An unrequited love

Kenneth (Andrei Desales), is trapped in a "friends with benefits" relationship with his friend Rayu (Jude Maquiling), in which he gives everything and gets nothing in return.
But chaos emerges after an unintentional mistake, and Kenneth must face the consequences of loving a boy who doesn't love him: like Icarus, Kenneth will have to pay the consequences of flying near the sun.
Directed by Angel Aguihap, the short film 'Icarus', produced by The Hillside Echo, is a bittersweet story of two college students involved in a one-sided homosexual relationship in which one gives everything, but the other is unable to return more than affection. superficial.
Premiered at the 10th FCU Duag Student Film Festival, the film, with an LGBT+ theme, won several awards, including Best Director, for Angel Aguihap; Best Set Design, for Nick Andrei Desales, who in turn won the award for Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor for Jude Maquiling, Best Photography and Best Poster for Joshua Solis.
This is a great short film because it has an excellent script and wonderful direction.
The film will make us reflect on the many dangers of sex without "conditions", especially in a long-term situation like that of the two protagonists. Within the framework of their unconventional relationship, Kenneth has developed feelings for Rayu, but it will not be reciprocated. Rayu has built a wall around himself that Kenneth will never be able to tear down.
With admirable performances, I was particularly impressed by the performance of the actor who plays the role of Kenneth. Her bitter crying, her pleading, her little hiccups of pain as she tried to express her feelings and emotions to Rayu, watching his tears flow freely, are heart-warming images. The viewer will feel compelled to hug him to provide comfort and protection.
It strikes me that the Bisaya language, also known as Cebuano, was used in this Filipino film, since in general I have enjoyed the use of Tagalog.

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Clear and strong message: the fight for LGBT+ rights in Taiwan has not stopped

Inspired by the "skirt week" controversy at Banqiao Municipal High School in Taiwan, where students fought for men's right to wear skirts in the student center, the short film 'Rose Skirt' (玫瑰色的裙), from 2021, tells how while the well-intentioned students carried out the exercise in a playful and boisterous manner, Xiao Yan, the only boy in the class who really has desires to crossdress, remains silent and hides his longing.
From Taiwanese writer, director and producer Angel I-Han Teng, 'Rose Skirt' is a queer coming-of-age short that depicts the ambiguity of growing gender consciousness in teenagers. Yan, the teenage protagonist of the story, faces his desire for feminine expressions while struggling with feelings of guilt and shame. Is it internalized homophobia? Is it homophobia? The truth is that he is afraid to admit his true self to everyone.
Starring Xiang-Dao ChenKey, Yi Rou Kao and Etsen Chen, the film continues the filmography of a filmmaker interested in addressing issues related to identity, gender, feminism and human rights with a subtle sensitivity.
These themes are addressed by the filmmaker since her first work as a screenwriter of 'Bao Bao' (親愛的卵男日記), from 2018, directed by Shie Guang Cheng, or 'The Fragrance of the First Flower', winner of the Gold Award in the GagaOOLala Pitching Sessions, and 'A Balloon's Landing'(我在這裡等你), from 2024, among other film pieces.
The short film addresses a conflict already seen before, but from a different angle. When society downplays the issue and affirms that a man, regardless of his sexuality, can wear women's clothing, they drown out the voices of those who really want to cross-dress.
In a subtle way, the filmmaker uses this conflict to weave a deeper and more delicate narrative. But what is striking is that the short film is set in Taiwan, the only territory in Asia where LGBT+ people have achieved some social and human rights achievements, such as the legalization of same-sex marriage.
The filmmaker's message is that, despite what has been achieved, the members of this human group still suffer from misunderstandings and humiliations, which generate fears and insecurities. The objective of the film is clear and forceful: to point out that Taiwanese LGBT+ people must still continue the fight for full recognition of their human rights.

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Unlike audiovisuals from other latitudes in which the acting couple rarely meets again in another program in the same role, Thai BL series usually pair the actors, especially when there is chemistry and they are popular with the public.
This is the case of Jumpol Adulkittiporn (Off) and Atthaphan Poonsawas (Gun). With the formation of OffGun, both have participated in numerous projects, from the first of them in 'Senior Secret Love: Puppy Honey' (2016) and 'Senior Secret Love: Puppy Honey 2' (2017), 'Theory of love' ( 2019) and the critically and fan-acclaimed 'Not Me' (2021), and in the special anthology of couples boys love titled 'Our Skyy', from 2018.
With the drama 'Cooking Crush', of the romantic comedy, food and BL genre, released in November 2023 on the GMM25 network, the two reappear. Like good wine, both actors, now 33 and 30 years old, respectively, underpin their artistic talent and consolidate themselves as ships within the BL universe.
The series reminds me of one of the most famous romantic comedies in history, 'Pretty Woman', from 1990 and directed by the American Garry Marshall. In it, the protagonist (Richard Gere) hires a prostitute (Julia Roberts) to accompany him for a few days, and they end up loving each other.
In 'Cooking Crush' the characters also come from two different social strata: Ten (Off), a rich medical student, hires Prem (Gun), a humble cooking student, to teach him how to prepare exquisite food dishes.
Prem dreams of becoming a chef who revolutionizes the culinary art. Determined to compete in a reality show that will choose the best chef in the nation, he must improve his culinary skills. That is the reason why he accepts Ten's proposal. Prem uses this as an opportunity to make money. The clash between both worlds will end up causing both of them to end up deeply in love.
A skilful script written by Pong Pattarawalai Wongsinwises, Noolek Sureechay Kaewses, M Rittikrai Kanjanawiphu and an effective staging, in addition to the good work of the two protagonists, allows us to find ourselves before a sentimental and romantic comedy with a lot of fairy tale and little of everyday reality.
The main characters add depth and emotion to the plot. The series promises a mix of touching moments and immersive drama, as both boys navigate between Ten's causes of stress and Prem's desire to overcome challenges.
The Thai setting adds a unique cultural backdrop to the seductive love story between medical consultation rooms and kitchens, offering viewers a captivating journey through the complexities of discovering sexuality and romance. While the information provided provides insight into the series, watching it will certainly offer a more complete and immersive experience.
'Cooking Crush' stands out with its tone of sentimental and romantic comedy and a talented cast, also composed of Pakin Kunaanuwit (Mark) as Dynamite, and Jaruwat Cheawaram (Dome) as Samsi. These two, along with Prem, will make a trio of friends. It also features Trai Nimtawat (Neo) as Fire and Warawut Poyim (Tum) as Metha, who make up the other friendly shortlist.
The members of these groups, who are not united by anything at the beginning, will not only find love in each other's members, but also strong ties of friendship and companionship. Together they will contribute humor to the program.
Rounding out the cast are Chatchawit Techarukpong (Victor) as Changma, Bhasidi Petchsutee (Lookjun) as Jane, Sukhapat Lohwacharin (Suam) as Bun, Pimwalee Phunsawat (Pim) as Paeng, and Lapisara Intarasut (Apple).
The trust in the ability of each of the members of the main couple in the other, and the way in which they promote each other, is striking. An example of this can be seen in the fact that Ten does not believe he has what it takes to succeed as a doctor and Prem encourages him. Prem, for his part, operates in a very competitive world such as culinary art, and if he has any doubt or circumstance, Ten supports him. Ten's love for Prem's cooking is what finally convinces him to sign up for Super Monster Chef.
Without being the best in the filmography of this acting duo, 'Cooking Crush' is a visual delight and fulfills its purpose as a romantic comedy, showing Off and Gun's undeniable chemistry while Ten and Prem flirt adorably in every interaction. . Theirs is a charming, beautiful, fun, natural and wonderful couple.
Although dynamite is so stable that generally new dynamite cartridges in good condition do not explode even if exposed to fire, Dynamite will not need a detonator and detonator to explode as soon as he meets Fire and encourages a fun game of cat between the two. and the mouse with a slight and subtle harassment on the part of the former at the beginning of the plot.
Without a doubt, 'Cooking Crush' is guaranteed to be popular for various reasons. The breadth of social media, such as YouTube and others, allows more people to connect with this and other BL series. The Western mentality is today much more open to viewing (without prejudice or hatred) content that is part of the LGTBIQ+ community. And finally, a growing need for the viewer to have the possibility that all sexual diversities can be expressed through the artistic formats within their reach.
Just as 'Cooking Crush' is another successful Thai BL by being a media product with an undeniable communication effect, we, as viewers, must be able to appreciate the content without ignoring its hidden meaning.
However, I must add the following criticism: throughout the history of film and television, homosexuals have been portrayed in a stereotypical way or in roles of ruthless killers, disturbed suicides, caricatures of human beings. On many occasions their effeminacy was exaggerated so that an audience could distinguish the gay characters without words. In this way, the audience could easily identify them as homosexuals because they reflected the clichés that still existed in society towards them. These consisted of portraying them as extremely mannered, prim characters, with thin mustaches and often grotesquely made up. In addition to repudiating this “perverted behavior,” filmmakers and television channels or film companies seek to provoke laughter in the viewer, since in comparison to them, men could feel more masculine and women more feminine.
This has been the case since the short film 'Lot in Sodom', by James Sibley Watson and Melville Webber, produced in 1933, which treated homosexuals as depraved sex-hungry satyrs. A film like 'Brokeback Mountain', by Ang Lee, from 2005, had to arrive, already in the 21st century, to present homosexuals to the general public as "common" men, with traditionally masculine appearance and without any type of pathology. that justified the presence of the character himself in the film.
This situation has been gradually transforming to the present day in which the major film and television production companies, especially European ones, pioneers in this subject, make films and series aimed almost exclusively at the LGBTIQ+ audience, showing more realistic characters and settings, films that are shown in commercial theaters or in the numerous film festivals on this theme that are held on all continents, or series broadcast on television channels in much of the world.
Although these current audiovisuals show how difficult it is to “come out of the closet” and project to the viewer the reality in which homosexuals find themselves, series like 'Cooking Crush' do not escape from reveling in stereotyping queer characters. Thus we see how Prem's three fellow students and also participants in the culinary contest, only with competitive, malicious objectives, are able to constantly harass and mock another member of that human collective.

