23.5

This is a really cute story between two characters Sun and Ongsa. I wish I had this story growing up in high school. There were some plotholes in the story throughout the Ongsa's classmates with each other and how they tried to help her get with Sun and while they were in the relationship. However, I realized the plot holes were made to make the series a comedy. Some characters are made to make bad decisions and not realize it since they are teenagers. Ton was really annoying though throughout the show. The production design is very cool, making the show come to life between these classmates and teachers. It really has nice representation for autism (I'm mildly autistic irl), trans, and gay people.

I would have liked the series more if it was longer and if there were more interactions between Sun, Ongsa, and its recurring characters. The longer it was, the more developed these characters were, but this isn't like the series Home School with two main conflicts the characters had to deal with when really it was just two main characters (Ongsa and Sun) trying to figure things out for each other. Also, Sun feels like she has lots of screentime, but loses its value as they show too many couples trying to get together at the same time, it distracts the storyline. While it is cute and feels like MLM and other couple dynamics are being represented, it made the storyline between Ongsa and Sun bland at some points as they were developing.

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It's Cute

The Story is basic and for me the cast is too much, like they have too many side characters. And the thing is that the side characters has more screen time than Sun and Ongsa. Like i don't care much about the friends like why are they giving them more screen time than aylin and luna or sun and ongsa like i don't know. It don't look like a series about Sun and Ongsa, it look like a friend ground love story series like why do you need 5 love story in one GL??? Like whyyy we want Milklove why are we watching Mawin and tin or ton?? I wish they develop Sun and Ongsa's character rather than giving other more screen time. I love ongsa's character very relatable, tho i think sun is very one dimensional, like she is super nice and seems like she don't have any personality. all in all it's cute.

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The Best Thai GL of 2024

You know how there are certain anime you can show your non-anime-watching friends that won’t scare them off? 23.5 is kind of like that, but for Thai GL. Which is why its reception on this website is a little bit bewildering to me. Based on all the one-star reviews, and the somewhat low average rating, 23.5 seems to be a divisive, love-it-or-hate-it kind of thing. I’m honestly surprised by the strong reactions, since 23.5 is a pretty middle-of-the-road series, imo—not a masterpiece by any means, but a competently made and extremely likeable piece of work.

I don’t mean to turn this into a meta-review where I review the other reviews…but sometimes, reading the opinions here, I feel like I’ve watched a different show. The most upvoted review on this page complains that 23.5 has no soundtrack. Um, what? There is music playing in almost literally every scene. If I have any complaint about the music, it’s that it’s overused—although thankfully the GMMTV budget means they can afford more than four tracks, so there’s lots of variety, at least. The same review also claims that there aren’t enough costume changes to show the passage of time. Y’all…the show is set in a school. The characters wear school uniforms in like 85% of the scenes? I’m sorry, it’s a weird review, but I digress.

I’m not sure what would inspire someone to dislike 23.5 so much that they invent fake things to criticize about it, especially when there are real things to criticize. It’s pretty heavy on fluff, low on substance—don’t expect to learn much about any real issues facing LGBTQ students in the school system. There’s a lull for an episode or two, after Ongsa and Sun get together, where there’s not much wind in the plot sails, although the side characters help pull the story along. The comedy can be a little overdone, and there are far too many “HAA??” reactions. Some side characters, like Alpha, deserved more time in the spotlight.

But for me, at least, 23.5 checks all the boxes that a sweet coming-of-age romance ought to check, and avoids a lot of annoyances that plague other GL dramas. Just a few things I appreciate about it:

1) It’s a corny but cute touch the way all the character names and episode titles help tie the astronomical theme together. Pluto tries something similar but the execution is much better here.

2) With the exception of the parents, who only exist to be kind and supportive every once in a while, the cast of 23.5 has so much charm and personality. My personal favorite is Charoen, the devout Buddhist girl, but even the minor characters are fun, like the poor local monk who high school kids keep pestering for advice. School scenes are populated with recurring extras who have only one or two lines, but whose presence makes the school feel like a real place.

3) The trans characters are more than just comic relief for once—they are allowed to be people with their own lives and story. They are also funny, yes, but because their personality quirks are funny, and because they play off each other well.

4) The low stakes help keep the drama down-to-earth (sorry). There are no soap opera homophobes who suddenly fall to their knees in the last act and see the rainbow, and there’s only slightly more crying in the final episodes than there needs to be. The conflict is straightforward, relatable, and mostly resolved in a sensible way.

5) The fluff! What people find cute is subjective, and I’m not sure I could give you a rational explanation for why the fluff works for me here and not, say, in The Loyal Pin—but the fluff really works for me. Maybe it’s just that there’s always a tiny bit of tension when it comes to first love, even if it’s just the tension of watching a movie together and not knowing how to act. At any rate, 23.5 is adorable. It’s embarrassing how often I squealed out loud watching this.

