We Are

We Are Family

We Are is everything I typically don't like in dramas. It lacks direction and plot, the characters aren't anything special, the acting is mixed, and the list goes on. But I adored every second of it. It's not deep, it's not angsty, it's not one of those dramas that you're going to walk away from rethinking your life, it's just 16 episodes of pure wholesome love and friendship.

I'm going to say it again, there is no plot here and while normally that would drive me mad, it works for We Are. It's not breaking the mold when it comes to the story, we're back in the typical college BL setting that we can never seem to get away from. The Fine Arts major is a little more original though I have mixed feelings on how it was incorporated, mostly in that I don't think any Fine Arts student worth their salt would be walking around with a completed painting unprotected like Peem was in that first episode, but what would I know, I'm not a Fine Arts student. I just know that I wouldn't, but I'm also slightly OCD and a chronic overthinker and just watching him gave me anxiety. There is no major conflict or villain to shake things up. The few issues that do come up are dealt with quite quickly and neatly. The pacing could have been better, it definitely lags in the middle and towards the end. Considering the lack of plot, I think it could have been condensed into 12 episodes, but I also think, given the number of characters and side romances, some of their stories could have been better drawn out and the whole thing in general just made more organized and cohesive.

The key to We Are is the friendship between the characters and how even as they pair off, that friendship remains and their group just continues to grow. They are all, with the exception of Fang and Beer, a bunch of dorks. Adorable, sweet, idiotic dorks. You simply cannot help but to love them. Their unwavering support of each other is endearing and their "plans" are absurd and painful to watch but also entertaining in all their trainwreck glory. They mean well. And while it is mostly fun and games, there are a few moments where they have genuine heart to heart conversations, usually between Phum and Beer or Peem and Q as they try to work out their feelings. They serve as a nice break from the chaos and to solidify those particular friendships.

The chemistry between the actors is a large part of what made We Are such a success. They played off of each other so well that it was fully believable they were the best of friends. But while the buddy chemistry was off the charts, the romantic chemistry was definitely lacking between some couples. Pond/Phuwin and Winny/Satang seemed uncomfortable/awkward during their more intimate moments and while being hesitant or awkward during a first kiss is normal, it's not every time afterward. Aou and Boom on the other hand ate that up. Acting in general was mixed. Pond and Phuwin have both improved since Never Let Me Go, but while both are very talented in other regards, neither has ever struck me as particularly talented when it comes to acting unfortunately. Marc was also pretty lackluster and really didn't seem to be putting out much effort. Satang impressed me in a big way. He was so adorable as Toey and brought that perfect mix of cute and mischievous. So talented! Aou has blown me away in every role he's played and I'm so glad he finally got a lead role. He absolutely killed it! He was so annoyingly cute as Tan. He and Boom act so well together and are both so talented. I really want them to get their own series. They deserve it.

I really enjoyed the music for this series, both the opening and closing songs and each couple's theme song. I do think they got over played a bit as per usual, but I liked them enough that it was slightly less annoying than it might have been. There were aspects of the cinematography that I really liked, shots like in Episode 15 where Q is framing Toey's face with his fingers. I do think they could have found ways to incorporate their art more, but I can also see how that might have been a challenge.

I went into this series with no expectations of liking it, half expecting to drop it, and it's now currently sitting in my GMMTV shopping cart as I seriously consider buying it. It's not deep, it's not profound, but I think it speaks to the kind of friendships some of us may have and many of us wish we had. While We Are may present itself as a rom-com, it's the friendships that make it and leave an impression.

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Wholesome tiring

I think what I said was enough to summarize my opinion of this series. And truth be told, I liked We Are, but as with everything, there are moments and things that could have been much better. Let's break down everything that makes up this series. 🤸‍♂️

Let’s start with the negative aspects. How do I begin? We Are is wholesome. Completely. However, I personally think they overused these kinds of moments, to the point where they lost the meaning they should have had, making it somewhat boring or tiring to watch. 😓 I would understand it since I know there are three books that deeply explore friendship. However, adding all these settled moments into a 16-episode series is somewhat overwhelming.

That being said, let’s talk a little about the characters. I’m not a fan of GMMTV, though I do know their actors, so you can be sure that my opinion is completely unbiased.

The characters are... human. They are cute, but (speaking of the protagonists) we don’t get to know them very deeply, and I bet many people couldn’t emotionally connect with them—especially with Phum. I liked that they included the issue with his relationship with his father. However, I never fully understood the problem, and even though I just finished it 2 or 3 days ago, I no longer have a clear idea of what had affected their father-son relationship. It would have been so great if they had been able to delve deeper into what abandonment trauma really is.

