Alan and Ben have an instant connection during a breakup party. They both leave the party to get a room to have a night of sex.
However, every place they go they find reserved rooms. It's a Saturday night, and many couples long to have sex and live a few hours of adventure.
As they wander through the streets and alleys of Hong Kong, from hotel to hotel, which at that time are completely booked, the two young men get closer and open up about their past: Alan tells Ben about his first hookup experience, At the age of 17, in a school uniform, he went with the only boyfriend he has had to a villa, where they do not allow two men to rent a room, and since then he has not found a place where she could have sex. Therefore, tonight, with Alan, she would have her first sexual experience.
While they spend the night walking together, Alan will confess that he hates McDonald's food and everything related to the services of this food chain, because he went with his ex-boyfriend to one of these places every day after class, and it was there where the boy ended the relationship.
For his part, Ben will reveal that he was also in one of these establishments when he last saw his mother, since the woman abandoned him with his younger sister, and since then he has not seen her again.
With his father dead for years, he had to separate from his sister when he was taken in by another relative, while he went to live with the family of the girl who organized the party where they met.
Answering questions, Ben also reveals his Chinese name: Won Ka Chun, and having been in five or six relationships up to that point.
As they chat about which male celebrities they would both like to sleep with, their day surprises them. At this point, their conversations have opened up many possibilities beyond erection and lust: Is love possible? Will there be a chance to move forward? Is sex the only bond that unites them?
With a duration of 20 minutes, 'After Erection', the short film filmed in Hong Kong in 2017, stars Lei Jeun Sek and Lee Wai Lok. The first, an actor, screenwriter and director known for directing the film 'Tracey' (2018), which tells the story of a transgender man and his struggles in Hong Kong, takes on the role of Ben.
In his fight to make the LGBT+ community visible, Lei Jeun Sek has worked on the films 'Drifting' (2021), 'Forever 17' (2019), and 'I Miss You When I See You' (2018), among others.
Meanwhile, Lee Wai Lok, who plays Alan, has his acting debut and only role in his career to date in this short film.
'After Erection' appears to be a version of the Taiwanese LGBT+ themed romantic short film 'YuXiang & Mark' (鈺翔和馬克), filmed in 2016, written and directed by Huang Sheng Tim, but in it instead of Ben and Alan the The names of the two characters are the same as those that give the work its title, as well as the setting is not Hong Kong, but Taiwan.
And although neither of the two short films has high levels of production and interpretation, I like the one produced in Hong Kong better, because I find greater depth in the script, I manage to empathize better with its protagonists by providing greater strength in their human connections, without ignoring music, editing, dramaturgy, photography, sets, among other technical aspects.
'After Erection' reflects some of the difficulties faced by the LGBT+ community in Hong Kong at the time it was filmed, specifically having trouble trying to find public places to have sex.
'However, films like this and actions such as those carried out by activists for the rights of this human group, such as Lei Jeun Sek, have made it possible for today, 7 years later, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Hong Kong to celebrate some achievements, such as that granted by the Court of Final Appeal, which in a historic ruling on September 5, 2023, urges the Hong Kong government to establish a legal framework for the recognition of same-sex couples, marking a milestone in the fight for equality and human rights.
Although it does not grant full marriage rights, this ruling represents a hopeful victory for the community, by supporting civil unions between people of the same sex, a legal process that has not yet concluded.

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'Pretty Boys is a romantic comedy that follows Grey, a flamboyant and charming young man, and his lifelong best friend, Jonas (Kiel Aguilar), a heartthrob with masculine appeal. While Jonas effortlessly navigates the gay dating scene, Gray struggles to find love, convinced that his effeminate style is an obstacle. But despite countless rejections, Gray remains hopeful.
Their world turns upside down when Yates (Markus Paterson), Grey's crush, returns from the United States. Grey's heart races at the chance to rekindle his old love, but his plans are derailed when Yates unexpectedly confesses his feelings for Jonas.
By enlisting Gray's help to win Jonas's heart, Yates puts Gray in a love triangle he never saw coming. As the plot unfolds, Gray is faced with a crucial decision: support Yates in her conquest of Jonas or take the opportunity to rekindle her own love story and prove that love knows no stereotypes.
This is another film about a boy (or three) facing his sexuality and searching for love and happiness. In reality, a film that dealt well with this topic would be novel, but that is not the case. And what bothers me the most is that it is directed and written by Iván Andrés Payawal and Ash Malanum, respectively, the filmmakers of 'Gameboys', 'Gameboys: The Movie', among other series and films, and the lovers of series and feature films LGBT+ Filipinos (and universals, why not?) recognize what this means.
What bothers me the most is that it stars Tommy Alejandrino, whom I loved in his role as Nikko in 'The Day I Loved You', Kiel Aguilar, who stole my heart playing Dave in 'Osmosis' and Jerome in 'Our Story', and Markus Paterson, who still steals my smiles and sighs since I discovered him in the role of Simon in 'Hello Stranger: The Movie', three actors who, with a better script and better constructed characters, would have made the film hit the mark.
'Pretty Boys' is a simple story with fairly flat characters. The girl in love with the confessed homosexual, the three declared homosexual boys who are not sure of anything or are too silent or declare their love so superficially that they do not move anyone, the members of the technical team of the play who contribute nothing to the story... All very topical and, deep down, a reflection of a reality.
The problem is that such a serious topic requires being treated in another way, at least with credible characters. Furthermore, the story seems to be in a nebula, since the protagonist's objective seems to change with each scene; and suddenly, everything happens in the last four, maybe two minutes, leaving only dissatisfaction.
The film is entertaining, but it doesn't contribute anything because not even the director knows what he wants to tell.

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The boys whose names together are not the only thing that look good on them

Who has seen 'Hit Bite Love', the six-episode teen romantic drama released on Jinloe Media's YouTube channel in 2023, which tells the story of six boys from "Rose Garden College" who decide to break all taboos and learn the real truth about love...pain...and growth, don't you remember Burger and King, two of those teenagers?
Don't you remember those two classmates who one day, sitting at their desks next to each other, King, played by Newyear Nawaphat Thannamongkhonsawat, discovers that he forgot a book, so Burger, played by Jur Vasin Traiprakhong, tells him offer yours to share?
Have you already remembered? Of course. It couldn't be any other way, because you immediately connect with the story of these young people that starts from that precise moment, when King sees a drawing of himself in the book and mistakenly assumes that Burger likes it. After this, King finds happiness just thinking that he is loved by the boy who sits next to him and asks him out. However, he will soon discover that everything has been a misunderstanding, because Burger has no feelings for him.
But if in matters of the heart, misunderstandings have caused conflict and broken relationships, they have also brought love, happiness and hope. This is precisely what King finds when Burger enters his life and the two build an emotional connection.
Directed by Jakkaphong Pachara (Yuan), 'Firstly "Like" You' (ตกลงใครชอบก่อน), picks up the story to, through the eyes of Burger, the main narrator, delve into the relationship of the two young high school students .
Based on the entire footage of 'Hit Bite Love', which is just over five hours long, 'Firstly "Like" You' leaves aside everything related to the other two stories, that is, the love triangle between Ken , Shogun and Matteo, and the relationship of the stepbrothers Hida and Saint, to, in about 80 minutes, focus on the birth and evolution of the romance between the president of the school's drama club, and the student transferred to the famous college of high society.
By leaving out everything else, the drama is transformed into a comedy, which achieves a lot of acceptance among an audience that may have rejected the series for addressing topics such as toxic relationships and BDSM.
Bordering on a love triangle that is also not very interested in exploring in depth, the screenwriters Poy Orachat Brahmasreni and Chim Sedthawut Inboon expose in the narrative text themes such as love, adolescence, friendship, discovery, acceptance and personal growth, always in order to entertain, but also to make you reflect.
In this way, we will follow in the footsteps of the young boy with a silly, neurotic, enthusiastic and immature personality who, while he wants to join the drama club because he dreams of being an actor, will have to deal with the persecution of King, who is firmly convinced that his partner class is secretly in love with him.
Personally, I was amused by all of Burger's witticisms to get King away, because every time King approaches him, Burger gets nervous. Likewise, I enjoyed the close relationship between King and his mother, with whom the student has no reservations about confessing his most intimate secrets.
The audience will be able to enjoy how, based on the misunderstanding, King is the one who will be interested in approaching and pleasing Burger. It is pleasant to see how King, a responsible, mature and popular teenager, always surrounded by many girls interested in joining the club to be close to him, suddenly discovers his sexuality while experiencing a homosensual awakening.
'Firstly "Like" You' more than meets what is expected from a film of these characteristics. The keys are, mainly, its script, its aesthetics and its performances, because although the two protagonists have little experience and are only 16 years old during filming, their performances fit perfectly with the narrative style of the story.
Jur Vasin Traiprakhong takes the cake, for his grace, charisma and the way he handles the humorous scenes.
Another element to highlight is the music. Being the same as the series, the cast itself is the one who sings the songs that make up the film's soundtrack. In this way, we will enjoy Jur, Tae, Newyear, Pure, Bigboss, Vic and Alan, who perform "Hit Me Bite Me", a song composed by Alan Campana, and Vic and Tae singing "Oxigen", a song written and scored by Vic Vittawin Panichtamrong.
The photography, by Suchart Makhawimarn, contributes to making the story of two people who become friends and fall in love credible, despite being polar opposites.
Suriya Kaewkrong's editing achieves a fast and quite adequate narrative. However, flashbacks to scenes already presented could have been avoided.
Even so, it is regrettable that, seeking to visualize diversity on screens, the film portrays queer characters in a stereotypical way, due to their continuous screams and mood swings.
While it is true that Thai serial and film fiction with the presence of LGBT+ plots has experienced various changes since its appearance, going from an initial invisibility and stigmatization, in which the characters had to be presented as the opposite of what is morally acceptable in society , to a quantitative increase in these characters, and despite their decrease, traditional and recurring stereotypes continue to be used such as the effeminate LGBT+ character or transsexuals who, due to circumstances, act in a grotesque, exalted or tormented way due to their condition.
Despite the positive increase in the visibility of diverse sexual orientations and identities in BL series and films in this country, creators must take into account that a poor symbolic construction based on stereotypes reinforces not only the deformed social imaginaries about this minority, but the very identity of the collective.
This is even more important if we take into account the great socializing potential that the film and television industries have and the capacity for transnationalization that the distribution platforms of these entertainment products have achieved, as they can promote a distorted vision of this non-human group. only in the Thai national space, but also in the rest of the globe.
'Firstly "Like" You' reminds me of 'Kieta Hatsukoi', the 2021 Japanese teen and school Yaoi romantic comedy from the TV Asahi network, which tells how through a misunderstanding, Aoki, the high school student with a personality Brilliant and in love with Hashimoto Mio, the girl who sits next to him in the classroom, he ends up in a romantic relationship with Ida, his classmate.
I also find similarities with other Thai BL dramas. If in 'My School President', for example, Gun (Fourth - Nattawat Jirochtikul) and Win (Winny - Thanawin Pholcharoenratm) get to know each other more deeply after answering "36 questions that will make people fall in love", in 'Firstly' Like" You' King will propose a series of questions that Burger must answer as part of a theater club survey, claiming that the objective is to get to know the future actor better.
Of the three couples in the series, Burger and King was always my favorite. If they brought joy and life to the series, the film carefully chooses and stages the appropriate scenes to preserve the world created around these characters in the six-episode drama.
The one between King and Burger is a surprisingly tender and innocent teenage romance that is highly recommended, for its humor, for the reflections it invites us to, for the palpable chemistry between the two young people, and for how they manage to create a friendly bond first, romantic. later, without becoming a couple, since we will surely find this in the announced second season.

