You Are My Favorite (2023)

a must watch for romance lovers! def one of the best bls out there!

Intro:

I am someone who doesn't particularly enjoy romance, especially romcoms. I enjoy genres like: action, thriller crime, etc. However, I can recognise a good drama regardless of the genre. This is one of those rare gems which you'll love even if you don't necessarily love romcoms in general.



Acting & Cast - 10/10

My first Thai BL was SOTUS so, Krist is an actor I hold in my heart memorably. However, his controversies surrounding his homophobia made me dislike him over time. As a queer person myself, I couldn't comprehend how people, especially those who profit off the queer community, can be queerphobic. I am not someone that believes queer character should be only played by queer people. A character is just a character after all. But the least you can do when you play a queer role is to be an ally. However, even though late, I've learnt that Krist has grown a lot over time. He has always been vocal towards his support towards the queer community. People, including myself, were quick to judge with only edited and limited resources at hand. He has said somewhat "rocky" things but has always learnt and grown from those mistakes. Krist is truly one of the few BL actors that loudly supports the LGBTQIA+ community online and offline.

Now on to the actual series, I never expected to see Krist and Gawin as a couple but it was an extremely pleasant surprise. Krist is an actor, who plays all the roles he is given amazingly well. He never disappoints when it comes to acting. Gawin is another great actor. I'm so happy to finally see him having a lead role. This was truly the perfect first main role for him, imo. GawinKrist's chemistry was insanely good. They fit so well together. I really hope to see more of them again, one day. I hope to see Krist in more BL roles (which is something he has wanted as well but couldn't due to his pairing with singto).

The cast was a perfect fit for all of their respective roles. Everyone was great at truly embodying and projecting their characters. This one of the best series in terms of casting and chemistry between actors.



Story - 10/10

The story was amazing. The story was very progressive, complex, and heartwarming. The portrayal of one coming to term with their sexuality was beautiful. I felt that they did a great job in showing the complexities of it. There was one thing that disappointed me. The only thing that disappointed me. There was a certain scene where there was an opportunity to talk about asexuality but wasn't. Asexuality is practically invisible in most dramas. It would have been nice to finally see some representation for those on the asexual and aromantic spectrums.

It was refreshing to see family dynamics that were complicated. Families that weren't just bad or good. The children had problems with their parents, faced disappointment but also showed the love between them. It felt very realistic and relatable to the majority in most parts. Every character's family situation was unique and different but also very similar. Most of the families in the drama were supportive which was so nice to see in BLs.

The characters all had depth and development. The best part of the drama was Kawee's character development. The side characters had their own stories which were filled with complex emotions and depth. I loved how the side characters' stories had satisfying conclusions too and weren't abandoned. Every character has their own unique struggle.

The fantasy/ supernatural aspect of the drama was very good. It all felt like a big heartwarming lesson on life. The time travel was perfectly woven into the story. It never felt unnecessary and it further showed each character's growth and made the ending even more satisfying. The drama showed how even the smallest decisions can have a domino effect and change the future. The best part was how after every travel, the characters grew some more. It was imperfect in a perfect way.

The romance was perfect. Kawee's and Pisaeng's growth together was great. I loved how healthy their relationship was. We truly need more representations of healthy relationships in dramas especially BLs. Almost all of the characters ended up being green flags by the end of the series. The romance and character development was paced so smoothly. It never felt sudden or delayed. The overall pacing of the whole drama was really amazing. It kept me wanting more and more, to the point that I am miserable now that the series ended.



Music & Sound - 9.5/10

The OSTs were actually so good. Krist and Gawin are really good singers. The singing parts didn't feel cringe or out of place, which is unfortunately something that often happens in BLs. I felt that the songs really portrayed the emotions and stories of the characters really well. This is one of the rare series I've watched where I actually remember the OSTs.



Rewatch Value - 9/10

The series was very memorable but I'd rewatch it just to be happy all over again. The fluffy feeling that I got from the drama will not fade easily. The drama had me all giggly and flushed, that wholesomeness is something I want again.



Overall - 9.5/10

I loved it! I definitely recommend all BL and romcom fans to watch it. Don't hesitate just give it a try and you'll even get some relatable advice from Max. This series is truly one of GMMTV's best creations. I need more like this!



Thanks for reading this far <3!

