most dangerous and inhumane in the world, for drug possession.
In the film, the relief for the self-destructive life and mind of Billy Moore, masterfully played by Joe Cole, known for his role as Luke in the series 'Skins', John Shelby in 'Peaky Blinders' and Sean Wallace in 'Gangs of London', comes in the arms, lips and the inconstant sexual attentions of Fame (Pornchanok Mabklang), a ladyboy, with whom the main character will maintain a homosexual relationship, and the discipline of Muay Thai and boxing practiced by the British citizen.
The image that the West has about the life of a prisoner in Thai prisons, such as the Bangkok Hilton, which many call "The Great Tiger", one of the harshest prisons in the world, is consistent with the reality shown in this 2017 film: institutional corruption, extreme violence, overcrowding and unhealthiness where prisoners fight to survive in inhumane conditions.
The recent sentence to life imprisonment of chef Daniel Sancho, the son of renowned Spanish actor Rodrigo Sancho, for premeditated murder, dismemberment and concealment of the body of Colombian plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta, on the tourist island of Koh Phangan, in southern Thailand, in August 2023, has once again brought to debate the inhumane situation experienced by prisoners in Thai prisons.
In addition to living with drug traffickers, pedophiles and murderers, between 30-60 prisoners survive in each cell, without water, electricity or hardly any food, with a single hole in the floor to relieve themselves. Fights over a crust of bread or a piece of soap, or to avoid being raped by other inmates and even by the guards themselves, are constant. If the prisoner runs with good luck, he will be cared for by a doctor and two nurses, alone, to provide medical care to thousands of inmates.
While in other prisons around the world convicts spend their time with the aim of reintegrating them back into society in most cases, going to prison in Thailand is simply a punishment.
In this scenario where the days are tremendously difficult and hard, in which crime and daily violence outside prison continue inside it, and survival is the greatest challenge, 'Winter Is Not the Death of Summer but the Birth of Spring' focuses on showing the life of the main character already inside a cold and hostile prison in Thailand. A voice-over, which tells us, during the first minutes of the plot, how he ended up there, helps us as viewers to become familiar with him from the moment he crosses the threshold of the prison and leaves his routine life behind.
The series follows a real love story between two inmates: "Jed", sentenced to one year and six months for a check fraud law, and Bible Khamphi, a young man guilty of illegal arms trade who must serve around four years, but as a model prisoner, after two years in prison, he could soon be released on parole. Although Bible seems indifferent to life, he possesses a magnetic attraction that attracts Pathomkan.
It is precisely the approach of anguish, oppression and confusion that Andy Rachyd Kusolkulsiri, known for directing numerous BL series and films, such as 'Love Sick Season 2', 'Make It Right: The Series' and 'Tom Gay', turns to tell us the story.
From the first scenes, the audience is able to perceive that the director does not stop to explain anything to us, he builds his main character as he goes and at the same time he inserts the other characters and subplots. The series manages to keep the viewer stunned and disoriented, holding Jed's hand in a prison that looks at him with brutality, leaving this peaceful and dejected man alone in the middle of a violent place, waiting to be rescued by a pious soul... or loving.
In addition to a love story, 'Winter Is Not the Death of Summer but the Birth of Spring' is a story of survival in prison conditions, something unusual in BL series, but it will show the desire for redemption and the search for light after the tunnel, with Jed waiting to get out of prison to dedicate himself to work, help his mother and pay off debts, and Bible with the truncated dream of finishing his studies in International Business Administration to continue a correct life away from crime.
Andy Rachyd Kusolkulsiri's camera takes us into the warlike Thai prison world. It shows sweaty and tattooed male bodies like emaciated flesh eager for violence, blood, nicotine, drugs and sex, a voracious hunger that never sleeps, where you have to fight to get a few drops of drinking water with which to quench your thirst, sleep carefully open and where a visit to a latrine can end in a gang rape, since the guards are not there to ensure the safety of the prisoners.
The explicitness of the acts of institutional corruption, authoritarianism and physical and psychological abuse, both by the guards and by the prisoners towards other prisoners, in a hierarchical order, of supremacy, remain in the feint and the attempt, and do not reach to show all the truth revealed in the first minutes after Jed's arrival in prison. The director chooses to avoid the underworlds that inhabit our same planet.
Jed is going to end up in prison for a crime committed, he will ask for bail, and the most terrifying thing is not the stay, but that he must denounce the smoking inmates, it does not matter if Bible is among them, as if he had a pact with the guards to obtain freedom or enjoy some privileges. This is something that shocks me, because I did not expect to witness an act of lack of camaraderie in the main character. I also don't understand how smokers are persecuted as if they were committing indiscipline, when cigarettes are brought into prison by the inmates' relatives during their scheduled visits.
The intrusion does not remain in the auditory, but also in the visual: down there, in the depths of hell, among dark men with elaborate tattoos, pronounced abdomen or extreme thinness, their pale skin and innocent gaze, in contrast to those around them, shine like a beacon, bringing to light the sexual desires of those who have not enjoyed sex in a long time. But we will only have a hint of this in the first scenes, since this phenomenon that is always present in prisons will soon be left aside, and that could provide drama and realism, to give way to the love story between the two protagonists.
It is the unfavorable side of justice, stuck within four narrow walls of an underworld, stuck inside the purest shit of the environment that surrounds him, Jet will try to find the light, that is, freedom. Or at least a relief for their tormented days.
An innocent young man, with an angelic look in a prison: in these circumstances, I hoped that the protagonist would live the pain of a traumatic experience that would allow him to draw life lessons and achieve redemption for his crimes. However, none of this is represented in the series. It seems that, instead of a prison, the prisoners enjoy a stay in a cheap and little-publicized hotel by the Thai Ministry of Tourism.
Another aspect to consider is the acting, where for obvious reasons, the majority is either novice actors or are not professional actors. Likewise, we have a notable work by Art Pawaret Prapapornvorakul, who plays Bible Khamphi, and Mark Methasit Aiyakornkul, who plays Jed, both in their debut in the entertainment industry.
Although it is original for a Thai LGBT+ series, its premise is not unique in world cinematography in telling a homosexual relationship in a prison in that Asian nation, nor is the label "based on a true story."
On the other hand, it seems to offer a sweetened and complacent image of the harsh conditions and life of the convicts, such as Jed's quiet walks through dubious and improbable reading and music rooms full of convicts, or the images of convicts kissing and enjoying sexual games in the light of day, under the gaze of anyone around them.
Despite not being realistic, the story moves in two directions: that of survival in a brutal environment, and the love that Jed finds in another inmate. That is to say, on the one hand it is an unpleasant series in substance and form that evolves in a rude manner to feed on violence and hostility, while on the other hand it offers the romantic rapprochement of two beings destined to suffer confinement.
Loaded with intrinsic dirt, the viewer waits anxiously to see if the next frame shows us even a drop of tenderness and redemption.
'Winter Is Not the Death of Summer but the Birth of Spring' has very powerful bases, since the presence of ladyboys is added to the above, which gives it an exotic touch. However, it fails to convince because it avoids showing a reality widely known to humanity: the darkness of confinement in a Thai prison.
In addition to the above, the lack of a budget that allows satisfactorily guaranteeing that all aspects of production are handled effectively and efficiently plays against the series, in order to better develop the story.
Due to its crudeness, the unusual settings, and the fact that it does not tell a romantic plot as lovers of the genre wish, it is not suitable for all audiences, but that does not mean its effort to tell a true story should be detracted, despite their failures.

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A dream and a forbidden love