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Cheng Kai-Xin (Yao Jung Tsai) and Chen Jie (Li-Hsin Money) are two homosexuals involved in a beautiful romance despite keeping it secret. Their tender romantic relationship begins to falter when they both discover what the other is hiding: Kai wants to enter a Catholic seminary to become a pastor, following in his father's footsteps; and her boyfriend plans to go abroad to train as a soccer player.
While Kai asks Jie not to travel to another country as this would mean an immense distance between the two, Jie points out that if Kai becomes a pastor the relationship would also be compromised due to the Catholic Church's opposition to homosexual relationships.
'Icarus' (伊卡洛斯的翅膀 / 'Yi Ka Luo Si De Chi Bang' is a 2017 LGBT+ themed romantic drama, written, directed and edited by filmmaker Alan Chen, which tells us through the characters and their conflicts an authentic myth of our times: that of Icarus, one of the shortest and, at the same time, most complex classical myths.
Produced by Shao-Han Wen and with photography by Meng Chen Hung, the short film tells us that Kai lives trapped with his father, a pastor played by actor Chin-Liang Liao, not on the island of Crete, but in a Taiwanese church. But when he falls in love, Jie is the sun that illuminates his life. However, the more he wants to reach out to his boyfriend, the more he falls into the embrace of the heat.
After Kai learns of his lover's plans, his first reaction is to paint Icarus falling because his wax-glued wings cannot withstand the heat of the sun. When Jie asks him "What did you think about when you drew this?" Kai responds with two questions: "When are you going abroad?" I mean, will our feelings for each other disappear?" It is evident that Kai has come to the conclusion that the path Jie has chosen may result in the end of the existing relationship between the two. But doesn't Kai's decision have the same destructive power?
However, like the story of the myth, the short film leaves us with a variety of interpretations and meanings. These include the one about young people who do not control their impulses and crash immediately, or the one that tells us about an ingenious father and his unfortunate son, both victims of their own ambition.
With Daedalus unable to save his son, many see the story of Icarus as a warning about the dangers of ambition or lack of moderation. Some interpret the story from a more positive perspective, emphasizing the importance of living life fully, even when there are consequences.
Given the backdrop of the Taiwanese Catholic Church, some might take the film text as a metaphor for what can happen to people when they stray from the path of righteousness, assuming that the Church represents this.
Others see Icarus as a symbol of punished youthful recklessness, or the symbol of the rebellion of young people with respect to their parents, but also as a symbol of the innate curiosity of youth, the attraction of risk, the pleasure of adventure, of the interest in learning, of the fever to rise to the top.

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A story of healing, love and the fusion of two opposite worlds

No one can resist the charm and cuteness of pets; Regardless of whether it is a parrot, rabbit, dog or kitten, they win your heart and little by little they end up being part of the family. Most human beings enjoy spending time with their pet, which is not surprising since while you indulge in the moment, your brain feels happy and secretes "the happiness hormone."
'Love is Like a Cat' (사랑은 고양이처럼), also known as 'Sarangeun Goyang Icheoleom', the romantic comedy from South Korean director Kwon Nam Ki ((권남기), revolves around Piuno (Mew Suppasit - 'What The Duck ', 'TharnType' and 'TharnType2: 7 Years Of Love'), a well-known Thai star who doesn't like animals, and her romance with Lee Dae Byeol (Chu Jimin, known as JM, from the South Korean idol group JUST B), the director of a pet daycare.
Every time he crosses paths with an animal, Piuno remembers a traumatic episode he experienced in his childhood that makes him not want them around. Pets do not awaken that feeling of love or tenderness in him. He suffers from zoophobia. He is aware that this phobia is considered an irrational act of human beings, but he cannot help it.
It has been suggested to him that his "illness" can be treated with professional help, since he can find the necessary support to overcome the trauma and gradually manage to coexist with the animals. But he has not paid interest to the matter, thinking that it would not be of much use to him, and he has moved on with his life.
However, when he finds himself threatened by those who wish to see him brought down, there is only one thing he can do to save his reputation and his career: work at a pet daycare in South Korea.
Putting aside his severe dislike for animals, Piuno begins working alongside Dae Byeol, who will help him find ways to overcome the trauma that first inspired his hatred of animals. This is how he will end up appearing in a reality show set in a pet cafe in Seoul.
But these will not be the only surprises that the protagonist encounters: as his heart begins to soften, unexpected feelings begin to arise for the young owner of the daycare center. What will happen between the cold and enigmatic actor who doesn't believe in love, and the outgoing and romantic pet daycare owner when their lives intersect?
Lovers of the BL genre in general, and of Mew Suppasit, in particular, will be pleased with the reappearance of the renowned Thai actor, singer and producer in a romance drama between two boys of the same sex. On the other hand, JM, his co-star, shows his youthful charms and the dreamy aura of the idol, as well as his talent as an actor, in this, his first appearance in a drama.
In addition to the aforementioned actors, on screen we will see GeonU, also a member of JUST B, also in his acting debut, playing Gi Min, one of the pet daycare workers; and Kim Kyoung Seok ('Hot And Sweet' and 'Someday Office'), as Jun Hyuk, a friend of Dae Byeol and one of his biggest followers. These secondary characters play a very important role and contribute intensity and complexity to the conflicts.
With a seductive cast, in addition to wonderful chemistry, the direction, cinematography, writing, music and staging transport the viewer to a dream and fairy tale universe in which everyone involved, including the Animals, especially dogs, contribute their own, to achieve a series capable of marking a milestone within the genre, as it escapes stereotypes, and shows human beings with their nuances and in various circumstances. The narrative maintains a good rhythm that enhances the emotional closure of each episode and the series in general.
All these details give an idea of ​​the story told to those who still do not know it, a narrative firmly based on the love stories between two young men of different personalities, countries, professions, languages ​​and cultures, but determined to sustain their idyll against all obstacles. , prejudices and cultural, linguistic or temperament divergences. One looks like a dog, while the other looks like a cat.
What an actor lacks because he is new to these issues, the other provides, due to his extensive experience. It's fascinating to watch the couple navigate their uncertain feelings. One of the main reasons audiences will admire the series is the simplicity and relatability of the story, as well as the good visuals.
Once the romance escalates, 'Love is Like a Cat' shows one of its greatest strengths. The series has the ability to create many tender moments between the two young people. We will see them flirting in the garden of the animal nursery and kissing in the sunny corner of the clinic room, under the knowing gaze of their friends, including the four-legged ones.
Every affectionate interaction is like a treat for BL fans, making these scenes even better thanks to the beautifully polished visuals. The public will witness the generous abundance of romantic images. The cinematographer captures every intimate look and every loving gesture with pinpoint precision.
Dae Byeol is a well-defined protagonist. He knows his work and loves animals. He is sincere, responsible and faithful to his friends, both those who bark and the others who accompany him on this journey of taking care of pets and falling in love with a famous television star. His qualities create a memorable character with nuances. His charm emerges once the performer gains confidence in the role he plays. Just then the couple's chemistry strengthens, going from being a little embarrassing at first to building a more comfortable and deeper relationship.
In comparison, Piuno's backstory will also draw the viewer's sympathy with high marks. He likes it more and more, especially when he overcomes the somewhat mysterious, reserved, fearful attitude when encountering the animals for which he has always felt rejection, when leaving behind the weight of the circumstances that forced him to move away from his comfort zone, and when you begin to adapt to the people, the language, the customs, the culture of a foreign country.
The series explores the couple's bond physically, emotionally and spiritually. When I think about how Piuno and Lee Dae Byeol started the story of "strangers to friends and friends to lovers", both of them, side by side, went on an eventful journey. They overcame personality clashes, misunderstandings, and even cultural and language differences. Best of all, there's a lot of cute BL content.
One of the strong and striking points of the series is the fusion of two worlds. Piuno and Dae Byeol come from two different countries and cultures. Their universes will collide when their paths cross. Everything that separates them will not be an impediment for the two main characters to get closer, fall in love and begin a journey in search of happiness.
Each episode aims to ensure that the viewer is not disappointed, that they remain hooked, that they have a closure that lives up to expectations. The technical and artistic teams worked to achieve it. The arc of the characters, their development, as well as the events and conflicts, are very coherent.
The script, the depth of the themes addressed, and the aesthetics with which they are presented, the attention to detail to be as realistic as possible, the convincing performances, with a cast made up of established and young actors and actresses, determine, among others , the elements that mark the success of 'Love is Like a Cat'.
'Love is Like a Cat' is a story of healing and love. In addition to the entertainment factor and the fun and tender interactions between Piuno and Lee Dae Byeol, the series tells a story about overcoming trauma, opening your heart, and falling in love.
The inclusion of the adorable animals will provoke a positive reaction from pet lovers and the general public.
This is one of the four joint Thai-Korean BL projects from Hanyang Studio, from the same WeTV Original production, 'Peach Of Time'. The remaining dramas are 'Eccentric Romance', 'Wuju Bakery' and 'The First Love Manual', scheduled to premiere in 2024.
This collaboration between the two countries demonstrates once again that BL series defend the correct formula to sustain and consolidate the genre with the aim of satisfying an audience that craves authentic and moving love stories.
Personally, I liked the way the plot was executed, subtly exploring the characters' personal stories.
This romantic comedy is designed and taken from the script to the images with the potential audience being fans of the romantic genre in general, since love is universal and knows no genres, as well as fans of romances between boys in particular, and makes it clear that its objective is to portray love, acceptance, self-discovery, sexual diversity, the search for happiness, the influence of reality shows on viewers, the perception of the image of actors and idols by the public. , the pressures of the entertainment industry on artists, the challenges that come with being a queer person in today's world, themes explored through the dynamics of the characters.
Conceived to move people and involve audiences, through the main story and secondary plots, the series proposes to generate controversy about other dominant, current and universal elements, such as the tumultuous relationship between father and son, the love of animals and how they influence children's behavior, workplace camaraderie, sexual exploration, positivity, self-validation, and maturation issues. There are cultural debates and topics related to veterinary medicine and animal adoption, which helps make all the stories relatable.

