Dark Blue Kiss

Worth watching, but not the best BL

I binge-watched this series in two days and must say I enjoyed watching it. The ups and downs of two couples was really interesting to see, but other than that there was nothing new in the story line: the campus setting, hanging out with friends, family dinners, jealousy. I found the cafe setting more interesting showing how the cafe owner/barista's passion towards coffee making, coffee tasting scenes, and going to the country side to buy coffee beans. I also loved the part that shows how two different single parents just unconditionally loved and understood their gay sons, and supported their sons' relationships.

Pete's possesiveness was really annoying. Also Kao's fear and hesitating to simply talk and explain the truth (to Kao, to the school director, to his friends) made me feel like I wanted to slap him and say: come on , Kao, just say it. But obviously these characteristics are what made the story move. Bravo to Tay and New's acting.

I also love the songs at the end of each episode (lyrics included), but the background music on some scenes were a little bit distracting. Some of the music beat doesn't quite match the mood or emotion being portrayed in the scene.

However, overall I like this drama series.

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My anger issues are back!

Most of the main characters (except Rain and Manow) have these personalities that I really hate. Those personalities (hot-tempered, liar, accuser, troublemaker, lover stealer) gang up against me. No wonder I was irritated on the half of the screentime. I'm not saying this in a negative way since their family/background/relationship situations have made them like that. Their personalities played an important role in making this a solid storyline which I love. At least, we see their character development until the end. (I need a Sandee who will advice me in my life and I don't want to be a Mork for a not-deserving Sun)

As what I researched after watching, this is a sequel of Kiss and Kiss Me Again. I don't mind skipping those since all information that I needed is shown since the first episode. All characters who pop out are given a justifiable and well-thought scene.

What a great cast! They did a fantastic portrayal of each role. I love how every toxic character got me on my nerves. Their supposed acting to annoy/anger me really shows how amazing their acting is. I love the chemistry of all couples too.

A watchable series!

(PS: Why would they make a title like this???? How is it related to the entire series???)

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This show is crap. Now feel free to down vote my review. My patience is running out. This is impossible to watch. I'm finding myself rolling my eyes constantly. So what's the problem beside the soap operish production, the cheesy and misplaced music, the slow pace (you can watch this on YouTube with 1,5 speed and you will be able to read the subtitles just fine). The problems are (plural, yes!) the badly written characters, the boring and empty plot, the childish conflicts that are dragged out for eternity and the lack of real emotion (New disappoints with his performance, he has the same dull expression throughout the whole series). They changed Kao's character three times now. From a nerdy, insecure and unhealthy jealous guy in Kiss The Series he went to a bold, strong character who knew exactly what he wanted in KMA only to transform into an insecure (again!) coward who prefers lying over facing a difficult situation. So he is afraid of coming out? REALLY? He has a loving mother, supportive friends and a boyfriend that loves him very much. Believe me, when I tell you, he could have it much worse in life. MUCH WORSE. Tay as Pete is doing a better job acting-wise, his character is better written too. If you're looking for some good dialogues and some wisdom it's mostly Pete who delivers that, yes, despite his hot-headed personality and his jealousy. Enough of the main leads. The second leads aren't engaging at all. Sorry. They tried, I guess, but there is no passion (and I'm not talking about sexual scenes). The spark just isn't there. The whole show is just ... I guess you can tell at this point, that I'm angry. Sometimes I think "It's my fault" or "This show just isn't for me", but then again I discover a good show and I remember that good shows do exist, but DBK is not one of them, that's for sure. If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck – it is a duck. And this show looks like crap.

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Took me a while to get into this show, mainly because the main couple was pretty boring as I didn't see it form, I just saw this is a sequel to their story so I will watch that.

Sun and Mork on the other hand, I loved them, however, some situations bothered me, like when Sun gets hit on the hand and they just don't show how they got out of that sitution or when Mork was beaten and the last thing we see of him on that episode is him bloody on the floor just for it to cut to two weeks later the next episode, we don't even get to see Sun's reaction or what exactly went down for Mork to get so angry at him!