Every year, the music industry launches numerous boy bands around the world to make their international debut. Other industries, also dedicated to entertainment, such as television, always at the forefront, have not been left behind, in the effort to tell us about the creation and evolution of these groups.
And if, along with this, they address stories of overcoming and forbidden love between members of said bands, the public awaits them with greater interest.
That is why today we remember 'Boyband The Series', a Thai audiovisual characterized by its excellent performances, a dream soundtrack and enviable scenery.
Its premiere took place in February 2023, and with 6 episodes lasting approximately 45 minutes each, we are introduced to Top, played by Phiphat Wichasu (Zubom), in his first acting role, a young man who has had to make an effort in life to be able to pay the debt contracted by his father, in addition to paying for the medical treatment of his mother, a disabled woman after suffering a traffic accident, and also paying for the education of his minor sister. To get ahead, he has had to work as a waiter, elephant keeper and sword fighter.
Top will have the opportunity to travel from Khon Kaen, Isaan province, to Bangkok, to become an artist under World Star, the company of Khun Serena (Metinee Kingpayome - Lukkade), the queen of the entertainment industry, through a singing, dancing and acting contest, which in addition to artistic skills, will evaluate the behavior and attitudes of the contestants.
This trip into the competition represents a new stage in his life for Top, full of surprises that he is willing to accept without hesitation, because in addition to competing against a hundred young people to obtain one of the six positions in dispute, he will meet Juju (Theerachet Yanwantana - Jaymin), the impulsive son of a wealthy family, with whom our protagonist will live a forbidden romance, because the contest imposes a rule on the participants: "Artists are prevented from establishing romantic relationships with each other."
With a chemistry that transcends the screen, Top will help Juju deal with her main problem: her father's refusal to accept her fulfilling her dream of becoming an idol.
One of the aspects that attract attention in this dramatic, romantic, musical and youth comedy with LGBTIQ+ themes is Top's constant race in pursuit of Juju. The unforgettable sequence of Zubom on the motorcycle arriving, with delays, to the place of the band's debut, among the first scenes, while the music directed and composed by Terdsak Janpan for the series plays in the background, is one of the vertices about the that a plot is articulated, which will lead us to other chases, such as that of Top behind Juju's car in an unfortunate first encounter in which the two come out as enemies.
There will also be other chases, such as the chase that is not after Juju, but with Juju, to rescue Juju's bag that the motorcyclists intend to steal, or the race to prevent Juju from fighting with other contestants, due to the risk of being disqualified.
Another race is when Top follows Juju to the latter's mother's house in Krabi, the boy requiring his authorization to continue in the competition.
Each step in those runs brings them closer to each other, and not only from the point of view of shortening the distance.
Top and Juju are joined by Jeff (Arm Boonyavanit - AP), the typical prankster that everyone will want to have by their side to have fun; Ryu (Pakpoom Juanchainat - Art), the famous dancer with many followers on social networks, Ken (Intouch Kooramasuwan - Intouch), the brilliant singer who will fall in love with the singing teacher, and Atom (Wasin Suungkavathin - Aom), the boy seriously focused on his art.
These young people, along with Sun (Natthanun Kurusatienpron - Man), Kampun (Phutawan Yamsai - Tawan); Tiger (Phicaphop Khamnanak - Auto), Pokpong (Patchapol Bhamornbuth - Tong) and Yok (Athiphat Arkrawarachotihiran - Nice), will fight to join the world-class boy band, and will undergo intense training in singing, dancing and acting, as part of the fierce competition that would allow them to achieve their dreams.
As in all competitions, there will be envy and professional jealousy that will play dirty and, through cheating and disloyalty, will try to get others to abandon. Likewise, there are those who will rejoice in the stumble and fall of their rival so that they do not continue in the fight, but there are also those with wise advice and timely encouragement, those who will not mind helping those who do not master the technique or those who He has suffered a blow to his foot that prevents him from dancing well.
We are not looking at the classic BL (hence surely the low rating of the drama), because 'Boyband The Series' aims much higher by exposing problems inherent to the entertainment industry, such as the corrupting power of money to buy artists trained in other agencies , the pressure from managers towards future idols with promises that are not always fulfilled, topics that are rarely addressed in series of the genre, with the exception of 'Call It What You Want I' and some others.
The series, directed by Dome Jade Bunyoprakarn ('My Dear Gangster Oppa', 'Together with Me', 'Bad Romance'), also reflects another theme equally little or poorly portrayed in Thai BL. I mean homophobia. Top and Juju's budding love relationship is used for the purposes of not only causing harm to them, but also to Khun Serena.
And here the series contributes to the struggle of the Thai LGBTIQ+ community, because although discrimination against the members of that human group persists in that country, the initial scenes of the series, which take us to the moment of the meeting of both young people before their debut , shows us that the revelation of their romance will not stop them from moving forward.
Two other main characters are Madame Pauly (Anon Saisangcharn - Pu), in charge of convincing Khun Serena to return to talent training after a period away from the agency she created, after the breakup of her marriage to Phanu (Maethanee Buranasiri - Nino), a manager in the entertainment industry to whom anything goes if he can punish his ex-wife.
Madame Pauly also has the mission of searching for contest candidates and serving as a judge for the competitions.
The writing of the scripts is carried out by Piangpaitoon Satrawaha – May), known for being the screenwriter of 'Naughty Babe' and 'Hormones Season 2', among other series, who in 'Boyband The Seires' plays the judge and teacher My .
Throughout the series, Serena, Pauly and My act as judges and guides in the training of the contestants, imitating the style of programs like "American Idols": while the former acts as an infallible judge, with a reputation for being a "strong hand" , there are always some performances that allow us to see their most sensitive and fair side, because although difficult to convince, they have sound recommendations that are usually accepted and applied by all those who aspire to join the band.
Everything seems fine to My, while Madame Pauly is the one who tries to be objective and lets herself be carried away by her criteria, to which she is always faithful. The actor who plays Madame does not believe in gender stereotypes that pigeonhole men who play very effeminate characters, like his. Lukkade and Pu's performances spice up the series.
'Boyband The Series' darkens in the final episode, with a discussion on stage after the winning team is announced, which contributes little to the closure of the story. It is very unlikely that what happened took place in real life, much less in the grotesque way it was portrayed. These disputes are ultimately aired in court.
Another reason that worked against 'Boyband The Series' was that it aired alongside other popular ThaiBL, such as 'Never Let Me Go', 'My School President' and 'Moonlight Chicken'. It is also not helped by the difficulties that the public has in accessing audiovisuals with English subtitles.
The series brings us as a bonus the possibility of meeting several BL stars who show their faces as guest artists. These include Copter Phanuwat, Bas Suradej Pinnirat, Max Kornthas Rujeerattanavorapan, Fluke Natouch Siripongthon and Peter Knight.
Love triangles, forbidden romances, infatuations between contestants and teachers, seductions of judges to try to be favored by them, villains who steal talents just to cause harm, young people who fight to achieve their dreams, self-realization, personal and spiritual growth, diversity Sexuality, acceptance, homophobia, among other themes, appear in a very well written script, despite the aforementioned slips and others.
Top and Juju have a dream. The realization of it comes to the first almost by chance, when he no longer had hope after his uncertain initial steps in Korea. Juju won't stop until he reaches it. And both manage, by putting one brick on top of another, to build together that dream life that grows together with romantic love.

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The alternate universe and BL romance

Have you wondered if there are parallel universes in which Israel does not invade and colonize Palestine and its peoples were like brothers, each within their own borders, or the small, sovereign, rebellious and heroic Cuba is the one that imposes a genocidal blockade? economic, commercial and financial to the United States? Science is not willing to deny the possibility that there may be other realities parallel to ours in which things happen differently, but, for now, that only exists in film and television.
Our own universe is limited by the laws of physics, but when it comes to shows and movies, these rules can be bent and broken to create parallel universes and alternate realities where the possibilities are endless and the impossible is no longer impossible. Therefore, by managing to blur the boundaries between fiction and reality and, as a result, they leave us with great innovative stories, characters and incredible worlds that make us want to explore them, while testing the limits of our own mind.
The creators of 'Why R U' know this, who to curl the curl of their delirium of poetic science fiction and BL romance, decided to present a parallel reality in this 2020 Thai romantic series, to, through the multiverse, explore the possibility of getting to know a character in a million different ways, changing stories and destinies, correcting contexts, offering second chances or simply playing with our minds, with the aim of achieving an addictive and entertaining product.
Imagine waking up one day in a dramatic world written by your sister in which everything has become completely opposite to reality: your best friend is in love with his archenemy... and your lover is your nemesis.
In his personal vision and a distinctive style in his own cinematographic process, director Cheewin Thanamin Wongskulfat proposes the aforementioned synopsis to bring us a romantic comedy that revolves around two main couples, those made up of Tutor (Saint Suppapong Udomkaewkanjana) and Fighter ( Zee Pruk Panich), and Saifah (Jimmy Karn Kritsanaphan) and Zon (Tommy Sittichok Pueakpoolpol).
Intimacy, love, self-discovery, acceptance, sexual diversity, the search for happiness and coming of age, are some of the themes that the series explores through the dynamics of the characters, achieving hilarious scenes unique to the series. Thai drama, as well as intense, tender, romantic and dramatic moments, which are also inherent to the entertainment industry of that Southeast Asian nation.
The development of rivalry to friendship and from this to romance is one of the hooks to attract the public in Thai BL, and on this occasion it does not fail, despite the fact that the story of the alternative reality suffers some setbacks. along the way, or the poor development of events and secondary characters, especially Zon's friends, whose roles and performances, as comic relief, contribute little to the story.
With good, genuine performances and competent direction, the cinematography and scenery are surprisingly valuable. But the script falters at times. Perhaps I'm being too harsh, given all the Covid-19 production and post-production issues during the filming of the series, and the obvious hasty script rewrites.
The final episode is one of the great demonstrations of terrible writing. It rushes to the end of the series without anything interesting to say or show. And it's unfortunate, because the central story of the alternate reality has a lot of potential. It is right there, in those failures, when the creators try in their efforts to make the public understand when they are facing the real world and when they are facing the alternative reality, that all the cheesy clichés of the BL genre are incorporated, and the good work ends. , while satire and romantic comedy are left to their own devices.
The four main characters are introduced at the very beginning of the series through a dream sequence. In it, our main character, Zon, discovers that his best friend, Tutor, is in a relationship with his archenemy Fighter. But his astonishment increases when, suddenly, he discovers that his adversary Saifah approaches him and begins to show him affection, which obviously causes him to reject him and, scared, flee.
And at this point the series incorporates a component rarely used in Thai series: animation. Zon will continue his dream through the use of this film technique, allowing Cheewin to show a new facet as a director, since directing live action and animation films requires similar skills but results in very different experiences for the director, because although the task consists of direct the project in terms of its story, soundtrack, cast, costumes, special effects and editing, both types of productions have their determining characteristics.
But this will not be the only novelty, as the series has another big surprise in store for us, when Zon has hallucinations that involve several very popular BL characters. We are then fully introduced into a parallel universe.
Saifah is a very popular musician who frequently engages in pranks with his college friends. One of his most frequent pranks is playing pranks on Zon, so the two always end up involved in a fight every time they meet, in public or private.
For his part, Zon is a shy, but opinionated online science fiction writer. Much to his chagrin, his younger sister, Zol, maintains a vlog in which she writes and publishes successful BL novels whose characters are based on real people.
When Zon discovers that Zol is writing a BL story about his imaginary relationship with his nemesis Saifah, he insists that he delete them. She shamelessly asks him to swear that he has no feelings for Saifah, knowing beforehand about the two's accidental kiss during a fight. Zon hesitates to answer honestly, but swears anyway. And this is your mistake? His obvious lie throws him into an alternate BL universe, where Zol's boy romance story seems to come true.
Fighter and Tutor make up the other main couple. Tutor is an intelligent and wise engineering student who acts rationally. His family, once rich, now lives broke. To pay off his parents' debt and support himself financially, Tutor accepts several part-time jobs, including at a coffee shop near the university and his tutoring classes.
For his part, Fighter is an arrogant, emotional and aggressive final year student of the same major, who from the very first day he meets Tutor, when he goes to him to obtain his signature in that absurd process of welcoming students, New entrants to Thai universities, thanks to a misunderstanding, begin to treat each other with coldness and animosity.
Like Zon and Saifah, the relationship between Fighter and Tutor begins with contempt and eternal arguments, only to discover their true feelings for each other.
Their approach, both physical and emotional, begins to occur when Hwahwa, Tutor's childhood best friend, convinces Fighter to hire Tutor for private English classes that will help one to pass the subject and the other to improve. their economic position.
Between tutoring classes, Fighter discovers Tutor's personality and internal struggles. And what is expected happens, especially if we take into account that both look at each other with lust from the very first day they met.
Although everything seems to be going well for the couple and their relationship seems fluid and tender, both will face challenges and their love will be tested on more than one occasion. While the scene in which Tutor kisses Fighter's Adam's apple is considered one of the rawest, most beautiful scenes seen in a BL drama, Fighter's confrontation with his father when he discovers his son's romantic relationship with a boy, is without a doubt the most dramatic scene in the series. Tutor will be ordered to abandon the romance and leave Fighter alone.
Fortunately, both boys have friends, who will help them stay together and accept the challenges imposed by a society in which, despite homosexuality being legal, gay marriage and homosexual relationships are not recognized, and all those behaviors, Sexual preferences and identities that transgress the social regime and are outside of it - as is the case of lesbian women, gay men, transsexual and transgender people - occupy a marginal situation within the heteronormative system and are therefore discriminated against. , made invisible and persecuted through different mechanisms.
Both Tong and Hswahwa, Tutor's sister and best friend, respectively, will be among the people who encourage the couple. The first will be in charge of encouraging Fighter to follow his heart and love bravely. For their part, Zon and Saifah will also contribute to Fighter's father finally accepting the two young people's relationship.
Another moment to remember is the scene where Fighter and Tutor get into a fight that completely annihilates the former. Without going into more details so as not to give away too many spoilers, anyone who has seen the series will know exactly which scene I am referring to, but it would be correct to add that this is not the only occasion in which Zee and Saint show the talent of the two actors.
For Saifah and Zon, the innocence of their relationship is maintained so well throughout the series. To their surprise, Zon and Saifah have been chosen to perform at the university concert as a duo. Initially, they are unwilling to share the stage, but, forced by circumstances, both begin regular practices on campus and at Saifah's house. And this is how the romance between the two begins.
Of note are two moments of the couple: the torrential rain scene under which both boys begin to run holding hands, and the pajama party after which Saifah develops an interest in Zon.