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A poorly “parked” relationship on the race track

Cinema and television, like all art that reflects the society in which they develop, have shown the trafficking of children through notable films, documentaries and television series. Numerous films and television programs expose this illegal practice and many of them are based and inspired by real-life cases.
Asian dramas are committed to bringing all genres to the public, including those in which their protagonists have a romantic bond combined with supernatural powers.
Has the fact that Thailand is a point of origin, destination and transit of human trafficking aroused the interest of Nopachai Jayanama (Peter), as director, and Kanokphan Ornrattanasakul and Issaraporn Kuntisuk, as scriptwriters, to tell us in 'Pit Babe' a story that mixes homosexual romance, sport, intrigue, action, human trafficking, fantasy and supernatural powers?
This drama, an adaptation of the web novel by _alittlebitch, winks at Thai reality: the value of child victims of human trafficking does not lie in using them as sexual slaves, in forced labor or to extract their organs for commercialization, but in possessing special powers.
Are we facing a social drama of denunciation of human commerce? I would like this to be its purpose, but consistent with its BL condition, 'Pit Babe' will enhance the romance. This arises between Babe (Naret Promphaophan-Pavel), the king of the racetrack, and Charlie (Krittin Kitjaruwannakul-Pooh), his supporter.
Will the series have a hidden message? How many of Tony's “sons” among the superpowered children are gay men today? Babe, Charlie, Jeff, Kenta, Pete, Way...? That is, the main characters with powers who were raised-educated by the person dedicated to human trafficking ended up being homosexuals. Is there a hidden message in this, simple coincidence or something of “destiny”?
Babe is a very popular racing driver and admired by everyone. His achievements in the sport have led him to be considered number one. Among his followers is Charlie, a young man who wants to be a racing driver like him. However, he does not have the money or the contacts necessary to achieve it. Therefore, he looks for an opportunity to get closer to the leader of X Hunter. When he succeeds, he asks for your help and to lend him a car so he can materialize his aspirations. The only solution he can think of is to reach a strange agreement with Babe. Against logic, he agrees to help Charlie realize his dream.
On this journey, will Babe be able to win Charlie's heart? Will he lose the race he most wants to win this time? Will Charlie be the one interested in captivating the racing driver? Will the relationship that began as a game triumphantly cross the finish line to become a real romance?
The most notable thing about the series is its exciting scenes and the attractiveness of the actors.
There is a secondary couple, made up of Alan and Jeff.
The cast also includes Supanut Lourhaphanich (Nut), as Way; Obrnithi Leelavetchabutr (Ping), as Pete; Natthapong Pathong (Benz), as Kim; Asre Wattanayakul (Lee), as Dean; Hemmawich Khwanamphaiphan (Sailub), as Alan; Thanapon Aiemkumchai (Pon), as Jeff; Michael Kiettisak (Michael), as North; Pataraphol Wanlopsiri (Pop), as Winner; Pantach Kankham (Garfield), as Kenta; Supakorn Saokhor (TopTen), as Sonic; and Vorarit Vaijairanai (S), as Tony
The chemistry between the protagonists and the bed scenes fail to lift a series whose characters are unrealistic and undeveloped. Pavel and Pooh have charisma and are attractive, but the script does not help their relationship connect with the viewer.
I must clarify that it is not that I find being 'passive' degrading. It's not that I assume that, in a relationship between two men, there is a "superiority" on the part of the one who is 'active' compared to the other who is 'passive', but the abrupt change in Babe's personality seems inconceivable to me. . This transformation comes at the same time as the loss of his powers, at the hands of Charlie.
Babe abandons his well-crafted playboy image for years. In all his previous relationships he played the role of seme or asset. In the words of the BL series themselves, he was, of the two, “the one on top.” He began his relationship with Charle by assuming this role in bed. Suddenly, without a convincing explanation, Babe becomes Charlie's uke. Babe swaps to play the role of the “bottom.” So, you would have to ask yourself: Did the loss of his precious powers lead him to be the passive one in their relationship? Didn't this move cause a loss in his character's potential?
Despite being in front of the cameras practically all the time, the actor who plays Charlie fails to connect with me emotionally. They are not facilitating emotions, but hindering emotions that are transmitted to me by a character who fails to sensitize me. By not feeling or understanding Charlie's emotions and feelings, I cannot essentially grasp whether it is love or just sex that drives him. Only his acting stands out in the sex scenes. Note that I do not say “when making love.”
The transformation of the character played by Nut, already in the final moments, is not logical either. About an obvious thing, the incurable remorse that must have accompanied Way throughout much of his life for betraying Babe for years, causing the rift between him and the man he loves, as well as many, if not all, of the problems that have hit to the positive characters by being infiltrated into their ranks, Way's evolution from evil to purity, from darkness to light is narratively constructed, sustained by the effort to achieve the viewer's identification with the traitor. It is necessary to save it, the creators thought.
Way drinks with Pete because “he wants to make the situation better.” He doesn't know “what to do next.” He does not know if “what I have always believed is the right thing.” He asks Pete why he decided to leave Dad, and Pete tells him, “Because the truth is not what I thought… I decided to leave to end the vicious cycle that Dad had created.” And he tells her that she still has the chance to choose what she wants to do. Way has been asked to show the despondency caused by guilt. Way has had the option all his life to choose the right path, but he has decided to be by Tony's side, even knowing what this means. But suddenly, some words from Pete whispered in his ear between sips of liquor and a few pats on the back invite him to “do the right thing.” And this would not be a problem if they had gotten rid of the rampant schematism in the character design and the all-too-evident desire to redeem him.
A story that fails to convince, clumsily designed characters, characters lacking development and therefore generating empathy, limitations in the explanation of the characters' decision making, poverty in the development of events and irregularities regarding changes of personality, are several of the main characteristics of the drama.
Peter throws together a few tropes and too many clichés. With fewer ambitions and fewer plot holes, perhaps the series would have become a full-throttle, full-speed car swallowing up the race track.

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Sexual tension, laughter and change from reality to fantasy from the first to the last frame

What would happen if you are in love with your roommate, but you don't dare to declare your feelings because he has a girlfriend and because, like you, he is a boy?
If you had a friend or the possibility of consulting an oracle or a fortune teller, you would surely ask them for advice and they would suggest that you forget about it, that you put an end to it and move to another room, or that you be honest with him and yourself and tell him. You will confess your love in the hope of being reciprocated.
But what if you decide to ignore them and, instead, you let the fantasy escape and every situation in which you get involved with your bedroom partner you daydream and recreate all kinds of homoerotic encounters in your imagination?
Jung Jen Pao and Tony Shih, the directors of the LGBT+-themed Taiwanese romantic comedy pilot miniseries 'RoomMatch Series Pilot' (Room Match Series, Lai Tong G Ba, Lai Tung G Pa, 来同G吧), are new filmmakers who Between October and November 2022 they released the first three episodes trying to find the funds to make the complete series.
Following the classic sitcom patterns, but without the applause of the audience in the recording studio, 'RoomMatch Series Pilot' is a fresh miniseries, full of clichés and stereotypes but funny.
The premise is simple and effective: Joey (Yu Hao Chen) is a foolish and innocent student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at HTU and shares a dormitory with Dick (Jung Jen Pao, who in addition to directing also writes the script), who is an assistant to teaching of Mechanical Engineering. Dick loves to bother Joey and invade his privacy, which creates problems and tension between the two. However, something happens that causes their relationship to change.
The entanglements between the dorm mates, the tangible chemistry, the sexual interactions, the growing sexual tension, the change from reality to fantasy, the dynamic expectation versus reality, and between jokes recreating numerous homosensual and hilarious scenes, such as the reaction to being kissed by someone who has just vomited, they end up working and the chapters, very short, are fun and leave you wanting more.
Those who enjoy youth and university scenarios and coming-of-age and coming-out can bet on this miniseries, which is also a fun exploration of youth from the confusion of sexual awakening and the problems of coexistence of two people. very opposite in a student residence.
With a constructive narrative, tight script, incredible cinematography and production, fun music, solid performances, good direction, to which small animated segments are incorporated, the miniseries opens debate on the theory of the vibe of love or the mechanics of love and becomes a very realistic portrait of "somewhat strange" roommates.
One of the comedies with the most viewers on YouTube in the last year and a half since its premiere, and I can't explain why it hasn't found the necessary funds to continue developing the events and characters until achieving a broader and more ambitious series.
There are few things more grateful than clicking the "Next episode" button on a good comedy and romantic series after a day of hard work or study. And 'RoomMatch Series Pilot' gets it done from the first frame to the last.