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Only pretty good but only cause it's my fault

I have nothing in particular against this series to be honest. I think my mistake was watching this without watching Kiss or Kiss me again before hand(even knowing that they're the parent stories), but I just wasn't interested in anyone else's story besides Pete and Kao's tbh. However, It kind of fucked up the series a little bit for me since this series starts out with them already being a couple(which I literally couldn't tell because all they act like is really flirty friends most of the time). I just felt like this was lacking somehow but I still think that it's my fault I couldn't build an attachment to their characters considering I missed out on most of their story. Because of this, some parts with Pete and Kao almost bored me. I still really liked their interactions and relationship but I found myself a lot more interested in Sun and Mork's relationship. It's pretty much the reason I was able to finish this all the way through. I didn't hate it, I didn't love love it either. I think it's probably a good idea to watch Pete and Kao's story from the very beginning like everyone said because I feel like I would've liked this a whole lot more. I still think the show was well done and it definitely had it's curves and twists. I think PeteKao is really cute and I've always liked their ship, even before I watched this. They're cool dudes. Maybe I'll watch the parent series and then come back to this again and change my mind. I think for what it was to me though, I still enjoyed it more than you would think I would. I think New and Tay are something special.
*EDIT* I changed my rating on this from a 7.5 to an 8.5 because I went back and actually watched Kiss and Kiss me again. Now that I have the WHOLE back story on Pete and Kao, I do really like Dark Blue Kiss more than I did before. I still wish that sometimes we had a little more intimate scenes because I genuinely think that Tay and New have the potential to produce real raw and intense chemistry(just from seeing them in interviews and hangout with each other) but I'm not going to blame or rate the series lower because of that. I know that sometimes the actors aren't exactly comfortable with that kind of stuff and I respect that.

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3rd attempt to make a good drama with the same characters

Okay, people. This is already 3rd attempt to make a good series with the same characters. Perhaps in 'Dark Blue Kiss', it will finally work? But, if it's still the "dead fish" kind of a kiss, then I say it probably doesn't matter which color it is:-)

The MDL rating looks high. But you must understand that the viewers of this got pretty pre-selected. Because after 2 shows already, anybody else except the hardcore fans (mostly of Pete & Kao couple) got tired by now. I must say, I had to smirk seeing the opening credits with overly dramatic string music. They really tried to revamp this HARD:-) I found it ridiculous more than anything else, to be honest, but... never mind.

By the way, the answer to your 1st question is: NO!!!
No, you don't need to watch the previous 2 dramas. You won't miss ANYTHING (no matter what you particularly watch dramas for). Those really were THAT bad. Personally, I can affirm that watching the whole previous series (or 2 of them, even) made me not able to thoroughly enjoy this one, because of everything I had to go through to get to it. Even the so-called 'Pete & Kao Cut': The very existence of that cut is like officially confirming that all the rest was unwatchable.

I admit that the 2 previous series REALLY tried my patience. As a result, I was actually SET AGAINST this since the beginning. Which was like unfair to this series as a standalone, but I couldn't help myself. Just every time I opened new episode, I wished so immensely to drop this series... Okay. We concentrate on Pete & Kao. Which is what saved this. Because openly speaking, no one else in these shows was ever watchable (including the other couple, Sun & Mork, they don't look good together). After I forced myself to tune in, I can tell you that general story is: Mild & nice Kao and choleric & hotheaded Pete already decided that they care enough for each other they wish to be in a steady relationship. Which they nevertheless wish to keep low profile, which is understandable in Thailand.

Story goes, Kao gets a bit into a pickle when he starts tutoring, and therefore spending lot of time with Non, who outwardly looks like a spoiled, flirty, and brash relationship-breaker (especially to jealous type Pete), while actually he's got a psycho dad and probably desperately needs a friend (which cannot go unanswered by the kind Kao). Therefore, Kao keeps meeting Non in secret and keeps lying to his explosively jealous secret/boyfriend Pete, whom he loves, both because he needs to take care of his financials by himself and because he feels that Non needs him. It's simple but engaging enough story. You can guess how the drama should evolve, nevertheless it's enjoyable.

At epi 7, Pete & Kao celebrate their anninversary. They share a pretty average onscreen kiss. It's funny because they mention right in their dialogue that it's been 3 years. Yeah, THAT long it took for the kiss to at least look like this, LOL. Like I mentioned, NO need to watch the previous two dramas;-) Then they kiss right again and it's a bit better:) Only pitty was that Non didn't get to see that, because then he perhaps might calm down a bit and cease to provoke Pete (and Kao) each chance he got. But no, instead, it's the father of one of the boys, who walks into such scene.