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Dismantling the myth of a teacher-student relationship with the particularity of being a gay romance

I find it a very valuable series because of the theme: the reciprocated love of a minor and an adult and the consequences that this can have.
(And talking about this topic is enough to get you accused of being a covert pedophile)
Our society has a general taboo when it comes to the subject of a supposedly pedophile relationship, but it is something that is there, that happens every day, that minors fall in love with adult people, (and vice versa) and want to live their love despite of laws to the contrary, or of social customs. Many long-term gay couples are made up of people with a large age difference. Sometimes they begin when the minor is fifteen or sixteen years old, and last a lifetime.
The social problem is how to distinguish between abuse by an adult "who forces or dominates" and when two people with an age difference can love and respect each other as equals.
If society did not ignore it, there could be ways to help these young people face a relationship, certainly premature, but which can be not only loving, but also mutually enriching, as it was in classical Greek times in the form of pederasty.
At that time everything was institutionalized and that protected both parties.
The series makes us sympathize with the older protagonist, due to his innocence, despite possible social rejection. And this is already difficult. And at least it makes us think about the issue of pedophilia, not as something that can simply be rejected, but as a complex issue that requires further exploration.
From Nabokov's Lolita, in which a forty-year-old professor becomes obsessed with a twelve-year-old girl, to Bernard Schlink's The Reader, where a student falls in love with an almost forty-year-old woman, passing through The Dying Animal, the novel by Philip Roth that tells the story of a sixty-year-old critic and renowned professor who becomes involved with a 24-year-old intern, the bond between teacher and student is written in fire in literature.
Film and television are not far behind in telling a love story between the master and his disciple. Asian series generally have a fun way of approaching love. When it comes to stories that have a secondary school or university as a background, they do not always show romance between students, because upon discovering this feeling some may develop a crush with their teachers.
The stories range from one-sided infatuations to those in which teacher and disciple meet again years later and it is then that they can begin a relationship. However, there are others in which some decide to take the risk and start a romance in the middle of the classroom, the school hallways and, why not?, in the gym. The latter is the case of the Japanese romantic comedy 'Sahara-sensei and Toki-kun', from 2023.
From director Shibata Keisuke Sukiyanen (who also directed 'Kedo Do Yaro ka', 'Nare no Hate no Bokura', 'Yukionna to Kani wo Kuu', 'Rokuhodo Yotsuiro Biyori' and 'Waltz of Turtle', among many more, the series tells the romantic relationship of Toki-kun (Hachimura Rintaro), the rebellious 17-year-old student at a Japanese high school, and his handsome Physical Education teacher, three years older. The former only needed a fraction of a second to fall in love.
With the minimum age of sexual consent met, according to the legislation of his native country, and close to reaching his majority, love makes Toki-kun grow. That student always involved in fights and absent from classes stops looking for problems and his life takes a 180 degree turn to give way to a totally different person. He will be the first to arrive to the classroom, he studies hard and participates in all curricular and extracurricular activities. He is guided by a single objective: to attract the attention of his beloved instructor Sahara-sensei (Kizu Takumi).
The person in charge of adapting the manga to television is the screenwriter Miura Yuiko, also the author of works such as 'Ultraman Geed', 'The Sango Ranger', 'Screaming Class' and 'Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo', among others.
What do 'Sahara-sensei To Toki-Kun' and the series 'Big', from 2012, have in common; 'A gentleman's Dignity', 2012; 'My Rommate Gumiho', 'Hello Mr. Right', 2016; 'Hello, My Teacher', 2005; 'Teacher Monarch', 2018; 'Somewhere Only We Know', from 2019; 'Doctors', from 2016; 'Sensei', from 2017; 'Tunnel of Love: The Place For Miracles', 2015; 'Thorn', from 2014; 'My Rainy Days', 2009; 'Close Range Love', 2014; 'My Little Bride', 2004; 'High School Teacher', 2003; 'Flower Boy Ramyun Shop', 2011; 'Doctor Crush', 2016; 'Exclusive Memory', from 2019; 'Secret Love Affair', 2014; 'A Story To Read When You First Fall In Love', 2019; 'Daytime Shooting Star', 2017; 'I'm Sam', 2007; 'Met Me After School', from 2018, among others?
All of them raise the teacher-student love relationship as a theme and view it from various points of view. But there is a decisive factor that differentiates them: while these latest television productions narrate a heterosexual romance, 'Sahara-sensei To Toki-kun' addresses a gay love.
This 8-episode series debunks the myth of the romance between teacher and student. The program at no time plays with the viewer. It doesn't give them false expectations. Let no one think that they are facing the umpteenth story of forbidden love between a teacher and the teenage schoolboy. There are no first kisses or secret sexual encounters here. There is no rape or pedophilia here. Here we are not in the presence of sexual abuse of minors disguised as falling in love.
We witness a pure, sincere and innocent love, even clumsy. As the chapters progress, it's easy to forget the age difference between the two. The story encourages you to accompany them in that sincere passionate and tender love. They will soon confess their love for each other. Communication is quickly established and they face problems together.
Who has never known love before, much less in a man, sighs every time she has classes with Sahara-sensei. He looks for him in the hallways or in his office that he shares with other teachers. You need to see him, be by his side. And for this he will look for a thousand pretexts. He waits after school or in the morning when he arrives at school for the being that seems to him the most attractive, most perfect and most complete in the world. He fantasizes, he dreams about him, he listens to music thinking about him, he walks through the streets with him in his mind. Sharing with the only person who really looks at you and understands you will become your priority. Thus a sincere love arises between these two people who are too pure.
As soon as he discovers love, an antisocial Toki-kun becomes friends with Rise Tatsumasa (Sono Shunta), a student in his same classroom whom he had never paid attention to before. The personal growth of our protagonist does not stop. He will also make friends with Todo Shinji (Matsumoto Hiroki), a third-year student and friend of Sahara who is in charge of being Toki's tutor; and Todo Takuya (Momose Takumi), Shinji's foster brother. Although less interesting because it is not developed well, there will also be a romantic bond between these last two boys.
The love of the two protagonists will be tested when Nekoto Minato (Hori Kaito), whom Sahara-sensei declared her love for when they were both studying at the same school years ago, returns to take over as teacher and claims that she also loved him since then, but he did not have the courage to recognize it and today it is ready.
Is the temptation of the forbidden the driving force behind Sahara-sensei and Toki-kun? Is it the idea of ​​a forbidden relationship that generates the fantasy of being able to sexually possess something taboo? Is the possibility of being discovered what motivates you? Is this a love with an expiration date because once the “hidden” is overcome, one falls into normality and from there to boredom? Is the intention to challenge the norm the main characteristic of your relationship? Perhaps it is the desire to control, to exercise power, an emotional need or seeking to make an illusion come true that moves them?
From Toki-kun's point of view: Could it be an attraction out of admiration and curiosity? Will your interest be in possessing something from your teacher, such as his or her knowledge and skills?
From Sahara-sensei's point of view, is what he feels is basic sexual attraction or the pride of feeling important and admired by his student? Is feeling that attraction from your disciple exciting to you from a sexual and emotional point of view, since it is a strong validation?
Are we facing a power relationship? Will Toki seek to take advantage of the person who has more power? Is the need to control the situation when the matter is complex the factor that generates this relationship? Will it be difficult for an athletic, runner and fighter like Toki-kun to pass the Physical Education subject? Should the teacher avoid a loving bond with the person he loves? Is the solution to postpone the relationship until the student reaches the age of majority and is no longer under the “shadow” of the teacher? Will this relationship have a future? Is it just desire or a fantasy and will it eventually die? Will it prosper and become a lifelong romance, as the two young people have vowed?
The protagonist, a boy who is not at all insecure and with very high self-esteem, very mature for his age, is not a victim, and takes charge of his actions until the end. Knowing that he is in love, he is able to acknowledge his love to his friends and classmates, despite living in a society where homosexuality is illegal. That confession will define him.
For her part, Sahara-sensei is not the archetype of the manipulator. He is a serious and responsible adult. He is aware of his strengths and weaknesses. He shows that he knows his physical and moral limits when he resigns from being the advisor of the Swimming Club, a position for which he was proposed, or when he stops swimming due to a fracture in his spine.
He admits to being afraid of losing the trust of others. His personality, sensible and calm, becomes one of the most rational, balanced and endearing in the BL universe.
He conveys the feeling of being a friendly, unique, wise older brother. He respects Toki-kun, gives him his space and freedom of decision.
The relationship is based on mutual respect, trust and friendship. There is healthy communication and complicity between the two. Everyone is happy with the person who is next to them. They both feel valued and their limits are respected, both physical, emotional and sexual. In other words, Sahara-sensei and Toki-kun fit perfectly into the relationship established by them. They complement each other.
There is no morbidity or adrenaline in the actions of either of them. Their brilliant performances elevate the story and make the characters much more interesting and fascinating to watch. Both actors are capable of transmitting feelings and emotions naturally. Hachimura Rintaro and Kizu Takumi's outstanding performances have delicacy, subtlety and depth
As for the relationship between Toki and Sahara being unhealthy because it is a relationship in which one has power over the other, as one is a student and the other is his teacher, nothing could be further from the truth. The two agree to wait for each other. What are you waiting for? Why don't you give free rein to your love? Why don't they kiss in the corners of the school or in the park, away from it? Why don't they have sex in a hotel room, if they both want each other? Wouldn't theirs be consensual sex? Isn't Toki 17 years old? Don't the laws in Japan set the age of sexual consent at 17? Isn't that an age when kids fantasize about sex all day? Isn't that the age at which you dream of losing your virginity, if you haven't already? What then prevents them from loving each other freely?
They both wait for Toki to finish graduating from the Institute and go to the University to be an “adult” and thus be able to help Sahara in a life together, as the young boy stated to his lover.
The series even goes as far as NOT to violate their relationship, when the agreement to wait for each other is NOT sealed with a kiss, with sensual hugs, with genuine expressions of love, as anyone would expect. They sealed it with a fist bump and a smile on their lips. That is the purpose of the series: we are NOT faced with a power relationship. The teacher does NOT exercise any authority over the student nor does the student take advantage of obtaining possible advantages from the teacher to the detriment of the rest of the students.
In the final moments, Nekoto will reveal to Sahara that she always loved him, but she refused to be his boyfriend because she did not want to be a burden on him, since Sahara was destined to be a star swimmer and fear that a relationship with him would obstruct her future.
Learning the truth from Nekoto himself will allow Sahara to heal her still open wounds. Sahara can now close a page of pain in her life that meant rejecting her love for the man she loved. Now Sahara can be happy with Toki because Nekoto's ghost will no longer haunt him.
This revelation opens up a range of possibilities for Sahara between rescuing her relationship with someone she knows well, of the same age, someone with whom she shares beautiful memories and indestructible ties, on the one hand, and, on the other, with a new love like Toki. As we could see, Sahara chose Toki. Sahara distinguished the person he loves today above the person he loved in the past, despite the latent age difference, or that one is a minor or the teacher-student relationship. This contributes to debunking the myth of teacher-student romance.
The Japanese use kintsugi as a perfect metaphor for resilience because not only is the damaged piece of pottery repaired, but even it becomes more beautiful, stronger and more valuable. This centuries-old technique consists of reassembling ceramic pieces that have broken or developed cracks with resin mixed with gold dust.
Toki-kun becomes a potter who heals Sahara-sensei's wounds through kintsugi. The professor sees himself as a heartbroken person. He needs to get over falling out of love. The student becomes the new love that repairs the broken pieces of the teacher's life with golden strips to make it stronger, more resilient. I do not doubt that in his thoughts, Sahara-sensei asks Toki-kun not to abandon him, since without him he will once again feel empty, destroyed, hollow. A person in these circumstances gives themselves to their loved one with devotion. I would never hurt her. I would never try to lie to you, manipulate you, hurt you.
Regardless of the possible interpretations, what there is no doubt about is the ability of the director and screenwriter to dismantle a myth, give other causes to the theme of homosexuality in dramas, make the BL genre thunder, shake it up. , wake him up and dress him long in fine and new clothing, due to both the effectiveness and the organicity with which the creators integrate an entire arsenal of romantic cinema resources into the narrative.