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Time solved everything

I started to watch this drama because of Krist, but in the end, I fell for Gawin. In 2023, GMMTV had many BL dramas, and I watched everything. And this is one of the best dramas on GMMTV. At the very beginning of the trailer, I was excited because it's a fresh plot and a new pairing. But the production changed Mike to Gawin, and I was disappointed. The other thing was that, though it's a new pairing, I was loyal to Singto and Kris, though there is no future for this pairing.But after watching the first episode, I was ecstatic because it was not the same copy-and-paste plot and time travel, which is brand new. And the new pairing was awesome. They had the chemistry, good acting, and body language that made me sit through illogical plots and make the drama even more addicting. As a couple, they brought out their understanding of each other so well. I could describe their relationship as comic, inevitable, fiery, jeoulous, and mature. All their scenes together highlighted their amazing chemistry. They complimented each other perfectly, whether they were in love or fighting with each other.The character Kawi, on the other hand, was annoying. I was wondering why he cannot see or feel the feelings of Pisaeng, and the obvious answer is that writers want the Kawi to grow throughout the drama. Typically, this means moving from a worse person to a better person. Meanwhile, Pisaeng delivered an emotional roller coaster, which made me fall head over heels for Gawin. But in the end, he gave up and left Kawi.Though I never believed "time will solve everything," it did. This story path is not a flower road. There are many obstacles that test their love and affection, and it was heartbreaking to see fate testing their love for each other. "As time goes on, you'll understand. What lasts, lasts; what doesn't, doesn't. Time solves most things, and what most time can't solve, you have  to."Time solved everything.The writer used each and every character to develop main characters, and each minor character had an ending without vanishing into the air after building a happy ending for Pisaeng and Kawi.Actually, I'm so glad that this drama is not only focused on romance. Recently, I learned many life lessons from this drama. Mainly, it addresses common insecurities, overthinking, and different aspects regarding the LGBTQ community. Not only was it a drama, but it also taught me many life lessons.

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BE MY FAVORITE IS MY FAVORITE BL!

I did not expect that I will enjoy this series. Actually, the very reason I did not watch this is because of Sotus. My OGs were Krist and Singto, so I am not in favor of this pairing. I watched the series with the motive of proving that Krist is perfect for Singto, and only Singto. From Episode 1, the chemistry between Gawin and Krist is oozing. In just one whole night, I binge watched the whole series. Perfect pairing, very good and believable acting, the supporting casts were perfect, the OST sounds really good. Just wow. Shocks, I should have watched this gem the moment it was released for me to join the hype. Shiaaaa, now I am looking forward to Gawin's works and hoping he will work with Krist again.

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Wonderful!

The story was well written and produced, the acting throughout top notch and the casting perfect! The Ost is good, it doesn't disturb the flow or was overly intrusive, but when I hear a song from it, it reminds ne of the show and that makes a really good Ost!

The characters were flawed, but in a very realsitic way and I had fun watching them doing their things. Sometimes it was dumb, sometimes it was frustrating, sometimes it was cute and sweet. Like real humans in their twenties. They weren't perfect, but they learned, especially Kawi! He hated the world, but learned to love it and a value lesson of life.

The Chemistry between the ML was chef's kiss and their kisses made me blush and heat like a teeny, like I was spying on something I shouldn't know about, yet. The way Kawi was so shy in the beginning was a litlle frustrating, but later on you could see, and feel, how comfortable he became to the touch of Pe (can't remember how to write his full name ... ). Their relationship was portrayed so well and natural, their flirting gave me butterflys, even later on and the deep love for eachvother made me tear up!
Spoiler!!!

When Pe went back and they discussed their future, it was heartbreaking to see Pe looking at Kawi with so much love and fear of losing him that he was willing to give him up right there.... and how strong Kawi got thanks to him and their relationship that he said he wouldn't change a thing anymore, because he was the happiest just with Pe at his side.... perfection! I was so happy when he returned and Kawi opened his eyes with that knowing smile ...

Give this show a chance! It is the one of the best shows I ever watched and I watched a lot! Everything just works so well, the characters are all loveable in their own way and Pe is right... Kawi is the cutest! I really love Krist's way of acting and I'm glad that you can see how much he improved since Sotus. Gawin is excellent, I think I like him here the most!

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I have fallen out of love

I wanted to wait until the last episode airs before I write a review, but now I'm not sure if I will watch this last episode.
If you want to know, why this series is so great, read other reviews. Whatever those reviews say, it’s mostly true: the series is very well written, well acted, with an interesting and engaging plot, very well developed and complex characters, and some mature storytelling you don’t see often in this genre.
We have different people with different personalities and different sexualities: a hetero girl (Pear), a hetero guy (Knot), a open gay gay (Max), a gay guy in the closet (Pisaeng), a guy who has to figure out his sexuality (Kawi). That’s an ensemble of characters I have never seen before in any other BL. So 10 points for that. Of course this constellation with a love triangle in the middle causes lots of drama and complex issues.
But again, read other reviews if you only want to hear about the good stuff.
About the bad stuff: I tend to fall in love with many GMMTV series until episode 7. This series is no exception. The first half was fun, crazy, exciting, lovely. The second half not so much. Reading comments on MDL, twitter, YouTube I really wonder why so many people are unable to see those characters for who they really are. They are able to recognize that Kawi is problematic, but they are completely blind about Pisaeng, because they only see his love as pure, innocent and romantic. He isn't portrayed as a bad person, but he is seriously dense, and I think this character has not much depth and not much brains. I must say I liked Pear more as a character, and thought she was the least problematic. Still, those people love each other, life is complicated and things can get out of control. So the writing isn't the problem, that's why I rate this series rather high. Objectively speaking it's good, but if I talk about my personal feelings: I have fallen out of love. At the end it was just all a bit too cheesy, a bit too sad, a bit too depressing, a bit too slow. I hoped to see them being together, happy and crazy, but in ep 11 we only got to see a montage of some future scenes without any story behind it. If they had some dialouge it was a sad conversation. I thought they would be a fun couple, but not really. Maybe they will fix that in ep 12, but I don't think that a single episode can change how I felt since ep 7.
Well ... what else?
I think I'm now as tired as Krist is looking since ep 10. They should have ended it earlier, give us a special Our Sky episode and everything is fine, but I guess I'm the only one who thinks sometimes less is more.