Let’s change the topic again—this is something very small, but I think it’s worth mentioning. The overuse of some couples' OSTs. 😂 I know they have their own song, but every now and then, play a different one, I don’t know.

I think those are all my negative points, which were what I wanted to focus on the most. Now, let’s talk about the couples briefly because I don’t have much to say.

I liked all four couples—sweet, good chemistry, great. The protagonists did well. There were moments when I didn’t quite believe it, but there were also moments when I felt really immersed. Personally, I thought this was their first time working together, and I was surprised to find out it wasn’t. Anyway, their moments didn’t feel irritating to me—rather, they were cute, and I liked the chemistry between the characters.

Now let’s talk about something I’ve been really looking forward to—Q and Toey. How do I put it? At some point, both characters felt irritating to me. Their relationship was cute, and I absolutely LOVED their OST, but I found their moments... uh, a bit overdone, always ending with Toey sticking out his tongue or running out of the frame with Q chasing after him. Am I wrong?

Anyway, I have to acknowledge something: Satang. I don’t know if Toey’s character was meant to be annoying at times, but if that was the case, Satang pulled it off effortlessly. And once I watched some behind-the-scenes footage of the series and realized how different the actor is from the character he was playing, I was pretty surprised because he portrayed Toey so well. He totally got me.

Let’s talk about the third couple—and for some reason, my favorite. Didn’t they have us all hooked? Those two have overwhelming chemistry from their very first appearance in the series.

Although I felt their relationship developed too quickly (in the novel, I think We Are started when they were already together, so I see it as a bad decision from the director to add that beginning—WTF), everything went smoothly for them afterward. They know how to create an atmosphere of tension just as well as they know how to build a sweet, tender one. I love them. And we saw how they showed love to each other without feeling uncomfortable, embarrassed, or shy—unlike all the other couples. Well done to both of them—they completely stole the spotlight.

Regarding the fourth couple, I don’t have much to say. They weren’t really necessary—cute, maybe. Their relationship built up little by little until everything exploded at the end. They also gave us some funny moments, though I didn’t feel much chemistry between them. But they were sweet.

Finally, We Are... I would probably watch it again. Not all the episodes, but certain moments and some episodes—probably yes. As I said, We Are has that feeling of comfort and tranquility that few other series have achieved, and I understand if some people consider it their favorite. Not because of technical aspects, acting, or anything like that, but because of the warm vibes it gives. The series’ aesthetics are minimalist and pleasing to the eye, the OST is quite good (I’ll probably listen to it again at some point), and the plot, while not groundbreaking, can be entertaining, funny, and soothing. If you haven’t watched it yet, I recommend giving it a try so you can form your own opinion and enjoy a good time filled with friendship, love, wholesome moments, and—did I mention friendship?

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Great show to watch if you're feeling sad and moody

I guess we can collectively agree that this show has zero srtoryline. It is a feelgood show about kids falling in love.
You should watch if you love to see pretty boys making googly eyes at each other. They did a good job drawing the characters.

Tan is the extroverted overeager boy in love with a boy who is quiet in streets and beast in sheets.
Toey has an aloof partner who is actually not so aloof and can be jealous .
Phum Peem are enemies to lovers.
Chain and Pun well... bless these two so in love but can't speak it out of fear boys.

It is a heartwarming show - Pond does his acting with his eyes and lips and he does not fail at all making both Peem's and our hearts flutter.

AouBoom deserves their own show.

Poon - my boy- I saw his acting on Shadow and he was phenomenal. Appreantly, Poon has been invited to GMMTV by P'Aof so we agree that he's a star material. Also, his eyes when he looks at Chain? Pond has now a rival while acting with his eyes. Because Poon is amazing. I liked Pawin and Marc's pair but MarcPoon too looks very good.

Toey did a great job acting as the youngest on whom everyone dotes on. Winny's acting may look forced sometimes but after watching some of his videos, I realised he was just acting like himself. A little moody, a little aloof, sometimes thinking a lot.

The songs were interesting, everyone got their own vibes shown through their own OSTs.

It's a good show that you can watch and rewatch when you're feel sad, moody or feeling like watching a low stake romance.
Quite nice.