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A story closer to real life than the usual BL and an ode to indie cinema

Hope (Night Yodsakon Khamnang) is a fried dumpling seller. Nine (Kong Chindanai Boonruang) is an actor from the Chiang Mai BL production company, who reluctantly accepts a leading role in a new boy love series. The young man is reluctant to the proposal of York (Sak Kidtisag Makongrach), the director of the company, to be part of a new couple to replace the one formed by the main cast, whose members were forced to abandon the film project after the expiration of their contracts.
The worlds of Hope and Nine intersect when the former parks his sales cart in front of the production company and in one of those turns of life the young people meet. The two begin a journey when they realize that they are united by unexpected and uncontrollable feelings.
I highly value series like 'My Star', from Wayufilm Production, for the same reason that others will surely deny it: good execution, level of acting, filming and production, despite its low budget; characters far from the clichés of attractive boys that populate BL series, many of them with nothing to contribute other than their beautiful faces and contoured bodies; simple stories that are much closer to real life, truly passionate actors and a production team in each installment, and a firm determination not to kneel before the giants of the entertainment world with their very common mediocre stories interested only in making money, and whose proposals frequently fail, among other reasons, for not taking their fans seriously.
We are faced with a Thai BL that is not cheesy and unpleasant. The couple has very good chemistry. They are actors who have starred in other projects, such as 'LGBTQ+ Dramas Season 2', 'Our First Time' or 'Midnight Love', among others, and they know each other well.
Furthermore, the editing team chose exceptional music to accompany the miniseries.
I also appreciate the tenacity of the creators to not succumb to the dictates and whims of commercial companies, eager to contribute funds to the production of many BL audiovisuals in exchange for advertising their products, something that we frequently criticize in other series of the genre, thus respecting Wayufilm Production its ethics and principle of being a production company that is committed to indie cinema.
'My Star' can be considered within the name of independent cinema because it has a low budget, is made in more precarious conditions than the so-called official cinema, deals with everyday themes and is closer to the public, lacks mass distribution and, therefore, having fewer possibilities of obtaining large income and being made by a director outside the world of large production companies.
Being able to film without falling into the rigid schemes of the studio system is one of the highest aspirations of every director.
Written and directed by Thai filmmaker Nitchapoom Chaianun, CEO of WayuFilm and founder of MongKlong Studio and GoodJob VDO, 'My Star' joins other dramatized films of his authorship that address issues related to sexuality and gender identity, such as since he debuted with his first short film 'Fresh' (เฟรชเฉิ่ม), in 2006, which was followed by 'Fresh Cool Story 2' (เรื่องเฟรชเฉิ่ม 2).
Determined to delicately portray the diversity of human relationships, dismantling the prevailing stereotypes regarding what is "normal", and contributing to the struggle of Thai LGBT people, Nicchi, as he likes to call himself, has obtained popular recognition with his films and series BL-themed feature films such as the feature film 'My Bromance' (พี่ชาย, RTGS: Phi Chai), 'My Bromance 2: 5 Year Later: The Series', 'My Bromance: Reunion', 'Key Love', 'NightTime', ' The Rain Stories', 'Yantra' (อาถรรพ์ยันต์มหาเสน่ห์), among others.

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Antiheroes, villains and wild beasts

Inspired by the comedy "The Taming of the Shrew" by English writer, poet and playwright William Shakespeare, the Thai BL series 'The Heart Killers' brings back four popular and talented actors: Kanaphan Puitrakul, Khaotung Thanawat Rattanakitpaisan, Dunk Natachai Boonprasert, and Joong Archen Wiraphakul, who play Kant, Bison, Style, and Fadel, in that order.
The series addresses themes such as love, courtship, disguise, deception and crime, while love arises both in the case of Bison and Kant, and in that of Fadel and Style. However, unlike Shakespeare's work, whose secondary plot serves as a counterpoint to the main plot, in the Thai series both stories balance and measure equally, that is, there is no preeminence of one over the other.
Directed by Jojo Tidakorn Pookaothong, the story is not set in the Italian city of Padua nor are we in the 16th century, but in Bangkok, in the present. Instead of Katharina, the main character, it is Bison, a young man with a boisterous, stubborn, disobedient and indomitable personality, but also famous for being attractive. This in principle would not have any mystery nor would it be transcendent for the series, except for the detail that the father of this young woman, Baptista Minola, does not want to marry his youngest daughter, Bianca, until Katharina, or rather, Bison, does not has found a boyfriend.
But the story, which has a script by Kanokphan Oraratanasakul, Issaraporn Kuntisuk and Fleur Irene Insot, known for writing 'This Love Doesn't Have Long Beans', will bring us other changes: instead of Baptista, it will be Bianca herself... or better yet said, Fadel, Bison's intelligent, handsome and responsible brother, who will oppose Bison having a boyfriend until he himself finds the right person to love.
Fadel, who is the complete opposite in character of his older brother, has never shown interest in any of the men who have disputed his love in the past.
Protector of his brother, Fadel scares away all the suitors who are interested in Bison, to the dismay of the latter, who has just succumbed to the charms of the handsome man... no, don't be hasty, he is not Petrucio, but Kant, a young man with a strong character and intelligent, who will have the courage to pretend to Bison.
The love, which is taking shape between the two lovers, will pose a serious problem: will Fadel accept Kant when he himself has decided not to allow his brother to have a boyfriend until his heart also trembles with passion?
Faced with this dilemma, Kant and Bison, who is devoted to annoying others, especially Fadel, will plan to find a suitor for him. And who wouldn't be a better choice than... stop there, it's not Lucentio, but Style, the happy and smiling automotive mechanic and Kant's best friend.
Style must fulfill the task of helping the two lovers as much as possible to get Fadel to accept Kant as Bison's boyfriend, so the three of them develop a plan: Style will pursue and woo Fadel until he makes him yearn for her him and in this way allows Bison to also have a boyfriend. But when Style sees Fadel he falls in love, and he will try to win him over, but to do so he will not have to pretend to be a Latin teacher.
But the most interesting twist in the story is that both Bison and Fadel are two hitmen. As you hear, dear reader: while the authorities are not clear how to respond to organized crime in the Thai capital, these two young antiheroes are a curious solution. These brothers are hired to murder drug traffickers, rapists, corrupt politicians, dishonest businessmen...
If in "The Taming of the Shrew" that would be the main approach of the work, the Thai series brings other ingredients. Of course, in both one and the other, various situations of entanglements and abundant witty dialogues await us in which verbal wit undoubtedly becomes the most forceful of weapons.
Owners and workers by day in a hamburger restaurant, Bison and Fadel are, by night, two expert shooters and assassins. While the first dreams of not spending his entire life chasing criminals, the second believes it is necessary to carry out, for life, his mission of exterminating all villains.
But who is Kant? Is he really in love with Bison or does he have a hidden agenda? Kant is a young tattoo artist who has a history of being a car thief. He was caught by the Police some time ago for this crime. In order to have his criminal record archived and even be lucky enough to see it disappear completely, he must complete undercover police missions. Otherwise, they could reopen their case and end up in jail, so Babe (Kenji Kanthee Limpitkranon), his younger brother, would lose his only protector in life.
In this way, Kant will be forced to be an informant and spy for the Police on the same parasites of society that Bison and Faude eliminate daily.
And it turns out that, at the request of Chris (Peter Tuinstra), the police agent handling his case, Kant will have to secretly investigate the brothers Bison and Fadel, suspected of being the two hitmen who have taken the law into their own hands.
It is interesting how the series rewrites the work of the Elizabethan playwright that deals with the theme of "taming a brave woman by her husband", giving it a personal touch that does not leave anyone indifferent. The dialogues are full of wit and the wordplay is remarkable. That's something I love about Jojo, who plays with language and shapes it as he pleases to create series considered true gems of the BL genre with insightful, intelligent and even cynical characters, as he demonstrated in 'Only Friends', 'Never Let Me Go', 'The Warp Effect', 'Our Skyy 2', 'Nobody Happy', among others.
It is also striking how instead of machismo, the submission of the woman to the designs of the husband, marriage and the struggle between the sexes that permeates Shakespeare's work, 'The Heart Killers' takes an unexpected turn to address topics such as crime, flirting and a pitched battle between different personalities or characters.
As in "The Taming of the Shrew," the Thai series notes the ingenious use of duplicates. The contrast between the two brothers, the two love stories, the day divided into two, the different dreams of Bison and Fadel about their futures, the two scenarios that will involve one the laborious life as a front in the hamburger restaurant and the other the crime, among others, all aimed at giving rise to an agile and continuous dramatic counterpoint that very effectively helps the two romantic stories intertwine in an effective way.
In addition to a battle between totally opposite personalities, 'The Heart Killers' is a battle between wits, all the themes: seduction, crime, the relationships between best friends and between the two brothers, the professional tasks of the protagonists, namely that of a tattoo artist, a car mechanic, a chef and a restaurant worker, all of this to give rise to a display of deceptions and tricks, and the winner is always the one who demonstrates the greatest practical intelligence in all matters.
Furthermore, 'The Heart Killers' is a series of transformations that relies on the conventional resources of intrigue comedy; disguise, deception and false identities.
As far as the characters are concerned, above all I would like to highlight the two brothers, since the contrast in their personalities is overwhelming. On the one hand there is Bison, who has a lot of character and does not always agree with what is said to him and, in part, likes to bother others. Meanwhile, Fadel is very serious, responsible, and has always managed to maintain his composure... until Style enters his life.
Khaotung is a convincing actor. He has had meteoric growth since his debut as an actor in the 2018 series 'Cause You're My Boy', in 2018. The construction of his character allowed him to deliver a performance full of subtleties, where Bison's surly and indomitable character contrasts with the moments of introspection and the decisions that lead him to confront his most intimate feelings.
First once again demonstrates his talent, that each role he plays is comfortable for him, despite the challenges, the volume of work, and the archetypal experiences that he has to express on screen, no matter how new they may be for him.
Both make up a dream ship. Their interactions are natural. They know each other well, after being a couple in 'Only Friends', 'The Eclipce' and 'Our Skyy 2'. On this occasion, not only are their sex scenes a gift for the viewer.
Joong Archen Wiraphakul's Fadel is the most important character in this rising star's promising career until today. In his social accounts, the actor, model and singer recognizes that the recognition and affection of the public is the greatest reward received, in addition, what he has been able to grow and learn as an actor and person during the process. I never imagined seeing him "masturbate" in front of the cameras.
But of the four, Dunk has the most growth from a role prior to this. To my surprise, his Style overflows with provocation, sexuality and impudence. As an actor, he has been able to increase his acting skills through training and giving his best in each project. His evolution as an actor is based on extracting valuable lessons from each experience to apply them in future projects.
In the series he had to face things that he had never experienced, such as harassing Fadel, speaking with brazenness and determination, adopting a much sexier pose than on previous occasions, no longer in a university uniform, but in a car mechanic's outfit, T-shirts and shorts and occasion clothes. He had to face situations he had never experienced and search the depths of his emotions to interpret them. For this reason, I consider that 'The Heart Killers' and Style have been a school in his life.
Dunk and Joong Archen are also two actors who have managed to get along after pairing up in 'Star and Sky: Star in My Mind', 'Star and Sky: Sky in Your Heart', 'Our Skyy 2' and 'Hidden Agenda'.
Only the first two episodes have aired. I'll come back later to update the review.

