A Gentle Masterpiece That Redefines GL
“Us The Series” is, without a doubt, my favorite show of all time. I’ve rewatched it almost every day since it first aired, and each time it still feels like a warm hug.The story is captivating, but not in the usual “constant drama” way. For some, it might seem slow or uneventful, but only if you don’t truly understand what the show is about. It isn’t filled with endless breakups, forced misunderstandings, or toxic love tropes. There aren’t many explicit scenes, and there’s no over-the-top fighting or constant tension. Instead, “Us” dares to do something rare for a GL: it focuses on genuine love, growth, and healing.
The heart of the story lies in its two leads.
Dokrak (Bonnie) is a simple, genuine soul. She grew up in a hostile environment but refused to let it change her. She fought to keep love and sincerity alive in her life, always seeing the best in people.
Pam (Emi) is her opposite, a woman carrying deep trauma, mistrust, and the belief that letting anyone close would only lead to pain. It’s only when she meets Dokrak that she learns a beautiful lesson: being loved can be simple, natural, and life-changing.
Unlike most GLs that focus on the couple’s internal drama, “Us The Series” lets external events shape their journey. Together, they navigate the world, heal old wounds, and teach each other (and the viewers) that:
It’s okay to let yourself be loved.
It’s okay to let go of the past that hurt you.
It’s okay to accept a future that heals you.
The plot is thoughtful, the characters are perfectly written, and the development of their relationship feels real and deeply earned. This show redefined what a GL can be, and I can’t recommend it enough. If you want a story that will stay in your heart long after it ends, “Us The Series” is the one.
Was this review helpful to you?
THE CAST IS PERFECT AND THE CHEMISTRYYY
So first of all this drama (It hasn't finished airing but From ep 11 teaser, the character of dokrak is very understanding and They both are green flags) the leads don't separate and have maintained their relationship very well through everything Unlike the unnecessary break up part which always happens in dramas, such a sweet watch and the actresses served the story is very well written and is perfect for a soft romance because their romance is just soo cute and i would say it's a perfect dramaWas this review helpful to you?
Light and cute
The leads are really cute have really great chemistry, but I think the show could’ve done a much better job of tying the romance in with the overall plot. I’ve noticed this about other GMMTV dramas, but here it really stood out to me.We have moments where the leads’ romance is developing and they’re being cute, and then we’ll cut to moments of tension with the antagonists’ plan, but it feels like there’s very little introspection in between. I wish we got more of an internal struggle on Pam’s part; when we get to her breaking point where she says “I can’t keep lying to Dokrak anymore,” I felt like we hadn’t really seen a lot of internal conflict.
The entire arc for Nene as the antagonist feels a bit murky. The premise is absolutely there — someone who has their live destroyed wants to get revenge, but starts connecting with the bartender and the families she’s trying to ruin. But it’s never really clear what her plan actually is; “revenge” is vaguely repeated often but by the time it seems that her plan was just revealing everything, which is neither a grand plan, nor something that Pam really played a role in.
Overall, the chemistry between the leads is there and the acting is great, though I wish the characters could’ve been more developed into their roles. I love the premise and being able to see everyone finding happiness, but I think the drama was more light than I’d anticipated, and the plot could’ve used more thought.
P.S. I love the OST titled "More Than Words." Such a beautiful song.
Was this review helpful to you?
Good but boring
Well I can’t say that I’m not disappointed, as I expected more from this at first, but it’s okay.This series is cute and quiet. Way too quiet tho.
It’s just them living together while nothing interesting is really happening..
Acting was great but story? it was mid.. One thing I appreciate is that they didn’t do the usual forced “forgiving the dad” at the end.
It’s not bad, but definitely not worth watching if you’re planning to binge it. It’s simply boring.
This is one of those series where it’s all cute and interesting at first, but after 4 episodes u start struggling to get through the eps.