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way too long for what it is

really enjoyable, but way too long. i really enjoyed watching them growing and evolving through the story, but 16 episodes ? most of it could've been solved within 10 episodes. well, at least it was funny ! JJ never disappoints, comedy was on point, wish i could say the same about storyline and romance. sometimes, it felt like the writers were lacking ideas, but that they had no choice but to take up elements already introduced in the story in order to hold the 16 episodes. anyways, would recommend it if you're looking for something chill, funny, cute (aou/boom served). it's also "promoting" great and healthy friendship, the kind of topic i adore ;).

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Ordinary yet special

It is your typical RomCom, a standard plot with no real twist, and with lots of bland characters. However, I ended up rewatching this one a LOT!

The show is filled with cute and heartwarming moments. Think of this show as something to turn on on repeat to lighten up your heavy days.

I know a lot of people complains about the bland characters, but I view this as a design choice by the director. With so many character to manage, a clean and clear character design is probably the easy but effective way out for the series that aims to be light-hearted. Lets face it. If you are a BL fan, you would probably have seen Satang, Pond, Phuwin, and Winny on more serious roles than this.

I also love the fact that all pairs have their own song that basically sum up their plot points... well, except Peem Poom perhaps - that OST seems to be more of a show off of Phuwin's singing skill.

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We Are all about the feels

Craving a high-octane drama? Look elsewhere
High points:
* Heartwarming and Refreshing: "We Are" offers a heartwarming and refreshing take on love and friendship, with relatable characters and strong bonds.
* Simple Yet Engaging Storyline: While the narrative steers clear of intense drama, it remains captivating throughout.
* Healthy Romance: The romance is sweet and wholesome, with plenty of heart-fluttering moments.
* Humor and Music: The show's humor is on point, and the soundtrack, especially "Truth in the eyes" by PondPhuwin is catchy and enjoyable.
* Breaks BL Drama Clichés: It avoids the tired trope of a breakup in the 11th episode.
* AouBoom (Teeraaakkkk) and WinnySatang

Low points:
* Inconsistent Kisses: While some kisses are passionate, others fall flat.
* Uneven Acting: The acting from some cast members is not entirely convincing (iykyk)
* Pacing: The pacing is uneven, starting slow, then speeding up, then slowing down again before picking up the pace towards the end.
* Overused Tropes: The series relies on some cliché tropes that could have been avoided, such as unnecessary misunderstandings and the main lead bullying the love interest.
* Main Couple Focus: The main couple's back-and-forth takes up more screen time than the development of the side couples.

Overall:
"We Are" embraces a lighthearted and charming approach without intending to be groundbreaking. It thrives on relatable characters, positive friendships, and a sweet romance, making it the perfect pick-me-up for viewers seeking a feel-good escape. TanFang's scenes are a guaranteed rewatch material for me :)

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Q carries this

The time for my first review has come because..what did I just watch? Let's deconstruct this, one category at a time.

STORY
Where? What story? I suppose you can argue it's a university slice-of-life type of show, that follows this wacky friend group and their shenanigans, but overall the story is flimsy and barely there. There's a lot of pairings too, which might mean you'll end up skipping a lot if you're not invested into a particular couple, as this is an ensemble cast and they all get equal screen time, more or less. Anyways, the catalyst for our main pairing spending time together, the moment of falling in love if you will, is a swift kick to the balls. Beautiful, be still my heart. Hilarious.

ACTING
I meaaaaan...I stand by the title. For me, Q's character carried this. The way they wrote his character was pretty fresh and unusual for the genre and the actor who played him did a great job. My guy is the chillest, most laid back dude, with humour and straight face delivery in spades. The rest of the cast was...fine? Passable? Nothing to write home about, basically.

CHARACTERS
Listen, listen..I get it, I do. If you're like me, you probably found it ridiculous that Peem fell for Phum during the slave contract thing because..who does that, right? Then again, Phum was nothing but nice to him lol. My guy got fed, walked around the mall, driven home and taken care of after a night of drunken debauchery. Yeh, he had to do a thing here and there, but I feel like they clearly wrote all of their earlier scenes from a very indulgent perspective, where the things Phum does to him are very mild and forgivable and come from a place of "I like you, but I'm 5 so I'll pull your pigtails on the playground". Anyways, my problems lie with Peem, really, because...tease much? I'm sorry, in real life, I'd hate Peem with a passion.
Whether the character was written to be allergic to affection or that's how Phuwin decided to play him, it was frustrating to watch. It was like every single thing Phum did to show him he cared, Peem was like.."brother, ew". But supposedly, he liked him back. Their dynamic was weird to me - Peem would forget Phum existed the second they weren't sharing a scene.
I liked Tan and Khaofang's relationship better. Is Tan over the top, clingy and would be uber annoying in real life? Yes, but they were cute together, it worked for me.