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Between cruel, deceitful, and loving and nostalgic characters

'Stealing from My CEO' is a Chinese drama and romantic series with an LGBT+ theme with a plot about two adopted brothers, Chen, from rich parents, and Gang, a poor orphan, who are separated, while still children, when an ambitious employee of the family mansion hatches plans to steal and blame Gang.
Thirteen years later, now young, the two adopted brothers meet again. By then, Chen has assumed the name Lucas and is a successful CEO, engaged to the ambitious employee's daughter, Nana, who, posing as Gang's biological sister, manipulated Lucas' guilt into convincing him to commit to she.
Meanwhile, Gang finds it impossible to tell Lucas his true identity, because during that time, without relatives, home or friends, he has been forced to be a thief by Green Dragon, a man who picked him up on the streets after escaping, and now pressures Gang to rob Lucas and his fiancee's house. To carry out the heist, Gang will have the help of Crane, Green Dragon's son. The story also tells of a love triangle between Lucas, Gang and Crane.
Good and evil characters, drama, intrigue, boss-employee relationship, love triangle, romance, tension, threats, dangers and adventures are the ingredients of the series.
Despite being poor and orphaned, and the mistreatment to which he was subjected, Gang, the main character, is a noble and innocent spirit, a quality that he preserves contrary to all the suffering he has suffered in his childhood and adolescence.
The series, signed in vertical format, also has a moral purpose, through the reflection of the life led by the most marginal sector of society, since having lived among scammers and thieves, both Crane and Gang survive with candor and innocence, wanting not to continue their lives as thieves and, instead, study to be able to enter university and carve out a future free from criminal acts.
Despite its low budget and numerous flaws: linear content marked by conventionality, emotional affectation, narrative scheme of melodramatic and sentimental exaggeration, overacting, low blows, reproduction of gender stereotypes, caricature characters, linking economic success with crime, discrimination and little desire to investigate social contexts, the series seeks to criticize the lack of protection of the most disadvantaged classes, the determinism that can lead directly from poverty to crime and inhumanity.
Between cruel and deceitful characters, on the one hand, and loving and nostalgic characters, on the other, it will be discovered who the young employee in Lucas and Nana's house really is.
'Stealing from My CEO' paints the misfortune of two young people who hope to escape with their own efforts from a world of theft that is not the one they dreamed of the squalid moral misery of a father who forces his children to steal, the undeserved life of opulence of ambitious father and daughter who will do anything to climb the ranks of society, and a young man who has not forgotten the one he once called brother and with whom he shared games and laughter in childhood.

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Short series and agile and concise narration

When a few months ago HBD Studio and Ppeach, the original new platform designed to, among other things, provide adaptations of popular BL novels, such as 'Uncle Unknown', 'Inverse identity, 'Promising' and 'Stay Still', launched learning that a short series based on the Chinese fiction "Falling for My Enemy's" was in the process of production, joy took over everyone who had ever visited, through their imagination, the places where Wang Congcong and Zheng Qinghe loved each other, building for himself those passages in which the rich young man of privileged origin discovered that the handsome bodyguard hired was none other than his childhood friend Zheng Guanyuan, but under a pseudonym in order to take revenge for the murder of his family.
Of the Danmei genre, with a high commercial and market value, there was no one who did not put faces to the characters, even beyond the detailed descriptions left by the work of love between boys from China, and wondered, in passing, Will true love survive between them or will hatred and revenge prevail? What will ultimately be the fate of these two people, whose emotions and hatred are intertwined?
At the end of November, the world's press reported the end of the wait and the premiere of the series.
With the title 'Be Moon', the short series presents two main characters whose relationship develops in a dark environment full of emotional tension.
Starring Huang Xuan Wen ('Qing Qing Zi Jin', 2020), who will play Zheng Qing He / Zheng Guan Yuan, and Feng Xiang Kun ('Stay With Me'), an actor who will play Wang Congcong, the series describes a palpable romantic tension and the development of an emotional evolution of the characters when facing complex situations, to finally fall in love against all expectations.
The clash between these two characters is shocking. And the tone of the first scenes also gives you an idea of how the next ones continue.
When Zheng Guan Yuan and Wang Congcong cross paths, they begin to have feelings for each other and are faced with unexpected feelings that challenge both original plans and preconceived ideas.
Soon Zheng Guan Yuan will discover that, despite representing everything he hates in that world, Wang Congcong also awakens previously unknown feelings and sensations in him.
The attraction between them is undeniable, but the dilemma arises when Wang Congcong discovers the truth about the plans of the handsome, strong and intimidating bodyguard. He is torn between his feelings for Wang Congcong and his desire for revenge. While Wang Congcong is presented with the dilemma of whether or not it is possible to love the son of his greatest enemy. Is love between the two possible? The answer includes unknowns, secret identities, deception and passion, all mixed in a series that also talks about revenge, revelations, intrigue and betrayal.
Other characters hold secrets that could unleash an uncontrollable force if they came to light.
Many viewers do not like short series. However, they are still making their way on a global scale.
What makes it special, in addition to its short episodes, is its ability to offer an intense story in each of them. This detail is key for those looking for series with a fast pace and easy to consume.
With several hundred series produced each year and with the different streaming platforms worldwide competing almost every week to host the best premieres, series lovers increasingly find themselves with the complex dilemma of not only deciding what what they want to see, but to detect what time they have to see.
What title fits between the time we dedicate to other series that we are already watching and between the rest of the activities that we like to do in our free time? BL series producers also have a solution for this: miniseries or short series, like those mentioned in the first paragraph of the review, which consist of very very short chapters and whose single season can be seen in a flash.
That is precisely the key to 'Be Moon', whose episodes barely last 3 minutes and in just under an hour a love story is told and interpreted in a truly remarkable way, even if it has no great pretensions.
Without the need to invest in a long-term commitment, 'Be Moon' offers the same agile storytelling, dramatic moments and satisfying ending as any traditional television series, managing to hook viewers from start to finish, while ensuring that the story be short and light.

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Music is the other main protagonist

