Wow, This Is An Incredible Series -- Seriously Do Not Miss It

Top-level points: This is a wonderful production, and is well worth your time to watch it, and watch it again.

Detailed, committed – one might even say loving – cinematography that makes maximum use of color and natural scenes to produce enchanting images. A soundscape that catches you up and transports you – without your even knowing – into a whirl of emotions. Actors who enjoy wonderful mutual chemistry and craft performances of characters who have a LOT more depth than in most BLs. I am not a teacher, but I think this series is a “how-to” example of how to create a beautiful cinematic work that grabs the audience and moves them deeply.

All of that said, it is not perfect, although I can understand those who say it is. Sure,Teh had many reasons to cry (having sacrificed his future for love and obtained only what he believed to be rejection), but as a plot device the depictions of it were overkill. Billkin’s performances of Teh’s sobbing were I am sure very difficult to do, but sometimes they missed the target – as another reviewer commented there were moments when I wasn’t sure if he was crying or laughing. Just too much angst.

Another imperfection: I stand in awe of the music team’s work and the lovely soundscape they produced for most of the scenes – but they erred in the choices at the end. After the hug on Cape Promthep, the two protagonists have finally finally found each other and declared (in deeds if not in words) their mutual love. It is THE culminating moment of their dramatic arc – but ewwwwwww....the music that plays is a fluffy, airy little version of “Really Special,” in which the “Chai ry blauw” refrain just comes across as totally inappropriate. Fer Chrissakes, these two have just broken lifelong chains of fear and inarticulacy that had previously doomed them to constant mutual incomprehension. They are finally free and can have hope for the future. And this moment deserves more dramatic music than fluffy fluffy “Chai re blauw.” (Yes, I know some of the other lyrics were apt but that doesn’t cut it for me……it was the tune that was in my head as I was watching, and the reaction was NOT positive.)

But in the end, all of these imperfections are small. Taken as a whole, the work is a masterpiece, and the achievement of all those who worked on this masterpiece is very very large. So do watch it yourself – Personally, I think it’s even worth paying for, to see the top-quality HD stream from Vimeo (but I recognize that many people cannot afford the price, until maybe someday it comes down.)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now, having said that, I will offer some more detailed comments on various aspects, and on the first episode. Probably more detail than most people want, but if it bores you, feel free to stop reading. There’s too much emotion inside, and it’s therapeutic for me to write it out…….

Cinematography:

After the lousy flat cinematography in so many BL dramas, this one is like a garden blooming in the desert. Those who composed the visuals (Director Boss must have had some pretty good help) love colors, and idealize the natural scenery of Phuket. (All the gritty parts have disappeared from this reality.) And either Boss and Co. love the Sino-Portuguese architecture of the Straits Chinese cities or they just liked it as a convenient backdrop – whatever the reason, they have put together a stirring visual ode to Southeast Asia and it alone moves the hearts of people who, like me, love that region.

Soundscape:

The OST is wonderful wonderful wonderful!! Not only for the main songs which are excellent but for the creative use of the melodies to craft background music that grabs the viewer and pulls them into the emotional maelstrom. Skyline is a fantastic theme, and it is translated many times, with different vocalizations and instrumentalizations. There are several versions of “Skyline” that play during moments when Teh is tongue-tied and helpless because of what he perceives to be his “destiny” preventing him from loving another guy. Watch the scene in Ep 5 where Bas is announcing to their class that he really likes Oh, for the interplay between the “Skyline” piano and the wild, bereft look on Teh’s face……it’s a killer of a scene. (And those who complain about Billkin’s acting need to watch this……he’s fantastic.)

And for the use of vocalization, watch the Ep. 3 scene in the hammock on the beach . As the boys talk, there is just the sound of crickets near the beach. However, from the moment Oh begins his self-revelation, female voices in the background are drawing the viewer in, and creating a musical frame for the emotional moment – but then Teh just cannot bring himself to answer Oh's implicit declaration of love. So Oh says “Okay, whatever makes you comfortable. But I think you're jealous.” Oh’s love, at least, is clear. But Teh just cannot be honest. Then, high and clear, an "a capella" voice with a concert-hall echo sings key lines from Skyline. (Could that be Billkin, singing?) The subtitles don’t translate the lyrics at that point, so many non-Thai viewers may not recognize how poignant they are: "In the end of a love novel, normally, those who have been apart are brought back, so they can see each other again and say "I love you" one more time. But in my reality, our love cannot be like that." The music expresses Teh’s reality, where love cannot be; it has to stay “The love that dare not speak its name.” And the scene changes. Just superb composition, both audio and visual.