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Tragic romance comes to life

It was a rainy afternoon when their eyes met. As they held their gaze, the world stopped for them and an unknown energy exploded their bodies.
Mitsuru was waiting at the school entrance for the weather to improve, since he didn't bring an umbrella today. Koichi, his classmate, was more foresighted, and is now at his side offering him his. Despite being in the same class, it is the first time they interact. From that moment on, through their eyes, they will continue to look into the depths of their souls.
Oumi Mitsuru (Inoue Sora) is a quiet and introverted high school student who is highly intelligent but not good at socializing. He spends lunchtime alone, away from everything and everyone, while maintaining a cold, distant relationship with his father, a very busy hospital director. On the contrary, Yamada Koichi (Komiya Rio) is a bright, talkative, cheerful and popular boy with many friends in his class.
One of the two has to take the next step. And they cannot deny the strong attraction they feel due to their opposite personalities. Armed with courage, Koichi starts the first conversation and asks if they can be friends. This is how they establish an uncomfortable friendship that evolves between their school lunches without much conversation,
Just as the two begin a romantic relationship, Koichi tragically dies in a car accident, but in an even bigger twist, he wakes up from the dead as if nothing happened. The devastating tragedy sets the somber tone for the rest of the series, but also introduces an innovative twist, adding complexity and creativity to the narrative.
"He's not dead, he's a walking corpse," Mitsuru insists to his classmates who can still see the teenager, but who are slowly beginning to forget about his existence. But sooner or later, the two young lovers will have to accept the truth: the strange miracle of Koichi's walking corpse will not last long.
With excellent acting, writing, direction and overall production values, 'Eien no Kino' (Eternal Yesterday/ 永遠の昨日) is an epic live-action adaptation of author Yuuri Eda's masterpiece, featuring a dark theme of love between boys. Life and death, sex and adolescence mixed, a unique definition of teenage BL. That quote in itself is a clue to the heartbreaking nature of this Japanese romantic, school and youth drama from 2022. It is worth highlighting the imagination, sensitivity, creativity and brilliance of the film discourse.
While the story could have been a strange, over-the-top comedy-drama, it has a surprisingly touching plot about love and loss.
I am powerfully captured by the idea of ​​this iconic BL couple who refuses to lose love despite death and pain.
With discreet humor and a moving and emotional dramatic story, at the same time peculiar and unconventional, 'Eternal Yesterday' will keep the viewer glued to the couch until they see the final credits roll in the eighth and final episode, each lasting about 24 minutes. one.
The powerful story, the moving romance and the profound messages will draw the viewer's attention in this work, directed by Kobayashi Keiichi. 'Eien No Kinou' is an eccentric supernatural romance that explores delicate themes such as death, family relationships, coming of age, friendships and rejection, among others.
A mysterious premise, an attractive cast, the fun and at the same time melancholic vibe, and its powerful musical themes, opening: "Sunshower", by Ayumu Imazu, and closing: "Toi Natsu no Hi", by Kubo Aoi, are a guarantee of visual delight. The background music serves as a support to wonderfully recreate the atmosphere of the scenes without causing any distraction.
High praise for the two telegenic leads. In addition to his attractive appearance, Komiya Rio's change of register is pleasantly surprising by adopting a new personality, embodying a "living corpse", and incorporating various emotions: he has become strange, lonely, passionate and even mocking and funny, but He has a tendency to be sweet and romantic.
While to achieve naturalness when playing his role as Tanaka in 'Takara kun to Amagi kun' he needed to give his character a slightly mischievous touch, the same honesty could only be achieved by giving Koichi the same kind of vibes, but in a different way. It is in the eyes of the actor where you can see the talent and maturity achieved by the artist in his profession. Komiya Rio manages to play two similar characters in two BL series, but giving them a different feel.
Ductile, chameleon-like, Rio is perfect in capturing the dual traits of his character: on the one hand, the cheerful and optimistic student, on the other, that of the teenager who burns with the desire to love the boy he has fallen in love with.
For his part, Inoue Sora, as the moody, reserved but intellectual Mitsuru, plays in a very nonchalant manner, first by discovering that he has been in love with Rio's character all along, and second by revealing a fragility behind his touching and disturbing behavior. .
It is passionate in its struggle to accept the pain of losing the person you love. Their facial expressions, body language and expressive eyes convey a true marathon of emotions. He shows an apparent calm on the outside, but in truth a bloody storm of emotions has been unleashed inside him, and he appears too afraid to let his feelings be perceptible to others.
Another detail that demonstrates this actor's strong performance lies in how his character conveys the impression that he can spend time with his dead lover in the present, when in reality he is trapped in the past.
Unlike many romantic relationships between boys seen in various BL, that of Mitsuru and Koichi is full of symbolism, love, sexual tension and substance. My only regret is that the series didn't develop more of the early stages of falling in love.
With dazzling chemistry, the director manages to make the boys act with different personalities. The dynamics of the actors are slow, but you can see how they move towards a blossoming love relationship, which continues even after the tragedy, because neither boy is reluctant to let the other go.
I recommend watching the picnic scene, because it is so moving and sweet.
The sad ending does not surprise anyone, although I admit I expected some kind of miracle or that everything had been the result of the dream or imagination of one of the characters. It is the closure that Mitsura had feared from the beginning and that viewers are also subtly warned about. But its conclusion manages to meet the objectives set of addressing topics such as trauma and loss, especially in a love story between boys, managing to surpass many other dramas of this genre.

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Among the best of the BL genre