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Singing an out of tune 'Beautiful'

There are relationships that are not worth fighting for. There are others whose members may not have said goodbye forever. But there are other broken relationships that still have a solution.
Sometimes you do everything right in a relationship, and yet love can abandon you, leaving only paralyzing pain and a ton of questions behind. Among these the "why?" It will drag you to the bottom of the abyss.
In this case, when he (or she) is gone, you can follow him or her. You can still convince him that you love each other, that you are perfect for each other, sing him an out-of-tune 'Beautiful', by Baekhyun, and make sure he doesn't get on the plane at the last minute and leave forever. You can also crash their wedding just before they say "I do", so they run away with you to the astonishment of each other's families, while mutual friends scream with joy. Or get into your car with a trailer caravan where you will live you don't know how many days, months or years, travel the distance that separates you from your loved one, stand conveniently under his window, a few meters from his bed, waiting for him to At some point I will allow you to enter it.
Or in the face of a cold and disconsolate response, you could very well be a regular at their restaurant with a name that hurts the insides and you, because you are clueless, because you don't know the reason why they abandoned you, you don't know its meaning.
What if you decided to collaborate in making the menu of said restaurant, become friends with the villagers, help clear up misunderstandings that involve your loved one's family, which is why he is not popular among the locals and why his humble business is going down the drain, and, between filming sessions and road trips, will you adapt and integrate into the quiet and simple life of the person you want to win back?
I would suggest that after reading the vague farewell note and discovering that your lover has packed his bags and left the apartment you have shared, you put strong pressure on your agency, and tell your representative and his subordinate that you will jump out of the car as soon as possible. leave if they don't locate him.
Or when you can't explain to yourself what you did wrong and you can't find answers to the cause of the breakup, you choose to win the affection of the best friend of the person who has put your life in check and her small and precocious daughter, knowing that every step In this sense, it will allow you to create new opportunities to reconnect with your ex.
Precisely the latter was what Seo Joon (Son Woo Hyun) did when Ji Woo (Kim Kang Min) broke his heart in 'To My Star 2: Our Untold Stories The Movie', a compilation of the BL Korean drama of the same name, with some scenes added and others deleted or moved from their original place in the new montage. Yes, I am referring to those two young people, one of them a famous celebrity and the other an ordinary chef, from two different worlds, with little in common, whose lives were shaken when they met and fell in love.
Well, it seemed like both boys would be together forever, but fate had other plans. After giving us some of the most romantic moments in Korean BL, they also filled us with sadness. But there the actor goes in search of his chef to continue enjoying, among other things, his delicious food.
And Hwang Da Seul, the director, took very seriously that no one is saved from death and a broken heart and that we must all face, throughout our lives, several different types of goodbyes. Knowing that every breakup has its reasons, its consequences and its bitter, and sometimes bloody, extensions, that life is not always laughter, love and joy, he summoned screenwriter Park Young to take up the story and develop a second season to imitate , very well filmically speaking, the breakdown of the relationship of that couple so loved by fans of the genre, and then reconciling them, because otherwise it could not be, since, otherwise, as an audience, we would not forgive them.
I imagine Da Seul digging through the films and television series of yesteryear and today to revisit those that deal with breakups and narratives that address every cliché about love and its components, always with a similar structure and, above all, with a happy ending, a sung ending, that is, "from a movie". And all in order to promote significant topics, such as the couple's commitment and communication.
And it does so with incredible bravery, taking the flaws of the first season, especially that of a pleasant but substanceless original story, to make a sequel with greater development of the characters, expanding the dynamics of their relationships and amplifying the emotions.
While it is true that it suffers from a saturated melodrama at times, with artificial conflicts that could have been polished or not incorporated, what is also real is the achievement of the elegant arcs of the characters, which highlight growth, maturity and redemption .
I know that many BL fans will not like what is related to the breakup and the subsequent suffering of the members of their favorite ships, but a work that shows deep conflicts and characters with greater psychological complexities is appreciated.
Without giving any type of spoiler, I will ask you the same question that comes into play during the first minutes of the story: what is the reason for Jin Woo and Seo Joon's breakup?
With this fuse that is lit at the beginning of the film, the characters develop in a narrative with which they will manage to improve the original series, with richer backstories, more character development and complex relationship dynamics, allowing 'To My Star matures, comes of age and becomes a sophisticated BL drama that unfolds in a fascinating journey, seeking and fulfilling the objectives of unraveling a failed relationship, while the protagonists and the audience wonder if they would have a second one. opportunity to reconnect and be happy.
What BL lover wouldn't be surprised by the breakup of their idealized perfect lovers? Seo Joon experiences the same anxiety when faced with Ji Woo's inexplicable departure after leaving a vague message containing a single word: "Let's leave him."
So, the film aims to explore why the breakup and, as I said, reconciliation. But now everything will happen far from the big city, as the cameras will focus on a small town several hours from Seoul, in Ji Woo's hometown and where he went after the breakup, and while he struggles to move his business forward in an Italian restaurant, Seo Joo continues to face problems in his acting career.
And if the proposal alone still doesn't catch your attention, I'll give you another colorful fact: through the experience of the two protagonists, the sequel explores the moving breakup of a couple with intrigue, intimacy and intense emotions. But it doesn't do so by adding a dramatic twist behind the breakup or an infamous evil destroyer of loves and homes.
No, the creators will pleasantly surprise us by letting us know that the reason for the discord is much more personal, simple but complex at the same time: Ji Woo has always preferred to repress his feelings and alienate those who care about him. Yes, it is not easy to live with him, and the series, through flashbacks, will make us understand why he is the way he is. In his case, he is not the typical individual that we see in other audiovisuals that explain his misunderstood actions, such as abandoning a person he loves and from whom he receives love, using the handy excuse of "suffering from childhood trauma." Ji Woo doesn't do anything wrong, he just stays away from Seo Joon and other people in his life to avoid being hurt.
Woo Hyun continues to show the same charm as his persistent Seo Joon. He continually and without hesitation expresses his feelings, says what he thinks and leaves no room for misunderstandings. He goes for it.
For his part, Kang Min continues to play his role as the grumpy but cute Ji Woo, but towards the end you will see him grow wings, all thanks to the persistence and love of Seo Joon.
If many BL sequels have disappointed for various reasons, 'To My Star 2' does the opposite, transforming a simple love story, but without much substance, into a moving saga of breakup and reconciliation. The maturity in the team, both acting and technical, is evident to deliver an ambitious product, the result of hard work and experience.
At this point in the note, you can already imagine what happens with Ji Woo and Seo Joon... But in case you weren't paying much attention, I can confirm that yes, they fight! However, in this case, new characters and new conflicts are added to the dynamic. With a duration of more than four hours that exceeds the slightly more than 2 hours of 'To My Star', with diversification of filming scenarios and an increased secondary cast, with their plots, traumas and life stories, events and characters were developed complexes that will enrich the main story through a compelling narrative.
And I leave for last, precisely because of its importance, an issue that is striking to me: it seems very light that in a country as conservative as South Korea where discrimination against members of the LGBT+ community still persists, marriage between people of the same sex, and homosexuals have difficulty fitting into society, since coming out is not welcomed in most families who consider homosexuality as something similar to a crime, show a rural community, generally defenders of patriarchal and heteronormative traditions, without its inhabitants ever questioning the "friendship" of the two protagonists when the type of relationship they maintain is evident and even trying to influence it so that it is fostered.

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Boy meets robot

Boy meets robot
Technology has entered the world of cinema and television for many years now with the presence of artificial intelligence (AI), defined as the ability of a machine or a computer program to think, learn and act like a human being. Although she has sometimes played villainous roles and sometimes played heroine roles, there is no doubt that she has always, or almost always, played a leading role.
Examples of the above are: 'Her' (2014), 'Ex Machina' (2015), '2001: A Space Odyssey' (1970), 'Ghost in the Shell' (1996), 'Minority Report' (2002) , 'Blade Runner' (1982), 'War Games' (1983), 'The Perfect Man' (2021), The Ultimate Boyfriend (2008), The Bicentennial Man (1999), among other films.
The human being and the machines... the machines and the human being. From the moment I read the synopsis I asked myself questions that I had already asked myself before and to which I have no answers: Will machines replace us one day? Will we end up 'humanizing' artificial intelligence? Will we have to live in fear of being subjugated in the future? Will humans be vulnerable in a context of total dependence on technology? Do robots have wants, dreams and needs?
The premise of the man-robot relationship is the impetus for directors and scriptwriters of BL series to take advantage of the opportunity to give their followers, for the first time, a drama that portrays a romance between a human being and an android.
From the Taiwanese production company Vidol, Anti Reset will not present us with AI on this occasion as villainous and alien robots determined to control and destroy humanity, as T-800 from 'Terminator' (Arnold Schwarzenegger) tried to achieve. Nor will it bring us wonderful C3PO and R2D2 or the endearing WALL-E to delight us.
It will show us a total antithesis of the "robots are coming to destroy us" thinking, as it will move away from the basic concept of AI to bring us closer to a more conventional narrative associated with another genre, romance. This interesting story portrays one of the many perspectives that exist on the relationship between a human and an android.
The creators of BL series have decided to up the ante. Only in this way is the production of a drama that will not be the classic 'boy meets boy' romance but 'boy meets robot' explainable.
One of the protagonists is a substitute for the human being. The robot and the person it cares for and with whom it will fall in love, will take us into a multitude of moral arguments that surround the series, while we see a futuristic narrative arc that, without a doubt, will end up conquering us.
The drama tells the story of Chu Yi Ping (Wu Ping Chen), a man without emotions and few social skills who, after dislocating his hand in an accident at school, accepts his uncle's proposal to be taken care of by Ever 9 (Huang Li Feng). While the experimental intelligent robot is being secretly evaluated to decide whether or not it is suitable for coexistence with humans for the purpose of curing the emotionally disabled, it keeps company with a reluctant Yi Ping, who will soon discover that Ever 9 complements its deficiencies.
At first, Yi Ping has a hard time interacting with the robot. Although at times he is almost convinced of his humanity, he always ends up remembering that he is nothing more than a programmed machine. Interacting with Ever 9 will allow you to break your prejudices about robots and at the same time better understand human needs.
While the robot's capabilities are being evaluated, the relationship between the two young people goes beyond “normal” and Ever 9's apparent humanity begins to attract Yi Ping. Thus, he will look for a way to help the android go out into the real world with him, to live a life together.
To pass the time, Yi Ping asks Ever 9 to make a wish and complete the wish list together, but before completing it, Ever 9 breaks down. The repair only takes a week. But when he returns, his attitude towards Yi-Ping has completely changed. After the reboot, Ever 9 rushes to complete the wishlist and pretends to be bored with Yi Ping and actively asks for a return. Yi Ping doesn't know what's wrong with Ever 9, because he has learned from him how to be human and experience love. Can't you learn to be together all your life? Is the promise to never separate void?
'Anti Reset' is a romantic perspective on the love between robots and humans, it is an incredible reflection on the scope of the growing robot and artificial intelligence industry. While man wonders what the dangers that technological advances represent, this BL arrives to make us think about the emotions and the relationship that robots will have with humans in the future beyond their practical usefulness.
This series is set in a world that could easily be our future reality. So, we must open our minds, since together with the two protagonists we will delve into what love really is and what it means, through an atypical relationship.
The script, while not perfect, benefits from the performances of Huang Li Feng (Stay by My Side, The Ambiguous Focus, Kinematics Theory, The End of Our Youth (2016) and Wu Ping Chen (Stay by My Side, One Afternoon, Komorebi), giving a subtle and different twist to the characters of a plot that, otherwise, would seem too familiar or trite.
The two main characters will go through the different phases of a relationship that, although it is not a typical romance, covers universal themes, but the biggest dilemma that Yi Ping will have to face is whether we are prepared to fulfill our most intimate desires. and fantasies or if, on the contrary, we prefer that a love that was born platonic remains that way.
I remember an Asian film close to this one for the introduction of artificial intelligence, 'Customized companion' (订制男友, Dingzhi nanyou), the Chinese BL and science fiction romantic drama directed by Kuo-Liang Fu in 2017, in which he talks about love between two boys, who use a phone app and summon a personalized virtual companion in the hopes of finding what they have lost in each other.
'My Heartless Boy', one of four stories in the 2023 Thai BL 'Moments of Love', starring Fort Thitipong Sangngey, as Fort, and Pie Saranvut Nittayasuthi, as Pie, addresses a love relationship between a human and a machine which must also be discontinued.
'Anti Reset' is undoubtedly a proposal that brings originality and freshness to the futuristic analysis of the relationships between human beings and artificial intelligence.

