My Stubborn

Stubborn Or Stupid?

I knew nothing of this show going in. I just knew a friend of mine was watching it and I wanted to ultimately see what people were talking about. So I can say with certainty the novel sounds far better than whatever this was. The entire concept of friends with benefits isn’t new, the “being a teacher” towards someone younger who isn’t as experienced sexually as you…new but huh? These 2 definitely weren’t even friends for this entire show and even by the end I don’t think they really should’ve been endgame with the amount of crap Sorn pulled. Even Boat the actor doesn’t like Sorn’s character which says a lot! I also found Jun’s character incredibly annoying for most of this show and the chemistry just wasn’t really there between the 2. There’s more chemistry between the actors when outside of the show! The side couples also apparently don’t exist in the novel, which I can understand with how random they felt placed into this plot. I just didn’t see much in this show worth really watching, including the spice which often felt awkward.

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I hate Sorn… so much

*inhale* * exhale* It‘s just a fictional character.
So. Up until like episode 8+, or whenever Jun had enough of Sorn‘s behaviour, I put up with it.
There wasn‘t much story to begin with. This series lived off of the characters and their relationships which is fine but like this there‘s only these relationships, the characters personalities and what decisions they make to focus on.

And once it came to Sorn having to redeem himself and failing this hard (in my eyes) it was over for me. I could not continue. I still had some hope Jun would stand his ground (get together with that delivery/restaurant guy) and not let Sorn back into his life because he knew exactly what Sorn was doing… but through social media posts I could see that they‘d get back together and That I did not want to see. Two episodes left and not even a glimpse of possible change on Sorn‘s part, no thank you.
Ugh. It‘s been weeks since I stopped watching and I hoped that would help write a review and yet my anger has been refueled so much it blurrs my thought.
Even if he changed, this is just not enough time to change my mind about him. As viewer you of course wish to see the 180 degree character change and a happy ending but for a character like Sorn I just don‘t see it happening. And two episodes to pull that off will not convince me.
„My Stand-In“ did it well imo: It took Ming several missteps and attempts and in the end he is still asshole-ish and very much himself but he has changed to the better. And as viewer we don‘t just magically forgive him for what he has done either. But here I can feel it already, Sorn will have that magical character change and viewers will just forgive him. I refuse.

Jun had quite the development in character. He noticed what he wanted and needed, what is wrong, what is too much for him and showed an immense amount of emotional maturity compared to Sorn. Setting boundaries is hard, especially when you‘re very used to getting them overstepped. It feels completely wrong and scary. And Sorn knew that, that sleazy SOB.
That conversation in the warehouse was my last straw… 🤬 Sorn really knew that all he had to do was say „I like you“ back, make a few half assed promises and good is. And he barely managed to do that. As soon as he saw how Jun‘s wall started to crack he didn‘t really care about anything else, just that he could slither back in and get his „possession“ back. He did not respect any of the boundaries Jun put down. Jun clearly said to not kiss him with tongue and next thing Sorn does is exactly that. Trash! Trash, trash, trash!
Now that I wrote it out it seems so clear: Sorn saw (even if just subconsciously) Jun as his plaything that he could fully control, coerce to whatever sexual thing wherever and whenever he wanted and as soon as Jun refused and put boundaries he first got more aggressive about keeping his control and then when Jun left he acted like a child whose toy got taken away. UGH.

And Jun‘s friends… they supported him sure, at first. But as soon as Sorn looked a little pityful they tried to convince Jun to get back. Trash them as well.

But massive props to Boat (& the writers) for playing (writing) the character so well it made me eternally hate him. Too bad it also made me stop watching the series. He could’ve worked very well as the villain in another story.
Also kudos to Oat, his performance as Jun was great. And I can‘t lie their chemistry together was amazing. I hope to see them in another drama where I will like the characters and story enough until the end.