Who hasn't had the fantasy of a musical idol falling in love with you? What would happen if you fell in love with the fashionable youth idol when you are tasked with documenting his latest concert as part of a boy group? What would happen if in the midst of the band's dissolution you became its leader's closest confidant?
'ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat', the Thai romantic drama directed by Mui Aticha Tanthanawigrai ('The Shipper', 2020), tells the story of Po (Est Supha Sangaworawong, 'Love by Chance Season 2: A Chance to Love', 2020), a young filmmaker who finds work in an entertainment company as director of a documentary that will record the latest performance of the popular boy group Mars, and is bewitched by the charms of Thame (William Jakrapatr Kaewpanpong), the band's singer and dancer, as well as his heart and soul.
And it's art that unites Thame and Po, in a way. Each one from their own line (Thame in the musical area, Po in the cinematographic arts), and they come together at a middle point that leads them to love, while one is about to leave the band to debut solo in South Korea due to a misunderstanding with the other members of the group, and the other must capture the group's final concert in images and sounds.
Both the work behind the script and Est's inspirational and empowered performance add to the narrative of the series substantially. The fact that the protagonist is a young man who has left his happiness and future on hold during the time he was dating someone who led him to be in the background in the relationship, turns a premise disconnected from reality into a very more earthly and empathetic. One that allows the viewer to understand more about the phenomenon of invisibility that some people suffer when they are part of the lives of public figures, such as artists. But if Po, his character, is leaving one of these relationships, he runs the risk of falling into another, when his path crosses that of Thame.
They are both heartbroken and need to heal. Will they find comfort in each other? Can they share their loneliness and sadness? In addition to their passions for music and directing work, will love be what heals them? Will the band's fate be to disband once Thame becomes a solo artist, leaving his bandmates behind? Is this Thame's dream or is it an action undertaken by internal conflicts that can be overcome? Will Po manage to overcome the trauma of having been a "shadow" in her relationship with her ex-boyfriend? Will Po be able to prevent the group from dissolving? I ask myself these and other questions, and I hope to have answers in the final episode.
Against all logic, the series does not raise the curtain on the meticulous process of creating a global musical sensation, but on the imminent separation of the iconic world-class boy band, made up, in addition to Thame, of Dylan (Hong Pichetpong Chiradatesakunvong), Nano (Lego Rapeepong Supatineekitdecha), Jun (Nut Thanat Danjesda) and Peeper (Tui Chayatorn Trairattanapradit).
The series does not raise the curtain on the meticulous process of creating a global musical sensation, but on the imminent separation of the iconic world-class boy band, made up, in addition to Thame, of Dylan (Hong Pichetpong Chiradatesakunvong), Nano (Lego Rapeepong Supatineekitdecha ), Jun (Nut Thanat Danjesda) and Peeper (Tui Chayatorn Trairattanapradit).
With a script by PingPong Suwanun Pohgudsai ('Cherry Magic', 2023-2024), Kannika Tovaranonte ('Gen Y', 2021), and the director himself, the series is a GMMTV production aimed at showcasing the five members of the group LYKN boys, winners of the Best New Artist award at the Komchadluek Awards 2024, who on screen show their skills as singers and dancers.
Combining their talent and charisma with exemplary physical discipline, William, Hong, Lego, Nut and Tui drive the viewer crazy with their songs, dances and stage movements. After starring in the short film 'No Worries', in 2023, and the documentary 'LYKN Day1 to Debut', the five members of LYKN more than reaffirm their acting and musical abilities.
From the first frame in which he appears, William is not only able to fill the screen, but he also manages to perfectly convey the energy of his character and the very particular circumstances in which he finds himself. Something that really manages to captivate the viewer and make the journey that the character goes through much more transcendental for them.
The series not only tells a romance between Po and Thame, or the story of the idol band, but also reflects on the price of success, the importance of friendship and the need to balance notoriety and privacy in a relationship couple. With convincing performances, this series promises to be an unmissable event for lovers of BL and music in general.
Although these are preliminary assessments, since only one episode of the 13 that the series has has been broadcast, Est manages to portray the young film director who must carry out the mission of filming the documentary of the Mars farewell concert, while deals with the recent breakup with his ex-boyfriend Earn (Pepper Phanuroj Chalermkijporntavee), the trauma left in him by a toxic relationship in which, after helping or achieving success, he was despised by the person he he loved, and the feelings that Thame, the handsome and seductive leader of the band, awakens in him.
Without a doubt, music is the other main protagonist. In addition to "All I Need", by LYKN, other musical themes by a real band created for the series are played, such as "I Remember", in the voice of Victor Lundberg, and "Destined", a song performed by Tui Chayatorn, among others.
The lyrics of the songs turn out to be a decent summary of the series: "How could we fall so quickly and let ourselves go? It's time to give up. Now that it's over, there's nothing to say 'cause, I guess we've said it all," we signals the breakdown of Po and Earn's relationship, but then, like a pleasant foreshadowing, we will hear: "You stole my heart in the blink of an eye. I've been yours since the first time we met. All I need is you!" ", as a sign of the birth of a new romance, while the audience claps their hands and sings the song.
Likewise, Thame performs a song with the other members of the band, and then acts alone on stage, and sings a song in which he expresses: "...although all the dreams we had did not turn out as planned," and Dylan, Nano, Jun and Peeper retire, leaving only the leader of the group on the stage, it is a prediction of what the viewer could expect in the series if they do not solve the group's internal problems.
In my opinion, the creators have sought to make the story seem as authentic as possible and ensure that the actors who are members of LYKN were integrated into the plot in a real way. The five boys have this type of integrity, which must be of great help, since in the progression of the series in general, they are in charge of writing, performing and dancing the songs that we hear intertwined with the love story between Thame and Po.
It's too early to give conclusions, but what I've seen so far, I believe this couple's romance. Yes, they are diametrically opposed in some aspects but at the same time very similar in others. The fact that their relationship makes them grow individually enriches the plot. Examples? We can see it when Thame tries to better understand Po's passion for art. Likewise, when Po tries to look at Thame as the man he is and not the famous singer.
In this sense, how I would like them both to learn a lot about themselves and their sexuality through their relationship with each other, that they both make the other better on a personal level, and that together they can keep the band together.
But I will tell this later.

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One of the most memorable phrases in cinema: "I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her", is uttered by Julia Roberts to Hugh Grant in the film 'Notting Hill', one of the comedy classics romantic from the 90s.
The truth is that marriage proposals are one of the most anticipated moments, both for men and women. It is when they declare their love and the hope of staying together for longer, sharing a life. In television series, many characters have waited a long time until the moment arrives, or they have not been able to decide, but the truth is that when it happens we cannot take our eyes off the screen.
With flowers? With candles? In the moonlight? On a plane? On a sinking ocean liner? In a movie theater before the surprised gaze of spectators? With the most beautiful words we have ever heard? Kneeling on the ground?
All of us love to show in detail how much we love our partners. Sometimes we do it with flowers; other times, inviting him out to dinner or preparing a romantic dinner at home; others, doing something for the other that we would never dare to do. In this sense, perhaps you or your partner are considering going one step further and asking the other person to marry him/her.
Beyond the ring or getting on your knees, what you will remember all your life will be the words they say to you and that moment in which the world stops spinning, or maybe it spins faster than usual, because you and your beloved boy They are the center of the universe.
Ai and Yu, the protagonists of WeTV's 'Special: I Saw You in My Dream: You & I in Our Dream', walk these paths.
Four years after the events narrated in the series, the two boys are a happy couple. One night, Ai dreams that Yu makes her one of the impossible-to-forget movie proposals, but the next day she sees in a dream that her boyfriend breaks up with him.
Puzzled about what the future holds for him, along with Yu, Ing and Yo, he travels to Chonbury for a three-day vacation.
And if it seems that Ai and Yu have a radiant and healthy relationship, some incidents could suggest just the opposite. And this worries the young man in love with his neighbor and lifelong friend.
Are they ready to take that big step before the altar (remember that they are Catholic? Do they have shared purposes or not? Do they trust each other? Is one the safe harbor for the other? Are they convinced that their future fiancé really motivates you to be better people? Are you ready to take on a life together? Doesn't committing yourself mean being by that person's side forever? Doesn't this mean being able to feel happy, calm and inspired by your side and that the first one? The emotion you feel when thinking about the other is: joy!? Between doubts and insecurities, Ai struggles.
It won't be "I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her" the phrase we will hear from Yu's lips, but, to play with the entire series: "Our wedding won't be just a dream... because it's going to happen" be real", feeling both their feet sink into the sand of the beach, receiving the warm sea breeze on their faces, in the light of the bright sun, with their hearts racing, and with Me and Ing as unexpected witnesses.
I hope to see other marriage proposals in Thai BLs, the last one more emotional and touching than the last.
Let 'Special: I Saw You in My Dream: You & I in Our Dream' serve as the fair and definitive demand for Thailand to finally approve the Equal Marriage Law and, above all, to combat discrimination and harassment of people Thai LGBT+. At least the first of these wishes seems to be close to being achieved.

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The story will keep your interest and make up for its shortcomings (First update to original review)