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Modern, real, entertaining and, above all, addictive

Although the series begins on a somewhat dramatic note, with two university students involved in a fight that leads to the inevitable hospital medical attention of one of them after receiving a blow, the story, in a fast, colorful and fun way, shows us, in tone of a youthful romantic comedy, one of the love plots between boys, set in a university, like the ones we are used to in BL series.
After the painting that is ready to be sent to an exhibition after sleepless nights becomes useless when it is hit by a soccer ball, Pheem will confront Phum, the extroverted, brilliant, stubborn and popular, but arrogant college soccer player, guilty of the in a bad way, and in a fit of anger he hits him.
Phum then demands compensation from him. But since the mischievous and playful second-year Fine Arts student, who dreams of one day having an art gallery in which to exhibit his own works, cannot pay the medical bills, they will ask him to be at their service and attend to all their needs. whims. But there will be a pact between the two: "No one will ever be able to know that one is a slave and the other is a master."
But Pheem will also demand that the "punishment" not last two months, but until he finishes redoing the damaged painting.
Thus begins the story of Pheem and Phum, the protagonists of the Thai series 'We Are', an adaptation of Parawi's novel of the same name.
When the future civil engineer, embarrassed by having been beaten in front of others, begins a plan of revenge against Pheem, at the same time as his demands as a master increase, his feelings begin to slowly grow.
The world is small and a university is even smaller. Being students at the same university, faced every day in their status as master-slave, leads the two young people to collide with each other again and again until both boys fall in love.
Phum's affectionate and tender behavior, the constant emission of "doubtful" vibrations, the sexual tensions created around the two, have not gone unnoticed by Pheem, who feels attracted to his "master" from the moment he meets him known.
In that daily struggle of who dominates who, underneath everything, the two have begun, perhaps without realizing it, as an involuntary act, to take care of each other.
Through the eyes of Pheem, the main narrator, the viewer will be able to enjoy the birth and evolution of the romance between two a priori incompatible people who, however, enter into a love relationship that, like all relationships, has a lot of imperfections, but this It will not discourage them in their efforts to find happiness side by side.
The main plot follows this young man in his university years, in which, surrounded by his friends, who are other young people his age, he discovers love for the first time and also himself.
Likewise, we see that a new character is introduced, Kluem, who will show to be interested in Peem. His appearance will provoke jealousy in Phum, but it will help him recognize in himself the feelings that he slowly develops every day for the arts student.
The main arc of the series begins in the usual youth romantic comedy style, with the boys' characteristic pranks; studies, which sometimes we are terrible at; falling in love, which in many cases is the first in life; coming of age, the transition from adolescence to early youth, the joys and difficulties that young people must face, friends who ignore us or, on the contrary, annoy us to no end, but are always present with his wise advice; the song that seems to save us time and time again from "sinking", the parents who do not understand us, the work that will come (or not) in the future, the differences in social classes... all these themes used mainly in function to provoke laughter, but also to make you reflect.
Starring PondPhuwin, a ship formed by actors Naravit Lertratkosum, who plays Phum, and Phuwin Tangsakyuen, in the role of Pheem, whom we have already seen together in 'Fish Upon The Sky', 'Never Let Me Go' and more recently In 'Our Skyy 2', the drama brings us characters with the classic cliché of "strangers to friends and friends to lovers." Phum and Pheem are two beings who are finding themselves and discovering their most intimate desires.
But theirs will not be the only romance. In addition to Phum and Pheem, as a plus, we have the expected secondary romance between WimmySatang, a couple made up of Thanawin Pholcharoenrat (Winny), as Q, the mentor, and Kittipop Sereevichayasawat (Satang), as Toey, the apprentice, who in 'My School President' left us wanting more.
Q, Pheem's best friend and who likes to sing in a night bar, has been Toey's inspiration to decide to study Fine Arts. Secretly, he has been in love with the final year student of that major for some time. Admiring his talent and personality has led him to love him, but Q is unable to see the signs that are constantly coming to him. Will Toey have the chance to confess his love? Has Q really been so blind? These two will also have an agreement: Q will demand from Toey: "Don't tell anyone that you are my apprentice."
And also a third BL romance, that of AouBoom, a duo made up of Thanaboon Kiatniran (Aou), as Tan, the cheerful Engineering student, and Tharatorn Jantharaworakarn (Boom), as Khaofang, a sensitive and shy young man from the Faculty of architecture. In this relationship, Tan will ask Phum to help him flirt with his brother in exchange for the location where he can find Pheem. And Phum, despite initially telling him that he is not the ideal boyfriend for his brother, will agree to help his friend in order to take revenge for the humiliation received.
There will also be a fourth romance: that of MarcPoon, the duo made up of Natarit Worakornlertsith (Marc), as Shane, and Poon Mitpakdee, as Pun. This relationship deepens as the two friends grow closer and get to know each other even more as they try to trick Q into believing that Shane is in love with Toey, in order to get him to declare his love. Although these three couples are secondary, they manage to win the hearts of the viewers.
The series highlights the different side of each of the four couples, their journey of discovery and acceptance. The eight young people will not fail to make you fall in love. As you get to know the four couples and see how the relationship between them evolves, you will be able to decide which one has stolen your heart the most and why.
These friends are what any human being would need to accompany them on a journey to discover falling in love and sex.
Although in principle it reminds us of other productions of this type, Thai fiction forges its own path of authenticity. In addition, it stands out for the construction of the characters that enchant from the first moment and the way the story is portrayed.
Although 'We Are' plays with the most modern ideas to portray teenagers in fiction, each of them enjoys a unique authenticity and demonstrates the sensitivity of Siwaj Sawatmaneekul (New), director, screenwriter and actor, to write their journeys of self-discovery. There are no "token" characters here, used in many television shows to call themselves diverse. We see young people exploring love and sexuality outside of heteronormativity.
We are faced with one of those series capable of attracting passionate followers around the world for its frank and sensitive representation of what today's teenagers face: first love, life at university, sex, self-discovery, most of all of age, youth traumas, inclusion, sexuality, neurodiversity and the best friends who help them get ahead.
With a vast body of work within the genre, with titles such as 'Love by Chance', 'Until We Meet Again' and 'Make It Right', among many others, New Siwaj Sawatmaneekul gives us one of those romantic and fun series with very good characters outlines that hook the public immediately.
Modern, real, entertaining and, above all, addictive, this series joins others with themes of first youth and first love, with the university as its setting, which has always had a negative connotation, since many ( (not to say all of us) it is difficult for us to admit that we have become hooked on some of these dramas, due to their ability to entertain the viewer from beginning to end.

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A gay romance with fantastic touches and the whitewashing of the homophobic Thai Police

The Sign is a captivating drama that stands out among other BLs for its ability to balance multiple stories and themes. Broadcast on Channel 3, this production by renowned Thai director and screenwriter A Natthaphong Wongkaweepairod, perfectly intertwines elements of gay romance, the complexity of first love, religiosity, the exciting world of fantasy, the supernatural, the resolution of crimes and political and police corruption.
This unique combination of genres, its compelling narrative, the pair of irresistible protagonists and a direct story of love-overcomes-adversity, guarantees that 'The Sign' will hit the mark among fans of BL products, always in search of a series that show an engaging and exciting experience. All this positions the audiovisual among the most outstanding in the BL universe of all time.
Professional critics and fans alike praise its emotional depth and the cast's sincere performances.
Its director has to his credit the dramas 'My Hero Series: Spell of The Swan Mark', from 2018; 'School Tales The Series', 2022; and the lesbian 'GAP The Series', from 2022, and 'Dream', to be released in 2024. In addition to directing, he is also the screenwriter of the serial 'Lipgloss Spy' and the film SLR', both from 2022.
Based on the great success of 'GAP The Series', its first GL series, the Idol Factory company put all its effort into producing a BL criminal investigation project. This is how 'The Sign' comes about. The series is a television adaptation of I-Rain-Yia's novel of the same name, with a literal translation into English, Premonition, which was produced by Saint Suppapong of 'Love By Chance' and 'Why RU?'.
Billy Patchanon, star of 'Secret Crush On You' and 'War Of Y', and promising actor Babe Tanatat, are in charge of taking on the main roles. I have no doubt that both because of their on-screen chemistry and their genuine performances, the two young actors will consolidate themselves as a ship within the BL universe.
The story centers on two young people who loved each other for centuries and were separated in several past lives, but in a twist of fate they were reincarnated as Phaya o Sakuna (Billy Patchanon Ounsa-ard) and Tharn Wansa (Babe Tanatat Phanviriyakool). This allowed them to meet at an academy where future police officers are trained, in order to enter the Investigation Detective Force (IDF).
During their training, they both experience unique visions related to their pasts and common future, which ignites their romance as they embark on the investigation of some criminal cases shrouded in mystery. Phaya and Tharn's love will be tested by an enigmatic man.
Other talented actors and actresses bring the characters to life in a way that has resonated with audiences.