'My School President' (แฟนผมเป็นประธานนักเรียน / Faen Phom Pen Prathan Nakrian) is a charming coming-of-age school boy love comedy (BL).
Through conflict, music and performances, the series will transport us to a dream world of teenage crushes, friendships and the search for happiness through love and fulfillment.
The series promises a charming romantic fantasy, a good dose of comedy and excellent music, performed by the same protagonists, which will ensure that the viewer, regardless of age, enjoys romance and youthful optimism, while discovering or rediscovering, as the case may be, happiness and teenage love.
With a narrative that carries surprisingly mature and thoughtful messages, the drama addresses significant themes about family, friendship, sexuality, love, the search for happiness, the realization of dreams, the dichotomy between fighting to achieve your goals and commit to reality.
Gun (Fourth - Nattawat Jirochtikul) is the leader and vocalist of Chinzhilla, the student musical group. Win (Winny - Thanawin Pholcharoenratm), Por (Ford - Arun Asawasuebsakul), Me (Captain - Passatorn Koolkang) and Pat (Prom - Theepakorn Kwamboon) are the remaining members of the five-boy band, who hope to compete at the Hot Wave Music Awards and win the annual contest.
This will be their last chance before graduating from the high school where they are their senior year. Next year, each one will have taken a different path and perhaps they will never meet again in their lives.
But it seems that everything is turning against him to frustrate his plans. They do not have a good reputation in the eyes of the director (Tao - Sarocha Watittapan), who is determined to put an end to the gang. It turns out that in the last edition of the musical event, the then members of the group caused problems, so Chinzhilla does not have the support of the school authorities. That Gun has been elected president of the music club does not seem to change the situation. What's more, I would say that it is the reason why the club's hours of life are numbered.
For the same reason, young musicians do not have the necessary musical instruments, and they often see how the club room is in danger of being taken over for other functions outside their usual function, so they would lose the space in which to rehearse. .
Although the friends were not part of the previous gang, the five have gained a reputation for being wayward students who are only interested in video games or cooking and eating barbecued pork in their club room.
Fearing that his band will fail, Gun decides to run for Student Council president. This would be the option to preserve the club, since the school regulations establish that whoever holds this position controls the extracurricular clubs.
But once again the world seems to conspire against him. Despite the brilliant campaign with which he intends to win the vote of the rest of the students, Tinn (Gemini - Norawit Titicharoenrak), the director's son and also a final year student, wins the elections by describing Gun as irresponsible and unkind. reliable enough to lead others.
An abyss opens up before both students. They have never been friends in the past. And now Tinn will try to torpedo any effort by the young musicians to keep the club open, under the threat that those clubs that do not generate profits for the school will be closed.
Gun has no choice but to make a pact with the enemy. This is how he becomes a servant of the president of the Student Council. What Gun doesn't know is that Tinn has a hidden agenda.
Why is 'My School President' a series above the others of its genre?
Several reasons are what make this a very special series. Let's start by stating that despite having a plot that does not break with those that precede it, the way in which it is structured is far from what is usual in the BL genre.
The writing of the series takes a non-linear form. Thanks to this, the episodes have their own mini story arcs while advancing the development of the characters and events through said arcs. In this way, each episode has to satisfy the need to resolve the conflicts presented with unusual speed. This brings the advantage of the possibility of exploring feelings and actions in an appropriate and spontaneous way. As a result, the relationship between Tinn and Gun is one of the most striking within the genre, despite being so young and having high school as the setting.
This is how 'My School President' explores each stage of Gun and Tinn's relationship. The two begin as adversaries, but their romance evolves along an exciting journey of discovery and acceptance, in which they will be accompanied by their friends.
The excellent performances. This is another reason why the series stands out above others. The drama is full of well-designed and structured characters. Fourth and Gemini have shown both their artistic talent and the fact that they are an enjoyable couple in 'My School President' as well as in 'Moonlight Chicken' and 'Our Skyy2'. The histrionics of the two protagonists reveal to us, once again, an organic, tender and beautiful homosexual love relationship that is, possibly, one of the most beautiful that Thai BL has given us.
Tinn and Gun are the perfect couple. The actors who play these characters, Fourth and Gemini, conquer the audience with their dazzling charisma and physical attractiveness.
Fourth is the typical teenage heartthrob and dreamer with charming looks. Who doesn't fall in love with her smile and her captivating eyes? For his part, Gemini is the sincere, enthusiastic boy, with high doses of mischief deployed to deceive everyone, especially Gun, with the intention of getting closer to him and conquering his heart. Together they are explosive, adorable and give off awesome vibes. Both have a chemistry like few other ships. The compatibility, the comfort of each other is evident, achieving very tender and natural romantic interactions.
Another aspect to highlight is that BL series have evolved over time and today seek to expand their areas to explore new plots about the love relationship between boys, moving away from those budgets that placed the stories and characters in high schools or universities. However, many of them fail to really explore the premise of the stated plot.
'My School President' overcomes this situation, but it does so by returning to the essence of the genre, telling a romantic comedy story set in high school about Tinn's long and secret crush on Gun.
The first great strength of the series lies in its simple and unpretentious plot, surpassing the concept of high school BL.
Experienced in telling BL stories, director Kornprom Niyomsil (Au) and screenwriters Pongsate Lucksameepong (Bee) and Pratchaya Thavornthummarut, who have worked and collaborated, both together and individually, on classics such as 'Oxygen', 'Theory of Love', 'Dangerous Romance', 'Vice Versa', 'Bad Buddy', '2gether: The Movie', 'Still 2gether', 'KinnPorsche', 'Our Skyy 2', 'Last Twilight', 'Dark Blue Kiss' , and many others, and they have learned from the mistakes and successes of their predecessors to produce a series that seeks perfection.
Music is another of the sections that reaches notes of excellence. The BL series have incorporated music to show the evolution of the couple's love relationship, whether they are the main or secondary ones.
While '2gether The Series' uses the discography of Scrubb, a famous Thai band, in 'My School President' it is the cast themselves who sing the songs that make up its soundtrack. Unlike other dramas, the actors in the series know how to sing and do it well as they are boys with great musical and dancing talent. If we look at the artists' biographies the reader will know what I mean.
No wonder the series premieres at least one song in each episode, dedicated to describing the events told in such a natural way that it combines with the non-linear narration of the program.
We cannot ignore that the series is structured around a music club and its band of musicians. Hence, the creators excelled in bringing to the screen the interpretation of different musical genres and styles. In this way, we find the same with the classic Thai song, the modern Thai pop song (T-Pop), the folk, urban pop, the ballad, the rock music, the musical theater or the original song written specifically for the program under GMMTV Records. In this sense 'My School President' reveals itself to us as a musical BL, something little exploited in the genre.

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Love at first sight with the smell of perfume

Is there love at first sight? A question that always sparks debate between passionate defenders of instant chemistry and those who claim that it is impossible for two people to fall in love with the first look.
Peet, the protagonist of 'Scent of Love', agrees with the first criterion, as he is convinced of the love he feels for Bass from the moment he meets him, despite not even a few words having passed between them.
We can assure you that they meet in the most cliché way possible: they cross paths during the university's hazing rituals, on the same day of admission to the university. The chemistry between the two is not immediately perceptible, but it is latent, hidden, waiting for events.
However, later on, something happens that is also quite trite in romance comedies: the two strangers will meet in another place, but it will not be thanks to chance, what we call destiny, because Peet will cause it by following Bass to the club. theater in which he trains as an actor, with the aim of being as close as possible to him.
If this were real life, two people with different personalities who have never exchanged a word would never connect. But here, fantasy and the promise of a happy ending are on the side of the protagonists.
It is worth pointing out that the Thai microseries stars Din Teerapat Ruangritkul as Peet, and Fluk Chatchawan Jitraxtham as Bass, whom we have also seen as the main couple of the series 'My Secret Love', from 2022.
Enjoyable enough, the two actors create what could be a throwaway story of love at first sight between two university students, a very common theme in the BL genre.
The protagonists play two university students who form a love bond that, although it seems impossible, the brief audiovisual production, which overflows with good intentions, sweetness and tenderness, all captured in a wonderful way, demonstrates that love knows no barriers.
We could say that this is a story about two soul mates. We have Peet, a cute, introverted, shy but mischievous first-year college student, who secretly loves Bass, a handsome sportsman from a senior year, a lover of theater and popular with his fellow students, especially the girls. girls.
Peet doesn't know how to react to the person he loves. First of all, they are both men, in a society in which, although homosexuality is legal, same-sex marriage and homosexual relationships are not recognized. And secondly, he is convinced that Bass is in love with Jang, the actress trainee.
And in the presence of Bass, while they are rehearsing a play, Peet always gets nervous and cannot articulate a word, not even to say his lines from the script of the play they are practicing, so Bass has ordered him to improve his performance or He left the group, this being the third reason why he is sure he lives a one-sided love. But by then, the rapprochement between the two boys, both physically and emotionally, had already begun... although they might still be unaware of it.
Will they be able to be together even though the world seems to turn against them? That is the question that remains throughout the almost 12 minutes of footage that, however short it may seem to us, the film is charming enough to please viewers looking for romance, for its charming characters, the tender story and attention to detail in the visual.
The Thai entertainment industry has proven once again that it has the right formula to revive the genre and satisfy an audience that craves authentic and heartwarming love stories. Personally, I liked the way the plot was executed, subtly exploring the personal stories of the characters, before we suddenly came to understand that the love is mutual.
'Scent of Love' hooks you from the beginning and in no time you've finished it. The charisma of the characters, the music of Kham Susira and, obviously, the looks of the lovers, make this piece one of those that we can't stop sighing over, due to its many romantic and poetic elements that give it a good touch. to the history.
To some it may seem like more of the same within the BL genre, but it is also easy to fall surprisingly under its cheesy and sentimental spell.
Yes, boy meets boy. They fall in love. The rest is history? No, history will unfold before our eyes, as we will be faithful witnesses to the birth of a romance. Many romantic television and film works revolve around this basic proposal for every love story. 'Scent of Love' takes the same starting point, but seeks, in turn, to tell its story in terms of commercially advertising a perfume from the Mith Bangkok company. This may seem negative to many, and they are right, but it will not be the first or the last time in which small works that do not have a budget have to succumb to the realization of a whim at the service of a transnational company. But, luckily, on this occasion the film product does not come out badly.
The creators' style highlights somewhat bland characters, but with a background in each one that is worth exploring.
The microseries is made for fans of the romantic genre and makes it clear that its objective is to portray love, acceptance, self-discovery, sexual diversity, the search for happiness and coming of age, themes explored through the dynamics of the main characters.
The photography enjoys very bright colors and, at times, the creators' intention is for Din and Fluk to feel like the center of the universe. By falling in love so suddenly, the rest of the universe seems to not exist. For this reason, the stage in which they practice the play, and especially the classroom where they finally have the conversation that everyone is waiting for, were perfect to get their romance started.
With a little luck, the two lovers will meet in the most traditional way, find the right words, and taking the next step will be a huge, but happy and charming challenge.

