BKPP (2020)

A Masterpiece

Too often, Thai dramas fall into tropes and predictable storylines. BL in particular can sometimes serve up flat stories that lack depth and drive. The characters’ actions can also seem legally dubious and morally questionable, which lessens my respect and support for them. This is not the case with I Told Sunset About You. It felt modern, refreshing, informed, emotionally mature, and rich. It is a masterpiece, probably the best drama to come out of Thailand.

Much has been said about how the production did not seem to cut corners, but in my opinion, the best choice the director made was the simple rule of “show, don’t tell.” So much of the action takes place beneath the surface. Emotions and motivations of the two leads are obvious, but not openly discussed: Teh always wanting to smell coconuts, down to smelling coconut-scented ink and literally sticking his head in one; the characters increasingly finding excuses to touch each other (though not necessarily in a sexual way); the jealousy they both try to keep hidden; the conversations they have about their other love pursuits where the body language clearly states, “I’m really into you, but don’t think I have a chance.” The unwillingness, particularly on Teh’s part, to deal with the reality of their emotions yields results that spill over from their relationship with each other into foolish and consequential decisions that negatively affect other people, but again, the cause-and-effect is shown, not explained. It’s not easy to bring out or deliver these performances, which makes the entire production all the more remarkable.

The other thing I adored about this series was its maturity. The relationships, while ridden with mistakes from characters, were healthy. While there was jealousy, there was never a lack of consent or an attempt to control the other person. There was a heart-wrenching conversation between Teh and his brother, when everything finally spilled out, that was realistic but heartwarming, and reflected what many in the queer community need to be ready for when they acknowledge who they are. In other BLs, the female characters end up being treated with scorn, as one-dimensional obstacles and nuisances. I really appreciated how Tarn was given motivations besides being love-struck, and at one point basically says that she is too busy trying to get into college to deal with being jerked around. She was dealt with as a full character who also must cope with the consequences of Teh’s actions; the show gave her dignity, which is incredibly rare in this type of drama.

The only small flaw I could find in the show was that the music timing seemed a bit overly dramatic in a few instances, but this is common in many Asian dramas and doesn’t really take away from the overall show.

This piece was extraordinary and a treasure; I hope other directors and writers take note of its success and why. An absolute standing ovation from me!

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