6) The comedy! Other GL series might be funnier unintentionally, but 23.5 tries to be funny and succeeds pretty often. Some of the comedy is too over-the-top for me, but I can’t deny that there are some classic lines and moments. “To me, love is like an art film….It’s incomprehensible, but you can tell it’s good.”

I want to stress again that 23.5 is not the pinnacle of art, but it does know exactly what it wants to be, and succeeds at being that with confidence. In a major year for the Thai GL industry, with the meteoric rise of popular love teams like LingOrm, and the release of hype monsters like Pluto and The Loyal Pin, it’s that humble and unassuming confidence that helps 23.5 stand out from the pack as the best GL of 2024.

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the earth tilts to the cuteness in this show

I think everyone who likes gl's and espacially cute and wholesome gl's would love this show.

What I liked:
- Aylin, do I have to say more? Her line delivery was amazing and she was just such a vibe. Tbh I was not sure if I like her in the first episode but at the end of the first episode she already was my favorite. Her relationship with Luna is insanley cute and I loved every scene with them. And most of the funny scenes were her scenes. I cried a little bit when she told everyone why she sees herself as an alien. She just shows everyone that being yourself is the best thing anyone can do, even if you don't fit in. She still found someone who loves her very much even though she's different and was seen as "weird" by other people. I love that message.
- Sun and Ongsa are very cute as a couple. I especially enjoyed the scenes of Sun being jealous, very funny. The whole plotpoint with "Earth" was wrapped up very well and didn't feel to long. Sun being mad about Ongsa not telling her parents that they are dating was completely justified. I still enjoyed it because it went very well with Ongsa's established character. But I'm thankful it was only one episode. My heart would not have survived seeing them apart for more.
- THE TEACHERS!!! I love them. Not only are they funny but they also genuinely worried about their students and tried to help them.

What I disliked:
- It was a little boring at times. Sometimes scenes just dragged on for a little to long.
- I seriously did not enjoy Ton and Charoen. As stand-alone characters and especially not as a "couple". Ton kinda worked well with Mawin.
- I know they are only minor characters but it's kinda disappointing that we didn't see more of Mawin and Tinh. They were cute, I wanted more.

Aylin really carried that show. Not to say that the rest was bad or anything. She was just the best.

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WE, WHICH REVOLVE AROUND THE SUN

23.5, how I love you. How could I not? I love love LOVEEE MilkLove and ViewJune, but as much as I was excited for this series, I may have let my expectations take a toll on my rating.

STORY: Ongsa, whos just moved to Bangkok, meets Sun, who's a bubbly and bright person, just as her name suggests. Although it may seem like they've never met, Ongsa secretly has known Sun. How? They met through Instagram, of which Ongsa uses a fake name as "Earth." Scared of how she'll react, Ongsa keeps this a secret from Sun, as she doesn't want to lose her and this friendship that begins.

LIKES:
-Luna and Aylin my cuties😞😞
-The patience in the couples relationship
-The friendships within the characters
-Side Characters in General


DISLIKES:
-The awkwardness between the characters.. Weren't they supposed to be together? They had known each other for a bit before, yet could barely speak to each other without one of them either feeling flustered or just not knowing how to speak inn general. I can understand if it's due to their ages because I'm around that age range, but even I have seen less awkward couples.

-I was looking through other reviews and someone mentioned the fact that they didn't even really have a reason to like each other, which I slowly began to agree. Other than the fact that they share a bond for the fact that they have a FRIENDSHIP, they don't really have a valid reason to of liked each other. I understand if it's just you fell in love, but we didn't even see any of that.

-The story overall went downhill after halfway. I only continued to watch for the cute scenes of the couples, but even that almost couldn't keep me up. I loved MilkLove in Bad Buddy, but this.. It's just not doing it. I'm usually good at keeping ongoing series, but I got episodes behind because I just couldn't get through episodes.

OVERALL:

I can't bring myself to give this lower than an 8, for the fact that I love these two couples too much. This won't stop me from loving them, but this just wasn't it. Other than the cute scenes and great OST, there wasn't anything special. Just a plain gmmtv high school series but gl version. It's not a horrible start at gl for gmmtv, but it definitely could've been better.

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Way too silly

Watching this is good because there are a lot of pretty girls, though the plot is super childish. Even if there's a plot, it feels like it's written by a bunch of middle schoolers? I could imagine it working for an anime or webtoon but not live action drama. It's too silly. And they keep getting sidetracked, filling episodes with stuff that don't help Ongsa and Sun's relationship. I think this is GMM bad habit. In school or office dramas, they keep filling episodes with activities or events where all characters can participate or load it up with ads. Trying to stretch out the drama until it reaches 12 episodes. How about these writers write better stories?