Either way, I do enjoy "couple scenes" of Pete & Kao:-) What's so cute about them are their contrasting personalities. They're so opposite scale. They both usually NEVER compromise. And yet you can watch them compromise all the time, for the sake of the other. You just love them together;-)

Crisis comes at 9/12. Non annoys the couple to the extreme, Pete won't stand for it and Kao gets pressed to the corner. People should mind their own bussiness. But if you love someone, sooner or later you have to be open about it. Unfortunatelly, that's inevitable, though honestly I more or less supported Kao in keeping it private, I understood perfectly if he didn't want to tell his mother, or the loud-screamer June, or anyone else. In this crisis, will it be the hot-headed, black-and-white world residing Pete, who'll try to smooth things over? His character's development, in this 3rd attempt of a series, sure IS enjoyable;-) Non's on the other hand, reduces to plain bad guy, perhaps? Let's not spoiler... What I did appreciate was that the issue of Pete & Kao being so different they practically each could come from different planet was NOT ignored and it was adressed it CAN always bring trouble. If they want a future, the two of them would need to be prepared to keep dealing with it.

Since epi 11, Kao faces serious problem, which is probably the 1st time a main character does in this (these) series. But at least that makes him have a good talk with his mother. But, there's currently a wall in between him and Pete...

Overall, I'm rating this 2 classes higher than the previous series, because this had a proper drama (though not as big as the opening credits would suggest, LOL) and developed characters. Which might be something you'd think standard but it was NOT the case with the previous 2 series, trust me. Plus 1 point for the ("dark blue") kiss, with bubbles:-)

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Discontinuous from the other 2 seasons but at least more BL

The intro song is giving me anxiety, ngl. It’s really beautiful and makes me wanna dance but at the same time feels like it’s written for a funeral. Tho it’s definitely the best intro ever, in the whole BL universe. Props for the director & editor.
Generally throughout the episodes, the editors did such an amazing job. Some scenes are really outstanding.

Now for the story, Pete reminded me a lot of TharnType. He’s possessive af and would kill anyone who comes too close to Kao. While this might be sweet to some point, it’s also really tiring to see the top not trusting the bottom enough. This toxic possessiveness is a common issue in BL couples, apparently bc they’re men, and it’s so damn exhausting. I could barely enjoy their romantic moments together bc I really feared that they’d breakup. I had such anxiety throughout most episodes.

Well, I really love how GmmTV is keeping things relatively realistic (tho the drama can be a bit exaggerating sometimes). Like Kao’s fear to come out to his mom, Pete getting jealous bc Kao liked a guy’s picture on Instagram, Kao unable to stop tutoring that kid bc of his mom, etc.
And I loved seeing Pete be nervous for his job, slowly but gradually getting better and less nervous.

Also awards for: Pete’s dad for being the best father, Pete’s mom for being the best mother and Rain for being the best brother.

Though, what confused me a lot: why they changed so many shooting places. Like, Pete’s and Kao’s house is different, the school also... literally everything?

Ps: Non is definitely my most-hated character in the BL universe so far.

-20.11.21

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An iconic show

I remember that I first wanted to watch Dark Blue Kiss back in 2020 because I saw an edit of PeteKao under the sound of Stray Kids back door and I would say that the edit made me want to watch BLs. I will say till the day I die that this show had the best intro song which is the instrumental violin and it’s so Iconic! I loved the chemistry between Pete and Kao and the whole story didn’t flop at all, even though I haven’t watch Kiss me again it was a storyline that didn’t need to watch a whole show before, but you still could understand everything that was happening. I still have the cup of the words Pete and Kao stuck in my head because that cup basically made the show. The whole plot was Kao is a tutor and his boyfriend is Pete and he made a cup for him that has a symbol of a sticky note with Pete and Kao written on it and Kao is tutoring a boy named Non and soon later he starts having feelings for Kao and of course once Pete finds out about it he becomes so possessive to the point that he doesn’t want Kao to tutor him anymore and even destroys the poor cup and it gets dented and they go on a break of a relationship and they do celebrate their anniversary together and that’s when we seen the iconic bear their, and in the last scene we see of them it’s them having an underwater kiss. We also had a side couple which was Sun and Mork and I have to say that they were such a cute couple, their storyline is Sun works at the cafe that Kao tutors at so he’s seen frequently and Mork is like the bad boy that always gets injured and in fights, but then decides to work at the cafe with Sun and while they both worked at the cafe they seemed to have a little bit of feelings for each other and at their ending seemed a little fast to me with Mork getting hospitalized because of a fight he was in and Sun became super mad at him, but didn’t listen to him when he said he was done fighting and then Sun forgives him and then they date and that’s all, but I would’ve like to have seen their story develop a little bit more. I do recommend this drama because it’s an iconic one that you can’t miss out on.