Something like ‘Your Sky’ ,it’s the same to me tbh. Cute series with a healthy relationship and no fights but absolute boredom.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
boring for me
this series was not my cup of tea and from looking at the pattern, this director's work might not be for mepam and rak were adorable but i feel like this show only explores them on a surface level. we get to know a little bit about them and they are immediately thrust into the relationship. the lying and dating her brother part should have been major conflicts but they got solved out fast. then we get a repetitive cycle of pam and rak being all in love, especially the morning wake up calls. we don't get to know them anymore outside their relationship. another one of the directors flaws pop up here, we don't have any idea of how much time has passed unless its explicitly told to us. we don't know how long pam and kawi dated, how long rak and pam were dating before they said their i love yous etc. in the last episode they tell us how much time has passed but nothing abt the characters change, physically or emotionally.
the whole nene thing was another repetitive cycle. we had one round of nene walking around with hate for the whole family for some reason and a master plan, both which we don't know. the next round was her repeating that she is one of his children. her hate/plan was very flawed, like one look and u can tell that man does not care abt his family, so hurting them does not give him any pain. her entire focus was on rak and kawi so all of her scenes were boring. oat was also such a wasted character. her scenes with nene were also the same thing happening multiple times, maybe once she gave some advice but that's it. they didn't even give her much outfit changes, it felt like she was wearing the same thing the whole time.
i wasn't that emotionally connected to any character, so the whole grandma story and the cafe stories were boring too.
i will give my flowers to the director where its deserved cause the cinematography and aesthetics were out of the world. the songs were great too. the design of rak's room??? amazing.
emi and bonnie did a good job with their acting, i have no complaints there.
(bonnie is such a cutie, i want to put her in my pockets)
so overall this was not for me, i can see other people loving it though. hope to see emi and bonnie together in more projects!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Did not disappoint. Better than most GL'S I've seen
“Us” is one of the rare GL series that didn’t leave me disappointed. Nearly every element—from the cast and acting to the OST and storyline—was well executed. I found myself genuinely enjoying the experience, never regretting the weekly wait for new episodes.Let me start by listing what stood out:
Visual Aesthetic
The colour palette and lighting were absolutely beautiful. A lot of GLs I’ve seen, like GAP, tend to overuse bright lighting and overlook proper colour grading (no offense to GAP fans—I don’t dislike the series). But “Us” found a perfect balance. The visuals were warm, cozy, and easy on the eyes. This is something GMMTV is generally good at, but “Us” handled it particularly well.
Direction:
P’Fon continues to prove herself as a remarkable director. Her work keeps improving, and when comparing “Us” to her previous GL, “23.5,” the growth is evident. The direction felt more confident and nuanced this time around.
Romance:
The romantic storyline was genuinely well done. I would rate it a solid 10/10. There were no overly cringey moments, no exaggerated flirting, and—importantly—no romance catered to the male gaze. The interactions between the leads felt natural and mature, and the chemistry between the cast was convincing enough that it felt real.
Music:
The soundtrack was strong. P’Emi and P’Bonnie both have amazing voices, and the music elevated the emotional tone of the show.
Story & Characters:
The story was adapted thoughtfully. I’ve heard that the original book had P’Kawi turning into a problematic character by the end, but the show wisely avoided unnecessary drama like that. P’Kawi became one of my favorite characters. Sing did an outstanding job portraying a character who is quite different from his real-life personality, and he made it believable.
That said, there were a few areas that didn’t quite meet expectations. As much as I love the series, I do feel that the pacing toward the end was off. It started at a good, steady pace, but as the series neared its conclusion, things felt rushed—especially the divorce arc, P’Kawi’s suicide attempt, and Grandma Bua’s death. While we did get scenes focusing on P’Kawi’s recovery, I felt they didn’t go deep enough. A more detailed look at his treatment and healing process would have made his arc even stronger.
Grandma Bua’s death also felt sudden. While it wasn’t entirely unexpected, it might have been better placed earlier in the story to allow for better emotional pacing. I also felt the second couple, Nene and Oat, didn’t get enough attention. Nene's character development came far too late, and while the scene where Khem sends men to her house was intense, I’m unsure whether it was entirely necessary. Still, I can understand why it was included.