These side characters... Hmmm. They're like caricatures, like they're supposed to be a stereotype; the popular guy with hordes of fan girls, the beautiful and though student president, the socially awkward nerd, the alien-obsessed girl. They have no depth or complexity. High school is more than 10 years ago for me but I don't remember high schoolers to be like this. This is more of a parody of high school. It gets even worse when they get coupled up without sufficient build ups.

I'm sad and disappointed. Disappointed because I was really looking forward to this couple after watching them in Bad Buddy. I thought they had good chemistry. Sad because this is my first GL series and the writers fumbled this hard.

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It’s okay, but not really the best

The dynamic between Milk and Love take on an endearing quirkiness (without being too cringey) as their characters in 23.5 are the polar opposites of each other.

Like many other series, the conflict revolves around a lack of open communication. This is perhaps unsurprising since 23.5 is intended to be a fluffy show about high school life. Teenagers are still learning to navigate their way around relationships and issues, and it’s completely understandable if they are poor communicators.

At times, the cringey awkwardness of the characters in 23.5 serves as a reminder of how nobody magically has it all together. People grow into more evolved versions of themselves with more experience and wisdom gained.

But the main point is this: For teenagers, many things can feel like the end of the world. But with support and help from others, it’s possible to get through anything.

It’s okay, but not really the best. The show started off quite cute but lost steam towards the end with a weak conflict and ending.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2024/06/11/23-5-gl-review/

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GMMTV need to get it together.

Honestly, the story line is good. This is basically the coming-of-age sapphic story that a lot of westerners want, especially in our own media. However, I think the story got confounded with so many other stories with their own individual characters that it hard to follow and really invest our interests in the characters. Film and Milk are the main two characters in the series, but there's so many side characters with their own stories it makes it difficult to kind of follow what is happening. You could argue that half of the "supporting" characters were main characters in the story because of how much time they got on screen. Now I'm not complaining, I like that since it's early in the GL rabbit hole that GMMTV is following, they want to explore the possibilities of future CPs. However, in this one they make it sooo obvious that they're throwing crap at the walls and seeing what sticks with the viewers.

Music? I don't remember any of them. I only pretty much remember the intro and that's it. So that's a 4 in my book. (Honestly, it should probably be lower since that's like the bare minimum).

Rewatch? I'd argue on a rainy day where I want a comfort GL, I could argue for it. Would I re-watch it? Yeah...? If maybe I've gone through the ones I liked the most.

[6/10]

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Watchable and cute, but seriously lacking in storyline.

I already know I wasn't the target audience for this show (high school romance is *not* my jam), so I wanted to really give it a fair shot before reviewing. But honestly? I think my review might have been more positive if I stopped after the first few episodes! While the design of this show is absolutely adorable, with lots of bright colors and space themes, the characters are completely empty and lessons learned are... pretty questionable. I'm also disappointed with GMMTV's continuous fumbling of disabled characters across several shows. This was not the best of efforts, and with several other GLs airing and upcoming... I don't feel like forcing myself across the finish line.

-The Full Review-
STORY:
This story is abysmal. I'll start with the major problems and work down to the nitpicks. Most importantly: the characters lack personality. While Ongsa and Aylin are can scrape by on a cartoonish, stylized choice, Sun and Luna are disappointingly one dimensional. Ongsa, Chareon and Tinh have more chemistry and repartee than any of the couples. Sun is supposedly popular, but 8 episodes in, I don't even know her friends names and she seems to ditch them without question. There doesn't seem to be any depth to any of the relationships--romantic, friendship, or familial.
My second largest issue is the treatment of Aylin, who is portrayed to have autism or some similar neurodivergence. Don't get me wrong: Aylin is leaps and bounds ahead of Penneung from Home School, so I'm grateful for that. But the way she is portrayed as "Luna's project" as someone to change and push into a social creature is just offensive. Half the times the Alien allegory works really well, and have the times it feels like a serious infantilization of an already infantilized group.
As for the nitpicks... I don't like how the show handled Ongsa's self-confidence issues. I understand shows need sponsorships, but to suggest the solution to Ongsa's feelings of "being ugly and unworthy" is to put on some L'Oreal LipstickTM and all the school will fall over you is some seriously anti-feminist drivel. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against femme lesbians... but Ongsa is Not! Or at least she is not portrayed that way until exactly the moment she strives to feel worthy of a girl. I don't think Sun's approach is appropriate either, and hate how her jealous prevents her from hyping up her hot girlfriend.