Brief characterization of the characters

Tharn: He is the cheerful and kind young officer of the IDF. He loves Phaya, with whom he has a romance from the past. That is why he constantly risks his life to save him from the danger he is in. He has a strong sense of "instinct."
Phaya: He is the young, handsome, intelligent, cool and upright IDF officer. Love Tharn.
Khem (Tack Pongsakorn) is the young officer who has a flirtatious personality, likes to have fun and plays with all the other IDF members, especially his boyfriend Thongtai.
Thongtai (Poom Natthapas): Khem's boyfriend. He studied psychology and has a good sense of duty. He is a very observant young officer.
Yai (Gap Jakarin) grew up alongside Tharn since childhood. They both consider themselves brothers. He is a young member of IDF.
Singha (Surprise Pittikorn Siripornsawan) looks weak on the outside but is the brains of the team.
Doctor Chalotorn (Heng Asavarid) an attractive psychiatrist who is close and protective of Tharn.
Captain "Akk" Akkhanee Assawawaisoon (Akk Akarat Nimitchai), leader of the investigation team.
Wansarat (Freen Sarocha Chankimha): The GAP The Series actress is part of the cast as a Guest.
The resounding success of the series has led to the creation of other content, such as The Sign Special and Behind the Sign.
A must-see drama for fans of the BL genre and those who enjoy a good mix of romance, mystery and the supernatural, The Sign brings a captivating story that, together with its talented cast and unique combination of genres, will leave a lasting impression on the spectators.

Underlying reality of the series

On the same day of the premiere of The Sign, after watching the first episode, I wrote in MDL: “I find it commendable that in a hostile, sexist, homophobic environment, which exalts masculinity, as the Police Force of any country is supposed to be, tell a story (maybe two, if we take into account Khem and Thongthai's relationship) of a romance between boys. But I wonder if this series is not a 'whitewash' for the Thai Police. I hope that the series is not a tool to apply cosmetic touches to a Police accused of repressing members of the Thai LGBTQIA community.”
With these words I meant that homosexuality is still illegal and considered taboo in that country. Same-sex unions are not recognized under Thai law, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman. This prevents gay couples from applying for bank loans or joint health insurance. It also prevents the possibility of adopting children. Thai homosexuals do not enjoy the same rights as heterosexuals. Thai law denies transgender people from changing their sex on their national identity card.
Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1956, but was considered a mental illness until as recently as 2002. Many Thai Buddhists believe that homosexuality is a punishment for sins committed in a previous life. Thai homosexuals suffer physical and verbal harassment in the classrooms by their classmates, and discrimination at work, under the permissive gaze of society, despite the image of tolerance towards this group in order to attract tourism to the country. The Thai Police, the result of the Military Juntas that emerged after successive coups d'état, is accused, both by the local population and internationally, of being corrupt, torturing and repressive.
The Royal Thai Police is the most corrupt state department in the country with tens of thousands of complaints annually, according to regular reports from the Ombudsman's Office, and many of these complaints come from members of the Thai LGBTQIA community, who go unheard mostly.
The high-profile crime and dismemberment of the Colombian surgeon Edwin Arrieta, known as the “Daniel Sancho Case” (name of his confessed Spanish murderer) confirms this. This macabre murder once again brought to public attention the dynamics in the Asian country, the excesses, the parties and the mechanisms of privilege when the victim is a homosexual.
The LGBTIQIA collective is openly discriminated against and even with criminalizing laws, which, to wash its face before the international community, welcomes all those foreigners who will be part of the collective, but without displays of public affection
At a legislative level, Thailand has much more permissive LGBTIQIA policies, but at a factual level, there is discrimination, taboo and extensive stigma. Perhaps that explains the media treatment that has been given to the Sancho case from within the country itself: half-hearted, without fully clarifying the relationship that the two men had, and the eagerness that the police have shown to close the case. In addition to trying to maintain the idyllic image of the country before Thai and international public opinion so that tourism is not scared away.

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Directed by Lien Chien Hung ('Sally') and starring Charles Tu o Tu Shancun ('HIStory 4: Close to You', 'Plus & Minus') and Michael Chang ('My Tooth Your Love'), 'First Note of Love' explores in a profound, moving and thoughtful way the intricate relationship between music, fame, love and the human condition. Although it addresses universal themes such as loss, overcoming, and resilience in the face of life's adversities, its greatest strength lies in its focus on the transformative power of music.
The plot follows Neil, a singer with an extraordinary voice who, after losing his brother Matt (Chin Tai Yu), the keyboardist of the band "Magnet", in a tragic car accident, is devastated and announces his retirement from the stage. leaving his fans, including a young boy called Sea, with shattered dreams.
Six years later, Sea, who is now a virtuoso musician and a second-year college student majoring in Marketing and Digital Management, receives an invitation to work with none other than his idol Neil.
However, the time that has passed has not healed the wounds in the soul of the proud, extroverted and loud Neil, who now deals with problems of anxiety and stage fright, but neither has it managed to heal the spirit of the introverted and reserved Sea, who has not been able forget the young man who one day in the middle of the street, with the guitar in his hand, knew how to calm his heart in a moment of discouragement thanks to his emotional singing and melodious voice.
Will love be the force that helps them heal their wounds? Will music be the only vehicle that unites them? Can they make the world hear their new shared voice?
Screenwriters Ke Ying An, Huang Szu Mi and Zou Wan Zhen raise these questions as the guiding axis of the Taiwanese series, co-produced with Thailand, while giving some answers through the actions of their characters. And although Sea initially rejects being part of the band to relaunch Neil's career, he will discover that if he does not go on stage the record company will not renew his contract and "Magnet", the duo he has admired since adolescence, will be history.
When Neil and Sea meet again, they still don't know that an unforeseen romance is about to burn under the bright Taipei sun.
Although it is not free of clichés and conventions, the Taiwanese version of 'Begin Again' manages to keep the viewer's attention due to its authentic emotional outline supported by its credible characters and situations.
'First Note of Love' is an effective romance series, as it is accompanied by an interesting topic such as fame and music. In addition, the soundtrack is unmissable due to the powerful lyrics of each of the songs.
Yes, it is true that the two main actors are not musicians by profession, and the series lets us see their few musical skills, but for the filmmakers the main focus is not the music, but the story they tell. Therefore, they put plot before details.
Solid television drama, it achieves what many series barely dream of: palpitate, live. Of course, a large part of his success was forged before he started filming: he couldn't have chosen better co-stars.
That is to say, one of its greatest successes is the efficient choice of actors and the work in the musical section. The protagonist, Tu Shancun, who plays Neil, not only gives a memorable performance, but also performs some of the songs from the captivating soundtrack produced by Warner Music, which enriches the narrative in an energetic and dynamic way, like the songs "Broken Sun", "Shatter of the Sun" and "Ain't Gonna Stop", alongside TAIYO, and Kaia Lee will delight us with "Sleepless Night", among others.
This is not the first time that his powerful and deep voice has been heard performing a song in a BL. He already did it in 'History4: Closet o You', a series in which he sings "Be with me", a song he wrote.
Tu Shancun puts on the suit that suits him best and gives a very credible performance, and manages to convey the passion and internal struggle of his character with conviction and charisma. His interpretation in both the musical and dramatic scenes contributes to the authenticity of the story.
However, the musical skills of the protagonist will not be the only thing that stands out, because Tu Shancun is an actor who says everything with his eyes, with his gestures, with his entire body.
For his part, Michael Chang, the actor who plays Sea, also succeeds in facing his insecurities, fears and past traumas, and constantly testing himself. This, while strengthening the ties that will unite him inextricably with the street singer that one day by chance he meets as a teenager.
Michael Chang's Sea is something worth seeing: his face, his expressiveness, his ability to unforcefully reveal a wide spectrum of feelings, from his initial insecurity to the most infinite joy on stage and in his interactions with Neil. They are the consequence of a fine interpretive work that more than one established actor would envy.
The exceptional chemistry of Michael Chang and Tu Shancun on screen is the winning formula of a story that privileges both music and a love story - a deep and true love - above everything else.
Both will unite their destinies, since Neil needs to find himself in his own strength, and Sea needs to trust in her strengths to shape and achieve her dreams. For both of them, music is that magnetic compass that finds them, unites them and challenges them to give their best.
And in this sense, Neil will play with the initial letter of their names: «I am North, and you are South. We are a natural couple…” Just as the North cannot exist without the South and the South without the North, one cannot exist without the other.
'First Note of Love' stands out for its acoustic constructions and its modern musical approach, as well as for its suggestive lyrics that accompany the experiences and emotions of the characters. These songs not only function as a powerful tool of communication, effectively expressing what dialogue may not be able to convey, but they also enhance dramatic moments with emotion and highlight the richness of the characters' experiences. Don't lose sight of the original songs that make up the series.
Having praised the protagonists and, of course, the script that makes them such close and adorable characters, it must be said that 'First Note of Love' is a very beautiful series, which can make us remember some other audiovisual due to the importance of music for the main characters as a means to get out of a difficult situation.
The result is a kind, moving and addictive series that speaks to the viewer's heart without hesitation, skillfully mixing love and music, a combination that always works.
From their first scene, the viewer wants them to end up together. Something that, of course, we will have to discover in the next 10 episodes of about 30 minutes long.
The excellent supporting actors (all fair, harmonious and harmonious) stand out in their performances. Among these are Liu Min Ting ('Guardian') as Reese, the manager of the record company to which Neil belongs and to which Sea will join, and Thai actor Jame Kasama Kranjanawattana ('Big Dragon', 'Gen Y', 'Gen Y 2') as global superstar Orca. The two make up the second pair of lovers, both in the series and in real life.
Also starring are Kaia Lee as Ting Fei, and Lee Ying Hung as A Liang, who will also sigh in love, as well as Amanda Liu as Hsiao Mei.
From producers Jay Lin, Derjk Wu and Samantha Jian, the most valuable thing about 'First Note of Love' is its power to capture the essence of longings and the battles to achieve them, while providing us with an unforgettable soundtrack that becomes a fundamental pillar of the narrative.
The first episodes are truly amazing. There the strongest ties are formed between the characters - the birth of the relationship of friendship and love between the protagonists but also their relationship with Reese, the band's manager -, between the series and its audience, between the narration and his tone.
There is a scene in the fourth episode where Neil and Sea share the scene to play and sing an old "Magnet" song. And although at one point Neil's nerves betray him, Sea knows how to get him out of the mishap. Back, the camera never leaves the stage as the duo perform. He follows the performers, surrounds them, accompanies them. At times, the camera is positioned from the audience and, at other times, it chooses the point of view from the stage, which allows us to reflect both Neil's generosity towards the novice composer and musical arranger who plays the keyboard at his side, and his admiration for his new partner, as well as Sea's shyness when facing a huge audience and the emotion that overcomes him when he knows he is appreciated by a music veteran who returns to perform before the spectators after so many years of silence.
Filmed at a precise tempo, this scene – which has the most beautiful song of all those performed in the series, "I Believe" – exudes with absolute naturalness Sea's transition from caterpillar to butterfly, the artist's return to the stage after the trauma suffered, and records the birth of the couple's artistic and loving bond.
Simultaneously, the camera steps behind the scenes of a show, the adrenaline generated by a live performance, and, metamorphosed in the eyes of film viewers, invites us to the unique experience of feeling part of the show. With this scene alone – which is worth the entire series – Lien Chien Hung reminds us that he is a great director.
YA