Overall, Nehe deserved a more consistent arc, and the second couple’s storyline could have used more development throughout the series. That said, I’m glad the writers made changes from the original Chao Planoy novel—most of the changes improved the story rather than adding unnecessary drama.
One thing I appreciated was how the series handled Khem. He remained a constant antagonist, rather than receiving a last-minute redemption arc like in many other GLs. That consistency added weight to the narrative.
As for the final episode, I was pleasantly surprised. It wrapped up the story well, although the editing—particularly the background music—felt slightly out of place at times. That could just be my personal preference, but it stood out to me.
Final Thoughts
Overall, “Us” is one of the best GL series I’ve seen. It respected its audience, avoided unnecessary tropes, and told a heartfelt, grounded story. My only regret is watching it as it aired, because the weekly wait was painful—and now that it’s over, I definitely miss looking forward to new episodes. GMMTV deserves credit for creating a GL that didn’t feel out of place or rushed, and I’m genuinely thankful for it.
Was this review helpful to you?
Boring ever.
Series Review: UsUs is a Girls’ Love series that, despite its hype and unexpected success, falls short in several areas. From the very first episode, the pacing feels painfully slow, making it difficult to stay engaged. The storyline revolves almost entirely around the main couple, leaving very little space for character development, plot progression, or attention to side characters. This narrow focus makes the show feel repetitive and uneventful.
The most disappointing part is how the series wasted its potential. With such a beautiful and soft aesthetic, it could have delivered something meaningful or emotionally gripping. But instead, it drags on with scenes that lack purpose and energy. Even the emotional moments fail to land because of how slowly everything unfolds. I found myself fast-forwarding through large parts of each episode, just to get through it—and that’s never a good sign.
The side couple, who could’ve brought some balance and excitement to the story, were barely given any screentime. Their interactions were too brief to create any real connection or depth. As a viewer, I was constantly waiting for something interesting to happen—but it never really did. The series simply didn’t have enough variety or drama to keep me hooked.
While I respect that some people loved Us and made it a success, I personally can’t understand the hype. It lacked the passion, depth, and pacing that make a romantic drama worth watching. I wouldn’t recommend this series to anyone looking for a captivating love story or emotional rollercoaster. Sadly, it’s one of those shows I won’t ever think about again.
Was this review helpful to you?
Missing Romantic Conflicts
This show was not what I expected it to be. From the description and trailers, I expected a lot more romantic tension and miscommunication between the leads. Instead, this story ended up being a lot less about the relationship and more about family circumstances.Dokrak (Bonnie) agrees to help her brother Kawi (Sing) win over Pam (Emi) by drawing her postcards. Everything seems to be going well between Kawi and Pam, but as Dokrak and Pam also become closer, it's clear that Dokrak has feelings for her. As Pam insists on learning more about Dokrak's strained relationship with her family, it's hard to tell what Pam's motives are - her feelings for Kawi, emerging feelings for Dokrak, or personal gain. Once Pam and Dokrak become closer, the two will have to choose between keeping the peace or revealing their feelings.
I wanted so much more from this relationship. I was super excited to see Emi and Bonnie together, and while I loved their portrayal of these characters, everything felt too easy for the relationship. I wanted more conflict with Kawi, more angst, and more hardship for the main two. It just felt like after they were together, the relationship immediately had no impact on the story. This show definitely revolves more around family issues for both characters, and their relationship fades into the background after the first few episodes. While I thought they had great chemistry (and hope to see them act together again), I do wish we could have gotten a little more relationship drama and a little less family drama. Still a fun watch, but left me wanting a bit more.
Was this review helpful to you?