Acting:

The cast did an excellent job. The two leads are both so young and still a bit of “raw talent” -- I am just overwhelmed to think of the potential they both have. I hope they can fulfill it. They have such good mutual chemistry, and they have mastered the art of showing through the face what the character is feeling, deep inside. People have criticized Billkin for a “wooden” portrayal of Teh, but that is the whole idea – Teh comes near to being an emotional cripple. A character who has spent his entire adolescence hiding his feelings, he dare not let his emotions be seen, until they well up inside and he cannot stop crying. I think Billkin’s portrayal, which alternates wooden moments with raw emotion, is spot-on. That IS Teh. Even at the end, on Cape Promthep, after having gone through his own living hell with his family, he cannot bring himself to answer Oh’s question “What about you and me?” But Oh, who may yet qualify for sainthood, is willing to accept the silence. All he wants is not to be shut out of Teh’s life. Watch his face during this scene – PP Kritt brings to painful life the vulnerability of the hopelessly-in-love young man. (All I want to do at that moment is hug Oh, and reassure him that he is loved.)

The supporting cast is excellent as well. Nat as Hoon comes across beautifully as the empathetic brother. Bas, played by the very young and VERY talented Khunpol, is possibly the one character who tugs on everyone’s heartstrings in every aspect – he loves, he respects, he sacrifices selflessly. It is a great performance. And Smile as Tarn is convincing with all the conflicting emotions that flow through her. So much stronger than many of the actresses in the BL world. Also, the two kids who played young Teh and young Oh really did an excellent job, too. Bravo performances all around.

Episode 1: (huge spoilers here….really don’t read on unless you’ve already watched)

I have to say a few words about Ep. 1 because on first watching, it left me kinda cold…..like “why all this to-do about the kids?” I really wondered if I should continue watching the series. Frankly, I went on watching just because of the cinematic beauty – the lights and colors and images of SEAsia. I am sooooo glad I continued……

The thing about the first episode is that the viewer doesn't know what to watch for. It seems a bit disorganized with these scenes from the past life of the boys Teh and Oh, and then Teh doing some sort of university acting test and it kinda jumps around. (That non-linear storytelling is not a feature of later episodes.)

But omigod, now that I've been through the whole story and have gone back and rewatched ep 1 I would say it is a masterpiece. The cinematography -- use of colors, framing of shots, beautiful use of Phuket scenery (which only gets better as the series goes on)......it's all fantastic. And then the performances......wow. I was not a big fan of Teh -- in fact they both had asshole tendencies displayed in ep. 1. Only on re-watch can you really see Billkin's superb capture of the internal struggle that already had Teh locked into an emotional prison, and how that plays out on Billkin's face. If you don't know what you're looking at, that is so easy to miss.....

Note that the scene where Teh dedicates his audition performance to Oh, with tears brimming in his eyes -- that scene actually came several weeks BEFORE they "buried the hatchet" and became friends again. What that says: for five long years Teh kept Oh in his heart, so strongly that it came bubbling out in his university auditions when he thought of Oh. He WANTED to make up and be friends, but "couldn't push send." And then, a few weeks later, when the reconciliation finally happens, and The has cried for Oh, in front of the audition panel, Teh still cannot bring himself to tell Oh how important he is. When Oh says "we can be friends but maybe not best friends" look at Teh's face!!!!! He is crippled by fear. Five long years, and he can't bring himself to say "but I missed you so much." Instead he says "yeah sure, whatever you want." Pushing the love down.....hiding it inside.

But then immediately he begins the series of good works to try to help Oh. He cannot bring himself to tell Oh he likes him that much, but he starts helping him.....over and over again. Works of love that neither of them recognize -- oh, but on rewatch we recognize them. Instantly you realize how completely relatable Teh really is. And it culminates much later, with the cut-up workbook that Teh cannot use to get his own life back on track, because he cut it to pieces to try to help Oh. Teh was not the only one crying, at that point……

Rewatching Ep 1 will make that all now crystal clear.....Now it all becomes obvious; you know what is coming -- the hurt that Teh's fear and self-suppression will do later, to almost everyone -- Oh, Bas, Tarn, his mother and of course Teh himself whose life is derailed and who is nearly broken by it -- all that pain begins squarely in Ep1. Far more are the tears I shed on rewatch, knowing what is to come.

Fortunately (skipping forward to the end of the series), Hoon has helped Teh cross his own Rubicon……and he is able to declare himself to Oh. There is hope. Teh finally realizes that destiny does not bind him to be a slave to fear. (In the lyrics from an old Stephen Stills song “We are not helpless; we are men. What lies between us, can be set aside and ended.” )

The creative team is going to have to find another theme song (or some new lyrics for “Skyline.”) Or at least I hope so……if the second season smashes that hope…….it will kill me too.

Lees verder