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Annoyingly Cute

I love time travel stories. I love stories where characters try to fix issues in their past (like the film The Butterfly Effect). So far, I like this.

This is only the second drama I've seen with Krist. He's still pulling weird, but funny, faces! His character (Kawi) is a bit of a loser who can't seem to get anything right. I feel for him every time he hesitates as it feels so relatable. I feel for him every time he wants to be close to the girl he likes - Pear (Aye) - but doesn't know how to do it. It's relatable because it's hard to put yourself out there and hope you won't feel crushed. He feels utterly crushed.

I find much of this interesting because hindsight is an incredible thing. We assume that if we went back to a particular time or place, we could fix it and it would all be OK. In reality, how could it be? We would only be accounting for our effort and not of other people. There's a domino effect in everything: a slight nudge in a different direction must make everything that follows slightly different...surely?

What I like: Krist's acting. Gawin's character (Pisaeng's cool hotness). Aye's lovely character (Pear)
What I don't like: The whining of Krist's character - act your age and take a chance (but it is relatable!)

I was surprised by the transformation of Krist's character from whining and annoying university student to wise and mature young man. It was a good transformation and beautifully acted by Krist - I believed every version of the character.

I admit that the last episode brought a few tears to my eyes. It was sad, thoughtful and joyful.

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Decent show except romanticised sexual assault

Before the romanticized sexual assault in episode 6 (Edit: detailed spoiler description of it in comments) afterwards which i dropped it and have no knowledge of what happens afterwards, this show with all its cliches and minor faults was a strong 7.5+ for me. Just a regular run off the mill 'hidden feelings surface' plot with time travel sprinkled on top.

The main character was little annoying being 30 year old cosplaying a pre-pubescent teen in a 20 year old body but it was tolerable. Everyone in the show were doing some messed up, problematic or questionable things with Pear and Max being the resident collateral damage but it was tolerable and not bad as a viewer. So that's why it was 7.5 for me and not 8.

What instantly dropped the rating from 7.5+ to 5 overall was the fact that in episode 6 there is a scene b/w main characters where one of them is drunk and the other who is sober, engages in sexual activity (if an activity is sexual or not, it depends on the context) with him and only stops when he notices the protagonist being asleep and not before. All this happens whilst romantic music plays in the background. Thus romanticizing the activity happening in the scene.

Multiple respectable orgs and lawmaking institutions (courts/govt etc.) around the world state that drunk people (or intoxicated people) cannot give consent. And i personally hold the same belief.

Sexual Assault's definition on Wikipedia:
"Sexual assault takes many forms including attacks such as rape or attempted rape, as well as any unwanted sexual contact or threats. Usually a sexual assault occurs when someone touches any part of another person's body in a sexual way, even through clothes, without that person's consent."

That all being said,
Since i didn't watch past episode 6 (except the first 5-7 minutes of ep7 to see how the show handles the convo of 'what happened last night'.... - They romanticized/normalised it further whilst also spouting the dialogue "people have no idea what they do when drunk"), I can't comment if the story improves past ep6 or not.

Maybe they fix all storyline/character issues and the show becomes great, maybe they further mess up storyline and characters and the show becomes worse. I don't know and i won't know.

But what i do know is that the show romanticized sexual assault and i can't continue watching it post ep6. You can watch it, it's a decent show except that thing. And that's why the rating for me is 5 instead of 7.5+

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A Second Chance Exploring Your "What-Ifs"

It's already clear the amount of fantastical potential this series has. Time traveling in itself isn't anything new, but this still feels fresh by adding an unexpected actor pairing, great production, and BL to the mix.

Even though I was initially skeptical of Krist and Gawin's chemistry, I'm not anymore. As many have pointed out, Krist really shines in this role. His portrayal of Kawi boosts the cute and unpredictable flavor of this series's comedy, while still representing his darker emotions when need be. And Gawin brought not only acting skills but also charm and rizz to the table with the insane number of enchanting gazes he gave within ep1 alone.

Seeing how Kawi's changes caused an interesting ripple effect through time-traveling makes me eager to keep watching! It's more difficult to get supernatural concepts right compared to other genres, yet Be My Favorite has the potential to be a surprising GMM classic.

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