The Eclipse

It's my first time soo...

At first i wanna say that this series really got me from watching straight series. I've seen KinnPorsche, Not Me and other great BL series from all time, but after all it was boring already. This is something new, that really mesmerized me.
The plot is just great, that mistery part of this is dragging to hell. You can feel the strange and unusual vibe in trailer too.(but I'llrecommend you, to watch pilot trailer first, then watch teaser and finally watch series.(This helps a lot)).
Cast.. cast is just THE IDEALIEST. you can never find something better. Both Khaotung and First aren't just good-looking. Their visuals are the thing that will make you, never forget them, ever again. You probably have seen Not Me, or Tonhon Chonlatee. First has played YOK in Not Me series and Khaotung has played role of CHONLATEE in Tonhon Chonlatee. Their roles are soo memorablee. First has almost the same role like in Not Me. But Khaotung's role is fully opposite from what he had played. He played cute guy who fell in love with his neighbour but he couldn't ask him out. But in the ECLIPSE... He is craziest playboy. Ayan(Khao) hit's on Akk(First) NONSTOPPPP. But you have to see their sweet moments for yourself. I won't spoil.
Just can't hide my obsession about their love story and 😭CHEMISTRYY😭, which will make you fly to the moon and back.
Good luck, hope this helps.
Thank you for your attention 💕

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Insane

This was absolutely wonderful
I loved how they represented queerness and internalised homophobia. And coming out and really this was so well done.
My only critic is how they handled a specific character towards the end, I think it made absolutely no sense at all.
But the rest? SO GOOD
We need more shows like these!! Touching on serious subjects, I found it did something like Not Me, it criticised the social classes and capitalist society in a very good way. It condemned the use of social power against weaker people. And I always love a social activist series.

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What was the ending

Really it was the ending that let the whole drama down
Whoever picks the actors thank you. You picked the right people as first and Khoa portrayed their characters wholesomely there were times I was picking
The story for me was so relatable as I fit in the age group and it illustrated barriers we teenagers face in our day-to-day life because of all the pressure and expectations that are heaped upon us not realising we are breaking down
Akk( first) was my favorite as I feel like he has the most character development and learns a few things from Ayan ( khoa)

Unfortunately, they got let off which I believed wouldn't have been the case in real life, and felt like they needed a consequence to learn how actions affect others

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This was a great watch for me! But there are some flaws.

(This is my first review ever so don't mind my mistakes. Review is spoilers free until a spoilers warning below)

I came in with no expectations, didnt watch the trailers or hear anything about the show so maybe that's why my perception is a bit different.

General review (no spoilers yet) :
This was my first time watching a First Khaotung series and this was such a fantastic watch BL wise! Despite some of the cliches happening, i genuinely love their chemistry as Akk and Ayan and their enemies to lovers vibes. The dynamic between those two was really fun. The serious prefect vs the rebel and the teasing from Ayan was absolutely my fav part of the show! However, outside of the BL, the plot itself admittedly was a bit bareboned.

All of the actors did well though! The main and supporting cast felt very believable in every scene. The writing was... Okay but not the worst! The cinematography was amazing! The plot, despite it all, feels very original and refreshing compared to the usual high school/university plot.

Plot wise
If you're looking for a serious show that tackles deep subjects, this might not be the most accurate show you're looking for. Yes, there were some serious moments and it does tackles deep things like homophobia, sexuality, insecurity, depression, the fear of coming out, etc. But for me, while some parts do hit my heart, a lot of it feels a bit...lacking? Like it only speaks the surface of the issue and didnt deep dive into it.

However!! Despite the ridiculous reason of the protest, i do think the story did well in showing how school and the education system really suppressed a student's ability to speak for themselves and their identity by trying to control everyone. And in cases like this, the fault tends to be from the people in charge (the adults). And from those adults, it can influence teens to do bad things when pressured.