Pam & Rak: A Love Worth Remembering
Putting the GL label aside, Us the series has been an absolute gem—captivating me from the very first episode all the way to the finale. Every element came together so beautifully: the performances (especially by Emi and Bonnie), the immersive sound design, the seamless flow of the story, the heartwarming OST, and the deeper messages rooted in family, trust, love, and the quiet power of patience and hard work.This was my first time seeing Emi and Bonnie, and to say they left an impression would be an understatement—they completely blew me away. Their chemistry as P'Pam and Rak was so raw, loving, and real. There was nothing forced or overly dramatized. The way their love unfolded on screen felt authentic and tender, not reliant on PG-13 scenes, but instead carried by genuine emotion and subtle, beautiful moments. It’s rare to see something this refreshing and sincere in the GL genre—or in storytelling in general.
The direction and vision behind this series were nothing short of outstanding. The entire team clearly poured heart and soul into every frame, and it shows. Each episode felt like a warm hug, even as the story tugged at the heartstrings. And yet, 12 episodes somehow felt too short—I could’ve spent so much more time with Pam and Rak. Their connection wasn’t just acting; it was magic. A kind of magic that stays with you long after the screen fades to black.
Us is more than just a series—it’s an experience, one that’s nestled itself deep in my heart. It’s hard to say goodbye, but I’m holding on to hope that this won’t be the last we see of this cast, this team, and this kind of storytelling. I’ll be eagerly waiting for whatever comes next.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I've never felt so single without feeling bitter
Us is a top-tier GL show. They had a vision and executed it well. The show explores themes of family, trauma, and loss, with each character contributing to the theme through their own perspectives. Notably, Dokrak and Kawi's differing coping mechanisms in response to their toxic home environment: Kawi internalizes blame and continues to let his father control him, while Dokrak takes action to remove herself from the situation and find peace. Another example is Pam and Nene, who both initially sought revenge against Khem for their parents' death. However, Pam's openness to others led her to find happiness through her connection with Dokrak, whereas Nene's unresolved grief over her mother's loss consumed her, allowing bitterness to define her life. The show does a great job of examining its themes through the contrasting responses of its characters, each with different values and personalities.The story keeps it moving through a clear three-act structure. The first act sets the stage, introducing characters and their relationships. The second act explores Pam's turmoil as she grapples with her desire for revenge and her blossoming romance with Dokrak. The third act puts their bond to the test, presenting challenges where they must support each other and the people around them. Although it rushes through certain events in the last two episodes, the show is well-paced and engaging throughout.
Bonnie is the heart of the show as Dokrak, the embodiment of positivity. She convincingly portrays Dokrak's patience and empathy, making her a compelling lead. Emi also delivers a standout performance as Pam, skillfully conveying a wide range of emotions, from sorrow and anger to joy, even in scenes with minimal dialogue. The rest of the cast is equally impressive, with Sing and Mim making lasting impressions in their characters. The entire cast had great chemistry and is well-suited to their roles, with each actor bringing their character to life in a believable way. Bonnie and Sing were born to play siblings, while Nid and Emi portrayed a loving grandmother-granddaughter bond. Romantic chemistry was created in 2024 when Emi and Bonnie walked on set for the first day of filming. If you want to feel bad about your love life but feel so fulfilled at the same time, watch EmiBonnie as PamRak.
From 10 Years Ticket to Home School to 23.5, and now, to Us, the more I want to kiss the ground P'Fon walks on. She adapts her style to suit each story. P'Fon and her team use production not only as a backdrop for the characters but also as a device to tell the story with them. The show looks and feels warm and heartfelt, like Pam and Dokrak's story, but shifts to cold, blue tones when the scene calls for an intense atmosphere. The sets are well-crafted, reflecting the characters who inhabit them - from Khem's stark, oppressive mansion to Grandma Bua's cozy and lively home. Hair, makeup, and styling are appropriate and believable for their characters and situations.
The sound design is exceptional, with music choices that perfectly capture the emotional essence of each scene at just the right time. Episode 7 in particular, Pam sang one of the OST songs to Dokrak and it made the song a character in its own right. It helped to tell the story in a way that's more than just existing in the background.
