BKPP (2020)

I Told Sunset About You as the Caliber of BL Genre

https://medium.com/@fritzamido/i-told-sunset-about-you-as-the-caliber-of-bl-genre-7792927b701d

I Told Sunset About You — a 2020 Thai romantic drama coming-of-age directed by Boss Naruebet Kuno for Nadao Bangkok. The story revolves around two highschool boys who are figuring out what will be the life ahead of them with their complicated and raw feelings from each other.
I’ve been a huge fan of BL series ever since- from the cliche ones that gives your heart a little nudge to make it flutter to the tragic ones that caused you to shed tears. As different variety of BL series started to make its way in all streaming platforms, I am not going to lie if I will say they all have repetitive plots.
Meanwhile, I Told Sunset About You creates its own flavour that makes it totally different from the rest of the BL series that are existing at date- it hits differently. At first, you’re going to assume it’s just a mere story of two teenagers, from childhood bestfriends, turns into rivals, and became potential lovers but as you get deeper watching the whole episodes, it’s not- it is more than that. It exemplify itself from the rest of indistinguishable narratives of BL genre produced.
It’s a real life story.

Its distinct cinematography and production design gives the viewers a total melancholic conjecture. Its visual details and aesthetics has the same par with Call Me By Your Name; very warm and subtle, also alluring- the way they play with the right color schemes and saturations to equally portray the mood of every scene. It has this… Oscar’s movie quality production set in Phuket. The feeling that the cinematography and camera works gives are immaculate and bewitching.
These factor alone makes the series rise above the mediocre cinematography of all BL series.

The acting of Billkin and PP Krit on the other hand remains phenomenal. They cemented their acting finesse in this series- tough match. Both has a very complex roles yet they managed to deliver every single line very well especially on how they embody their characters into themselves. It doesn’t look like forced nor too rehearsed, it is a perfect example of spontaneity that was well-executed. Most of all, they never had any cringe-acting moments that I always encounter in other BL series as if it’s a part of the acting formula. Theirs was very genuine and natural. They always show the right and raw projection from emotionally charged scenes.
The chemistry between them is undeniably exquisite, very nuanced- from those small gestures, the secret gaze and glances from each other, the restraint desire that was perfectly painted on their faces, the grieving from rejection… that makes both of them a top-notch actors with their effective acting and sensational portrayals.
To make it short, what they feel, you also feel. It transcends into you as if you belong to their world.
And also, commending the portrayals of supporting roles in this series. Their acting are excellent as well, not mediocre and stable enough to deliver what they should deliver on screen. Overall, no screentime was wasted from both main and supporting roles.

When it comes to the story writing and its depth, you can definitely say that it was very well written; brilliant and exceptionally profounding- the dialogues, incorporated by the actor’s excellent acting, will make you feel a lot of emotions in every episode, you name it- happiness, devastation, anguish, confusion… you will be emotionally involved and invested as if you are in a roller coaster ride. Viewers will not going to be spared as it will bequeath everyone with pure emotions firsthand.
The pacing of the story is quintessential- very realistic, not rushed and spot on. You should not miss every single detail on every episode because they are value-added as to how you are going to interpret the story on your own. The color arrangement of the scenes, the color symbol of the main characters- the color blue and red representation, the incorporation of Chinese language and how it was used significantly between Teh and Oh-aew’s relationship, and the seamless symbolism that you can distinguish on every episodes. They were all well-thought and speaks volume perfectly.

There are BL series that also tackles societal issues that is relevant to LGBTQ+ but looks like forced just to fit in the storyline but I Told Sunset About You managed to carry it out perfectly stitched within the entirety of the plot, establishing a mutual connection to certain viewers who can relate either on Teh’s and Oh-aew’s character. It never fails to depict and validates someone’s struggle and make it even more relatable- not exaggerated.
And here lies the spectacular talent of the screenwriter, Goy Arachaporn Pokinpakorn and the director, Boss Naruebet Kuno. They solidified the plot, cinematography, and script to make a pristine masterpiece.
Talking about the sountrack and music scoring- they are all perfectly placed to create the story more appealing, to make it more impactful. It doesn’t overtake the scenes, it is not distracting. It blended with the movements impeccably. There is beautiful thing when they incorporated the Chinese version of Skyline as one of the sountrack and you cannot also deny how the cover song of Billkin and PP Krit added flavor to the soundtrack, making it very personal from their roles.
As you listen to the whole OST, you will realize how pulchritudinous the lyrics of each songs are if you’re going to look for its English translations- totally poetic and written with so much ardor based on the meaninful messages of the songs that gives you a heartrending impression of the series.
Billkin is a great singer as well. He sang two of the sountracks and it tells how well-rounded he is as an artist.

Fan of this series or not, BL enthusiast or just a casual viewer, you can totally say that I Told Sunset About You really made an impression for being a prime and stellar BL at this date. An ensnarling yet beautiful portrayal of teenage love and the strong power of friendship, identity seeking, fragility of someone’s trust and worth, and the manifestation of someone’s dreams and inspiration in a very realistic approach.
Nadao Bangkok as a powerhouse production, outdid themselves and set a new quality standard for BL genre. The fact that I Told Sunset About You has one more finale episode but the first episodes already proven that it has potential to be considered as a brilliant masterpiece. It only has five episodes in total but considering how they successfully laid out the plot on every episodes- without a waste, was masterly polished.
On a personal note, I would definitely give it 10/10 for surpassing my expectations from the very beginning. It is not a perfect series but it is undeniably the best out there- a hard to beat, I must say. It also deserves recognition in any Thai Drama Award Shows and an international acclaim for that matter.
This is a cinematic masterpiece… a caliber for the BL genre and production houses to ameliorate their BL plots and narratives.

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