The plot itself felt Akk focused (which don't get me wrong, i feel the most for Akk through this series) but i feel like Ayan felt romance focused while Akk is story focused. Ayan's investigation for his uncle's death feels like it gradually became not important as each episodes go by and instead the story focused on the Suppalo Curse and the 3 main protestors.

I do genuinely enjoy watching episode 1-10 but episode 11 and a little bit of 12 was really dissapointing for me. It felt like the show was reaching it's climax only for the climax to be very anticlimactic and nonsensical with barely any consequences.

HOWEVER

< SPOILERS WARNING >

. . . . . . . . . . . .

MORE DETAILED REVIEW

THINGS I DO LIKE :
• Like i said above, the push and pull dynamic of Akk Ayan i really do love. Love the name callings too (Bigfoot and Shortstop). I feel very fond whenever these two are in scene.

• Akk's hesitant to admit that he likes Ayan (or that he likes men in general) because of societal pressure and Ayan supporting him throughout.

• Showcase that people actually do bully people who are gay in school. I've seen so many dramas where everyone just magically accepts things and let me tell you, as a person who graduated from a deeply Christian highschool, i deeply feel for Thua's character and even Kan's character felt very realistic to me because it really is hard to admit you like guys (moreover getting a boyfriend) when you clearly see how much society won't accept you if you do.

• The protest was turning a bit into a protest of identity and sexuality instead of just school uniform.

• Teacher Sani trying her best. Also showcase a good teacher like Sani and Dika could impact a student (Wat and Akk)

• I actually did quite like that Akk was revealed to be the curse. It adds depth to his character and i enjoyed him realizing his actions and the guilt he felt. First really did well portraying his character there.

• I like how Ayan also reacts really well and gave Akk a chance to admit the truth himself to everyone (though it wasn't possible in the end).

• The cinematography for some scene were so freaking beautiful man. I showed my friend a lot of scenes because of how pretty they are (I really love the eclipse kiss, the underwater kiss, the scene after Ayan caught Akk almost burning the items, the ep 12 scene when they woke up w the sunlight, the judo scene and a lot of scenes from when they were in Akk's family house)

• "you're allowed to be weak, at least with me" Ugh my heart, i love love love how supportive Akk and Ayan is towards each other. Love it when Ayan broke down beside Akk.

• Akk's self hatred after he realized the extent of his actions was really good.

• Kan Thua was pretty cute too (despite me not being the biggest fan of Thua).

• Love Kan's character development from being scared of being associated with Thua to proudly claiming that he's his boyfriend. It takes real bravery to do that and it's touching.

• THE PARENTS ARE SO NICE. I love Ayan's mom, wished they talk about how hard it is as a single mother but she does her best :c

She's really supportive of Ayan!

Akk's parents are so nice as well!

• I also love how Ayan can freely say that he's into Akk. Completely opposite of Akk.

• The overall chill and non stress feeling i feel watching this show (until ep 10 at least).

• The BTS after Ep 12 ended omlll. Cracked a lot of smiles for me :)

THINGS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN IMPROVED :

• School uniform and phones are ridiculous reasons for a protest. I almost laughed considering i actually do love wearing my school uniform back then and phones not being allowed is just normal anywhere. They should have started with a protest about identity and sexuality instead

• Episode 11. Period. Thua was such a hypocrite for hating Akk's actions then proceed to do the same and exposing Akk (and outing him and Ayan to the school that he knows damn well is quite homophobic).

• Lack of foreshadowing. It feels like the Thua thing and the Dika - Chadok thing in Ep 11 feels a bit out of nowhere.

Yes, we're aware that Thua is going to protests and stuff but this escalation is still too far. Not to mention, since when is he a defender of truth? I'm going to assume the thing that Ayan whispered to Thua that Thua said he couldn't tell anyone might be about the curse but it doesn't make sense for Thua to suddenly change his mind and exposed everything.

• For Dika Chadok, yes they're cute. Yes, they're sad. But I hate the fact that suddenly after that, the show never talk about how Chadok was mainly to blame (and the principal ig) for Akk's actions (and to some degree, Thua's actions too).