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A teenage love that should become a love of youth and for life

Summer revives dormant or undeclared feelings due to fear of losing a friend, while the waves of the sea, when they hit the shore, raise splashes of water that wet two young people.
It's time to say goodbye to high school and say goodbye not only to other students, but also to childhood.
Will Sakura want to separate from her childhood friend Yuki?
How old is it, when you leave adolescence and enter adulthood, to see two young people eating ice cream on the seashore and discussing random things, including their "wish list" that includes things like " skip stones until you get home", play with a frog that decided to go out to sunbathe, or have fun with the water left by the rain on the reliefs of the sidewalk.
This is how best childhood friends Asakura Sakura (Kura Yuki) and Nagase Yuki (Mizusawa Rintaro) act, two teenagers about to finish high school, in a beautiful Japanese coastal city.
Scripted by Mizukawa Katamari and directed by Kariyama Shunsuke, the miniseries 'Kimi No Koto Dake Itai' reflects how Asakura has come to understand that they are no longer adults or children, and yet, he does not want to abandon the phase he is in. .. a midpoint between a carefree childhood and the time to enter adulthood and with it higher education.
A few days after finishing high school and facing the risk of losing sight of her friend when they both go to study far from each other, Sakura loses the fear that has accompanied her for years and confesses her love for Yuki and kisses him, who in turn he is stunned and confused by the revelation.
At this point, we must ask ourselves: Is Sakura's love reciprocated or not? Does Yuki feel the same?
This simple and tender love story follows the falling in love of these two characters, in a dramatized about 84 minutes long divided into just four episodes, which wonderfully balances adolescent innocence and the intensity of first love.
The first movements of teenage love in some of its most precious nuances are addressed in this fun, innocent and touching story. Through absolute simplicity, but no less profound and fascinating, as well as a touch of reality, a subtle, pure, honest, age-appropriate romance is shown.
Without other conflicts or secondary characters that alter the dynamic posed by the boys, the talented, thoughtful and even-tempered Sakura, and the mischievous, energetic and class clown Yuki, resoundingly convince the public about their friendship and budding love.
The miniseries does not risk crossing the limits of age or the school environment as its setting to show something more than this naive adolescent game, subtle flirtation and tender declaration of love. Almost two years after its production, the time may have come to show a romance, not in their adolescent stage, but in their youth, between these characters. Special chemistry and connection are enough for this.

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Singing an out of tune 'Beautiful'

There are relationships that are not worth fighting for. There are others whose members may not have said goodbye forever. But there are other broken relationships that still have a solution.
Sometimes you do everything right in a relationship, and yet love can abandon you, leaving only paralyzing pain and a ton of questions behind. Among these the "why?" It will drag you to the bottom of the abyss.
In this case, when he (or she) is gone, you can follow him or her. You can still convince him that you love each other, that you are perfect for each other, sing him an out-of-tune 'Beautiful', by Baekhyun, and make sure he doesn't get on the plane at the last minute and leave forever. You can also crash their wedding just before they say their final "I do", so that they run away with you to the astonishment of each other's family, while mutual friends scream with joy. Or get into your car with a trailer caravan where you will live you don't know how many days, months or years, travel the distance that separates you from your loved one, stand conveniently under his window, a few meters from his bed, waiting for him to At some point I will allow you to enter it.
Or in the face of a cold and disconsolate response, you could very well be a regular at their restaurant with a name that hurts the insides and you, because you are clueless, because you don't know the reason why they abandoned you, you don't know its meaning.
What if you decided to collaborate in making the menu of said restaurant, become friends with the villagers, help clear up misunderstandings that involve your loved one's family, which is why he is not popular among the locals and why his humble business is going down the drain, and, between filming sessions and road trips, will you adapt and integrate into the quiet and simple life of the person you want to win back?
I would suggest that after reading the vague goodbye note and discovering that your lover has packed his bags and left the apartment you have shared, you put strong pressure on your agency, and tell your representative and his subordinate that you will jump out of the car in leave if they don't locate him.
Or when you can't explain to yourself what you did wrong and you can't find answers to the cause of the breakup, you choose to win the affection of the best friend of the person who has put your life in check and her small and precocious daughter, knowing that every step In this sense, it will allow you to create new opportunities to reconnect with your ex.
Precisely the latter was what Seo Joon (Son Woo Hyun) did when Ji Woo (Kim Kang Min) broke his heart in the second season of 'To My Star 2: Our Untold Stories'. Yes, I am referring to those two young people, one of them a famous celebrity and the other an ordinary chef, from two different worlds, with little in common, whose lives were shaken when they met and fell in love.
Well, it seemed like both boys would be together forever, but fate had other plans. After giving us some of the most romantic moments in Korean BL, they also filled us with sadness. But there the actor goes in search of his chef to continue enjoying, among other things, his delicious food.
And Hwang Da Seul, the director, took very seriously that no one is saved from death and a broken heart and that we must all face, throughout our lives, several different types of goodbyes. Knowing that every breakup has its reasons, its consequences and its bitter, and sometimes bloody, extensions, that life is not always laughter, love and joy, he summoned screenwriter Park Young to take up the story and develop a second season to imitate , very well filmically speaking, the breakdown of the relationship of that couple so beloved by fans of the genre, and then reconciling them, because otherwise it could not be, since, otherwise, as an audience, we would not forgive them.
I imagine Da Seul digging through the films and television series of yesteryear and today to revisit those that deal with breakups and narratives that address every cliché about love and its components, always with a similar structure and, above all, with a happy ending, a sung ending, that is, "from a movie". And all in order to promote significant topics, such as the couple's commitment and communication.
And it does so with incredible bravery, taking the flaws of the first season, especially that of a pleasant but substanceless original story, to make a sequel with greater development of the characters, expanding the dynamics of their relationships and amplifying the emotions.
While it is true that it suffers from a saturated melodrama at times, with artificial conflicts that could have been polished or not incorporated, what is also real is the achievement of the elegant arcs of the characters, which highlight growth, maturity and redemption .
I know that many BL fans will not like what is related to the breakup and the subsequent suffering of the members of their favorite ships, but a work that shows deep conflicts and characters with greater psychological complexities is appreciated.
Without giving any type of spoiler, I will ask you the same question that comes into play during the first minutes of the story: what is the reason for Jin Woo and Seo Joon's breakup?
With this fuse that is lit at the beginning of the series, the characters develop in a narrative with which they will manage to improve the original series, with richer backstories, more character development and complex relationship dynamics, allowing 'To My Star matures, comes of age and becomes a sophisticated BL drama that unfolds in a fascinating journey, seeking and fulfilling the objectives of unraveling a failed relationship, while the protagonists and the audience wonder if they would have a second one. opportunity to reconnect and be happy.
What BL lover wouldn't be surprised by the breakup of their idealized perfect lovers? Seo Joon experiences the same anxiety when faced with Ji Woo's inexplicable departure after leaving a vague message containing a single word: "Let's leave him."
So, the series is aimed at exploring why the breakup and, as I said, reconciliation. But now everything will happen far from the big city, as the cameras will focus on a small town several hours from Seoul, in Ji Woo's hometown and where he went after the breakup, and while he struggles to move his business forward in an Italian restaurant, Seo Joo continues to face problems in his acting career.
And if the proposal alone still doesn't catch your attention, I'll give you another colorful fact: through the experience of the two protagonists, the sequel explores the moving breakup of a couple with intrigue, intimacy and intense emotions. But it doesn't do so by adding a dramatic twist behind the breakup or an infamous evil destroyer of loves and homes.
No, the creators will pleasantly surprise us by letting us know that the reason for the discord is much more personal, simple but complex at the same time: Ji Woo has always preferred to repress his feelings and alienate those who care about him. Yes, it is not easy to live with him, and the series, through flashbacks, will make us understand why he is the way he is. In his case, he is not the typical individual that we see in other audiovisuals that explain his misunderstood actions, such as abandoning a person he loves and from whom he receives love, using the handy excuse of "suffering from childhood trauma." Ji Woo doesn't do anything wrong, he just stays away from Seo Joon and other people in his life to avoid being hurt.
Woo Hyun continues to show the same charm as his persistent Seo Joon. He continually and without hesitation expresses his feelings, says what he thinks and leaves no room for misunderstandings. He goes for it.
For his part, Kang Min continues to play his role as the grumpy but cute Ji Woo, but towards the end you will see him grow wings, all thanks to the persistence and love of Seo Joon.
If many BL sequels have disappointed for various reasons, 'To My Star 2' does the opposite, transforming a simple love story, but without much substance, into a moving saga of breakup and reconciliation. The maturity in the team, both acting and technical, is evident to deliver an ambitious product, the result of hard work and experience.
At this point in the note, you can already imagine what happens with Ji Woo and Seo Joon... But in case you weren't paying much attention, I can confirm that yes, they fight! However, in this case, new characters and new conflicts are added to the dynamic. With longer chapters, with diversification of filming settings and an increased supporting cast, with their plots, traumas and life stories, complex events and characters were developed that will enrich the main story through a compelling narrative.
And I leave for last, precisely because of its importance, an issue that is striking to me: it seems very light that in a country as conservative as South Korea where discrimination against members of the LGBT+ community still persists, marriage between people of the same sex, and homosexuals have difficulty fitting into society, since coming out is not welcomed in most families who consider homosexuality as something similar to a crime, show a rural community, generally defenders of patriarchal and heteronormative traditions, without its inhabitants ever questioning the "friendship" of the two protagonists when the type of relationship they maintain is evident and even trying to influence it so that it is fostered.

