Why it's a must watch
This drama is more than just the best BL ever.it is truly one of the best dramas I've seen.with such realistic portrayal of the human emotions it really captures ur heart.the acting in this is just unbelievable.not only the main leads but also the female lead does an incredible job .the locations and the sets and the camera work is just truly mind blowing.along with this the ost truly represents the beautiful bond of the leads.i have nothing bad to say about this drama.it was truly a breath of fresh air.if you haven't seen it already u must definitely give it a try.u will not regret itWas this review helpful to you?
Describing the whole series as a masterpiece is an understatement
This series had set the bar high up to the heavens height for a BL drama. This series had hit me emotionally to the bones. After watching Episode 3, I decided to hold on watching the other BL series that were concurrently airing while ITSAY was also airing. I told myself that I would only continue watching the other series after ITSAY had closed all its chapters. But even until now, I still cannot make myself to resume watching the other series after I have watched ITSAY Episode 5. I know this may sound an overstatement or exaggeration to others but ITSAY has definitely gone through my system. Re-watching the episodes and listening to their OSTs repeatedly the whole day makes me feel like I am also a part of their story.Was this review helpful to you?
One of the best series I’ve watched so far!
This is one of the best series I’ve ever watched. Great acting, cinematography, and music. Just hats off to the whole the crew who’ve worked so hard to make it successful. And the main leads are just Amazing...... I have no word to describe their hard work!This series should definitely get the title “Best series of the year” they really deserve it.
Also, can’t stop listening “Skyline” by Billkin♥️ it’s just stocked in my head. Looking forward to more series or movies of Billkin and PP. Rakna jaa.
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This show has set the bar for bl shows
Okay wow just WOW!!!!!This show is excellent in every way possible from acting, cinematography to ost. I dont think yall understand hoe amazing this show is like in 5 episodes this show has shaken the table in the bl world and there's a reason why the rating for this show so high. Both leads were great and really held their ground and can i just say how they portrayed so much emotions with their eyes like wow. Personally i feel this is the show every bl show should take notes. The side characters also held there ground which i loved especially Bas who is my fav, i don't wanna pretend like im a critical reviewer of bl shows i just find them entertaining but this show here deserves all kind of awards.
Teh and oh really show you how much they want each other every episode and you just sit and watch how these boys fall for each other in the most dramatic and heartfelt way. I cant stress this enough watch this show its top tier bl of 2020 maybe even of all bl shows
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This review may contain spoilers
Raised the bar for Thai BL series
This series went against the generic dose of BL series that Thailand has been producing lately.Cinematography is the best one yet for this year. It's visually creative and stunning. I also loved that it's located in Phuket. The beach is part of the entire story rather than just an episode filler or a finale location set.
Directing is also crucial for this one. Billkin and Krit are fairly new actors and there are scenes that they still look green but the direction made them pull these scenes off with conviction. They are also not afraid to bare it all emotionally.
Another one of my favorite in this series is the OST. I admit I was a fan of 'singer' Billkin before I saw him acting. But without bias, the soundtrack and background music gave me all the feels. The cinematography + music goes so well together!
It's also commendable that it's not a romcom. They didn't have a second couple. No evil (ex) (girl/boy)friend. No consent issues. And although this is probably the first time I got SLS on a BL series, I appreciate that this does not have any villains at all.
I have great expectations for season two and I will anticipate it.
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A wonderful moving heartfelt queer coming-of-age story <3
Do you ever watch something that moves you, that shakes you, and leaves a mark? The appropriate word is “qui vous chamboule”, but there is no English translation for the word “chambouler”. There is no translation for this feeling of being deeply touched by something that stays with you and shakes you to your core. This is the feeling that I am left with after having watched I Told Sunset About You.We had been recommended ITSAY many times before finally taking the plunge. We had been warned of its quality, we had been warned that it would emotionally devastate us, we had been warned that it would be worth it. All three things were correct. This show stands on its own among the best shows I have ever seen. It is so far beyond the traditional clichés of BL dramas that I am not even sure it should be qualified as one.
