A masterpiece

This is my first review, but I felt compelled to write one after watching this series. It's hard to find the words to describe this work, but I'll try my best.

I'll start with the TLDR because this review will be me rambling about how good this series is: this is a true love letter to the lgbt+ community, with such insight and nuance, masterful cinematography, acting, soundtrack, storytelling and a true must see. Not only if you're a BL fan, but also if you're a cinema fan in general as the execution is at the level of "international cinema" and I could see this winning awards at festivals. Nadao wasn't playing and nothing was left to chance. This goes beyond the genre. An unforgettable experience that will stay with you long after watching.


Story and writing:

The story by itself is one we've seen before and simple at first sight: two boys who are childhood friends reunite and discover and navigate through their newfound feelings for each other. The reason I give the story 10 stars is that this series stands out is the masterful way in which is this simple and everyday coming of age story is written.The characters are written with such depth and nuance. The dialogues are so natural. This series is full of symbolisms. Actually if you go to the comment section of this series, you'll see us writing and writing about all these details. Everything intertwines perfectly. Something that is refreshing too is how the supporting characters are written in a good balance that adds more to the series and balances perfectly with the main characters.

The story is focused on the two boys who at some point have a girl and a boy romantically interested in each one of them. However this story has no antagonists in which these secondary love interests are written in such a real way that we end up sympathizing with them. For once we have a girl in a BL properly written and not a villain or used as plot device. The only antagonists here are the inner battles of the protagonists which are depicted in such real and raw way.

Another aspect of the story that I found interesting is how they included Chinese in this series. The protagonists are studying Chinese and the words and symbols are a constant in the series, adding another layer to it.

The series has only 5 episodes (it will have a part 2 though) and in these 5 episodes you get deep knowledge of these characters, a well paced story where no scene goes to waste. This is a masterclass in script writing.

Get your tissues ready but also get ready to smile, to relate, to fall in love with the characters, to really get attached to them. I for one can't let go of them. This was written by people who have empathy and knowledge of the struggles of the lgbt+ community and want to show them to the world and make the people in the community feel seen and understood and people outside of it to understand and empathize.

Cinematography and other technical aspects:

This is one of the aspects that this series shines. Every shot is intentional. and well balanced. The photography is out of this world and each scene so beautiful it hurts. Almost every scene deserves a screenshot for how well is composed. The color pallet in yellows and warm tones gives a nostalgic feel to it making it seem that the series takes place decades ago while taking place in the modern era. Phuket, the place where it takes place is shown beautiful. I also want to praise the styling, make up and air department for making the characters truly look their age and so natural. I can't point any technical flaws.

This is a "show don't tell" type of series and the way it's executed... chief kiss. There are symbols, color being used to depict how the characters feel and how they stand it that moment and details that blend so well in the story while still requiring an attentive eye to catch them all.

Please watch the behind the scenes documentaries once you're done as the director P'Boss will guide you through the technical aspects of it and how it was done.

Acting:

This is the highlight of this show. If I could give a 100 stars I would. This series was written for Billkin and PP and it shows. Their acting is so powerful, nuanced, poingnant, mature but still retaining the natural immaturity of these teenagers. We get to feel all their emotions even in the scenes where there are no words. Billkin and PP at such young age and with the masterful directing of P'Boss went where most actors in this genre don't go, offering us a performance worthy of all the awards. At some points it felt so real and raw I had to take a pause to compose myself. I had never seen something like this in Thai BL. I would say this was probably some of the best acting I've seen in any series of any kind in the past few years or more, that's how good it was. Billkin and PP's chemistry is out of this world too! Keep an eye on these boys, they will go places!

The supporting cast also does an incredible job: the group of friends though shown as a background is so natural and fits perfectly. And the 2 secondary love interests I mentioned before, interpreted by Khunpol and Smile give a stellar performance in the few scenes they're in. They might not have many scenes but you'll also feel everything they feel.

Music and Soundrack:

Another masterpiece that added so much to this series! The OST of this series is fabulous and it adds so much with it. The lyrics portray what the characters are going through and I always cry when I listen to the Skyline song. This song has a version interpreted by Billkin and another one in Chinese interpreted by PP. All the versions of this song are true works of art. We also have 2 other songs sang by Billkin. Not only are they phenomenal actors but singers too! The soundtrack in this series is never overbearing or out of place, instead gets us more involved in the story and works as an aid to portray what these characters are going through.

Rewatch value:

As I mentioned before this series is full of details that you might not catch on a first watch, so I'll be rewatching for sure. The comment section of this series is full of commentators dissecting every aspect of it as nothing is left to chance in this series. Also there were some scenes that were so breathtakingly beautiful that I'll be rewatching for sure.


I want to thank the actors, cast and crew for all the thought and effort they put into this and for the powerful message this series has. One of my favorite series (BL or not BL), I'm still blown away.

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