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The family and friends relationships we all want

Let me preface this by saying I haven’t watched Kiss Me Again. I watched the GMMTV compilation of Pete and Kao scenes from it, but that was it. So, I have absolutely no clue what happened in that series nor how certain things differ from it. I am treating this as a separate story.

I absolutely love the series. I like the fact that we it started with an already established couple, even if they were hiding it, which is quite different from all other series I have watched.

Pete & Kao: Tay and New were amazing! The chemistry between them is great and I absolutely loved seeing them interact on screen. The two of them are quite different – Pete is one that is not really afraid of anything, mostly because he comes from a more privileged position and knows his father fully supports him; while Kao is a lot more guarded and is not ready to let the world know as he fears how that might affect his family. Pete’s possessiveness is something that would usually bother me, but it was done incredibly well and consistently, it really fit who he is. The biggest conflict between the two arose from Kao not communicating properly. But I can also understand why he didn’t tell Pete the truth, I have a feeling that he wouldn’t really understand him anyways. I do love the whiny voice Kao often uses to call Pete. And how spite seems to be something that motivates Pete more than anything is something I live for.

Sun & Mork: it’s enemies to lovers, of course the two got my heart. I love the dynamics between the two, including the way they treat Rain. Sun is a very typical older sibling, he nags and worries, but he means well and only does so because he cares. Mork has a bit of a short temper. I am not really sure why, I wish they would tell us more about his past. I love how slow they took things, the confusion and hesitation and denial after their first kiss were done very realistically. Especially by Mork who, up till then, didn’t necessarily considered the option that he likes men.

While on topic of liking men, I am glad they didn’t go for the “I’m not gay, but I like you” line that so many BL series go for. I do admit I noticed that most series done by P’Aof usually avoid all of those cliché lines. And that is something I truly appreciate.

Rain & Manow: I found the two adorable! While they didn’t get together until pretty much the end of the series, I found their interactions incredibly sweet. And heartbreaking from Rain’s perspective.

Nom: he doesn’t have it easy with his father, but that does not excuse his behavior. He might be young, but he is also not that young. The things he did can and do ruin lives and cause trauma. The moment he knew that Kao was taken, he should have backed off. But being the spoiled rich brat that he is, that was not an option for him. I wish we had gotten a more concrete conclusion on what has happened to him. But I do hope there were serious consequences for what he did.

Pete’s father is an absolute star! He has been supportive of Pete and Kao since the start. And while many people might take his advice to keep quiet about the relationship as something negative, I think it was solid advice. People always have things to say, and if you want to make a relationship work, you need to be confident in it. And the fact that he talked about sex and safety with Pete was great to see. Sex education is important, but sadly not many parents are willing to talk about it.

Kao’s mom was amazing too. She knew there was something between Pete and Kao, it was in the way she looked at the two from the start of the series. But she never said anything, wanting to give her son the chance to talk to her when he is ready.

And if we are talking family, I can’t get over the Sun, Mork and Rain relationship. Poor Rain, being stuck between his brother and his best friend pretty much all the time. You can really see how much the three of them care about each other. I also like how Mork made it clear to Rain that he himself is the only person who can decide when and to whom he is going to come out.

The series took an incredible realistic approach to gay relationships in the modern world. Before you can ask for acceptance from others, you need to be able to accept yourself. I think that is a struggle that we really see from both Kao and Mork.

Pete’s and Kao’s friend group is amazing. They are all incredibly supportive of their relationship, even before the two go public. Like they said, they are not stupid, they just chose not to comment on it. I really like their dynamics. They all seem so different from one another, yet they get along so well. I also really liked the friendship between Kitty and Sun. It was something I didn’t know I needed.

I think that the cinematography is done beautifully as well. There are certain scenes that are so heartbreaking to watch. The parallels and the juxtapositions of certain events were breathtaking, they had me on the edge of the seat. The intro probably deserves its own fandom. It might seem kind of simple, but there is so much packed into it.

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