ACTING:
It was fine. Milk is wonderful at physical comedy and slightly less compelling with the more emotional beats. Love was very cute, but watching Home School simultaneously made it very clear how little she has to work with here. I am not at all a fan of View or her shaky attempts at cripping up, but I know I'm in the minority here. I don't really feel anyone else has enough to work with to properly judge their skills. About the best I can say is that everyone created a very cohesive, heightened, cutesy high school universe, which was nice. They matched energy levels very well, which made scenes fun and bright.
On another note, I wish they'd given this show to more age appropriate actors. While they did a valiant job of making a 27 year old look like a young high schooler, it simply didn't always work. The extreme youth and innocence of the script really worked against the actors here.

PRODUCTION:
All that said, it was enjoyable to watch. While the cinematography was frequently extra slow and drawn out, the set designs and costume choices created a beautiful and bright world. I really enjoyed the way they stylized the youth of these characters and exaggerated their interests to really fill the space. The design of the bedrooms went a long way to filling in the absent personalities of the characters. I, of course, have to take my hats off to the costume crew working over time to make these grown adult women look like they could possibly be in high school--an effect that works way more often than I expected.

INTIMACY:
I haven't watched anything with MilkLove before, and seeing the hype around this pair.... I was expecting more? There's decent chemistry. It's not unwatchable or unbelievable. But I feel like the sound and lighting cues are doing a LOT of the heavy lifting in the romance here. I'm not sure what happened, or if it's just an effect of Ongsa's shyness? They were particularly compelling to me, as a romance.

In all, it's pretty much what I expected from a GMMTV high school romance. They definitely have their audience that enjoys this concept, and I'm glad those people are getting fed. But it does feel like a waste of their talents and time to put out such a shaky end product. I would really like to see GL push harder to develop some truly complex characters and more interesting plots.

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A conforming series: Bland and saltless

For those who don't like drama, this is the perfect series as there is no drama at all. Before I start talking about how I DON'T LIKE ONGSA, I'm going to say what I liked about the series: Aylin and Lua. These two could have their own series. They made the whole series happen.

Now I'll explain why I don't like Ongsa: She keeps making her life difficult and acting like a child. Take a look: She lives in a perfect, loving family, has perfect friends and lives in a perfect school. Her parents are both alive and happily married. They, as well as Ongsa's sister and cousin, live in harmony. When Sun and Ongsa's relationship comes to light, they all accept it very well, without any resistance. Ongsa's friends and school do too. Sun's parents too. Just happiness.

"SO WHEN IS THERE ANY DRAMA?" You may wonder. And I respond: "When Ongsa acts like a 5-year-old child trying to get attention."

For example, when Sun discovers the truth about "Terra", Sun is super open to listening to Ongsa, but instead of Ongsa saying how things happened to get where they are, she simply runs away. Leaving her entire family looking for her ALL DAY! Her family was very worried about her, if they had any doubts they would call the police! All because that idiot Ongsa ran away and hid crying. Then you might even think “This could happen!”, yes, it can. With A CHILD, not a high school girl who is almost AN ADULT.
Sun goes after her (which she didn't need to do, as it's Ongsa who should have gone after Sun to explain herself). When Sun calls Ongsa to talk, what does she do? Exactly, she runs away again. Sun was ready to listen to Ongsa's explanations from the first moment she ran away, now she was open to listening to Ongsa's explanations again and she ran away again. It was Ongsa who acted wrongly, she was the one who deceived and betrayed Sun's trust, she was the one who should be running after Sun, not the other way around! Even so, having two chances to tell the truth to Sun (who was open-hearted to listen to Ongsa's explanations) she chose to run away.

Sun goes after Ongsa for the 3 TIME, and simply gives up asking for the truth (after all, Ongsa might run away again since she is soooo mature), instead Sun decides to simply pretend that they are getting to know each other again and that this story of "Terra" never happened, after all, just so the little baby that is Ongsa would stop running away! Wow, how angry at this girl! She's not ready for a relationship if she acts like a little child running away from her problems.

I keep imagining Sun dating Ongsa, and I feel sorry for her. Every time Ongsa messes up, she acts like a child and runs away from problems, or simply tries to solve problems like a child too. Sun will have to always seder, always choose to "forget what happened" instead of talking about things.

And when Sun broke up with Ongsa why didn't she want to admit their relationship? Remembering that Ongsa's parents CLEARLY showed that they would not be against this, as they found out about Lua and Aylin and were super in favor. Sun was also suffering, but she was silent. So how will Ongsa get her friends' attention so they can comfort her? Acting like a child! She ran and screamed around the court like a child who doesn't have the toy she wants, of course all of Ongsa's friends will run after her to "comfort" her. Our almost 20 year old baby. Even Sun felt embarrassed about it.

I hope Sun finds a better person. Ongsa, until you mature, stay away from Sun, it's a favor you do for her.

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