He pressured a high schooler to do whatever it takes to stop a protest thats clearly out of his abilities!! If a teacher couldn't stop the damn protest, why would Akk be able to? It was very selfish and reckless for him. So it doesn't make sense why suddenly his role becomes sympathetic (And him, Akk and Ayan even met again in Ep 12).

Did Ayan forget that Chadok is the reason why his bf is the most pressured kid in that school? Or how Chadok manipulates Akk by dangling the scholarship that he knows Akk clearly needs.

• Talking about that, what happened to the scholarship? The show made it seem so important for Akk since he's not coming from a privileged background but then, they never bring it up. Especially with the suspension in the end, i had hoped it would be a topic they would discuss but they just forget about it. Oop.

• Lack of consequences for Thua's actions.

I don't believe we can put Akk and Thua in the same box because Akk did what he did from the pressure of Chadok (and it's clearly implied that every prefect leader had to be the curse at some point so clearly the pressure was well maintained) and also the pressure of being as good of a prefect leader as the previous leader.

However, Thua had no such pressure. Yes he was bullied and shunned but he literally just got into a relationship with Kan, who would do anything for him. I get that he really felt deeply for the juniors who protested but there was no indication that his feelings had gone to the extreme. I feel if there was more of showcasing of his extreme sides, this action would have made more sense (and would even be a good twist)

Moreover, when revealed, Thua didn't look guilty at all (at least towards Kan, yknow, the guy he's probably crushing for a looong time). After they had a talk, he still didnt look guilty!

Akk at least had a whole arc over how guilty he is (and is still is) but Thua had none!

Despite what he did, he was accepted into the friendship like he did nothing. Admittedly, i loved Thua's character until that moment. After that, i just couldn't like him.

• Like i said above too, this felt very Akk centric story compared to Ayan in the end.

• I felt like Ayan's grief didn't hit during Chadok's story. Idk, i feel like he should have asked more or be more angry, etc. Instead, it feels like the show is taking an easy way out idk.

• I feel like they crammed too much in Ep 11 that the impact doesnt feel as much so the resolution doesn't feel earned. Would be ideal if they added 2-4 episodes to explore what had happened instead of glossing it.

Not sure if there's more but that's it!! Might edit if i can think of more.

OVERALL

Would i recommend? Hell yes!!!

Just maybe... Turn off your brain a little hehe. I promise the Akk Ayan moments IS WORTH IT and some parts did made me tear up.

Think of this more as a romcom with little comedy instead :D

DESPITE IT ALL, I REALLY LOVE THE SHOW. So take my review with a grain of salt as everyone's standards, expectations and wishes are different!

If you're reading, ty~ Take care, I'm out.

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Who okay-ed this storyline?

The drama had so much potential with the vibe they were going for and the skills of the main leads but the plot was a very big question mark.

Writing

The main conflict and the writing of the show was so underwhelming, that I honestly questioned "who the hell said this was good enough?". It was honestly one of the most stupid and lack-lustre conflicts to ever be made. With how they were directing the mood of the show, I was expecting them to make this more mysterious and darker instead they made it... rainbow? While forcing the dark, that really was not dark at all. Even the writing for the more simpler scenes that concentrate more on the relationship of the main characters, Akk and Ayan, was very bland and felt extremely forced (luckily their chemistry was able to save majority of the scenes). In the first few episodes, Akk and Ayan kept meeting the same exact way, they kept reusing so much of the writing, that their conversations were just going in circles the whole entire first 3 episodes. I really do not know what the writers wanted to say through this drama.

Acting/Cast

First and Khaotung had great chemistry in this drama, I think these two are fairly good actors and could've had a lot to show with the type of genre this drama was promoting. But I feel like the writing of this drama was so bad, that all the actors could do was just show a different kind of personality rather than a whole character. Like seeing Khaotung act so straightforward and brave compared to his other characters in other dramas, is fairly amusing.

Music

The music was forgettable. I don't remember any particular music piece or song in the drama.