After a few years marked by an unexpected and unthinkable pandemic, ideas that have the coronavirus as another protagonist continue to arrive at the script tables. As it is often said: ""There is no evil that does not come with good"," and this saying has been carried out to the letter by audiovisual creators.
Series that had signed new seasons, movies pending filming or festivals waiting to be held, were paralyzed, postponed or canceled worldwide due to COVID-19. Despite not being a topic of good taste and having been discussed since its terrible appearance until today, the coronavirus has marked an era in the lives of citizens globally and, therefore, the scriptwriters have wanted to introduce it into their stories so that do not fall on deaf ears and give it the importance and validity it deserves.
The famous Thai youth writer who publishes her works under the pseudonym Yeonin, author of the novel "Unforgotten Night", which was adapted into a television series of the same name in 2022, was writing "Live in Love" ('รักผ่านไลฟ์') when it appeared the coronavirus. Although she had a writing project well underway, it was interrupted by the health situation, so she decided to remake the fiction to introduce greater truthfulness into the story.
Yeonim has publicly stated in interviews and on her social media that 'Live in Love' is inspired by two real people she had been following during the first pandemic quarantine period. She felt that the beginning of getting to know each other was interesting. So, that drives her to write a story and continue it according to her imagination.
From the effort to put a human face on what has happened with the pandemic, which could not stop our lives, but did change a lot, a pure and pleasant love story emerges between Kla and Cake in times of coronavirus, where the romance begins through from a live broadcast to gradually turning into love.
The quite different style from other stories that characterizes the novel written by Yeonim, full of happiness, joy, tenderness and warmth, did not go unnoticed by Hearth Chindanai Decawaleekul, the young actor known to the public for his participation in the dramas 'Love Songs Love Series: Belief (2018)', 'Love Syndrome III' and 'Twins', the latter two from 2023, to adapt and turn it into the first BL series and first project of Studio On Fire, the new film studio built by him same in August 2023.
With the title 'Live in Love, Love Through Live The Series', Hearth Chindanai not only debuts in the production of films and series, but also as one of their scriptwriters. To write the script, Hearth relies on the solid experience of three renowned romance and BL writers: Patty Patraputrasorn Warissaraphuricha, the author of the lesbian dramas 'GAP' (2022) and 'My Marvelous Dream Is You' (2024); Jungjing Wanna Kortunyavat, who debuted as a screenwriter in 2020 with 'TharnType', and also wrote the scripts for the dramas 'Lovely Writer' (2021), 'Second Chance' (2021), Hidden Agenda (2023) and 'Unforgotten Night', as well as the film 'After Sundown' (2023), and May Thidaphon Phrueksamaswong, writer of 'Unforgotten Night' (2022), 'Bed Friend' (2023), 'The Middleman's Love (2023) and 'Battle of the Writers ' (2024).
"Ball" Kanathorn Tabvilai was called to direct the series, a cinematographer and director who debuted in 2024 with the BL series 'Twins', which was followed by 'Night Dream', of the same year and genre.
'Live in Love' is a gay romance between young Thai adults. The cast is young and fresh, and the plot is light with a bit of seriousness. The story takes place during the COVID-19 pandemic, so everyone is in quarantine. Because of this, most of the action takes place online on social media, live streams, and video chats. To keep the story moving and maintain interest, the cast is overly emotional and almost comical in some cases. And it works well.
The series revolves around a boy named Kla, a young university student and heir to a resort in tourist Phuket, who loves photography, playing the guitar and computing. Despite his cold and hard-as-a-stone heart, he is loved by his friends Bee (Omnmon Poppat Lertpradit), Dol (Chan Phuliwat Yananruenon) and especially Poon (Boat Napat Srinakluan – 'TharnType' and 'TharnType Season 2: 7 Years of Love'), with whom he will weave a beautiful friendship.
Gina (Mimi Ruethaiphat Phatthananapaphangkorn) and Khing (Nina Pichayanin Pichayadechakarn) are also part of Kla's close circle of friends. Khing has developed feelings towards the character played by the actor who graduated in Marketing from Mahidol University International College for the Faculty of Business Administration and who was one of the eight Bravo Boys.
Hearth is a revelation. His performance is very intuitive and layered, with a gaze that traverses the screen. It conveys the awakening of Kla's sexuality through subtle emotional twists and shifts in consciousness. There is between him and Junior Chokkorn Deotrakul, the actor who brings Cake to life, a wonderful chemistry, the kind that creates a deep relationship that allows the relationship of their characters to mature despite the short time on screen... characters that feel deep, vivid and real.
Introduced to this protagonist, it is the turn of Cake, the warm, expressive and popular student from another university, who likes to play the piano and maintains a close relationship with his brother Itim (Tee Vitsarut Suwinijjit - 'Restart (ed)', 2022), his best friend Gam (Tiger Tanawat Hudchaleelaha - 'Love Syndrome: The Beginning' (2024) and the rest of the lively gang: Pao (Worachai Areewong), Pat (Jamee Jameekorn Wongcha-oum ), Fat (Debbie Kanchanisa Lim), and Jim (Thitivut Susereechai).
Cake's cheerful group will soon be joined by the lonely Af (Haii Sarunsathorn Tanawatcharawat), an actor known for playing Ken, one of the protagonists of the BL series 'Chains of Heart' (2023), and for getting into the shoes of Cirrus, a character from 'TharnType Season 2: 7 Years of Love' (2021), who will develop an unhealthy attraction for Cake and will do anything to have him.
Junior Chokkorn Deotrakul is one of the protagonists of the BL series 'My Universe', from 2023, in which he got into the skin of the character of Mok in the stories 'Friends Forever, 'Right Time, Right You' and 'You Are My So(ul) Mate'.
Initially, this romantic drama would star Hearth Chindanai and Non Ratchanon, as main characters, a secondary couple in the drama 'Love Syndrome III'. However, Non decided to resign, and the role was eventually awarded to Junior Chokkorn.
They are both actors in their roles and bring their characters to real life... and virtual. Dialogues, emotions, cinematography and script combine quite decently to make this a work that will delight BL lovers.
And if Kla and Cake could have met on another previous occasion, since their mutual friend Poon has invited them to share dinners and walks, this was prevented by the mandatory quarantine and the closure of study centers, which led to university students They must study online and do most of their activities at home.
However, the inevitable will happen, and the meeting of the two main characters of 'Live in Love' will take place accidentally, when both meet through 'live', after being invited by Poon to participate in a virtual meeting.
Hearing such a delicious name brings back memories of that enigmatic moment Kla, whose personality has not been able to be unraveled by his friends or by so many girls who, like Khing and Amp (Auttarinya Uengsilpsrikul), have tried to get his attention with gifts of appetizing pastries, whom he has equally insistently rejected. And suddenly, his nature is revealed before Cake's bright and innocent smile, which will make the heart of the young man who has never looked at or given hope to anyone, beat in his chest.
Kla's perfect world is put to the test when she meets Cake. That virtual meeting is one of those instant connections. Sparks fly immediately and Kla's desire is awakened for the first time in his life.
And Poon does not miss the nervousness evident in both young people when they meet. It's as if he understands that there is a crush between his two friends, as if he has taken their pulse, which has begun to accelerate after their gazes meet and even remain there for a while, while they try to hide their emotions.
Who gave rise to the hashtags #Dare to eat cake? Who would have thought that teasing from friends was a challenge at first? Who would have imagined that the germ of a love relationship would be a provocation? Who would think that a "teasing" would spark a romance? Poon came up with the idea of ​​using hashtags like "#กล้าเค้ก (#KlaCake)" and "#กล้ากินเค้กไหม (Dare 'Kla' Eat 'Cake')", which cemented the already awakened love interest between the two boys since they met.
Therefore, Kla and Cake decide to do a joint live broadcast on social networks. #Do you dare to eat cake? And this is the beginning of a beautiful love relationship, which became an online trend overnight, and which both build, little by little, into a triumphant gay fairy tale. And with the possibility, like all fairy tales, that they can live happily ever after.
What begins as a friendly joke will end up becoming a journey of no return. 'Live in Love' continually puts at risk the boundaries between the mandatory social distancing caused by the pandemic and male friendship. Suddenly, both characters feel attracted, but that attraction is not only physical, but also intersects with a virtual attachment in which they share tastes, conversations, memories, feelings, waiting for the opportunity to meet in person and go out street to shout your love. All of this is collected in the adapted novel, which should also be a must-see for lovers of the genre.
By telling a story whose main characters are university students and by being set in university and social networks, 'Live in Love' is full of diverse characters, young people who have just left adolescence and moved towards adulthood or are in this process, young people like those of today and those from anywhere in the world, with the cell phone as an extension of their hands, who like going out in groups, showing the world online as they perceive it, exhibiting their skills for use of technology, characterized by spontaneity, interactivity, critical thinking and the constant search for new experiences.
Likewise, the series addresses topics such as family, acceptance, coming of age, coming out, the use of social networks, digital harassment, the use of hate speech on the Internet, the violation of the privacy of people in digital media, and individual and collective protection against the deadly risk posed by the pandemic. In this sense, the viewer can visualize the use of masks and various protection products by the characters involved in the story.
Although the story is very simple, the director is smart enough to keep it that way, with a casual pace that works. It will lull you into the story while keeping your interest. The acting isn't bad, but it makes me wonder how much better it would be with a more experienced cast. The series is good enough that this won't ruin it, it's just an idea.
In short, 'Live in Love' is a decent series for those who enjoy a slow-paced character study. The story will keep your interest and make up for your shortcomings.
In summary, 'Live in Love' is a good series for those who enjoy a slow-paced character study. The story will keep your interest and make up for your shortcomings.
YA

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Antiheroes, villains and wild beasts

Inspired by the comedy "The Taming of the Shrew" by English writer, poet and playwright William Shakespeare, the Thai BL series 'The Heart Killers' brings back four popular and talented actors: Kanaphan Puitrakul, Khaotung Thanawat Rattanakitpaisan, Dunk Natachai Boonprasert, and Joong Archen Wiraphakul, who play Kant, Bison, Style, and Fadel, in that order.
The series addresses themes such as love, courtship, disguise, deception and crime, while love arises both in the case of Bison and Kant, and in that of Fadel and Style. However, unlike Shakespeare's work, whose secondary plot serves as a counterpoint to the main plot, in the Thai series both stories balance and measure equally, that is, there is no preeminence of one over the other.
Directed by Jojo Tidakorn Pookaothong, the story is not set in the Italian city of Padua nor are we in the 16th century, but in Bangkok, in the present. Instead of Katharina, the main character, it is Bison, a young man with a boisterous, stubborn, disobedient and indomitable personality, but also famous for being attractive. This in principle would not have any mystery nor would it be transcendent for the series, except for the detail that the father of this young woman, Baptista Minola, does not want to marry his youngest daughter, Bianca, until Katharina, or rather, Bison, does not has found a boyfriend.
But the story, which has a script by Kanokphan Oraratanasakul, Issaraporn Kuntisuk and Fleur Irene Insot, known for writing 'This Love Doesn't Have Long Beans', will bring us other changes: instead of Baptista, it will be Bianca herself... or better yet said, Fadel, Bison's intelligent, handsome and responsible brother, who will oppose Bison having a boyfriend until he himself finds the right person to love.
Fadel, who is the complete opposite in character of his older brother, has never shown interest in any of the men who have disputed his love in the past.
Protector of his brother, Fadel scares away all the suitors who are interested in Bison, to the dismay of the latter, who has just succumbed to the charms of the handsome man... no, don't be hasty, he is not Petrucio, but Kant, a young man with a strong character and intelligent, who will have the courage to pretend to Bison.
The love, which is taking shape between the two lovers, will pose a serious problem: will Fadel accept Kant when he himself has decided not to allow his brother to have a boyfriend until his heart also trembles with passion?
Faced with this dilemma, Kant and Bison, who is devoted to annoying others, especially Fadel, will plan to find a suitor for him. And who wouldn't be a better choice than... stop there, it's not Lucentio, but Style, the happy and smiling automotive mechanic and Kant's best friend.
Style must fulfill the task of helping the two lovers as much as possible to get Fadel to accept Kant as Bison's boyfriend, so the three of them develop a plan: Style will pursue and woo Fadel until he makes him yearn for her him and in this way allows Bison to also have a boyfriend. But when Style sees Fadel he falls in love, and he will try to win him over, but to do so he will not have to pretend to be a Latin teacher.
But the most interesting twist in the story is that both Bison and Fadel are two hitmen. As you hear, dear reader: while the authorities are not clear how to respond to organized crime in the Thai capital, these two young antiheroes are a curious solution. These brothers are hired to murder drug traffickers, rapists, corrupt politicians, dishonest businessmen...
If in "The Taming of the Shrew" that would be the main approach of the work, the Thai series brings other ingredients. Of course, in both one and the other, various situations of entanglements and abundant witty dialogues await us in which verbal wit undoubtedly becomes the most forceful of weapons.
Owners and workers by day in a hamburger restaurant, Bison and Fadel are, by night, two expert shooters and assassins. While the first dreams of not spending his entire life chasing criminals, the second believes it is necessary to carry out, for life, his mission of exterminating all villains.
But who is Kant? Is he really in love with Bison or does he have a hidden agenda? Kant is a young tattoo artist who has a history of being a car thief. He was caught by the Police some time ago for this crime. In order to have his criminal record archived and even be lucky enough to see it disappear completely, he must complete undercover police missions. Otherwise, they could reopen their case and end up in jail, so Babe (Kenji Kanthee Limpitkranon), his younger brother, would lose his only protector in life.
In this way, Kant will be forced to be an informant and spy for the Police on the same parasites of society that Bison and Faude eliminate daily.
And it turns out that, at the request of Chris (Peter Tuinstra), the police agent handling his case, Kant will have to secretly investigate the brothers Bison and Fadel, suspected of being the two hitmen who have taken the law into their own hands.
It is interesting how the series rewrites the work of the Elizabethan playwright that deals with the theme of "taming a brave woman by her husband", giving it a personal touch that does not leave anyone indifferent. The dialogues are full of wit and the wordplay is remarkable. That's something I love about Jojo, who plays with language and shapes it as he pleases to create series considered true gems of the BL genre with insightful, intelligent and even cynical characters, as he demonstrated in 'Only Friends', 'Never Let Me Go', 'The Warp Effect', 'Our Skyy 2', 'Nobody Happy', among others.
It is also striking how instead of machismo, the submission of the woman to the designs of the husband, marriage and the struggle between the sexes that permeates Shakespeare's work, 'The Heart Killers' takes an unexpected turn to address topics such as crime, flirting and a pitched battle between different personalities or characters.
As in "The Taming of the Shrew," the Thai series notes the ingenious use of duplicates. The contrast between the two brothers, the two love stories, the day divided into two, the different dreams of Bison and Fadel about their futures, the two scenarios that will involve one the laborious life as a front in the hamburger restaurant and the other the crime, among others, all aimed at giving rise to an agile and continuous dramatic counterpoint that very effectively helps the two romantic stories intertwine in an effective way.
In addition to a battle between totally opposite personalities, 'The Heart Killers' is a battle between wits, all the themes: seduction, crime, the relationships between best friends and between the two brothers, the professional tasks of the protagonists, namely that of a tattoo artist, a car mechanic, a chef and a restaurant worker, all of this to give rise to a display of deceptions and tricks, and the winner is always the one who demonstrates the greatest practical intelligence in all matters.
Furthermore, 'The Heart Killers' is a series of transformations that relies on the conventional resources of intrigue comedy; disguise, deception and false identities.
As far as the characters are concerned, above all I would like to highlight the two brothers, since the contrast in their personalities is overwhelming. On the one hand there is Bison, who has a lot of character and does not always agree with what is said to him and, in part, likes to bother others. Meanwhile, Fadel is very serious, responsible, and has always managed to maintain his composure... until Style enters his life.
Khaotung is a convincing actor. He has had meteoric growth since his debut as an actor in the 2018 series 'Cause You're My Boy', in 2018. The construction of his character allowed him to deliver a performance full of subtleties, where Bison's surly and indomitable character contrasts with the moments of introspection and the decisions that lead him to confront his most intimate feelings.
First once again demonstrates his talent, that each role he plays is comfortable for him, despite the challenges, the volume of work, and the archetypal experiences that he has to express on screen, no matter how new they may be for him.
Both make up a dream ship. Their interactions are natural. They know each other well, after being a couple in 'Only Friends', 'The Eclipce' and 'Our Skyy 2'. On this occasion, not only are their sex scenes a gift for the viewer.
Joong Archen Wiraphakul's Fadel is the most important character in this rising star's promising career until today. In his social accounts, the actor, model and singer recognizes that the recognition and affection of the public is the greatest reward received, in addition, what he has been able to grow and learn as an actor and person during the process. I never imagined seeing him "masturbate" in front of the cameras.
But of the four, Dunk has the most growth from a role prior to this. To my surprise, his Style overflows with provocation, sexuality and impudence. As an actor, he has been able to increase his acting skills through training and giving his best in each project. His evolution as an actor is based on extracting valuable lessons from each experience to apply them in future projects.
In the series he had to face things that he had never experienced, such as harassing Fadel, speaking with brazenness and determination, adopting a much sexier pose than on previous occasions, no longer in a university uniform, but in a car mechanic's outfit, T-shirts and shorts and occasion clothes. He had to face situations he had never experienced and search the depths of his emotions to interpret them. For this reason, I consider that 'The Heart Killers' and Style have been a school in his life.
Dunk and Joong Archen are also two actors who have managed to get along after pairing up in 'Star and Sky: Star in My Mind', 'Star and Sky: Sky in Your Heart', 'Our Skyy 2' and 'Hidden Agenda'.
Only the first two episodes have aired. I'll come back later to update the review.