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From -20 to 100, the possible setbacks do not matter... only the advance

When the two protagonists meet, Cha Yeo-woon's affection level towards Tae Myung Ha was -20. When he gave him the shoes to use in the race, he dropped to -99. Due to the level of negative affect, the video game constantly throws out debuffs that would affect Yeo-woon. It had to be reversed.
I've been thinking about how to title this review. The race in which Cha Yeo-woon's affection level towards Tae Myung Ha goes from -99 to 1 gave me the title: 'From -20 to 100, possible setbacks don't matter... only progress'.
Since the early days of cinema, the industry has constantly sought new ways to captivate audiences. In recent decades, video games, like esports news, have emerged as a powerful and exciting form of entertainment.
This convergence between cinematographic art and video games has led to the creation of films and series that explore the theme of virtual worlds and immersive experiences.
Since 'Tron', directed by Steven Lisberger in 1982, considered the pioneering film in the world of cinematic virtual reality, until today, many film and television productions transport viewers to a digital world, where the characters are literally transported inside a videogame.
'House of the Dead', 2003; 'Alone in the Dark', 2005; 'Doom' (2005), 'Super Mario Bros' (1993), Nintendo, 'Mortal Kombat' (1995), 'Street Fighter: The Last Stand' (1994), 'Need for Speed' (2014), 'The Matrix ' (1999), 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World' (2010), 'Wreck-It Ralph' (2012), 'Ready Player One' (2018) and 'Assassin's Creed', are some of them.
The growing popularity of eSports, virtual reality and video games in general provides rich creative terrain for screenwriters, filmmakers and television directors who seek to challenge conventions and offer unique experiences to their audiences, producing films that not only entertain, but They also serve as a reflection of our collective fascination with virtual worlds and the limitless possibilities they offer.
Kim Kyun Ah as director, and Kwon Cho Rong as screenwriter, take us with 'Love for Love's Sake' to explore the theme of video games and virtual reality.
This Korean drama in which genres such as romance, BL and fantasy come together, tells the story of Tae Myung Ha (Lee Tae Vin), a 29-year-old young man who is transported inside a video game.
Our protagonist enjoys reading a novel written by his Sunbae (Senior). He prefers secondary characters more than protagonists. “Why is Cha Yeo Woon the only miserable one?” you will ask the writer. Not liking the answer, he will state: “The fact that some people are destined to live a miserable life is what is vile.” “So, would you change your life for that of the character?” the novelist asks him.
Upon awakening, Tae Myung Ha experiences a disconcerting twist of fate when he suddenly finds himself transported to a fictional online game in the body of a nineteen-year-old character. He has fallen into "Love for Love's Sake", a video game based on the novel written by his Sunbae.
In this way he embarks on an adventure within the virtual world in which he must fulfill a mission: bring happiness to the student Cha Yeo Woon, his favorite character in the literary work. In the darkest moment of his life, he needs to make Cha Yeo Woon happy or face dire consequences.
A translucent window that constantly appears in front of him will give him game instructions. He will only have 300 days to achieve his goal, otherwise death will be his punishment. Can he survive, protect his favorite person and accomplish his mission?
Tae Myung Ha will wonder: if I was not happy before starting the game, how can I make Cha Yeo Woon happy? Will the game play out completely differently than the novel? How will it end?
Despite being an athlete with relevant results in athletics championships and having a very attractive appearance, Cha Yeo Woon has lived in poverty and maintains a humble attitude. He will see his life turn upside down when he starts interacting in the virtual world with Tae Myung Ha.
Cheon Sang Won (Oh Min Su), a high school student from a wealthy family, becomes emotionally entangled with Tae Myung Ha. His involvement adds complexity to the developing relationship between Tae Myung Ha and Cha Yeo Woon.
Another character in the series is Ahn Kyung Hoon (Woong Gi). This young man, introverted and reserved, supports and helps Tae Myung Ha in his mission within the virtual world.
The Korean BL series 'Love for Love's Sake' (Yeonae Jisangju-eui Guyeok), also known as 'Love Supremacy Zone', is a drama adaptation based on the webtoon of the same name written by Aquram and Hwacha and illustrated by Kkokku.

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Concerted alliances: common practice of the time recreated in the film

After Sundown is a 2023 Thai film by prolific director, screenwriter, producer and actor Aod Bhandit Thongdee, which aptly combines the genres of horror, supernatural mystery and romance in a creative narrative and a certain historical period. In this way, Thongdee weaves multiple threads with admirable balance and skill.
The film delicately captures the vintage elegance and glamor of the 60s of the last century. The decoration, the costumes, the hairstyle, the scenery enhance the work in that sense. The script is based on the novel "Dap Saeng Rawi".
Rawee (NuNew Chawarin Perdpiriyawong) is a 21-year-old young man who lives a humble, folksy lifestyle. Raised in Aytthaya by his grandfather, the monk Chantakorn (War Jirawat Vachirasarunpatra), he accepts the invitation of Parit (Nu Surasak Chaiat), a generous patriarch of a wealthy family, to live in the city. Chantakorn sees in the invitation the possibility of a better life for his grandson, as well as the opportunity for him to continue his studies, and encourages him.
In his new home, Rawee will soon experience terrifying visions and strange nightmares. Every night he is tormented by the presence of supernatural beings. It will soon become clear that Rawee is the only victim of whatever is lurking and lurking in the house. The question arises from the first bars of the plot: why does he suffer these spooky hallucinations?
In addition to Parit, his son Patchara (Tao Adisorn Athagrisna) and his daughter-in-law Pimpila (Meenay Jutai) live in the rich mansion. The couple has a 25-year-old son, Phloeng (Zee Pruk Panich). This is an entrepreneur dedicated to the family business. Phloeng's parents believe their son is cursed.
According to a prophecy, Phloeng will suffer serious misfortunes during that year. Unless an auspicious event occurs, he is destined to spend the rest of his life alone. Your salvation lies in finding your soul mate as soon as possible. This must meet certain requirements: It is not necessary to get married. It is enough to unite their destinies. His age must be an odd number and not older than 25 years, he must have been born outside Phra Nakhon and it is not mandatory to go looking for him, as the indicated person will come to meet Phloeng.
Rawee meets all the criteria and turns out to be the ideal candidate to be Phloeng's soulmate. The proposal is made by Parit himself after knowing the prediction. But it conveys a doubt: don't Phloeng's parents care that they are men? They both agree that if Rawee can save Praphloeng from misfortune they have no objection.
The meeting of the young people could not be more unfortunate. As Rawee cycles through the city, he collides with the arrogant Phloeng, who is returning home from abroad by car, after being called to return home and seal his fate by joining his soulmate. Class and cultural differences will hinder the relationship of the two. Phloeng does not miss the opportunity to belittle Rawee and accuse him of seeking to get his hands on his grandfather's fortune. Rawee is not daunted. In the face of threats and accusations, he responds with pride, haughtiness and a good dose of mischief, leaving Phloeng without resources to respond. The grumpy servant Pudsorn (Namping Napatsakorn Pingmuang) takes it upon himself to annoy and make life miserable for Rawee.
Phloeng, a modern young man for his time, is not superstitious and is skeptical of his relatives' proposal. Refusing to be a stranger's soulmate, he finally accepts the agreement to calm the fears of those close to him. For her part, Parit asks Rawee for understanding after explaining the misfortune that would befall the family if he did not agree. It is then the young man's time to return the favor to his benefactor. A very common practice at the time, especially in rural areas and provincial cities, was to establish alliances agreed upon by the members of two families, beyond social origins, ages of the couple and other aspects.
The film shows a practice that is still common today in various regions of the world, including Southeast Asia, such as consensual marriage, in which the couple has allowed outsiders to bring them together.
Under these conditions of a consensual marriage to ward off misfortune and in the midst of growing tensions between the two young people, on the one hand, and the terrifying visions that Rawee suffers, on the other, Phloeng becomes engaged to Rawee. But he sets a condition: if after six months the relationship between the two does not deepen, he will cancel the arrangement. They both reluctantly accept the compromise.
To comply with the rules and avoid misfortune, they must remain under the same roof after sunset. The discomfort they feel being close to each other is evident. However, Rawee will soon discover that his nightmares disappear whenever he is around Phloeng. The approach and subsequent romantic commitment of young people is inevitable. We will soon discover that they are both united by deeper ties than an arranged alliance could ever weave.
Let's add as positive features a fascinating narrative, the combination of genres, the historical period as a unique added detail, the impressive images, the majestic landscapes, especially the lake, and the elegant atmosphere.
The film offers conclusive answers about the origins of the ghost that haunts Rawee. Music contributes to the development of the plot and fulfills its function as a vehicle to tell the story.
Positive: The movie seems unpredictable. The viewer is not able to foresee what will happen next. The level of intrigue, suspense and surprising twists for almost two hours. Solid performances, especially from the leads. Passionate and healthy chemistry between the two main actors. Tender gay love scenes.
Negative: Little exploration of the historical and cultural context of the 60s of the last century. Weak character development. Poor construction of the supernatural. Inefficient characterization of the characters, hence the viewer's poor understanding of their personalities and life stories.
The characters, both from the script and the staging and from the performances of the protagonists, are built with so much love and delicacy that the film is irresistible even in its most obvious moments. It may not do anything revolutionary with the gay initiation genre, but it is emotional and honest.
If you are looking to be entertained with a supernatural movie with suspenseful plots and surprising twists, After Sundown is a good option.