Re-watch value

Would I re-watch this drama? Maybe, but only the main couple scenes before they officially got together. Everything else is not really worth watching and I do not want to see the character I want to punch in the face.

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A successful metaphorical ode to freedom

Let there be no mistake: reducing the scenario to the curse of an eclipse and teenage love stories would be a mistake. What is dealt with here is the right to freedom, whatever it may be, especially individual freedom. Why follow rules if they do not bring anything good? Why accept things that are bad for you? The different protest movements are all shown in a non-violent light, which makes them even more relevant. These topics were already covered in NOT ME, and it is nice to see that people are engaging with these issues in places where it is not necessarily easy to express one's personal opinion. Bravo to them!

Another interesting point to raise is the way homosexuality is dealt with. For once, we have an ordinary man who comes out, whereas usually, men who have a relationship with a man define themselves by "I'm not gay but". It's not pansexual, it's just that they refuse to admit that a manly man can be homosexual, which is somehow homophobic. Here, nothing of the sort, and the subject is assumed. And on top of that, we are portrayed with parents who can handle the situation.

The acting, finally, is very good. Khao had managed to give consistency to his character in TONHON CHONLATEE, which was a real feat given the complete failure of this series. Neo and Louis had almost saved FISH UPON THE SKY from the slump in which this series was. And AJ is still doing very well in his supporting roles - we are waiting for his main role, he deserves it. So, no surprise that the acting is great.

In summary, this series is a successful and necessary ode to freedom in these times when it is regressing all over the world.

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The BL part was great but not the story related to the title

The title refers to a supposed curse in a school that misfortune would befall students who break the school's strict rules. The effects of the curse are rumored to be especially powerful during a solar eclipse. Is there a supernatural element here or is there a sinister human hand behind the scenes? This premise is so intriguing, but it ends up being the weakest part of the story. I would have appreciated a nice story about some sinister person controlling the mysterious events behind the scenes, perhaps in the fashion of The Gifted. In fact, the series did give me The Gifted vibes at the start--imagine how nice it would be to have something like The Gifted with a BL plot.

Unfortunately, the story about the curse fizzles out. First, you sense something amiss when there is barely any real development with regard to the curse for many episodes despite the frequent allusions to it. It quickly becomes clear that this isn't a supernatural drama (which is fine) and that there are human forces behind the misfortunes that befall misbehaving students (which is also fine). Unfortunately, the writers seem hesitant about developing the plot with regard to the curse.

Ultimately, the rumors about the curse are merely an excuse for the BL story. Yet, do we need an excuse for the BL story? The story of the main couple, the head prefect of the school and a seemingly rebellious student who defies the rules of the school, is fine. The part about the curse makes the story seem original at first, but it fails to deliver. The writers have done a pretty good job developing the main characters, and the effort spent on the virtually meaningless part about the curse could have been spent on the characters' backgrounds and personal struggles instead. For instance, Thuaphu (one half of the second BL couple) is an interesting character who is unfortunately underdeveloped. His relationship with his stepfather seems interesting and could have been given more attention. Really, we don't need a premise like a curse. The students' struggles with the school authorities could simply be there without some reference to a curse.

To make matters worse, it is rather laughable that the school, despite being supposedly an institution with archaic, oppressive rules that are strictly enforced, frequently has a few students protesting about its rules. And the protestors do not get into serious trouble with the school authorities. So much for being an oppressive environment that emphasizes discipline in a way that is out of sync with the contemporary world.

As a mystery, the story does come with at least one red herring and a couple of twists. But it is a little too late and too ineffectively delivered. In fact, I wish that the red herring had not been a red herring. It involves a student who aspires to be a prefect--the story could have been more interesting if he had been the one behind the apparent fulfillment of the curse.

Despite the disappointing plot about the curse, the BL parts are nicely done. They may not be really original, but they are better than the average set-in-a-high-school BL. The personalities of five of the main characters (the two couples and one of their friends who is interested in film) are nicely developed and distinguished. If only there had been a stronger story holding everything together.

