Love Sick (2024)

From a person who only watching this, not the original not the novel

I was scrolling on my Twitter when this pop up on my tl and a decided to give a try, I didn't expect much and didn't know nothing about it, just started because the actors look cute. But for me It was a pleasant surprise, the actors are very young and I believe this is the first series for the majority of them, but that doesn't mean they lack any acting skill, the series is very light, the acting feels fresh, the comedy it's on point. The two main leads have extremely good chemistry and make me very happy seem them together, the soundtrack is also really good. When I righting this it's only two episodes out and to be honest I can't wait to see the rest of the series, they had me sit for the first episode. I didn't watch the original or read the novel to compare, but what I can say is that this one really deserves a chance, it's a really sweet story until now.

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A Compelling Story with Frustrating Love Triangles

Love Sick brings an engaging storyline that keeps you rooting for the characters despite some frustrating moments. The plot is well-crafted, capturing the complexities of young love, especially the journey of Pun and No as they navigate their feelings.

While I’m enjoying the storyline, Pun’s indecisiveness is driving me a little crazy! He still hasn’t fully come to terms with his feelings for No, yet he seems to expect No to patiently wait while he dates someone else. This emotional tug-of-war creates some intense drama but also leaves me wishing that Pun would make up his mind. No deserves more than being left in emotional limbo, and I’m eager to see Pun gain clarity soon, if only for the sake of both their happiness.

Overall, it is off to a strong start with relatable characters and well-drawn conflicts, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Pun and No’s relationship evolves.

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"You should know, our friendship is called love"