Overall, good soup. Highly, highly recommend.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Us feels like a warm hug.I can write sonnets about Pam and Dokrak's love. It's pure tenderness, lots of empathy and effective communication. They listen to each other, talk through issues and figure out together what the next steps are. All this while sill giving each other enough space to grow individually. No unnecessary breakups with these ladies! The level of emotional intelligence these two young women have can put a lot of adults to shame. The chemistry may not be the most sizzling but all of their warm hugs and scenes of domestic bliss are worth more than that. Their bond is authentic and love is palpable.
The main theme of the show is family and I liked how they handled the issue. Not everyone is worth of redemption and you cannot fix every relationship. It's notable how they showed that growing up in toxic enviroment and experiencing emotional neglect can affect people in different way. Rak turned her disappointment and hurt into compassion and selflessness. Kawi's sense of guilt and helplessnes suffocated him. Orn would rather ignore everything and play pretend than step up and take an action. Sometimes blood ties mean nothing but you can find real family elsewhere. I think one of my favourite scenes in the show is when Kawi and his Mom visit Pam's home and they are amazed that "incomplete" family like hers can be so full of love and warmth, something that they never had. The found family aspect of this show was nicely done and it's kinda of a breaking point for GLs that used to be so hellbent on giving last minute redemption arcs to literally everyone.
I'm so glad that the love triangle thing turned out to be such a non-issue. Not gonna lie, the reason why I didn't start this drama earlier is because trailers did not sell it to me. Having watched other Chao Planoy adaptations, I expected another lowkey toxic nonsense with unnecessary men getting themselves involved in two women's business. Glad to be proven wrong. Whoever wrote the script did a brilliant job transforming the original plot into a healthy WLW romance and making Kawi a likeable (although traumatized) character.
Other side characters were likeable as well. I love Nene. With her sharp eyeliner, ridiculously high heels and fancy cocktail dresses. The juxtaposition between that and the actress' youthful look would look funny in any other setting but it actually works in favour of the character. Nene is all about trying to intimidate others, her mission to destroy life of the one who hurt her. Deep inside she's lonely, scared, miserable and completely out of touch with what she really needs. It's perfectly shown in the slipper scene - after her fancy revenge heels get destroyed, she would rather get hurt by walking barefoot than wear comfortable slippers. Oat literally had to put them on for her and show that it's ok to relax and be vulnerable. And in the final episode? She's ready for a date, wearing comfortable sneakers. Her whole character is pretty much a baby trying to act like a gangster and it had this disarming effect on me.
Where there is a room for improvement? Although the melodrama aspect of the evil father plotline was handled well and it was not as over the top as it could have been, I do think that Nene's revenge took way too much screentime for how underwhelming it was. Her plan didn't make much sense once it got revealed to her that she cannot destroy something that was already destroyed. I enjoyed her character lore and development, but the revenge thing went off the tracks in the later episodes.
Also, it pains me to say that, but I watched worse plots that got me more invested from the get go. Despite the fact that Us is objectively better in a lot of areas where other dramas struggle, it didn't hook me instantly. It took me good 5-6 episodes to understand its charm and there still were some wonky moments.
With that said, I'm satisfied with how it turned out, GMM already set the bar high with Pluto but now it's even higher. Good luck not disappointing me in the future lol!
Was this review helpful to you?
anyone rating this less than 8 is actually crazy
if you are looking for a chill background show, pick this one!! this show is very well done. the storyline is interesting enough to keep you watching and sometimes had you wanting more. the cast acted exactly as needed and played the roles perfectly. the ost is one of the most catchy i’ve ever heard. this show is very wholesome, sweet, and it feels very realistic. most unproblematic couple in the history of gl’s. i will continue to rewatch because we have needed something genuinely sweet in the industry for a minute. very very heartwarming!! i’ve never been so soft for a couple, i strive for the perfection pamrak have made!!update: it’s been months later and i genuinely wish i would experience watching this show over again. i think this show has taken over my number 1 spot. i consistently find myself in the tiktok edit rabbit hole for this series. the yearning feeling between pamrak is to die for.
Was this review helpful to you?