SKINSHIP
I'm firmly of the belief that if you can't do it right and make it believable, you might as well skip it. The kissing was giving *nothing*. For the love of god, what is up with the cheek kissing too? If I had to see one more lips firmly pressed together cheek kiss, I'd have started writing my thesis on why puckering is important.
LE: I am an ignoramus and just found out about sniff kissing and its significance. Won't delete this as others may have the same reaction as I did so ..passing the knowledge forward. It's a cultural thing and a sign of affection.
I've seen other shows that depict relationships and use zero skinship, but make the affection and intimacy look so incredibly believable that you feel like you're intruding when they're in the same room in a scene - here's looking at you, 180 degrees. My point being, if you don't want to do it, just don't. Find different ways of showing the same thing, swapping spit ain't the only action in this world that hints to attraction.

Overall, this was..not the hyped up series I expected, very mid. But if you must watch it, do it for the pretty believable depiction of a tight group of friends in college.

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If you are looking for found family genre with comedy, this is for you.

This is one of best cute bl show. i really really liked how the writer and we are team portrayed every emotion + relationship (friendship, lovers, brotherhood) in this series. Watch it guys, you wont regret it. but dont expect a plot or something story. it does not have that, its just full of friends having fun, taking care of each other, having bbq parties, being cupid for others and love.
Spoiler Alert(?): I really liked the friendship between Q and Peem. they were always and almost there for each other. Q would act like tsundere but when peem needed him he would always be there. same goes for Peem, he might act like he's done with Q but the moment he noticed Q is going through something he eould be there to comfort his bestfriend.
pondphuwin - Ngl but i really liked pondphuwin acting in this one. i dont understand why others are hating their acting but to me it was good. and damn phuwin is so handsome, really liked his visual in this one. at first i did disliked ponds character for that mall prank but once i saw how he apologized and felt guilty i felt it was ok. their chemistry was also good in this one.
FanTang/AouBoom - do i even have to say anything? we all know how good of an actor they both are. they nailed their every scene, from micro to mini expressions ، everything was on point. Fan type of boyfriend i think every girls wish for, atleast i do. the attention to detail when it came to tang and his needs, like boy was down bad for teerak and he made sure everyone knew it. I really wish there was a jealous scene, i really wanted to see fang jealous, like serious type of jealous. and i wish the writers focued more on how fang was also dealimg with his childhood traumas caused by father and family high standards and expections. i do understand fans saying that fang was not that inlove and involved in rltnship as tan was but looking from his perspective, fang father and his family never allowed their 2nd son to express his thoughts and emotions and on top of that at a young age he had to be a father+brother figure to ponds character which made him shut himself down as the older brother shown to be abroad or somewhere else and we could also see ponds character seemed more comfortable and expressive with fang. yeah we never really saw him communicate and express his feelings but he was also there for tan and he did love tan as at last episodes we can see how he was possessive of tans gift (purse), wouldnt allow anyone to touch even accidentally. he never knew how to cook but learned how to cook spaghetti because it was tans favorite. he was more of a acts of service guy.
FangToeyPun - these three trio, it was so funny when fang would scold toey and pun and both wouldnt dare to even breathe loudly infront of him😂.
QToey - i used to be satangwinny but now for me its winnysatang. we got to see Winnys serious and tsundere character at first but the moment he started liking toey he became less tsundere. like the type whos grumpy for others but not when it comes to his sunshine. they portrayed grumpy x sunshine character so well.
chainpun - throughout the series progress i was rooting fo chain. my boy went through so much for pun to notice his feelings and i think for him it was worth at the end kiss😂. Tun was being cupid for almost every couple except his. my boy was so busy making sure every ship sailed he didnt even realize he himself was not making his own ship sailed😂.
Beer - my beer was tired and done with every couple bullshit. in almost every crime scene he was there to witness it😂. i also liked the friendship between him and phum. being there for phum and giving him advices.
I would say to viewers dont listen to others and just watch it. it has got that found family feels, comedy, romance, little bit of bromance, fluff, so much fluff, little bit of angst, jealousy, brotherhood, friendship forever feels. In the era of intense emotions bls, this is one of the best lighthearted bls, no extreme and over dramas, just pure fluff and flufffff.

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