The phrase that gives the review its title is pronounced by George to Alexander, the protagonists of 'Les amitiés particulières', the French film directed by Jean Delannoy in 1964.
Didier Haupedin, the actor who plays Alexander, was only 12 years old when he starred in the film that adapts the work of the same name by Roger Peyrefitte. The main theme is the relationship between the teenager George (Francis Lacombrade) and the boy Alexander, both students at a Catholic boarding school in the south of France in the mid-19th century.
Who would later star in films such as the Italian 'L'innocente', directed in 1976 by Luchino Visconti, and the Spanish 'Cotolay (The Boy and the Wolf)', by José Antonio Nieves Conde, and many others, will always be remembered for this performance, because it is impressive, for its young age, the variety of registers it is capable of offering, from childish joy and innocence to the expression of great inner disappointment and pain.
At only 14 years old, Brooke Shields, the American film, television and theater actress, model and writer, was filmed by the cameras of director and producer Randal Kleiser, in 'The Blue Lagoon' (1980). Already before, at 11, she got the lead role in the film 'Pretty Baby' (1978), by Louis Malle, in which she played a sexually exploited girl. Just turned 15, he starred in the drama 'Endless Love', by Franco Zeffirelli (1981).
After some minor roles, Irish-American actress Saoirse Ronan had her first leading role when she was not yet 15 years old, in the film 'City of Ember', the film adaptation of Jeanne DuPrau's novel. Immediately after, he starred in 'The Lovely Bones', directed by the Oscar-winning Peter Jackson, the New Zealand producer, screenwriter and director, known especially for producing, directing and co-writing the 'Lord of the Rings' film trilogy, as well as its prequel 'The Hobbit' trilogy.
The British 'Romeo and Juliet', a film adaptation of the play of the same name by William Shakespeare, filmed in 1968 by Franco Zeffirelli, has in its main roles the young and inexperienced Argentine actress Olivia Hussey and the also debuting British actor Leonard Whiting, who at the time of filming were 15 and 17 years old, respectively.
These are some of the many actors and actresses who began their acting careers at such a tender age.
'Love Sick', the remake of the 2014 series of the same name, brings us as protagonists two debut actors who, like those already mentioned, began their acting career at an early age, since Almond Poomsuwan Suwansatit, who plays Punn, is 16 years, while Progress Passawish Thamasungkeeti, the actor who plays Noh, has one less.
Directed by Cheewin Thanamin Wongskulphat ('Why R U?' - 2020), this director, producer and owner of Copy A Bangkok, who is credited with being the first producer of the Y series in Thailand, now repeats as director of the series, since in 2015 he directed 'Love Sick Season 2'.
Edited by Theerasan Petmai ('Addicted Heroin' – 2024) and a large youth cast, all newbies, the LGBT+-themed romantic youth drama 'Love Sick' adapts the web novel "Love Sick: The Chaotic Lives of Blue Shorts Guys", by Latika Chumpoo, to tell us a story with a simple plot that we have seen in other romantic dramas starring heterosexual or homosexual couples.
The boy who, despite having a girlfriend, is forced by his father to go out with a friend's daughter. To avoid this, he asks a schoolmate to pretend that they have a relationship and he, after resisting a couple of times, accepts, since he needs the other boy, as president of the Student Council, to intercede on behalf of the Club Music, of which he is the leader.
And for the pretend game to begin, both will need to have the help of one of them's sister, who is obsessed with the boys' love stories, and who will have to convince the father that the boy is not interested in the boys' love stories girls, but in those of the same gender. However, the fake relationship soon begins to seem real.
The problem, of course, is that friction makes affection. And, if a certain sexual chemistry is added to that from the beginning, why do we want more. Both face the discovery of their sexual orientation and problems at home, at school, with their girlfriends and friends.
This has been the premise of great exponents of this subgenre baptized in English as "faux-mance", among which stand out, among others, 'Marriage of Convenience' (1990), 'Nick and Norah: A Night of Love and Music', 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days' (2003), 'Holidate' (2020), 'Isi & Ossi' (2020), 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018), 'Midnight at the Magnolia', 'The Proposal', 'Badly Wounded Hearts' (2022), 'Wedding Season' (2022), or the gay-themed 'Xi yan' ('The Wedding Banquet'), by Ang Lee, and 'Single All the Way' (2021), by Michael Mayer.
We all know the classic structure of romantic dramas with a fake boyfriend story: the boys meet each other, they may even dislike each other, but due to circumstances they must pretend to be boyfriends... and then they fall in love, they separate for some reason only to end... make the audience enjoy a fairy tale.
Although there have been some films and series in the genre that have attempted to break these conventions, most stick to the formula. Because? Because many of us love to see two people who initially have no feelings for each other fall in love, and if it comes with an LGBT+ twist, much better: it's not about what happens, but about how it happens, about making us leave aside our disbelief and awaken our faith in love. And in 'Love Sick', a series that has no intention of breaking any mold, the tenderness shown by the two protagonists will definitely melt your heart.
The truth is that with its message of love and acceptance, 'Love Sick', whose main component is romanticism, emerges as a delicious and tender romantic drama, with touches of humor, which is a gift for everyone, as it presents the discovery of first love by the two protagonists, who will falsely experience a courtship, which will give rise to hilarious, sparkling and emotional situations, before giving way to true love.
I n its favor, the fans were already there before its premiere, as the series pays tribute on its tenth anniversary to the first Thai BL series and also the initiator of the expansion of Asian boy love dramas to the rest of the world continent and the world. This will forever remain in my memory, the story of two ordinary boys like anyone else, who fake a courtship out of convenience and whose only intention is: the desire to live among others.
In 2014 I fell in love with the series after watching it half a dozen times. The excitement of seeing Captain Chonlathorn Kongyingyong and White Nawat Phumphothingam, playing Noh and Punn, respectively, and the rest of the youth cast still lingers.
After a long time, this week before the start of its remake I watched both seasons again, and in the process I wrote their corresponding reviews on MDL. I confirmed with joy that it still has the same effect on me as when I saw it back in the day.
Despite being newbies, Almond Poomsuwan Suwansatit and Progress Passawish Thamasungkeeti are charismatic and attractive: they perfectly sell this relationship to us and make us want them to end up together. The first makes his character the classic young man who hides his homosexuality and seems to be in love with his schoolmate, by saving photos of Noh on his phone, and takes the opportunity to approach him. Meanwhile, Noh, faced with so much tenderness and affection, cannot help but fall in love with the president of the Student Council.
'Love Sick' stands out for giving us everything one expects from this type of series, with the context of having as its setting an exclusive school for boys, full of diverse characters and a beautiful message about acceptance and discovery. It may fall a little short in the dramatic tensions department, but the tenderness of their romance more than makes up for it.
Although it is full of clichés, the story of Punn and Noh has candid moments that move and manage to bring a knowing smile to the viewer. Furthermore, looked at generously, the story invites a debate about the very nature of love, the family's reaction to their children coming out of the closet, and relationships based on mutual care that survive over time.
They are both teenagers living their first experience of love. One is a child who cannot ignore the feelings that are born and grow in his chest, and the other who, loving too, fears that his love may cause harm to those around them. They both repress their feelings. And that is what makes them so genuine and real, as they struggle with who they are and who they want to be, as they navigate their struggles to understand the limits of love, to learn to love, to discover who they truly are.
Starring actors who play two gay boys, and in which sexual orientation is not a dramatic focus, the tone of the series is festive, bright and, despite some flaws, it is deeply inspiring.
'Love Sick' may not be perfect, but it is a worthy tribute to the original series that tells a story of love and friendship between two boys who mutually discover their sexuality. It is, in short, the series that we needed to remember it and for those people who did not see the two-season drama broadcast on Channel 9 to enjoy the story.
It is appreciated the existence of a series in which its characters portray LGBT+ people in which conflicts do not prevail and also the warmth with which 'Love Sick' transmits the story it wants to tell.
The good tone of the story is rounded off by five luxurious secondary characters who elevate the dramatic moments: Lift Supoj Janjareonborn ('My Only 12%'), who assumes the role of Punn's father; Joy Dhanyabhorn Sondhikandha ('Hidden Agenda'), as Punn's mother; Pym Pympan Chalayanacupt ('Kidnap'), as Aim's mother; Tontae Tinnakorn Puwasakdiwong ('Venus in the Sky'), as the Sports day emcee, and Jennie Panhan ('The Shipper'), as Im.
All of them manage, together with the protagonists and the rest of the cast, to develop an imperfect story that continues an important path in favor of representation and diversity.
'Love Sick' may not become the BL series of the year, however, it has a certain luminosity that is worth highlighting, especially for the fact that it can demonstrate that homosexual relationships are as normal, as sweet, as heterosexual ones.
With a rich youthful vibe, the feel of the series is very young and fresh. The music helps a lot, as the soundtrack has been revised and expanded by Boy Sompob, who, as in the original series, is once again in charge of this section, and promises that listening to the iconic music again will really invoke nostalgia.
Directors and writers of the original series expand this world through the eyes of these two new boys who try to navigate trying to control their emotions and doubts, sharing with their girlfriends and friends and, ultimately, exploring their identity through 15 episodes 55 minutes long.
That is to say, the adaptation to the original series brings new depth to this story. Through the dialogues, the internal thoughts of the protagonists and numerous well-used flashbacks we will learn about all the things that the boys do not dare to express out loud, as well as those that have to do with the beautiful moments of a shared childhood, which allow us to fill in all the gaps and reveal to us the reason why these teenagers are so close to each other.
These scenes, which do appear in Latika Chumpoo's novel, were not incorporated into the 2014 series, which puts in context who these teenagers are, what ties unite them, while adding layers of tenderness that make the The link between Pun and Noh is as genuine as it is inevitable and fragile.
In short, the series is pleasant and harmless. It is true that the performances of the new actors are somewhat weak and their script could have needed some more layer of depth, especially when it came to portraying the characters. But sometimes nothing else is needed to work. And he does it.
The light plot with captivating characters full of chemistry is what makes this teen romance series, despite its flaws, perfect for distracting the mind and warming the heart.
True to the original in tone and spirit, its pace is a little faster, more polished and elegant: it's well made and the boys are promising. They are, in short, the new and future protagonists of BL series.
"You should know, our friendship is called love", the phrase with which I end the review, could very well have been said by our two protagonists.