I have rarely seen such thoughts put into the directing and the cinematography in a tv show anywhere. They make use of negative space on screen, the colour choices are always meaningful, every single shot is well made. The accompanying documentary (which I highly recommend you watch after finishing the show and which brought my appreciation for the work done by the cast and crew to a whole new level and it was already very high) shows even more the quality of the craft. Some of the scenes are highly effective because of the way they are shot, and any other filming angle would not have worked as well. The director was not afraid to make us stay in a moment with the characters way longer than was comfortable specifically because this moment was meant to be uncomfortable. The end of episode 3 is a masterful example of that. The gorgeous final scene is another example of both the talent and skills of the cast and crew and the amazing luck that they seem to have had. I am simply in awe of the work that was done and could not keep myself from marvelling out loud at the cinematography and directing even as I was watching the show.
The acting was also absolutely stunning from the youngest members of the crew (Khun who plays Bas is only 17 and I will be following his career) to the two main actors, Billkin and PP, and the other side characters. I already appreciated Nat who plays Teh’s brother’s Hoon, but watching the documentary also added him to the list of people whose career I want to follow (a trend for pretty much every actor in this show) and Smile who plays Tarn and manages to give such a depth to a character that could have easily (and often is in other dramas) been vilified. I am in awe of all of them. PP and Billkin are both absolutely amazing as Oh-aew and Teh. They ooze chemistry and they play off each other so well. The depth of character they both bring to those characters, the turmoil that is present inside of both of them constantly, the micro expressions, the looks, the way they deliver lines, the everything! I could honestly go on forever about some of the choices they all made at different points in the story, but that would be going into way too much detail and spoil the entire thing, but boy, will I be going elsewhere to read analyses of these.
And the music! The music! The Music! Three songs were recorded for this show in different versions sang by the two main actors and those were then strategically placed at different moments of the drama to add even more layers to an already layered story. Some moments which had already brought me to tears made me shed even more tears because a particular version of one of the songs started playing. Even the general OST is very well done and appropriate for the different moments. They made very good use of the music (and of the silences) in this show and the music itself was just so good. I will be listening to the OST on its own in the future because it is just that good.
And finally, the story. I left the story for last because I am not sure I have the words to talk about it. Everything I mentioned before comes together to support the story and what a scenario it has. This drama essentially gives us 5 films by the duration of each episode. They pack so many emotions. The writers said in an interview that for the emotional scenes, they purposely chose the dialogues so that they would make us cry and boy, have they succeeded. I was crying from the first episode. They managed to get me attached to those characters from the first moment. The kids we first see, best friends about to become rival, and the teenagers we then meet, the rivals to friends to lovers and so much more in between. The themes explored in this show are explored throughout the entirety of the drama from the expectations that our parents have from us (and sometimes that we think our parents have for us, but which are almost entirely our own. I know that really resonated with me and special mention to all of the parents in this show whose actors did a great job) to the discovery of our feelings for others, the confusion surrounding it, the discovery of our sexuality, the internalised homophobia we can feel, the discovery of what we want from life, from others, the pressure to succeed, the stress associated with it, the fear of what others might think about our choices, about who we are, the fear that is so present that you do not even dare to think about it for fear of making it real, the hurt we cause others because we are lost, because we do not want to face our feelings and our fears, because we act without thinking because we think it is the only way.
When I reviewed “Gaya sa Pelikula”, I said that it was making me think about issues I still had surrounding my identity and who I am and what I want today. For “I Told Sunset About You”, I see myself as a teenager in high school at 16 or 17, I see myself in Teh, in his obliviousness, in his fear, in his repression, in so much. There is something about seeing a character being terrified of what he wants and the way the story uses the device of studying for the exam to explore feelings and how characters use it as an excuse too. I will not go into too many details about moments in the story, but the choices made to tell this story, the use of gazes, of colours, of silences, of things said and unsaid (especially unsaid for Teh and his path to being able to use his voice without repressing it because of fear), I would not have enough space to tell everything I want to say. As I said, I relate a lot to Teh, but the other characters also get space to have their stories told. Oh-aew is starting from a different point to Teh, but is no less afraid and stressed about his future. We get discussions on what he wants and his slow realisation of it, like that of Teh, but with significantly more emotional maturity (they all have way more emotional maturity than Teh), the contrast of his character, way more sure of himself and observant than Teh but still so vulnerable, so young.