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Sharing a roof with complete strangers may seem risky, but over time, unconditional friendships are built... and possibly even more. On the other hand, making new friends who make you reflect and with whom you can share expenses is always encouraging.
Having roommates will definitely go from "sharing the house" to sharing everything; the bad jokes, the bad times and the existential crises. Although it is impossible for everything to be rosy, returning home to be yourself and having someone to talk to about the good in all circumstances is always a relief. The constant company of other people around you helps to observe the panorama beyond the tip of your nose.
The premise of this 'rom-com' may seem corny and implausible: Latte, Tawan, Peak and Almond are four young people who share a rental house. One night of drinking and playing spin the bottle, the first three discover that Almond is still a virgin.
In this way, the young man who has never enjoyed sex makes a bet: if one of them manages to connect him with the person he likes, he will cover a year's rent.
However, the creators of 'Knock Knock, Boys!' (Thai: บ้านหนุ่มโสด โหมดพร้อมเลิฟ/Ban Num Sot Home Phrom Love), make this 'fairy-tale' story a hilarious and emotional delight. This is how the story of love, dreams and friendship begins.
The series stars Nokia Chinnawat Phattharathanachot, who we saw in one of the episodes of the drama 'If I Love a Boy', specifically in 'Han on Me', and in 'Thank God It's Friday', both from 2019, playing this time to Almond.
Carrying out the daring and romantic mission is carried out by Latte (Boss Jaonine Jiraphat), who we know for his role as Tar in the drama 'Find Yourself'; Thanwa (Seng Wichai Saefant, star of the dramas 'Secret Crush on You' and 'War of Y', and Peak (Best Vittawin Veeravidhayanant), an actor we remember for playing Pluto in 'Love With Benefits' and Daonuea in 'Check Out'.
Directed by Natavut Leewairoj, the youth comedy-drama with an LGBT+ theme leaves us with a great lesson: living with roommates will mean that the jokes and fun will not stop, and the complicity and support at home, whether to set up night games, to prepare food, doing the laundry or helping you find the love of your life will be nearby whenever you need it.
The upbeat music, composed and produced by Susui and performed by Smart Wattana, makes 'Knock Knock, Boys!' remind us that true love and soulmates are also in our closest friends, which can even be those we just met. It also commemorates that in the same way that a loving relationship is built every day, so is friendship. Furthermore, an external look always helps us see more clearly.
Together with Almond, we will learn that not everything has to be perfect if you have the right roommates, because any difficulty or setback will be fixed as we go.
They are four opposite but complementary roommates, real, fun and imperfect young people who explore their sexuality, embrace their ambitions and face their insecurities while dealing with the difficulties of youth, such as coming of age, conventions, secret loves. , bisexuality, the discovery and acceptance of homosexuality without dramas or tragedies and a commitment to normalization, in a beautiful and fun youth story.
I would like to highlight the use of humor to dedramatize difficult moments such as coming out or recognizing one's virginity or pansexuality.
The drama aims not only to fulfill what one expects from such a premise, but also to overcome any idea or preconception, entering from a perspective full of love and humor into the lives of four friends in their early twenties in constant existential crisis. that oscillate between love dramas, student and work confusion and identity doubts finding their salvation in each other.
I recommend this hilarious and unprejudiced Thai series, with its satirical humor with heart and its commitment to cultural, sexual and gender diversity, through the vicissitudes of four strangers who go from friends to lovers.
Nokia leads with Almond's desperation to fit in and purest innocence. Jaonine puts security and emotional independence into her Latte; Best brings the bed entanglements with married women and sickly perfection of Peak, while Seng brings the carefreeness and sexier self-love of Thanwa.
The four complement each other, argue, hug each other while drinking a drink of alcohol and, above all, they never fail each other.
Much of its success lies in the perfect chemistry between the four young people, especially between the two couples in love.
The cast closes with the performances of Mon Taechin Phaisanwan as Sean, Pak Varayu Pusomjitsakul as Jumper, Tuss Thotsawat Sing-uppo as Max and Ten Tosatid Darnkhuntod, among other actors and actresses.
'Knock Knock, Boys!' It is a fantasy that we have all been able to or wanted to have, but that is more bewitching, natural, genuine and immensely fun in this production that has just begun and will bring us many surprises before its conclusion.

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'My Love Mix-Up!' is a romantic comedy drama with a Thai LGBTIQ+ theme that brings back two promising actors and idols who have won the hearts of BL lovers: "Fourth" Nattawat Jirochtikul and "Geminis" Norawit Thiticharaenrak.
The story of Atom and Kongthap, two students who go to the same high school but are not close, begins the day a misunderstanding causes their lives to intersect.
Atom secretly loves a classmate named Matmee ("Pahn" Pathitta Pornchumroenrut), and tries to find the courage to confess his feelings to her. However, one day, by accident, she discovers that she is in love with her classmate Kongthap, the handsome basketball player, when she sees that Matmee's eraser has her name written, along with a painted heart.
To make matters even more complicated, Kongthap sees Atom holding the rubber band with his name on it and misinterprets the situation, believing that the other boy has a crush on him.
When Matmee's secret is exposed, Atom protects his identity and, faced with the confused student's complaints, decides not to clear Kongthap of the mistake and assumes that he is the one who is in love.
But to his surprise, even Kongthap is not horrified by the idea that another boy has set his eyes on him, and Atom himself begins to feel happy with the attention and care he now receives from his table neighbor.
Intrigued, curious, Kongthap approaches Atom to meet the boy who "has been flirting with me while asking me to copy my class assignments," and Atom approaches the young man who meets the type of person "cool, kind, and doesn't care." gives up easily" that Matmee likes to find out about her weaknesses and strengths and after overcoming it to be able to win the girl's love.
And as they spend time together, love works unexpectedly, and Kongthap will discover that he is more interested in Atom than either of them can believe.
They're both straight, or that's what everyone thinks, themselves included. But the misunderstanding, combined with the way they treat and care for each other, will cause their feelings to start heading down a path they never would have imagined.
'My Love Mix-Up!' it is a manual installalove. Boy meets boy. First they become friends. Then they fall in love. They discover. Both, without intending to, undertake the clearing of the weeds towards full identity. A typical teenage romance story, with no pretensions of breaking schemes or introducing new plots, and surely that is its greatest point in its favor.
The love of Atom and Kongthap has been told a thousand times, but it reaches the viewer's heart through simple characters and situations with which it is very easy to identify and have a good time.
One of the things I couldn't help but feel a weakness for is the plot. This is quite simple, which in any other work would be negative for being "too poor in terms of complexity", but that is where the magic of 'My Love Mix-Up!' is born. The minimalism is so good that the series doesn't need anything else, just that beautiful romance between the characters and the positive energy that they manage to convey so much. The combination is effective, forceful.
Adapting an original work does not mean reproducing it exactly the same. Adapting literary works is a precious opportunity to give a new dimension to original works and to be discovered by people who do not read or who think that said original works do not fit their tastes.
Precisely, BLs are popular from the adaptations of mangas into animes and live-action films and series. And I am convinced that it is not going to stop, much less because of opinions as empty as those expressed by some.
Adapting a literary work to audiovisual codes and language is a different challenge in each case. All changes required by audiovisual language have a red line, and 'My Love Mix-Up!' it does not go beyond it, as it preserves the spirit, the main plots and also the emotions that we feel when we read the original, with its emotional ups and downs and its script twists.
It is a mistake to consider that you have to replicate scene by scene in the adaptation, images other than the manga can be used. All the characters, even the secondary ones, are drawn well enough for us to want to follow their romantic adventures, based on the original work, winner, in 2022, of the 67th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shōjo category, written by Wataru Hineruke and illustrated by Aruko.
And the best of all will be that GeminisFourth, unlike Shunsuke Michieda and Ren Meguro, who seem to adopt the social distancing imposed by the pandemic in the Japanese adaptation, because, according to the trailers of the Thai series, their characters will not believe in coronavirus ( to continue with the irony) and they will eat even the palatine uvula or bell.
However, all of us BL lovers are here to discover, chapter by chapter, how this drama unfolds, scheduled to conclude on August 24 of this year, and which will surely bring us an optimistic and hopeful approach focused on exploring the relationship that arises between Atom and Kongthap.
I ask the viewer to enjoy together how that friendship is created and how, while they explore their respective worlds, they gradually gain trust and become inseparable. Each one's own personality makes you love them more.
Like many of us, we have read the original text, and, in addition, we have seen the yaoi series 'Kieta Hatsukoi', from 2021, the first adaptation of this manga, there is little doubt about what will happen in the series, which has just premiered first episode.
The romance of the protagonists is the great stage, but, as a backdrop, Au Kornprom Niyomsil, its director, tells us an everyday story about adolescence, coming of age, love, discovery, acceptance, personal growth , loyalty, insecurities and friendship.
'Write Love with Eraser', as it is also known, also delves into topics such as empathy, tolerance, prejudice, homophobia or coming out, always addressed with tact, simplicity and naturalness.
Another strong point of the series is the cast, which captivates the world from the beginning. Fourth is a perfect Atom, clumsy, somewhat silly, frank, childish, nervous, shy and in love, he makes us smile every time he does it, and reflects very well how he cannot erase Kongthap from his head no matter how hard he tries.
And Gemini, for his part, is an incomparable Kongthap: kind, intelligent, friendly, studious, talented artist and athlete. His character is more complex, as he has to assume the role of a young man without defects, or whose defects are only detected with the use of a magnifying glass, while acting with a restrained, soft voice, and adorning his face with a frequent face of poker.
Atom and Kongthap are a cute couple whose opposite personalities complement each other. The extravagance of one strikes a perfect balance with the seriousness of the other, as they highlight the best qualities of each.
Both represent self-discovery, not only regarding sexual orientation, but also regarding the way of being, something that we often repress to try to fit into a group.
Let's not forget the great chemistry between the two, previously demonstrated in other BL series, such as 'My School President', 'Our Skyy 2: My School President' and 'Moonlight Chicken', all from 2023.
Kornprom Niyomsil knows how to direct them perfectly to give life to the story in which there is no trivial detail: from the creative freedom given to the members of the cast, to the brilliant palette in which the colors of the rainbow prevail.
For its part, the music accentuates and intensifies the characters' feelings and has its climax every time "Re-Move On" is heard, the song performed by the same protagonists.
But Gemini and Fourth are not the only protagonists. The roof of the school where both have their most significant meetings, also takes on a sui generis role, becoming a place of confessions, the place where a story of feelings and acceptance of oneself and others takes shape.
With the hesitations typical of any teenage love, the series responds to the way of feeling of today's young people, with an open, natural and sensitive vision of love and sexual identity, without ever losing delicacy and emotion.
My review ends here, but I will surely return to it at the end of the series, to provide other evaluations on the quality, effectiveness, characters, images, sound and message of the audiovisual.

