2
Saeng
in my Pillowfort
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Solid Thai BL with blue-collar characters
If I had to recommend some Thai BL dramas, then this one would be among the recs for someone who has seen a few already and wants to explore the genre some more.
What I liked:
* Highest point: Blue-collar workers in a lot of roles and as love interest, which is a refreshing deviation from all the super-rich college boys, who I am sick of. We need more normal people in Thai BLs. In connection to that, a gentle critique of classism.
* Very gentle and smooth evolution of the main couple. I love how they care for and respect each other. The dynamics between them feel very equal from the first time they meet (which is reflected by the use of names instead of titles and the pronouns เรา /rao/ and นาย /naai/).
* Workplace setting; hospital with a good balance of medical jargon and not too much nonsense.
* middle-aged long-term same-sex partners as advisors and role models, who get a decent amount of screentime.
* a trans gender person in a non-comedic role.
* the three riders, who provided not only comedic relief but also gave Mork the occasional insight.
* The acting is decent, if a bit uneven on Fluke's part (Mork). Pat (Por) was excellent as the slimy boyfriend.
What I did not like:
* the doctor-only couple. I'm allergic to bullying (and what Toy does, can only be called bullying). Yes, he does apologize in a way, but even after, he "teases" Boss, and runs rough-shod over his mental needs, we almost never see Toy respect them. Boss is shown as an introvert, with a sensitivity to explosion noises and a need for his order and rules. In their progression, it's Boss, who has to change much more than Toy and "overcome" his needs. Also, there's no real connection to the main couple , other than that they both work under Tawan. I would have liked to see more of the love story between Fueng and Kru Ai than them.
* The critique of classism ends when the relationships get serious -- only after Nadia learns that the barista owns his café and is a famous YouTuber, she accepts his advances. Mork starts his college education to be able to "care for Tawan" (which shouldn't be needed, Tawan should earn enough as a doctor.) and even ends up with the same hairstyle (helmet-like and styled upwards) as all of the higher-class characters.
* A bit of inconsistency in how and when Mork realises his feelings -- he does so twice in ep. 4 and in ep. 7.
* The sub-plot with the kid could have been improved with a bit more room -- as it is, it doesn't feel like an organic part of the whole story. The kid appears, is there, and disappears again. At least, maybe show him in the epilogue scene?
* Por and his boyfriend have more heat between them than the main couple -- either tone one down or give the other a bit more intimacy.
Overall, a solid 8 objectively -- in my feelings, it's more a 9 because of the gentle progression and the respect in the main couple and the blue-collar characters.
What I liked:
* Highest point: Blue-collar workers in a lot of roles and as love interest, which is a refreshing deviation from all the super-rich college boys, who I am sick of. We need more normal people in Thai BLs. In connection to that, a gentle critique of classism.
* Very gentle and smooth evolution of the main couple. I love how they care for and respect each other. The dynamics between them feel very equal from the first time they meet (which is reflected by the use of names instead of titles and the pronouns เรา /rao/ and นาย /naai/).
* Workplace setting; hospital with a good balance of medical jargon and not too much nonsense.
* middle-aged long-term same-sex partners as advisors and role models, who get a decent amount of screentime.
* a trans gender person in a non-comedic role.
* the three riders, who provided not only comedic relief but also gave Mork the occasional insight.
* The acting is decent, if a bit uneven on Fluke's part (Mork). Pat (Por) was excellent as the slimy boyfriend.
What I did not like:
* the doctor-only couple. I'm allergic to bullying (and what Toy does, can only be called bullying). Yes, he does apologize in a way, but even after, he "teases" Boss, and runs rough-shod over his mental needs, we almost never see Toy respect them. Boss is shown as an introvert, with a sensitivity to explosion noises and a need for his order and rules. In their progression, it's Boss, who has to change much more than Toy and "overcome" his needs. Also, there's no real connection to the main couple , other than that they both work under Tawan. I would have liked to see more of the love story between Fueng and Kru Ai than them.
* The critique of classism ends when the relationships get serious -- only after Nadia learns that the barista owns his café and is a famous YouTuber, she accepts his advances. Mork starts his college education to be able to "care for Tawan" (which shouldn't be needed, Tawan should earn enough as a doctor.) and even ends up with the same hairstyle (helmet-like and styled upwards) as all of the higher-class characters.
* A bit of inconsistency in how and when Mork realises his feelings -- he does so twice in ep. 4 and in ep. 7.
* The sub-plot with the kid could have been improved with a bit more room -- as it is, it doesn't feel like an organic part of the whole story. The kid appears, is there, and disappears again. At least, maybe show him in the epilogue scene?
* Por and his boyfriend have more heat between them than the main couple -- either tone one down or give the other a bit more intimacy.
Overall, a solid 8 objectively -- in my feelings, it's more a 9 because of the gentle progression and the respect in the main couple and the blue-collar characters.
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