Both Bas, Oh-aew’s friend, and Tarn, Teh’s friend and the girl he likes at the beginning of the show, who could have got the short end of the stick (as is usually the case for this type of characters) got so much depth from the script and the actors. They got a progression in the story, they grew, they made choices, they were not simply just tools for the main two characters (and it is even addressed in the show, we love to see it). They deserve the world and I sincerely hope they will get it. Hoon, Teh’s brother gets to play in several key scenes, but there is one scene in particular in the last episode that is one of my favourite scenes in the whole show that moved this character from one I quite liked to one I loved. They really exploited both brothers’ relationship and how it affected Teh throughout the show and it is refreshing to see such a well-done relationship.
I am in awe of so many things, of the dialogues, of the moments without dialogues when they let the actors use their eyes and their body to convey emotions and messages, the use of Chinese, of props, the reminders, the objects used once in one way and then reused in completely different way to geta completely different emotions out of us (something that the crew said they did on purpose). Special mention for the use of Instagram in the show which I never seen used so effectively and in a way that made sense for the characters and the stories, but also managed to tell us so much about them (episode 4, if you know, you know).
I could continue for pages and pages, but this has already started to become too long. I am honestly in awe of everything in this show. The actors are fantastic (and did I mention PP and Billkin’s chemistry because it is off the charts!). The story is so well crafted, making us laugh and cry, smile and scream, wonder and worry. The directing is stunning. The job by the crew is wonderful (I once again cannot recommend you enough to watch the documentary that accompanies the series (that underwater scene!!)). The music will make you cry and you will start listening to it on repeat. Everything in this show was wonderfully made. Everyone involved gave their best and it really, really shows! I want this show to make a mark. I want everyone to watch this show. I want it to win awards and be shared abroad. I want to buy posters to put on my wall and DVD to put on my shelf. I want to rewatch it again and again to see all of the things I have missed, all of the symbolism that is peppered throughout the show. I am not sure I would be able to do it straight away because this show is so much and some of the story arcs and scenes left me emotionally devastated, but oh how worth it it was. I cannot recommend you enough this show. Please watch and support it!
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The best series of 2020!
I've been thinking about what to write for this review for a few days and didn't really know where to start...Although my biggest passion is watching tv series and even had a blog for 4 years writing about shows, I haven't really recommended a series since I stopped blog writing 5 years ago.
I've watched over 1,000 tv series in my life and 60-100 Asian tv series in a wide range of genres every year so I have my own standards of what I think is a good show. I've started watching Thai dramas in 2014 but only started watching BLs in 2019. Since I've started watching BLs, I've watched the majority of popular Thai BLs, many Taiwanese BLs and a few Korean ones. I thought I've seen it all and rarely come across a show that I find impressive and really want to recommend everyone. Finding a good series is like finding gems, it's difficult.
ITSAY has always been on my to-watch list but I honestly didn't have any specific expectations going into it, didn't even watch the trailer and forgot that the show has premiered until days later. Even the first episode didn't get me but I was so blown away by the second episode. I have never looked forward to upcoming episodes so much but feel so anxious about where the story will lead to at the same time. I am so happy that I've watched this show. It's such a good feeling to find a series that exceeded my expectations in every single way possible since shows are more often disappointing than not for me.
Labelling ITSAY as a BL is simply just categorising. It's an extremely well produced romantic and coming of age series. It's a masterpiece that everyone should watch. Every scene is well framed and meaningful, every character interaction has a purpose, the acting and chemistry is phenomenal, the cinematography is absolutely stunning, the directing and script is so detailed and full of heart...I can go on forever but I think it's best for viewers to watch the series and experience the feelings of watching an amazing show first hand. I also strongly recommend viewers to watch the documentary as well. Seeing how much effort and dedication the entire staff and crew team put into this production made me appreciate the series even more.