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From 'The Hidden Moon', Thailand and its BL dramatic universe

Everything seems to indicate that the Thai series 'The Hidden Moon' does unequivocal justice to its name. In its frames there are many mysteries and secrets hidden in the light of the moon and the viewer must unravel them as the episodes go by.
Many like the exciting journey full of visual elegance provided by this series directed by Intorn Lokaew, director of 'Low Frequency' (2023) and producer of the romantic comedy and musical 'Hug Jao ​​E Lee', from 2022. The series shows a drama that is carefully detailed and has all the shots and frames perfected for an elegant audiovisual presentation.
It is no secret that the BL (Boys' Love) genre productions of the Southeast Asian nation have, for more than a decade, stolen popularity in the market, and have become an international cultural phenomenon thanks to their plots that show attractive couples, in bucolic landscapes and with a message about being true to oneself.
It is no secret that the BL (Boys' Love) genre productions of the Southeast Asian nation have, for more than a decade, stolen popularity in the market, and have become an international cultural phenomenon thanks to their plots that show attractive couples, in bucolic landscapes and with a message about being true to oneself.
When and how did it all start? Why so many followers? One might also wonder about the "magic" exerted by production companies like GMM25 or Dee Hup House. However, in the face of so many doubts, a great certainty delivers a blow of reality: with lovers or detractors, the world does not remain indifferent to the consumption of a solid and intelligent industry.
For example, the number of BL produced in Thailand increased from 19 between 2014 and 2018 to 75 in 2022. And it continues to grow at present. These television series are popular even in more conservative countries, such as India, Indonesia and Malaysia, although their followers must hide it, because if they say so publicly they may suffer sociocultural and religious pressures.
Thanks to these series, in Thailand the LGBT community enjoys more visibility and tolerance than in previous times, and it is expected that before the end of 2024, equal marriage will be legalized after being approved by the Senate of that country on June 18 of this year, with 130 votes in favor, 4 against and 18 abstentions, in its third and final reading.
Despite their popularity, these series do not realistically reflect the lives of people in this community in Thailand, where activists believe there is still work to be done to change mentalities. The life of gay men in Thailand can be quite tragic, as they still face discrimination and harassment.
Returning to the series: 'The Hidden Moon' demonstrates the television charms attributed to the Southeast Asian nation. As for the form, it is useless to deny the hypnotic effect of its image. The colors speak for themselves of a seductive Thailand, although sometimes greyish, always beautiful. The instrumental music penetrates the memory with an indescribable power, while the luxurious, but terrifying and mysterious old two-story house in the middle of the forest, at the foot of a mountain, welcomes the conflicts of its protagonists: Mas, the son of the owner of the place, and Khen, a writer who arrives in Chiang-Mai with the aim of writing about an old mansion.
However, his journey becomes a supernatural experience when, after suffering a car accident, he begins to experience inexplicable events. It is in this context that Khen meets Mas to tell us an exciting story, full of emotions and twists.
Said like that, it seems like the making of any Thai series of the BL genre. Precisely, these attractions that serve as eye drops are part of that group of characteristics that support the formula for success, but are only the visual and artistic components repeated? Although the exoticism of a distant country, populated by people with apparently perfect physiques, manages to connect with a vast audience, the classic plot lines of a romantic drama, in this case fantastic and supernatural period drama, are not left behind; that is, its content.
A production team featuring an energetic new copywriter travels to Chiang Mai to compose stories about two-story Thai houses in the country's northern region; a mysterious woman in a room at the end of the hall; an atmosphere that makes your hair stand on end; ghostly encounters on rainy days; terrifying events that surround those present in the mansion; the story of the two Moons at a different time orbiting together in the darkness of the night sky; a young man who must protect the house in the absence of his father who went to war, trapped people who cannot get away from the place where they are somehow imprisoned, the supernatural ability to see and hear things that should not be seen or heard, including to the son of the owner of the house in the past, the person whose name means "Luna is just like him"; bittersweet love, heartbreak, beautiful historical setting; a deep relationship wrapped between supernatural events and cruel secrets; a group of young people in alleged danger; couple made up of a modern-day boy who, after a car accident, travels to the past, precisely to a moment located during the First World War, to have a romance with a ghost with whom they are separated by a hundred years of difference, come together in this series vintage "Duean Prang".
These are topics that scare us in our lives but that we love to see on the big screen or television. Supernatural mystery series, suspense, ghostly apparitions and disappearances without answers are engaging like no other, and if you add romance to this, the delicious dish is served.
A maxim of series is that they engage, and for that to happen there is nothing better than suspense, intrigue and a good mystery to solve. If there is a genre that we love, it is these that combine all of the above. What's more pleasurable than the feeling of that edge-of-your-couch tension interspersed with sequences of high-stakes action and romance?
Now we have so much to choose from that many go unnoticed without us knowing their existence.
Thailand resorts to these ingredients again and again, because ultimately they capture the taste and attention of a viewer rooted in the typical plots that, despite reinventions of the genre, will always be there.
It is worth remembering the different socio-historical context, conservative and inclined to patriarchal laws, as well as the role of women in society and the controversial emotional and family relationships. These situations can accompany an afternoon coffee, but we should not "enjoy" them uncritically.
Starring David Matthew Roberts (in his acting debut) and Kin Thanachai Sakchaicharoenkul ('Love Hurts', 2023), in the roles of Mas and Khen, respectively, the romantic, dramatic and fantasy genre series is an adaptation of the novel " The Hidden Moon" (เดือนพราง), by Violet Rain.
The series is produced by the renowned Dee Hup House, known for its success in series such as 'Step By Step' (2023), 'Something In My Room' (2022) and 'Lovely Writer' (2021).
In the series, Khen does not travel alone with Mas. The production team that he is part of and that travels to Chiang Mai is made up of Bing (Santa Napakawat Kettreekorn), Toh (Tonkla Patittada Photajareon), Thaen (Jimmy Nuttapong Phaojinda) and Nanwha (Bam Panichada Kongsawanya), while Sompho (Meme Kansuda Chanakeeree), Aisaeng (Pom Kamonpop Kaewdiao), all newcomers, and Khampuan (Tian Atcharee Buakhiao), an actress remembered for giving life to Mei in 'I Feel You Linger in the Air', join the journey in the mysterious house. They all defend their roles with conviction.
The script for this series is written by Kak Supicha Anantachat ('In Time with You').
Beyond the depth or intentions, the nuances of society or particular thematic moments are not completely ignored. Such is the case of 'I Feel You Linger in the Air', a series released in 2023 based on the novel of the same name by the same author of 'The Hidden Moon', and 'Dead Friend Forever - DFF' (2023 – 2024), two series coming from the powerful Thai BL industry. If you view them, you will find entertainment close to the novel dilemmas enjoyed in 'The Hidden Moon'.
I'll come back later to update the review.

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