Gorgeous, Sincere, and Compassionate

I'd heard people calling this show a masterpiece and thought "Right, sure, whatever." And then, of course, I actually saw it.

This show is incredibly compassionate and detailed - perhaps more so than any queer movie or television show ever aired. Rather than attempting to placate viewers with BL tropes, this show steps into a queer mindset and asks "How would it really happen?" and "What are the real internal obstacles to this love?" There's never an attempt to insert artificial drama. No evil exes, no random tragedies, no one-dimensional homophobic bullies. Teh and Oh are multi-faceted characters with dreams of their own, trying to figure out what is going on between them, because it isn't clear - as it often isn't in real life. Is this friendship? Is this love? How do they know? With no role models, no representation, Teh and Oh are left on their own trying to figure what is happening between them and many of the side characters are eventually brought into the crossfires. At times, everyone behaves poorly, and it is abundantly clear from the acting of the cast that each actor portrays their character as if they themselves are the main character.

As for the story: there are scenes here that are so lovingly and sensitively portrayed that you can't help watch them over and over again. There's also a concerted effort to show, not tell - red hibiscus vs purple hibiscus, the smell of coconut shampoo, the evolution of the back massage. Each character has a rich psychological framework they are operating out of, and the show displays their inner life with an enormous amount of non-verbal scenes. At times, I think there's almost too much detail in the stares for the average person, but I'm not sure how much of a cultural background features into eye contact. Do Thai people stare at each other that much and that long? I mean, maybe right? As an American, I can't exactly say. The story comes across as very Thai, as well, and at times Americans (and maybe other non-Thai folk?) may struggle to figure out exactly what's happening, given the inclusion of a myriad of Thai customs not always explained to the non-Thai perspective. Some people might complain that the story moves too slowly - but I would argue that it goes at an extremely believable pace, even slightly too quickly. For instance, some of the necessary backbone of Teh and Oh's relationship is glossed over as the story moves into their romance. People eager for their romantic interactions might not mind, and PP Krit and Billkin certainly have great chemistry. But on the most technical level, I think we needed to see more of what Teh and Oh like about each other as people. They're certainly playful and they understand each other extremely well; they also share a passion for acting. But I don't think it's ever made clear why exactly Teh is so in love with Oh. To be fair, Thai BL rarely explain the logic behind the passion, and teenagers in general tend to be less logical about these sorts of things, but a little more logic might have given the show a more mature perspective. Towards the end, there's maybe one or two scenes (I'm thinking specifically the Chinese New Year scene) that feel like they're milking the emotions more than necessary - I'd argue we could have done without Teh and the song and just had a red hibiscus make its appearance to be effective. But other than that, there really is so much stunning writing and deeply honest conflict that makes the story feel unique, believable, and genuine in its attempt to explore the lows and highs of the characters.

The acting: I mean, it is definitely good - and in part due to the director. The director has such a strong sense of the smallness of looks and touches. It's all very subtle, but very detailed. Again, all actors give their characters complex and specific interior lives. The chemistry is also really lovely between Billkin and PP. And of course, the actors who play Tarn and Hoon are just wonderful.

The music: absolutely stunning. All of it. Sensitive and - as I think I saw another review put it - wise. And there's such a tenderness and compassion in the music; you can tell that the composer really loves these characters and so hopes they find happiness. There's also a lot of emotional complexity to the music which greatly aids scenes that are extremely subtle. You will more than likely be humming a few of these songs when the show is over.

The cinematography: also, absolutely stunning. Careful, lavish, meticulously thought-out, very high production. This is a project that people really, truly cared about, and it shows on every level.

Rewatch value: I NEVER rewatch BL dramas, but I've watched nearly ever scene about three or four times now. Again, every scene is so complex - there is so much hidden symbolism and psychological warfare - that you won't be able to pick up on everything the first time around. But as you rewatch, things just become clearer and richer. And there is SO much to talk about. I Told Sunset About You investigates queer love with an honesty unparalleled at this point and there are scenes and conflicts wholly accurate to the queer experience that have never been displayed before. I Told Sunset About You never tries (or almost never tries) to make the experience melodramatic - it is sincerely invested in helping you see how difficult - and how beautiful - queer love truly is.

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