The boss and his employee‘s story airtime was a little too spread apart. A little more frequency could‘ve been beneficial. Their story got completely overshadowed by the main couple. I can‘t remember enough to comment on their relationship development. They had issues, too. Issues that should‘ve been explored more.
And up until I‘ve read a review that mentioned the GL plotline I had forgotten about them. I mostly skipped their parts because it felt disconnected from the rest and hence out of nowhere that those two got together. Other than one of them having a fling with Sorn and working at the same place or just in the same industry(? idr) they had no connection to the main cast. Kind of a waste. :/

Overall there was just so much more I did not enjoy than enjoy. A toxic character can be interesting and „fun“ but this was just too much for me.

(I have edited this review a few times to find better words that are not as affected by anger)

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Too Toxic

Spoiler Alert.
The main character, Sorn, is toxic and manipulative. He takes advantage of the younger Jun throughout the first nine episodes. His toxic behavior is inexcusable.
Jun is just a bit too naive for someone his age. He is partly to blame for the messy relationship since he allows Sorn to take advantage of him.
The NC scenes are often in bad taste, since we know Jun was forced into accepting Sorn.
Even when Sorn tries to apologize in Episode 10, he holds onto Jun against his will and even yells at him at times. A few words of apology will not undo all of the terrible things Sorn has done. I could not go on to the final episodes.

This crew of fine actors deserved better. There could have been good chemistry between all the couples, but the mean-spirited storyline destroyed all that.

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What Is Love...Baby Don't Hurt Me!!!

This a semi-slowburn drama, a lot of reviews pass this off because of the NC scenes and the feeling that there isn't much of a story, and for those reviewers I'll say, they've simply never experienced complicated love. All relationships aren't black and white, there's some nuance involved and Sorn x Juin, Penny x June, and Tai x Champ clearly embody those grey areas.

Sorn has deep seated trust issues, however he can't help who he likes, his inner conflict is from a traumatic situation that could've altered his life, still somehow plagues his ability to have a complete and whole relationship, whether with a man or woman. While passion definitely isn't an issue between Sorn x Juin, what is, is the presentation of emotions that weren't supposed to develop beyond casual sex, but the writers show that even the most clearly discussed terms of a situationship can and do take bring about different feelings. While Juin is youthful and sometimes child-like, he is mature enough to know his feelings about Sorn...feelings they both had for each other since they 1st came into each other's life.

Penny x June have crossed the river in their situation and seem to be moving in a good direction, and while there were initial misgivings between the both, it's clear this couple won't have any issues after they've laid all their cards on the table. I like that unlike the men in this series, the women know what and who they want and they state it clearly without any vagueness.

Tai x Champ, now that's anyone's guess but I hope the next few episodes 9-10 will show just what these two mean to each other. Because it's like their dating but at the same time, it's like they don't dare define it...it's like they are unspokenly each other's boyfriend without either putting a clear label on it. So for the sake of the viewers you'll just want them both to verbalize it to each other.

The soundtrack is decent, I don't care for the main song but the others when there is music is decent. The casting is nice, each pairing go well together visually and the acting is decent. With a bit more coaching and work under their belt, I'm sure those cast for this series will iron out any dryness. MFlow like many production and management house, have to continue to do the work of finding good quality stories and hiring directors that know how to instruct and execute the script in a way that makes viewers satisfied from episode 1 until the conclusion.

Overall, it's a decent drama, it's not Earth shattering, so if you're expecting that then your standards are way too high but decent acting, story, and intimacy you won't regret watching (but if you do, that's okay...every drama isn't for everyone).

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A solid core in a silly package

This is a show that really rewards a rewatch, especially if you fast-forward past the superfluous side-couple plots.

The first time I watched My Stubborn I thought it was kind of plotless horny mess. I was distracted by all of the extended NC scenes and the not-so-polished aspects of the show - Penny and Girl Jun's weird office siren outfits, Sorn's ridiculous penciled on depression beard, Tai and Champ's gross anti-chemistry, etc.

The plot (which does exist!) and the quality of Boat and Oat's acting rose to the surface when I rewatched it.