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In the smallest details there are hidden points to detect. Take a risk

The topic of drugs can be quite sensitive, and even more so when it comes to teenagers. Throughout its history, the seventh art has given us films that have marked generations for their delicate themes or strong scenes that narrate the horror of being tied to an addiction or the crime of making something as harmful as the drugs. Or, even worse, the danger it can represent for younger people.
Films such as 'Trainspotting' (Danny Boyle, 1996), 'Kids: Lost Lives' (Larry Clark, 1995), 'Requiem for a Dream' (Darren Aronofsky, 2000), 'Clímax' (Gaspar Noé , 2018), 'Beautiful Boy: you will always be my son' (Felix Van Groeningen, 2018), and others, address the issue of drugs, and other types of addictions, such as alcohol and violence in adolescence and early youth.
Although it is not exactly immersing us in the underworld of addicts, the Thai film 'Tell the World I Love You' tells a story of personal growth and exploration of romance between two different boys from two different worlds forced to overcome tough tests that will change their lives forever: Kheng (Bas Suradej Pinnirat), a young man who left his hometown to study in Bangkok, and Boang (Perth Tanapon Sukumpantanasan), a drug delivery man, who gets into trouble with a group of drug traffickers when he tries to leave of the same.
However, what Kheng expected to be a short period in the Thai capital before continuing his journey to China to search for his mother, whom he has not seen in many years, unexpectedly turns into an adventure full of action and chase, which does not lack romance, after meeting and falling in love with Boang.
Keng accidentally witnesses an attack by traffickers on Boang and helps him escape. Failing to eliminate Boang, they will send other pursuers after the two boys. As a result, Keng has to leave the home he shares with his friend Tai to live with Boang in a remote location while they hope to outwit those who seek to hunt them.
While being pursued by a gang of thugs led by Nick Kunathip, the two teenagers must overcome unexpected events that invite viewers to get involved and join, and they will face a test that will change their world forever.
In a desperate race for life in a world full of violence, drugs and crime, a story of friendship and love is born between the two teenagers.
'Tell the World I Love You' is one of those movies that does a good job of bringing together the lives of different people. We will witness the life stories of two boys who are different from each other, but who are equally similar.
The other three characters to be introduced are Tai (Net Siraphop Manithikhun), Kheng's friend, who is the same age and who offers Kheng a roof over his head to live in the Thai capital, and Hia Song (Songkran-Rangsan Panyaruen) and Nick (Nick Kunatip Pinpradab), two members of the gangster gang. The lifelines of these five people are about to merge in a way that will profoundly affect their existences.
With this film, which aims to tell us what Thai society is like and help change attitudes towards homosexuality and violence related to drug trafficking and consumption in Southeast Asia, its director, Poj Arnon, once again explores the love between people of the same sex and other social taboos in their country, but which are, without a doubt, topics as universal as life itself.
With dialogues full of meaning and a variety of emotions, its director once again tells a story of love, friendship, dreams and life with the same intensity with which he showed his skill in '18 Rain, Dangerous People' (2022), 'Friend ...I Love You (2007)' and 'Crazy', with which in 1996 he became known on the national and international film scene.
Not without reason Poj Arnon has suggested that the film is a mix of the first two films mentioned above: while '18 Rain, Dangerous People' takes the bitter and sad, 'Friend...I Love You' brings influences such as love that arises from being close to each other, including common points of revenge and a romantic relationship that surpasses friendship.
This romantic action drama film that reflects Thai society with a touch of the 90s of the last century, continues the filmography of a filmmaker who on multiple occasions has dealt with both the issue of homosexuality and drugs, crime and violence. Let us remember that Poj Arnon is the director of the film 'Bangkok Love Story', from 2007, which won him the Grand Prize at the Brussels International Independent Film Festival. With this film, the following year, he won the Best Screenplay award at the National Film Association of Thailand Awards.
Other works of his take up themes such as the school environment, transgender characters, AIDS, homosexual relationships, friendship, Drag Queen, drugs, violence, bullying, racism, sexuality or the discrimination to which members of the LGBTIQ+ community.
Among these, 'Go-Six' (2000) stands out, about a love triangle between a young man and two women, which caused a great scandal at the time due to the ambiguous sexuality of one of the female characters; 'Cheerleader Queens' (2003), about a group of teenage Thai transvestites, or kathoey, who become high school cheerleaders, or 'Spicy Beauty Queen of Bangkok', in which she once again portrays the kathoeys in a crime comedy , starring Winai Kraibutr as the leader of a gang of transvestite bank robbers, or 'Haunting Me', a horror comedy about three elderly kathoeys who fight ghosts in their apartment building.
The film was supposed to be released on February 14, 2021, but had to be postponed several times due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
With a script by the director himself, simple but raw photography by Tiwa Moeithaisong, and Giant Wave in the sound, the film presents situations so visceral and realistic that they generate in the viewer a feeling of repudiation and despair towards the world of drugs. , but also a story about personal improvement, love and hope, seen through a drug delivery man who intends to get out of drug trafficking and regain control of his existence, who will be accompanied on that trip by a stranger who entered unexpectedly. in his life and whom he will later love not only as a friend.
Dear reader, a director of Arnon's stature will not delight in making a film with a simple and uncomplicated story. The viewer has to be skilled and know how to detect that there are hidden points in the smallest details. Firstly, the film aims to 'tell' and reflect what is happening in Thai society.
Among these issues masked in a plot that aims to be seen as light and even superficial, is the struggle of the new generation to fulfill their frustrated and postponed dreams.
The aspirations of Thai adolescents and young people to build a future abroad and escape the sad political and socioeconomic situation in which they live are presented through Keng. He dreams of going to China to find his mother and continue his studies. To do this, he has set out to learn Chinese and pass the exam to obtain one of the scholarships. Even in the midst of the chase in which he will be dragged, there is no shortage of books, essential to achieve his goal.
Another veiled, but palpable theme in 'Tell the World...' is the systemic racism, discrimination and violence installed in that Southeast Asian nation towards members of the LGBTIQ+ community, reflected in the bullying and harassment suffered by Keng, who has have to face being bullied as a "transvestite" and sexually abused. But even defending oneself against homophobes, instead of achieving the goal of getting rid of barbarism, can make it grow even more. Keng is beaten and sexually assaulted and this will generate a psychological problem that will haunt him for life like a recurring nightmare.
Bas Suradej Pinnirat manages to convey to the audience the importance of this heavy burden that he carries on his shoulders through the internal struggle and difficulties that the character he plays must face daily in an intense and ruthless way.
One of the aspects of the film that we should not overlook is the illegality and danger that surrounds the world of drugs not only for those who consume it, but also the risk of early death or years of prison for those who use it. traffic. If it will be difficult, and even impossible, for a drug addict to get rid of the addiction, the trafficker also faces difficulties, even the loss of his life, if he wants to get away from trafficking these substances.
One day Boang feels that he needs to escape from the reality around him. He has seen the destruction of a family caused by drugs. He has recognized the pain of others caused by the illegal activity carried out by him. But by possessing secrets of people, organizations and complex and intertwined networks of drug production and distribution, they will see it as a danger and will try to eliminate it.
Perth Thanapon manages to expose before the cameras both the horrors of the industry and the emotions that overwhelm his character in an internal struggle to free himself from the nightmare in which he has lived.
And finally, we have the question of the romantic relationship between the two boys. Tai has feelings for Keng. He is a close friend who has cared for him and provided accommodation for two years. He has given him advice and helped him with his studies. She has protected him when he is harassed. But Khen doesn't have the same feelings towards him. To Keng, Tai is just a "dear friend."
Boang's entry into Keng's life, both of them escaping the dangers to which they have been exposed, working together to avoid dying, caring for each other in the midst of hardships, sharing what they own and being close to both of them. , especially in difficulties, but still know that “happiness does not matter how many times you smile. It depends on who you smile with”, will bring you together a bond that is stronger, deeper and indestructible than friendship.

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Judge by your own successes and errors