This is my first time writing a review on kisskh (I've always love using this site but created an account just because I want to rate and review this series). I want to do everything I can to promote the show because I think it deserves all the love and recognition and don't want anyone to miss out. If you like watching tv series and appreciate high quality productions like I do, you won't regret watching it!
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This review may contain spoilers
A BL/LGBTQ+ Game-Changer for Thai Dramas
This review is a personal opinion intended to offer readers a perspective about what I thought was amazing about this piece of work. It is not intended to sway anyone in any way. Please watch what you like regardless of what some people may say about a drama, so that you may formulate your own opinion.I wish I could rate this above 10 (though I rated it 9.5 because of Teh's crying and snot face LOL I just couldn't handle that). This was truly an experience that we rarely find in Thai BLs (or a lot of BLs). This to me personally was more than BL, this was a proper LGBTQ+ drama that tackled many issues that young people deal with.
I told sunset about you is a masterpiece that saved 2020 for Thai BLs (LGBTQ+) dramas. Most of us who have spent countless months watching dramas during our quarantine/lock-down, and have eitehr cried, laughed or even been disappointed in many ways. I personally have found that the challenges of COVID-19 forced many creative and talented writers to step up their game and provided us the viewers with amazing stories. Such story is ITSAY.
This coming of age drama offered many great things.
1) Cinematography
2) Character Development
3) Use of Tension and Colors as actual tools that made the story feel relatable
4) Idioms, symbolisim and allegories that propel the characters into difficult adult like situations
5) Sexual Identity crisis, sexual awakening, gender indentity, filial responsibilities
6) Amazing OST (I love love BILLKIN and PP's voices)
Though ITSAY is a relative "short" drama (only 5 episodes) the hour long format did not hinder the progression of the story; rather it made it flourish in a way that other dramas have failed to do so. Simply put, there was more development and real story telling in 5 episodes than most dramas have with 12-13 episodes format [no shade, just facts]
This drama is full of symbolism, allegories (moral condrums) and idioms that perfectly described each character.
Oh-aew was a character decribed as "aimless" who always gave up and had very little interest in things. This characteristic pushed him to give up on school and even on Teh after Teh who was confused about his feelings for Oh-Aew began to withdrawl from him. However, Oh tried to prove Teh wrong and while they were separated during their school years he continued to pursue a life as an actor. Something that made him and Teh "rivals"
Teh was the opposite of Oh-Aew...He was diligent, driven and direct. He was alos obessive, impulsive and surprisingly a very sensitive boy. I'll admit that he annoyed me quite a bit.
There is so much I can go on and on about, but I beleive that this drama is better experienced by YOU watching it and not by YOU reading anyone's review of it.
After watching the subs for Ep 5, I I highly recommend this drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
I Told Sunset About You as the Caliber of BL Genre
https://medium.com/@fritzamido/i-told-sunset-about-you-as-the-caliber-of-bl-genre-7792927b701dI Told Sunset About You — a 2020 Thai romantic drama coming-of-age directed by Boss Naruebet Kuno for Nadao Bangkok. The story revolves around two highschool boys who are figuring out what will be the life ahead of them with their complicated and raw feelings from each other.
I’ve been a huge fan of BL series ever since- from the cliche ones that gives your heart a little nudge to make it flutter to the tragic ones that caused you to shed tears. As different variety of BL series started to make its way in all streaming platforms, I am not going to lie if I will say they all have repetitive plots.
Meanwhile, I Told Sunset About You creates its own flavour that makes it totally different from the rest of the BL series that are existing at date- it hits differently. At first, you’re going to assume it’s just a mere story of two teenagers, from childhood bestfriends, turns into rivals, and became potential lovers but as you get deeper watching the whole episodes, it’s not- it is more than that. It exemplify itself from the rest of indistinguishable narratives of BL genre produced.
It’s a real life story.