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When will reflect BL shows realities???

The "delusional" shy `fake female acting´ reflecting 19th century is so depressing ... It was in the 1st show and repeats, out of what?, tradition?, here again! Beginning of EP11: waking up and crying, because your lover lies next to you and you nozzle him, or the "Let´s shower" avoiding shy-prudery-dance ... so anoying and so not real. Especially for gays and even lesbian!
I know these "stories" are written by hetero women for hetero women in mind and as merket.
But when do the writers finally reach realities? Realities of LGBTQIA+ lives and life?
Being shy in the public I can understand ... but in private in this "clean woman" behavior, again and again???
I am short to drop the show!
BTW: the Phun actor of the 1st show, being asked if he is gay ... HELL NO!!! Okay he never got any lead, only minoe supporting roles after ... the Noh actor made a similar sniding answer ...

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A GOOD REMAKE TO WATCH!!!

I usually don't like watching remake because i can't help but to compare it to the original one. But LOVE SICK 2024 HITS DIFFERENT, I love this series so far. Idk how to explain but they bring back the real romance feels in thai bl, it's been awhile since i felt this.

The casts are very young but they're already good in acting for a debut esp the lead casts (Almond and Progress, even their names sound weirdly cute Hahaha). Their chemistry is on point and i can't wait for other side couples to introduce as well.

Another thing i like about this remake is that they still followed the plot but changed some parts of the storyline which made it better and became modernized. This is all i can say for now since it's still ongoing, but YOU GUYS SHOULD GIVE THIS BL SERIES A CHANCE.

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do you get deja vu ooh~

Whether you've seen the 2014 original version or you're coming into this story for the first time, the tension and chemistry between Pun and No is incredible, but be warned you might find the development to be oddly fast.

Background:
Love Sick 2014 was one of the first Thai BL dramas, with censored kisses and an open ending, in 12 episodes they still managed to pull off one of the most intense feelings of longing in a coming of age BL. Season 2 came out with another 36 episodes and was able to give the audience the happy ending we were all waiting for, bur for a lot of people those 48 episodes were too drawn out and had too much side character drama. Skip forward to today, it looks like they're trying to stuff the whole story into a 15 episode remake, and so far they're doing a pretty impressive job.