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A dream and a forbidden love

Every year, the music industry launches numerous boy bands around the world to make their international debut. Other industries, also dedicated to entertainment, such as television, always at the forefront, have not been left behind, in the effort to tell us about the creation and evolution of these groups.
And if, along with this, they address stories of overcoming and forbidden love between members of said bands, the public awaits them with greater interest.
That is why today we remember 'Boyband The Series', a Thai audiovisual characterized by its excellent performances, a dream soundtrack and enviable scenery.
Its premiere took place in February 2023, and with 6 episodes lasting approximately 45 minutes each, we are introduced to Top, played by Phiphat Wichasu (Zubom), in his first acting role, a young man who has had to make an effort in life to be able to pay the debt contracted by his father, in addition to paying for the medical treatment of his mother, a disabled woman after suffering a traffic accident, and also paying for the education of his minor sister. To get ahead, he has had to work as a waiter, elephant keeper and sword fighter.
Top will have the opportunity to travel from Khon Kaen, Isaan province, to Bangkok, to become an artist under World Star, the company of Khun Serena (Metinee Kingpayome - Lukkade), the queen of the entertainment industry, through a singing, dancing and acting contest, which in addition to artistic skills, will evaluate the behavior and attitudes of the contestants.
This trip into the competition represents a new stage in his life for Top, full of surprises that he is willing to accept without hesitation, because in addition to competing against a hundred young people to obtain one of the six positions in dispute, he will meet Juju (Theerachet Yanwantana - Jaymin), the impulsive son of a wealthy family, with whom our protagonist will live a forbidden romance, because the contest imposes a rule on the participants: "Artists are prevented from establishing romantic relationships with each other."
With a chemistry that transcends the screen, Top will help Juju deal with her main problem: her father's refusal to accept her fulfilling her dream of becoming an idol.
One of the aspects that attract attention in this dramatic, romantic, musical and youth comedy with LGBTIQ+ themes is Top's constant race in pursuit of Juju. The unforgettable sequence of Zubom on the motorcycle arriving, with delays, to the place of the band's debut, among the first scenes, while the music directed and composed by Terdsak Janpan for the series plays in the background, is one of the vertices about the that a plot is articulated, which will lead us to other chases, such as that of Top behind Juju's car in an unfortunate first encounter in which the two come out as enemies.
There will also be other chases, such as the chase that is not after Juju, but with Juju, to rescue Juju's bag that the motorcyclists intend to steal, or the race to prevent Juju from fighting with other contestants, due to the risk of being disqualified.
Another race is when Top follows Juju to the latter's mother's house in Krabi, the boy requiring his authorization to continue in the competition.
Each step in those runs brings them closer to each other, and not only from the point of view of shortening the distance.
Top and Juju are joined by Jeff (Arm Boonyavanit - AP), the typical prankster that everyone will want to have by their side to have fun; Ryu (Pakpoom Juanchainat - Art), the famous dancer with many followers on social networks, Ken (Intouch Kooramasuwan - Intouch), the brilliant singer who will fall in love with the singing teacher, and Atom (Wasin Suungkavathin - Aom), the boy seriously focused on his art.
These young people, along with Sun (Natthanun Kurusatienpron - Man), Kampun (Phutawan Yamsai - Tawan); Tiger (Phicaphop Khamnanak - Auto), Pokpong (Patchapol Bhamornbuth - Tong) and Yok (Athiphat Arkrawarachotihiran - Nice), will fight to join the world-class boy band, and will undergo intense training in singing, dancing and acting, as part of the fierce competition that would allow them to achieve their dreams.
As in all competitions, there will be envy and professional jealousy that will play dirty and, through cheating and disloyalty, will try to get others to abandon. Likewise, there are those who will rejoice in the stumble and fall of their rival so that they do not continue in the fight, but there are also those with wise advice and timely encouragement, those who will not mind helping those who do not master the technique or those who He has suffered a blow to his foot that prevents him from dancing well.
We are not looking at the classic BL (hence surely the low rating of the drama), because 'Boyband The Series' aims much higher by exposing problems inherent to the entertainment industry, such as the corrupting power of money to buy artists trained in other agencies , the pressure from managers towards future idols with promises that are not always fulfilled, topics that are rarely addressed in series of the genre, with the exception of 'Call It What You Want I' and some others.
The series, directed by Dome Jade Bunyoprakarn ('My Dear Gangster Oppa', 'Together with Me', 'Bad Romance'), also reflects another theme equally little or poorly portrayed in Thai BL. I mean homophobia. Top and Juju's budding love relationship is used for the purposes of not only causing harm to them, but also to Khun Serena.
And here the series contributes to the struggle of the Thai LGBTIQ+ community, because although discrimination against the members of that human group persists in that country, the initial scenes of the series, which take us to the moment of the meeting of both young people before their debut , shows us that the revelation of their romance will not stop them from moving forward.
Two other main characters are Madame Pauly (Anon Saisangcharn - Pu), in charge of convincing Khun Serena to return to talent training after a period away from the agency she created, after the breakup of her marriage to Phanu (Maethanee Buranasiri - Nino), a manager in the entertainment industry to whom anything goes if he can punish his ex-wife.
Madame Pauly also has the mission of searching for contest candidates and serving as a judge for the competitions.
The writing of the scripts is carried out by Piangpaitoon Satrawaha – May), known for being the screenwriter of 'Naughty Babe' and 'Hormones Season 2', among other series, who in 'Boyband The Seires' plays the judge and teacher My .
Throughout the series, Serena, Pauly and My act as judges and guides in the training of the contestants, imitating the style of programs like "American Idols": while the former acts as an infallible judge, with a reputation for being a "strong hand" , there are always some performances that allow us to see their most sensitive and fair side, because although difficult to convince, they have sound recommendations that are usually accepted and applied by all those who aspire to join the band.
Everything seems fine to My, while Madame Pauly is the one who tries to be objective and lets herself be carried away by her criteria, to which she is always faithful. The actor who plays Madame does not believe in gender stereotypes that pigeonhole men who play very effeminate characters, like his. Lukkade and Pu's performances spice up the series.
'Boyband The Series' darkens in the final episode, with a discussion on stage after the winning team is announced, which contributes little to the closure of the story. It is very unlikely that what happened took place in real life, much less in the grotesque way it was portrayed. These disputes are ultimately aired in court.
Another reason that worked against 'Boyband The Series' was that it aired alongside other popular ThaiBL, such as 'Never Let Me Go', 'My School President' and 'Moonlight Chicken'. It is also not helped by the difficulties that the public has in accessing audiovisuals with English subtitles.
The series brings us as a bonus the possibility of meeting several BL stars who show their faces as guest artists. These include Copter Phanuwat, Bas Suradej Pinnirat, Max Kornthas Rujeerattanavorapan, Fluke Natouch Siripongthon and Peter Knight.
Love triangles, forbidden romances, infatuations between contestants and teachers, seductions of judges to try to be favored by them, villains who steal talents just to cause harm, young people who fight to achieve their dreams, self-realization, personal and spiritual growth, diversity sexuality, acceptance, homophobia, among other topics, appear in a very well written script.
Top and Juju have a dream. The realization of it comes to the first almost by chance, when he no longer had hope after his uncertain initial steps in Korea. Juju won't stop until he reaches it. And both manage, by putting one brick on top of another, to build together that dream life that grows together with romantic love.

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