Its distinct cinematography and production design gives the viewers a total melancholic conjecture. Its visual details and aesthetics has the same par with Call Me By Your Name; very warm and subtle, also alluring- the way they play with the right color schemes and saturations to equally portray the mood of every scene. It has this… Oscar’s movie quality production set in Phuket. The feeling that the cinematography and camera works gives are immaculate and bewitching.
These factor alone makes the series rise above the mediocre cinematography of all BL series.
The acting of Billkin and PP Krit on the other hand remains phenomenal. They cemented their acting finesse in this series- tough match. Both has a very complex roles yet they managed to deliver every single line very well especially on how they embody their characters into themselves. It doesn’t look like forced nor too rehearsed, it is a perfect example of spontaneity that was well-executed. Most of all, they never had any cringe-acting moments that I always encounter in other BL series as if it’s a part of the acting formula. Theirs was very genuine and natural. They always show the right and raw projection from emotionally charged scenes.
The chemistry between them is undeniably exquisite, very nuanced- from those small gestures, the secret gaze and glances from each other, the restraint desire that was perfectly painted on their faces, the grieving from rejection… that makes both of them a top-notch actors with their effective acting and sensational portrayals.
To make it short, what they feel, you also feel. It transcends into you as if you belong to their world.
And also, commending the portrayals of supporting roles in this series. Their acting are excellent as well, not mediocre and stable enough to deliver what they should deliver on screen. Overall, no screentime was wasted from both main and supporting roles.
When it comes to the story writing and its depth, you can definitely say that it was very well written; brilliant and exceptionally profounding- the dialogues, incorporated by the actor’s excellent acting, will make you feel a lot of emotions in every episode, you name it- happiness, devastation, anguish, confusion… you will be emotionally involved and invested as if you are in a roller coaster ride. Viewers will not going to be spared as it will bequeath everyone with pure emotions firsthand.
The pacing of the story is quintessential- very realistic, not rushed and spot on. You should not miss every single detail on every episode because they are value-added as to how you are going to interpret the story on your own. The color arrangement of the scenes, the color symbol of the main characters- the color blue and red representation, the incorporation of Chinese language and how it was used significantly between Teh and Oh-aew’s relationship, and the seamless symbolism that you can distinguish on every episodes. They were all well-thought and speaks volume perfectly.
There are BL series that also tackles societal issues that is relevant to LGBTQ+ but looks like forced just to fit in the storyline but I Told Sunset About You managed to carry it out perfectly stitched within the entirety of the plot, establishing a mutual connection to certain viewers who can relate either on Teh’s and Oh-aew’s character. It never fails to depict and validates someone’s struggle and make it even more relatable- not exaggerated.
And here lies the spectacular talent of the screenwriter, Goy Arachaporn Pokinpakorn and the director, Boss Naruebet Kuno. They solidified the plot, cinematography, and script to make a pristine masterpiece.
Talking about the sountrack and music scoring- they are all perfectly placed to create the story more appealing, to make it more impactful. It doesn’t overtake the scenes, it is not distracting. It blended with the movements impeccably. There is beautiful thing when they incorporated the Chinese version of Skyline as one of the sountrack and you cannot also deny how the cover song of Billkin and PP Krit added flavor to the soundtrack, making it very personal from their roles.
As you listen to the whole OST, you will realize how pulchritudinous the lyrics of each songs are if you’re going to look for its English translations- totally poetic and written with so much ardor based on the meaninful messages of the songs that gives you a heartrending impression of the series.
Billkin is a great singer as well. He sang two of the sountracks and it tells how well-rounded he is as an artist.
Fan of this series or not, BL enthusiast or just a casual viewer, you can totally say that I Told Sunset About You really made an impression for being a prime and stellar BL at this date. An ensnarling yet beautiful portrayal of teenage love and the strong power of friendship, identity seeking, fragility of someone’s trust and worth, and the manifestation of someone’s dreams and inspiration in a very realistic approach.