The Thai actor Mos Panuwat Sopradit in his acting debut and the Thai-American singer ISBANKY (Bank Mondop Heamtan), in his first leading role, gave us in 2022 a series that from its premise raised a question: Can love be born from hate?
To answer this question, in this romantic comedy-drama with an LGBTIQ+ theme, its creators, the director and screenwriter Puwadon Naosopa and the writer Boy Mitpracha Outtaros, tell a story whose narrative arc describes how the protagonists begin as declared enemies or adversaries, only to discover gradually a deeper connection that transcends the initial animosity.
Taking a common pretext in romantic films and series in which the initial enmity between the protagonists leads them to an enviable love story, 'Big Dragon' presents us with Mangkorn (Mos) and Yai (ISBANKY), two young people who appear to be opposite poles and end up attracted by a chemistry produced throughout the series.
What began as a natural dislike between the two little by little leads to romance, which is complicated because, first of all, because the series is set in a society in which even today, in the 21st century, it is illegal to marriage between people of the same sex or in which members of the LGBTIQ+ community are equally discriminated against due to the impossibility of starting a family, adopting a child or changing their name and new identity after undergoing sex change, and other injustices that are not suffered by the heterosexual people.
In this context, which we cannot ignore, Mangkorn and Yai live, separately and in different ways, the process of accepting homosexuality, denying that they like a person of the same sex, stating that what happened between them was motivated by alcohol and drugs, asking friends for guidance, looking for women as a way to confirm heterosexuality, or even getting into fist fights.
On the other hand, Mangkorn's father pressures his son to marry his friend's daughter, and Yai suffers family pressure with a dead mother and an absent father for work reasons and now in a new love relationship to which the protagonist objects.
Despite social pressures, jealousy, the presence of a new love interest who will try to come between the two, the need to separate due to student issues, Mangkorn and Yai will reach a happy port after starting a journey that will lead them to experience a true individual transformation after falling in love.
I first saw 'Big Dragon' and was interested to see what else Puwadon Naosopa had done or would do in the future. That was a highly produced, incredible, but ultimately conventional series. However, his muse about things was a curious thread that persisted.
In 2023, Mos and Bank starred in one of the 'Y Journey (Stay Like A Local') stories, specifically episode 5, titled 'Let's Say a Lover', in which they represent one of the six young couples that lead the viewer on a trip to various tourist attractions in the eastern region of Thailand.
Both would also act in 'Club Friday Season 15: Moments & Memories', but with Bank as a supporting actor.
Surely someone is wondering if I am reviewing the 'Big Dragon' series here or remembering the filmography of these actors. And no, those are not my goals.
My purpose is to introduce the interested reader to 'SunsetxVibes', a series that brings us back to the MosBank ship in a romantic comedy-drama that shines with its own light in the BL universe like the name of the company where the protagonists work.
On this occasion, Puwadon Naosopa, who wrote the script and directed the actors in 'Big Dragon', convened a team of writers, composed of, in addition to himself, his colleague Somchai Tidsanawoot, known for writing 'Lovely Writer', 'Hidden Agenda', 'I Feel You Linger in the Air', and newcomers Nunt Thongngamkham and Baifern Ataya Sawatdee, to adapt the web novel "Sunsetxvibes", by Rosesarin, and place, in the competitive business world, this suggestive variation of the theme of two young people who meet by chance one night and the next day discover that one of them, Sun (Mos), is the newly appointed director of a large fine jewelry company, and the other, Salin (Bank) is his new employee.
'Sunset x Vibes' is a romance somewhere between comedy and drama. The first thing we know about Salin is the strange and recurring dream he has about a mysterious man dressed in traditional Thai clothes. This aspect, although it seems that it will be important in the series, in the first chapters they deal with it in broad strokes, since the series focuses much more on her relationship with the boy with whom she is flirting through a dating app, who does not It is another who is the owner of the company in which he has started his internship.
The acting traits that many MDL users have criticized here are actually the same aspects that make the two actors fit their roles.
However, despite its powerful cast, made up of renowned actors and actresses, the undeniable chemistry between the protagonists, the beautiful cinematography, its contemporary style, the brilliant visual effects, its majestic soundtrack, the clarity with which the story is conceived on paper, the pulse with which the direction guides her through the setting, and the way Mos and Bank defend her, as well as the beautiful love story that Yotha (Pete Wacharanon Seeduan), the friend of Salin, and Sam (Tenon Teachapat Pinrat), Sun's younger brother, both interns at the company, the series, like its predecessors, does not enjoy the approval of the public, and I fear that the cause does not exactly have to do with the audiovisual product , but with the "trauma" that 'Big Dragon' left in many BL fans, as many of the MDL users recognize.
For their part, the couple formed by Chan (Fong Bovorn Kongnawdee) and Juldis (JJ Rathasat Butwong) provide us with fun antics to relieve tension. Maybe there is another couple, lesbian in that case.
Someone could tell me that the problem lies in the fact that they do not accept that one of the protagonists hides their identity from the other (since both boys have been knowing each other through chat for six months, but they have never seen each other), but, although the series should generate a conflict to be resolved with a consequent personal growth, in my view, the problem does not come from there, since the low ratings are observed from episode 1 itself, when the young people had not yet met personally. In other words, no one could know what would happen between them. The comments make it clear.
They have not given the series the benefit of the doubt and without thinking they have sent it to the slaughterhouse for reminding them of the disappointment that some had with 'Big Dragon', I think for not understanding its objectives.
I believe it is time to grow as we demand of our narrative heroes. It is not logical, fair or ethical to judge an audiovisual product because it reminds us of a frustration.
The series tells an explosive, mature, healthy romance. I identify with the feelings and emotions of the characters.
The romantic plot that entertains and at the same time invites debate and reflection is irresistible. 'SunsetxVibes' has captivated me for the warm atmospheres created with which the audience can identify and for making us empathize with the story, allowing us to see ourselves reflected in the protagonists.
The charisma, tenderness, attractiveness of its protagonists and its irresistible romantic plot make ''SunsetxVibes'' a charming love series made for BL fans. It doesn't break much of the mold in terms of its structure, but its characters and conflicts are unique enough to avoid falling into stereotypes.
The drama brings a full love story, without red flags, and makes the most of the proposed premise, the intellectual potential and good intentions of the team behind the camera, the cinematographic resources available to the creators and the undeniable artistic abilities of the cast.
'SunsetxVibes' surprises us with intrigue and satisfies the expectations of the most demanding audience, by allowing us to believe that love can change the course of a story, a relationship, even the universe, and allowing us to feel that magic and passion can exist even if it is in television series.
It has some sound problems that are sometimes obvious but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the series.
The story is told concisely, never strays from its focus, and is tightly edited. I've watched each episode several times and I didn't get bored at all. All in all, a better than average entry in the world of Thai BL series.
I, for the moment, say my YES for 'SunsetxVibes' and I hope, as on other occasions, that MDL allows me to return to this review to update it.

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The taste of love

I still remember with special pleasure such succulent gastronomic films as 'Babette's Feast' (Gabriel Axel, 1987), 'Eat, Drink, Love' (Ang Lee, 1994), 'The Chef in Love' (Nana Djordjadze, 1996) and ' The Cook of Last Wishes', by the Oscar-winning Japanese director Yôjirô Takita.
Without leaving the country of the Rising Sun, series come to mind that also talk to us about food as art and feeling, such as 'Sugar Dog Life' (Honda Ryuichi, Ouchi Takahiro, 2024), 'What Did You Eat Yesterday?' (Nakae Kazuhito', 2021), 'Kimi to Nara Koi wo Shite Mite mo' (Matsumoto Hana, 2023), 'Kinou Nani Tabeta?' (Katagiri Kenji, Nojiri Katsumi, Nakae Kazuhito, 2019), 'Old Fashion Cupcake' (Kato Ayaka, 2022), and 'Bokura no Shokutaku' (Ishibashi Yuho, Iizuka Kashou, Kamimura Naho, 2023), which all have in common being LGBT+ themed dramas.
Similarly, one of the protagonists of 'Mitsuya Sensei no Keikakutekina Ezuke', the series directed by Nojiri Katsumi, makes his stews using seasonal products, ranging from lotus, zucchini, seaweed, cherry tomatoes from the garden and rhubarb roots, a consequence of centuries of refinement, to bamboo, mushrooms, along with the daily use of rice. In addition to sushi, the Japanese have achieved the greatest filigree in fish, without forgetting the legendary tempura.
And the delicious food prepared by Ayumu Mitsuya, which is the name of the famous culinary researcher, an affable older man who speaks in a Kyoto dialect, attracts, and not only in the sense of being able to fill his belly, Tomoya Ishida, a young novice editor who has trouble adapting to the environment of a women's magazine, and who meets the also popular and skilled food expert when he is assigned to go to his house to pick up the manuscript of a column to be published.
Ishida is so nervous on his first visit that he almost faints, but the food served by the chef who is exceptionally gifted in the kitchen, who by just tasting a dish, is able to discover its secrets, recognize the ingredients and know how to prepare it exactly the same as the model, seduces the stomach of the pure and honest young man, who soon feels attracted by Mitsuya's gentle gaze, his cheerful personality and the tenderness he occasionally shows, so he finds himself eagerly awaiting their next meeting.
Also known as 'Mr. Mitsuya Planned Feeding', LesPros Entertainment's BL drama stars actor and singer-songwriter Masayoshi Yamazaki ('Shadowfall'), who returns to the small screen after 26 years, as Ayumu Mitsuya, and Taisei Sakai ('My Sly Bestie') as Tomoya Ishida, to tell us a story of human and culinary love between two adult men with an age difference.
After writing and directing the films 'New Manager of the Sumo Club' (2005), 'Lying to Mom' (2018), the specials 'Yoru no Agura: Ane to Ototo to Watashi' (2022) and 'Shishosetsu: Hattatsu Shogai' no Boku ga Junai Shosetsuka ni Nareta Riyu', and the series 'Kinou Nani Tabeta?' (2019) and 'KuroNeko Lucy' (2012), the Japanese filmmaker and television director once again demonstrates great sensitivity and unusual humanism when adapting the manga of the same name by Ayaka Matsumoto, which was serialized in Manga Yomonga from 2020 to 2022 and published as a book in January 2024.
The music by Masayoshi Yamazaki and the magnificent script by Nami Yoshikawa ('Boys! Please Kiss Him, Instead of Me', 2020) remind us that it is important not to forget that when you invite someone to your table, you must take charge of their happiness all the time he is under your roof. And if that time extends for the rest of their lives, the better.
Coked, the plot will presumably focus on the relationship forged between the two main characters. However, little by little this idea is being abandoned and through dialogues, internal monologues and flashbacks we are getting to know a much more complex story, which mixes a romantic drama and, of course, a culinary one, through the story of an older man abandoned for years. back by her boyfriend, the famous photographer Noguchi Kaoru (Maruyama Tomomi), who will return from France, where he has carried out his professional work, to try to recover the love of his life, and the nascent love relationship between the neat and elegant culinary researcher and the young man worried about not being able to find his interests in life after failing in his dreams of becoming a professional baseball player. Both will communicate through food.
What at first seems like a kind of romantic series seasoned with seasonal vegetables and greens, turns into a hypnotic story that completely captivates the viewer.
Furthermore, all the characters are very well constructed and tremendously interesting. Everyone, directly or indirectly, will probably "cook" the love relationship between Mitsuya and Ishida.
The narrative pace of the series is slow but steady. There are many more aspects to discover than initially expected, since 'Mitsuya Sensei no Keikakutekina Ezuke' has many layers, like an onion, since we talk largely about cooking.
The description and preparation of the dishes, which is very interesting, not only from a gastronomic point of view, but is inserted in the development of the plot as an element full of meaning, connects the story, serving as a link between the different subplots.
As can be expected on an artistic level, the images and montage concentrate a lot on telling the relationship between the two protagonists, in addition to how these dishes of food are prepared, with abundant detailed shots, and showing with great skill what Mitsuya feels while cooking and Ishida while he savors them. Regardless of how fond or not you are of culinary art, these images do not go unnoticed and are truly attractive, in more than one case whetting your appetite.
Also worth mentioning is the scenery, both Mitsuya's elegant and charming Japanese-style house with its Western furniture, the attractive restaurant where Shige (Uno Shohei) works and where the two protagonists frequently go, the art gallery where he exhibits his photographic work Noguchi Kaoru, Mitsuya's ex-boyfriend, or the premises occupied by the fashion magazine Sophia Monthly, such as the exteriors. The series has a very careful level of production.
From the interpretations it can be said that they are all very heartfelt and truthful. I would especially highlight Masayoshi Yamazaki as the wise, courteous and delicate gentleman, because that is precisely what he is, an attentive gentleman, who has extensive mastery of the culinary art and interpersonal communication. Him movements in the kitchen are brilliant, and the way in which she shows him skills and how him describes the preparation and components of the different dishes is exquisite, with a sweet and melodic voice. Giving more details about this complex and fascinating character would be a major spoiler.
But Sakai Taisei also draws attention in his role as Ishida. This young actor and model, whom I have seen play Gira Husty / Kuwagata Ohger in 'Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger', accepts the challenge of acting alongside a performer with a long career on stage, to play the clumsy and shy editor, but at the same time happy, animated and with a touch of mischief in his eyes, in love with a person who is nearly 30 years older than him in terms of age. It's a pleasure to see him laugh, walk through the streets with a hurried step, or run holding the sensei's hand, as he constantly calls Mitsuya. His laugh is contagious, and on the other side of the screen I am also with my mouth open from ear to ear.
As for the issue that bothers some viewers, I have seen several films with romances with age differences, such as 'The Idea of ​​You' (2024), 'Sunset Boulevard' (1950), 'All That Heaven Allows' (1955), 'The Graduate' (1967), 'Harold and Maude' (1971), 'Bull Durham' (1988), 'Thelma & Louise' (1991), 'How Stella Got Her Groove Back' (1998), 'Notes on a Scandal' (2006), 'Don Jon' (2013), 'Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool' (2017), 'Good Luck to You, Leo Grande' (2022), and 'May December' (2023), inter alia. And although they narrate relationships between older women and young men, there are others, such as 'Gerontophilia' (2013) and 'Un prince' (2024), which reflect a homosexual relationship between two adult men with great differences of age, among others. Regarding the first one, in my opinion, the only thing wrong is the title.
As in the Canadian romantic comedy-drama directed by Bruce LaBruce, and the rural life drama by Frenchman Pierre Creton, to name two that I have seen recently, the gay love relationship with a very considerable age difference portrayed in 'Mitsuya Sensei no Keikakutekina Ezuke', is a consensual relationship, between two adults who are delighted to have met. The age difference in any romantic and/or sexual relationship may be seen by society as taboo and may be unacceptable to many, but I am of the opinion that there should be no judgment between consenting adults.
Hence, the important thing would be for each of the spectators to answer the following question: Does love exist after youth, after adulthood, in old age, in the last age of life? I answer with a resounding yes. And I would add a very valid Kleinian argument: "As long as the respiratory capacity is preserved, nothing prevents it." In other words, I would not settle for the commonplace of "love knows no ages."
In summary, 'Mitsuya Sensei no Keikakutekina Ezuke' is a love song to love, to cooking and to the vocation that can be professed to it. But in addition to a culinary artistic exercise that is very pleasant to see regardless of the interest you have in the art of cooking, it is also a great analysis of human relationships, of the freedom of being able to choose the person with whom you want to share your life. And perhaps what is most notable, the redemptive power of love to renew the heart and redirect the life path.
In this sense, the series also affects the freedom of the characters, who are not marked by an inexorable destiny that leads them to be the way they are, but rather they make their own decisions, for which they are responsible, which is proposed not only in lovers, but also in the companions that they will become each other for the rest of their days.