One of my favorite scenes is Sorn coming to find Jun in the stairwell after he's humiliated him with that stupid prank. From Jun's perspective, Sorn is constantly trying to seduce him, still sleeping with his maybe girlfriend, insisting Jun doesn't sleep with anyone else (or like... even talk to Piang) and intentionally getting him in trouble at work. Jun has started falling for Sorn but is aware that Sorn is unwilling/unable to offer any commitment or even acknowledgment of real feeling and Jun clearly kind of hates himself for not being able to resist Sorn's constant advances.

The moment when Sorn comes to find him in the stairwell is so well done. Sorn realizes he's gone too far and that his actions are impacting Jun much more intensely than Jun has previously let on. Sorn has fucked things up beyond an easy apology and is still unwilling/unable to admit that he cares about Jun and wants a relationship with him, which is probably the only thing that could fix things at this point. He looks so lost and bewildered sitting next to Jun - it feels real, exactly like real-life 20-something relationship drama. The show is full of these well-written, well-acted, nuanced little moments.

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Juicy, Sexy and Delicious

Ok, just based on the pilot, I knew I would like My Stubborn. Look, this show does not promise anything that it is not. There's no avant-garde plot here. Its a simple character driven narrative of two men who meet, become friends with benefits and then feelings get involved. Its delicious.

First, major props to Boat and Oat. They acted their butts off in this show. Physical intimacy is difficult to pull off, without appearing fake or cheesy. And these two did it so well in My Stubborn. With each progressive NC scene, we see how Jun and P'Sorn are catching feelings for each other. In each scene, Boat and Oat show off their incredible chemistry— there are sparks between Jun and P'Sorn, whether they are getting off in a toilet cubicle or working together in their office on product exports. Jun is such a likeable character, he is sassy, stubborn and a loudmouth— a typical college student who can be selfish and myopic at times. P'Sorn, with all his underlying toxicity, is a such a hottie. He likes and cares for Jun in his own way, and he just needs to get his head out of his ass. Boat, especially, is a stunner, and is just serving face cards in every episode. (Side note: calling him P'Payu junior or P'Payu knock-off is insulting and you need to stop).

I also like that My Stubborn does not try to reinvent the wheel. This show tells the story of two characters and their relationship and how it goes from a P-Nong relationship, to FWB, to boyfriends who are hopelessly in love. I saw several people dragging this show as soft-core or no-plot-only-NC and I must say, those people are either major prudes or did not see the same show I did. Just because a show is more character focused, does not mean it does not have a plot. If this kind of mature show is not for you, thats totally fine. No need to spoil the fun for the rest of us.

As for me, I cannot wait to see Boat x Oat in another spicy show. I hope they get a good opportunity their way very soon.

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Hugs for Jun but none for Sorn or the writers

Let me preface this by saying this is my first live-action BL drama. That being said, I’ve been reading BL/queer stories for like a decade, so I am familiar with the tropes and ups/downs that come with the territory.

Acting:
Not much to say other than Oat kinda carried the acting in this series. Everyone else was either very poor or passable.

Characters:
Hugs for Jun. Therapy and a little medieval torture for Sorn. Kisses for Penny and June. Ignore Tai and high-five Champ. A lovely wife for Nu. Phut can join Sorn with the therapy and torture. And homework for those two kids who are always working at that cafe.

Writing/Inconsistencies:
I was very confused by the writing decisions in this show. First, what did they want the main dynamic between the main couple to be? Sort of childhood friends? Friend’s little brother? A sex teacher and his student? Boss and intern? It would have been stronger if they had focused more on one instead of constantly bouncing around.
The other big issue was the truly stunning number of inconsistencies. It reminds me of the scene in Phantom of the Opera where the pants are wet in one shot and then dry in the next. There were so many throughout this series, it was distracting.

Chemistry/Romance/Kissing:
On-screen chemistry between the main couple was pretty good. Not a very good romance story overall, though.
The kissing killed me a little. There was one natural kissing scene, and then the rest were just so odd? Like Sorn is supposed to be a master of the bedroom so why he kissin like that..? It was frantic in an inexperienced/messy way and not in a passionate/sensual “I need you right here right now” kind of way.