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Easy binge, suspension of disbelief required

I felt like it had a bit of a slow start, but once I got into it I was really invested.

The plot is pretty solid, especially if you know a bit of background on the political climate in Thailand around protests and authoritarian rule.
The twists and turns are also well executed.
I do think some of the characters motivations are a little bit unrealistic. Some of the writing decisions really had me scratching my head a bit. Probably my biggest question was around Akk and why he needed so desperately to succeed? It felt like he needed some stakes or external pressure outside of the teachers to influence his actions.

The acting is good and the chemistry is there between the mains. The side couple could use a little work, they felt a little uncomfortable with each other despite starring together in other dramas. The leads did a really great job expressing their emotions, especially in high emotion scenes—which is a testament to their acting. I was especially fascinated by Akk, I’ve seen him in other dramas but he really shined in this role. He has a charm about him that is lowkey mesmerizing? Especially when he smiles lol

Anyway, production budget was definitely low but I think they made the best with what they had. Audio is a little wonky at times but I’ve definitely heard worse loool. They probably could have cut a couple episodes, and made the show a little more tight.

I would recommend, a must watch BL

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It's REALLY REALLY beautiful, but something was missing...?

I only do light and brand spoilers, ok?!

The Eclipse it's A THING. I really need to tell yall about point by point bcs is a really complicated series.

It's one of the best actings that I watched in thai BLs. I already was familiar with Khaotung and his sweet eyes but seeing him in a cool and confident character was so different, in a very good way, bcs it's exactly what Ayan was: a cool and "confident" character but he was also sweet, his words and actions made me fall in love with him. He is a teenager that suffered a lot and that explains his actions, he was also STILL in mourning and that is really important when we analyze him. About First (Akk), I totally understand why he was chosen for this character. First has such sweet eyes and a smile that you NEVER will tell that he made bad choices, you always are driven to trust in him. That's exactly why he was chosen to do Yok (Not Me) too, in my opinion.

But, I really have to agree with other reviews, the story it's a little... It's definitely not bad or badly written but something it's cleary missing?? Idk what exactly was lost but something definitely was. In the end, makes sense, they are teenagers, and they ARE lost.

Anyways: I love them. I love the way that was made, but when I finished I was like... uhmm? That's it? What?

BUTTT we have an Our Skyy of The Eclipse and maybe that was planned so maybe my answers will be at the special?

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I understand why other people love this and I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it...

My big issue with this series was that the macro political issues being put in the micro environment of the school just didn't fit for me - on paper I love the idea, but personally I felt it didn't work in this series. Some of the eclipse "stunts" seemed almost comedic to me when they were supposed to be metaphors for extremely serious real world issues. So that is such a large part of the plot that I didn't connect with emotionally.
That being said I did really like so many things in this series:
it was visually stunning - the locations- BEAUTIFUL! (Also I think the first gmmtv bl where in every single beach scene the audio was perfect!)
This cast was amazing! Khaotung has been one of my gmmtv faves since 2018 and First has also become one in the last 2 years. My favourite moments in this series were Akk and Aye just being goofy and flirty - I'd love to see First and Khao do something with more comedy, because First is so talented comedically and I'd like to see them being cute and coupley again, but older - maybe in university or an office. Neo has also been an actor that has grown so much since I first saw him in 'Cause Youre My Boy' in 2018 - every drama he gets better and better - give him his leading role already GMMTV! Louis fit very well in this role - but I did have a HUGE problem with him outing a fellow member of the lgbt community to the entire school before he was ready - that makes me immediately dislike a character - so I left the series a Thua hater (oops)
Overall I enjoyed this, its not one of my top 10 BLs of the year, or my favourite gmmtv BL of the year, but that's because its been a year of incredible BLs and because the metaphor of the plot didn't work for me personally - I am very excited to see how this cast fits into gmmtvs 2023 plan - I have so many 2023 predictions!!!

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