Nadao Bangkok as a powerhouse production, outdid themselves and set a new quality standard for BL genre. The fact that I Told Sunset About You has one more finale episode but the first episodes already proven that it has potential to be considered as a brilliant masterpiece. It only has five episodes in total but considering how they successfully laid out the plot on every episodes- without a waste, was masterly polished.
On a personal note, I would definitely give it 10/10 for surpassing my expectations from the very beginning. It is not a perfect series but it is undeniably the best out there- a hard to beat, I must say. It also deserves recognition in any Thai Drama Award Shows and an international acclaim for that matter.
This is a cinematic masterpiece… a caliber for the BL genre and production houses to ameliorate their BL plots and narratives.
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Splendidly done.
This series is top-notch. I won't like to adress it as Thai BL since it definitely has all the qualities to compete with the general Thai series. It feels like a movie divided into parts. The director,crew,cast,music,background,cinematography,the actors ,even their makeup is so minimal that it looks so real,everything is perfect. They haven’t overdone it either. It’s a perfect blend of emotions portrayed in the most beautiful,silent movement and stares. It brings back your childhood ,innocence,first love,dreams,anger,sadness,craziness,laughter,everything in every episode. It’s a part of our own story written to fit into a beautiful cinematography view. Definitely worth the hype and fever among fans.
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This review may contain spoilers
EPIC
This series really exceeded my expectations in any Thai series, BL or otherwise that I happen to watch. Everything in this series is on point. A very grand production - superb cinematography, very tight storytelling and eargasmic musical score woven together to make this drama exceptional. If DBK underwater shot was classic, Oh and Teh underwater scene was epic. The main leads - it is awesome to see such raw emotions, the nuances and the characters they played was so complex and has so many layers to it which BK and PP portrayed to perfection. I had a rollercoaster of emotions watching this show especially Ep4. I anticipated that this series ends on a sad note but it wasn't. And before that beautifully shot ending at Promthep Cape, Ep5 offers a whole lot - that scene of Teh and his brother Hoon, Bas and Oh scene in front of Teh's place, Bas confession to Oh, Teh and Tarn - when the latter gave an artwork as a gift and that Chinese New Year scene with Skyline original score in the background. Overall, this series is one for the books and hopefully the second season will exceed season 1 in terms of production values, storyline and the like. For now, we will have to wait for 11 March 2021.Was this review helpful to you?
If 1st episode was about Rivalry, 2nd was about Jealousy. One can be jealous even in friendship, you know;) Then, we yet continue... Somehow, I didn't even wish for the relationship to progress beyond friendship, at least not the way portrayed. In the end, I would really prefer just the 1st episode as a movie. I would definitely rated it higher. Less is more sometimes.
I'm sorry to say that I found this "Billkin" rather ugly and bad actor. He mostly looks awkard onscreen. The other guy is better, he can convey a lot even without words, also he's more... er, handsome. His MDL profile picture looks like some female actress and for a second, I thought maybe by technical error it really WAS (reminded me of one korean actress). But after I looked closer, I accepted it was really him, just very feminine looking pic. Then, after I watched his music video "PP Krit - I'll Do It How You Like It [Official MV]" I really wished to unsee it in my head. Alek Teeradetch is there with him as a boy, and I always thought HE is girly enough but that's nothing in compare to PP Krit in this. Maybe I would rather prefer him to undergo a surgery and really change, lol. It's somehow scary that guys should evolve into this in the future. The Earth is losing men. Aaanyways:) Back to this show!
By the time I opened episode 4, I was like: Ookay, I liked the 1st epi, and then I gradually liked it all a bit less, and NOW I maybe even would prefer not to watch further? But I did watch further telling myself come on, it's just 2 episodes left... Okay, too much crying, too much drama about exams and personally, I would cheer for Oh-Aew & Bas couple more. Phuket is CHARMING. But what can I do, I can't count it into rating for Story, Acting, Music or Rewatch Value:) Last scene, I was totally mesmerized by the scenery. Only I couldn't really bring myself to care about the two guys in it;)
This even has a sequel I'm not interested to watch, but I like its posters so, I looked at those. And that was enough for me:)
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