Side Couples;
The GL couple was a 10/10 inclusion for me. Few things in this world can compare to seeing beautiful women falling in love. The fact that there was a confession, followed by sex, followed by June staying to take care of Penny for at least another full day was so wlw I was giggling.
Champ/Tai though.. I was left asking why? There was really no chemistry and their story wasn’t interesting.

NC scenes: (still odd that this term has a different meaning than in fanfic and manga)

There are things that you can get away with in 2-d media that you can’t in 3-d outside of like, corny roleplay porn. Such as jacking it in broad daylight in the garden at your friend’s grandmother’s house while said friends are inside like 10ft feet away. Or, going to town on your bf’s booty in the stairwell of your office. These things require a disconnect from reality that you do not have in live-action dramas.
As far as the GL scene went I was so happy to see it! They really went for it. Not nearly as explicit as the MC, but still some good shit.

Music/SFX:
I swear I used some of these songs in my Canva presentations in Span 402, ya know? And the SFX was just wacky goofy and overused. There were also a couple of abrupt music changes that had me pausing the show to take a lap.

I'm quite stubborn myself when it comes to seeing a story through, even if I'm not loving it. But I have to say that without Oat I probably would have stopped watching, told myself I'm just taking a break, and then forgotten about this series.

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Boat and Oat’s affair to remember.

Have you ever watched a series that felt like it was written and produced purely for the leads’ love affair? That’s exactly what My Stubborn delivers.

At its core, the story follows two very different individuals who could easily be called an “odd couple.” One is tall, reserved, and confident in his sexuality, while the other is shorter, loud, and confused . Watching their relationship evolve—and seeing how their personalities clash and then complement each other—is half the fun. The other half? The unapologetically explicit NC17 scenes that appear in almost every episode. Honestly, it felt like being transported back to my college days, and I couldn’t help but relate to some of their escapades.

Surprisingly, those intimate scenes never overshadowed the storyline. The leads’ chemistry was so strong that it was hard not to believe they had something going on off-screen. The way they looked at each other made it impossible not to root for them as a real couple by the end.

The production values aren’t as polished as other Thai BLs, but that’s not what this show is about. My Stubborn is about missed opportunities, about living vicariously through Boat and Oat’s journey.

I’ll admit, at one point I thought the frequent NC17 scenes might drag the story down—but in the end, I realized the series wouldn’t have been the same without them.

It’s a show I could easily rewatch: it’s cute, funny, sad, and ultimately satisfying when the leads finally end up together. A perfect recipe for a sweet, indulgent dessert. Because at the end of the day, this isn’t about the drama of life—it’s the Boat and Oat show.

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Standout Newcomers

Cast: Punn and Boat, neither of whom I’ve seen before, stood out and are both gorgeous. The BoatOat chemistry was pretty spectacular. I’m not a fan of Yoon, but he was good in this.

Direction: I wasn’t impressed by a few directorial choices. The sex scenes between the main couple in particular were more like a director rendering their fantasies, than likely love-making or plot-driving tools to convey anything meaningful. The more in love the leads got, the rougher and more bestial the love scenes got. They went from tender and loving, to pure lust, which seemed like a reverse gradient in a love story. The consent dynamics were not great. The classic sunset/sunrise mechanic was used to great effect repeatedly, but as a result jumps in time longer than 12 hours were jarring and unexpected.

Writing: The story was fine, but depended too much on lousy communication tropes for my liking. The characters themselves were consistent to themselves, and had arcs, though nothing deep or even remotely sophisticated. The humour was grounded, and gave me a few laughs. I got attached to and invested in the two main leads, who were both flawed but lovable, but the rest of the characters were very uneven, as was their utility in the story.

Production design: Not fabulous, but I think that was more limited by budget than design chops. I suspect a lot was made from very little. Exterior locations rocked.

I enjoyed the drama and the main characters, but it felt cheap, and I think the direction was bad. If nothing else, it’s a string of stimulating sex scenes, but if you can engage with the main characters you’ll get more out of it. I’m looking forward to more of “Champ”, and of the BoatOat CP in future shows.

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