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The power of predestined love and the complete transformation of broken people into beings of light

The power of predestined love
''Century of Love', the LGBTIQ+ romantic drama that combines elements of fantasy and action, reminds us that love inspires concepts as beautiful as the one that becomes the heart of this Thai series.
Directors Thanawat Panyarin ('Sanaeha Diary Series: Buang Sanaeha'), and Wo Worawit Khuttiyayothin ('Laws of Attraction') are behind 'Century of Love', a romantic fantasy that unfolds over more than a century.
Screenwriters Nueng Chawanon Sarapat ('To Sir, With Love' and 'Laws of Attraction'), Sorawich Pinyomit ('Laws of Attraction') and Apirat Hinkaew ('Suphapburut Sut Soi 2022'), are in charge of weaving a story with wonderful plots and eternal romances in which only predestined love will be able to save a young man from his own inner maelstrom.
The story revolves around San, a good-hearted boy who, due to the power of the Stone of Five Colors, which has turned him into an immortal being but with an expiration date, has waited for his love, Miss Wad ( Cookie Yada), for 100 years, waiting for him to be reincarnated into another person. To do this, he must face suffering, both physical and mental, all for the long-awaited reunion.
If he fails to find her within the given time frame, he will inevitably succumb to a tragic death for eternity.
About to finish the last year of the century before the power of the stone becomes his eternal curse, San meets Vee, a flighty and charming Adonis who seems connected to his life. However, San is reluctant to accept that his beloved, for whom he has waited so long and endured even loneliness, has been reborn as a child.
The creators present a story in a way where emotions pervade the entire story that is addressed in the script. Narratively, the series explores various themes, such as the conception of love, couples, the passage of time and life experiences.
Furthermore, through their protagonists, both directors and screenwriters can establish an analysis of attraction, love and desire, in addition to solving the great vital enigma of romanticism. One of the greatest virtues of its script are the different time jumps that arise, which provokes emotional introspection, but also growth and maturity in the face of the unknown. It has a striking personal force and Thanawat Panyarin and Worawit Khuttiyayothin know how to exploit it to the core of their story.
They are not afraid to show the edges and flaws that the human being hides, seen above all in the character of Vee, a boy who cares about his grandmother, who is faithful to his friends, a loyal lover, kind, smiling, but is not a waste of virtues, because he is not afraid to go against established norms and commit the occasional transgression, but not for ambitious or selfish purposes, but to help and protect the people he loves.
The series captivates viewers from its first frames not only for its interesting plot and for introducing the audience to an attractive, addictive, exciting and intricate narrative, but also for the inspiring performance of its two protagonists: the actors and singers Daou Pittaya Saechua and Offroad Kantapon Jindataweephol, members of boy group LAZ1, who play San and Vee, respectively, an on-screen couple famous for their work in the 2023 BL drama 'Love in Translation', where they played Yang Yan Feng and Phumjai , in that order.
It is a fact that 'Century of Love' conquers viewers thanks to Daou and Offroad, two actors with brutal on-screen chemistry, in addition to being very comfortable with each other. The synergy they create between them transfers to the seats and it is logical that there is so much truth in their interpretations.
Offroad has an innate naturalness, in addition to knowing how to take his character to emotional levels without falling into drama. He transmits at all times that transformation that occurs in his character. We see a metamorphosis on screen that is believable. A totally correct choice, given that he understands his character and sentimentally strips himself before the viewer.
For its part, thanks to Daou's acting work, the series does not fall into excessive sentimentality, which can occur in film and television romantic stories. It gives you San an identity and the allows to explore other horizons intrinsic to people. He steps hard, but always giving space to the rest of the performances on screen.
On the other hand, Cookie Yada plays a role that could seem to be in the background, but provides greater realism thanks to an unadorned performance. He is insightful and his presence on stage is enjoyable. It gives luminosity, mystery and suspense to the series, as well as a turn of events, which, without a doubt, the audience appreciates. A very human artistic team, which is not afraid to go to the deepest part of history.
One of the peculiarities of 'Century of Love' is the technical realization behind it. Its visual quality is outstanding. It is important to emphasize that it has its own personality and chooses scenarios that become the best staging. By using common or everyday locations, such as a hospital ward, a convenience store, a Buddhist temple, or the hallways and rooms of an old house, they could have fallen into artistic neglect, but this is not the case.
His photographic direction is careful and there are shots that are really delicate and that, in themselves, evoke beauty. Likewise, they also provide a more raw and visceral force in scenes that have a tension that needs that power.
Furthermore, the work behind the artistic direction must be highlighted. Those in charge of this aspect have known how to choose some scenarios in a special way. There is that pleasure in appreciating both the great monuments and public spaces of Thai cities, as well as small places that are more important for the protagonists.
In the same way, it stands out by virtue of its communicative power to transmit the passage of time and the processes of material decay. In 'Century of Love' a model of precise cinematographic calligraphy, whose plot shows concern for the minimum scenographic details that complement, and in some way also explain, San's journey marked by the god Cronus.
The old and dilapidated Chinese Opera Theatre, apparently a set set up for filming, once splendid and vital, which has a symbolic force in history for being the scene of dates between the two lovers a century ago, in addition to being the place where they inevitably separate, suggests a universe in disintegration, whose only possible opening would lie in the meeting and union of the two protagonists in the present.
The consortium of the plot with the musical appoggiatura, especially the main theme "Waiting to Tell You", by the talented artists Niphat Kamjornpreecha and Kan The Parkinson, and performed by the actor who plays San, tells the story of the feelings of the characters, represents another of the fortunes of the television project.
Another point that enhances the series is the handling of the influence of art itself. One of the rooms of the mansion where the protagonists live is a true art museum in which true artistic jewels hang or are stored in its display cases. This demonstrates the intention of directing 'Century of Love' to a level away from the banal and only focusing on the romantic. There is that effect of showing life itself.
The viewer will be drawn to the tender and deep characters, such as Prince Trai, Mrs. Ward's fiancé in one of the timelines, and Dr. Third in another timeline, the present, played by the attractive actor Pond Ponlawit. Ketprapakorn, who I have followed since I discovered him in the role of Wang in the series '180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us'.
The fact that this last character loves Veer is an element to consider in thinking that the young convenience store worker is the real Mrs. Ward reincarnated. Likewise, that Wada does not see Prince Trai in Dr. Third has other connotations to be discovered over the course of the series.
The cast closes with Gumpuns Koravich Sarasin as Doctor Tao, a faithful friend of San and temple official; Kae Trungta Kositchaimongkol as Rat, San's great-granddaughter; See Parattakorn Kaiyanan as Ton, Wee's friend; Xiang Pornsroung Rouyruen as Chu, San's great-great-granddaughter, Boss Natpongpon Suddee as the evil Uncle Suchat.
Also worth highlighting is the plot, full of unexpected twists, and a unique and enveloping atmosphere, which keeps you in suspense and really manages to capture you from the first moment.
The visual quality is impressive, with special effects and cinematography elevating the experience. Each episode leaves a feeling of wonder and curiosity, inviting you to reflect on the conflicts raised and anticipate what will happen next.
I recommend the series for many reasons. It's short and to the point, without unnecessary filler. Well done in terms of special effects, twists and script. Enough to develop the story but without adding straw. With deep messages, it has a certain originality (at this point it is very difficult to invent anything new). It has, in addition to the above, ethics, satire, morality, an intense drama that can make you cry, a touch of humor that will make you laugh more than once, a plot that engages.
Don't miss it.

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