Story:
Pun and No have known eachother for years, they've been school mates and casual friends for so long, that neither of them expected the surge of emotions they feel when circumstances shove them closer together. The plot is full of complicated situations and feelings, and even though the pace feels a bit rushed at first, the feelings between Pun and No are incredibly sweet and beautiful. There were some plot changes from the original, mainly to the side couples storyline, generally neutral or positive changes though.

Actors:
They're young but they're talented, I think they were great picks for this remake. Progress (No) is really channeling Captain in this, there are some moments where it feels like I'm watching the same actor, it's crazy. Almond plays an incredible Pun, and even though White's Pun is hard to beat, Almond is a great actor and he and Progress both easily capture your hearts.

Verdict:
To be honest, I'm a little partial to the original, but I'm a sucker for a slow burn and I love character development in a story, so the abundance of side characters didn't bother me as much. This remake is a really fun watch, it's giving all of the deja vu feels and a fresh new flavor of chemistry from AlmondProgress. This review is based on episodes 1-8, I'll update as more come out, but this story is just as adorable as the first time around, I definitely recommend the watch!

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started strong (watch suggestions)

Overall: I was pleasantly surprised with the first few episodes and the tension/yearning; however, the relationship progression stalled and the 24 support characters including several love triangles had me confused/not interested in the side relationships. I have watched the original series adaption; I have not read the book. I'm trying to write this review based on the current series' merits. Airing uncut (~1 hour) on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/love-sick-2024-episode-1-1mki2ks9q5g?lang=en_us and cut (~45 min) on Tia51's YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR99-9wCOObG0rFQTm5mqfiLeR0eyARyx&si=dU0m-CXh1LffpvC8

Content Warnings: bullying, joking about attempting suicide, homophobia, fight, non con picture/video taking/sharing

Watch Suggestions (to center on the 2 leads/get rid of love rivals)
- watch all of episode 1
- episode 2 watch the beginning to 53:35
- episode 3 watch the beginning to 11:15, 28-50 and 54-end
- episode 4 watch 8-9 cameo, 25:30-27:30 and 38-45:45
- episode 5 watch 11:45-13:50, 26:15-28:35, 53-54 and 58:15-end
- episode 6 watch 17-19 and 37:50-42:30
- episode 7 watch 14:40-15:40, 39-40:30 and 56:30-58:10

What I Liked
- how the first episodes are focused on the 2 leads
- sweet/caring moments
- staring/tension/chemistry
- that Noh didn't do something in episode 3
- cameo in episode 4
- trans character isn't a comedic character
- production value

Room For Improvement
- the intro was beautiful but a bit confused about the context for it (they do explain it in later episodes, not a favorite way to start a series), then the 2 year time jump
- a ton of characters (says 24 support roles in addition to the 2 main characters) were introduced and I was fairly lost with everyone except the leads, just when I'd get into a side couple romance it would jump to other characters
- tension was great at the beginning but seemed to stall, there wasn't a good enough reason for me as to why the characters couldn't get together for so long
- a few fast cuts/scene jumps even in the uncut version
- (neutral) comedy sound effects

Cut Version Differences (it seems that the cut version removes some of the scenes with the female characters which I liked but it unfortunately removes some of the scenes between the male leads which I didn't like, likely will watch uncut moving forward)
- in episode 1 it doesn't have that first scene from 2 years ago which I liked because I found they looked older 2 years ago, in part 2 they cut out Noh trying to get thru the gate, in part 3 they cut out the sister entering the room and them jumping on the bed/fighting over the sheets, cut out a group scene with the girlfriends, end of part 3 they cut out a scene with Noh's family, towards end of part 4 they cut short phone call with friends and with some other guys moving chairs
- in episode 2 they cut a scene that interrupted their cuddle, but then they cut the head on the shoulder in the taxi, in part 2 they cut out a girlfriend scene and some of the evil mom stuff

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IM SWOONING

I’ve been trying to wait for the whole series to come out before I watched it because I can’t handle waiting one week at a time but I was bored and needed something to watch. I honestly was not expecting much when I started, I figured it would be just another Thai bl that pretty much follows the same plot line as the other 70% of the shows. To counter this, I literally ended up being hooked before I even finished the first episode. I’ve only watched half of the second episode already but I am SWOONING over the chemistry of the main couple. Like it’s literally so sweet, innocent, and pure, it just has made my heart skip a beat. I know it’s crazy to review after only watch one and half episodes so far but this show has done nothing but make me smile so far. Now I am a little nervous about what kind of drama there is to come, and one can only dream to not have to deal with the emotional heartache of cliffhangers, but I think this show is going to be worth it. I highly recommend if you want something long and very sweet to watch. This could change, but hopefully this show stays sweet and to the point, the main lead seem to be direct, but I’m routing for direct feelings being to be said between the two if that makes sense. ❤️

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