The Loyal Pin

Loyal Pin: The Groundbreaking GL That Put Thai Culture on the Global Stage

Loyal Pin is hands down Freen & Becky's best drama yet! Their acting has grown so much since GAP—more natural, emotional, and nuanced. The chemistry? Off the charts. Their intimate scenes feel real, not forced, which makes their love story so believable.

The cinematography is stunning, and the fact that it’s the first GL to partner with the Thai government to promote culture globally is huge. The formal Thai language made it challenging, but they nailed it. The plot was engaging, the production quality top-notch, and it set a new standard for GLs.

A historic, beautifully crafted series that proves Freen & Becky are a powerhouse duo.

I’m looking forward to their next series 4 Elements - The Air and Cranium coming soon.

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One of the best GL series to date

The Loyal Pin is one of the most visually striking and well written of the GL dramas.

Acting was topnotch and they didn't hold back on ANY of the scenes. You really believe they are lovers with that level of chemistry.

Cinematography was beautiful and rich with Thai culture, and I was hooked despite it not being my type of story. TLP is very fluffy with minimal angst until nearing the end where it truly unfolds. I generally like plots where the angst makes the fluff fluffier, but here it's the fluff that makes the angst angstier.

The character development is well done. Anin is a strong-willed princess. She grew up in a place of privilege and taught to reach for the stars. She'll fight for what she wants no matter the consequence. Pin is a softhearted commoner. She grew up in a less privileged position and taught to be grateful and subservient, to always know her place. She's compassionate, understanding, and will dutifully do what she thinks is best for everyone even at the cost of her own happiness. Anin's strong will and Pin's softheartedness is the quality they love in each other but it's that quality that ultimately leads to disagreement. Their upbringing shaped them and their relationship helped them grow past that.

The story is well-written but suffers from a pacing issue and the overuse of jealousy. The overabundance of fluff is what makes the pacing off and the amount of times both leads got jealous of who the other is spending time with and needing reassurance over it is immense. A few scenes about their jealousy in a world where their relationship is taboo adds to the angst, but the sheer amount shown is unnecessary to the overall plot.

There are many side characters and the spotlight was always on Anin and Pin with each other. The ratio of Anin and Pin scenes to scenes between them and the cast is unbalanced and makes their world feel less connected. I found it jarring, but it also makes sense in the context of Pin's situation. On the scenes where there is interaction with the other cast, it's Anin who interacts with them while Pin never interacts with anyone outside of a few characters and if she does happen to interact with any of the other cast it's through Anin. Reflecting back on it now, it highlights Pin's lack of a support system and low rank. Anin's family, who Pin has known most of her life, treat Pin like a beloved, distant family member they don't know personally. The interactions are always initiated by them with a polite greeting or offhanded comment within a group settings. They never interact one on one. Despite being their niece, Pin doesn't dare get close to them and they have no reason to get close to her either. While Pin is the adopted daughter of an adopted princess, she is actually the social rank of a commoner. I hadn't registered the divide between social status, so I used to think their relationship was incongruous.

The last few episodes were my absolute favorite because the whole fluffiness of the series was building up to the angstier parts which made it all the more impactful. We really see the struggles noble women go through in that period. The Loyal Pin is definitely a top tier drama within the GL community.

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Well Done

⚠️ GL Grading Disclaimer
Before we dive in, a quick note on how I grade GL series: My primary focus is on the love story, chemistry, and plot. I grade on a curve, meaning my ratings are “for a GL,” recognizing the specific landscape and production context of girls’ love media.

If I ever rate something a 10, it’s because it absolutely delivers in one (or more) of these areas: undeniable chemistry between leads, high enjoyability, or a unique and/or excellently executed storyline that stands out in the genre.

Review:

The Loyal Pin is the kind of GL series that lingers with you—not because it reinvents the wheel, but because it commits to what it is and does it exceptionally well.

The pacing and character arcs are tight and believable. Princess Anin’s tenacity in pursuing Lady Pin is a major highlight. From her teenage years through adulthood, she never wavers. Yes, some of that drive comes from her status as a princess used to getting what she wants, but that only adds to her complexity. In contrast, Lady Pin’s struggle is quieter but no less meaningful. Her choices come from duty and fear, and while she frustrated me at times, her arc made sense for who she is.

The romantic tension had me on edge more than once—I kept bracing for someone to walk in on a kiss. That tension was balanced by some surprisingly strong comedic beats. I laughed out loud more than I expected from a period drama. Prik (Lady Pin’s maid) was a standout, and Prince Anan added a grounded charm to the mix. The side characters genuinely helped flesh out the emotional world of the series.

When it comes to chemistry, Freen and Becky never miss. They manage to be both adorably bubbly and quietly sexy—sometimes in the same scene. Their connection feels organic, with a mix of sweetness and intensity that few GL pairings achieve.

Chemistry rating: Hot AF
(Scale: Hot AF, Steamy, Warm and Cute)

The production quality also deserves praise. From lighting and cinematography to costuming and set design, everything feels purposeful and polished. I especially appreciated how Thai culture was woven into the story—whether through food, rituals, or visual detail—without ever becoming heavy-handed.

My only minor critique is the aunts’ sudden change of heart—it was a little too quick to feel natural. Still, it’s a small flaw in an otherwise rich and satisfying story.

Final Verdict:
The Loyal Pin is a rare period GL that delivers on every level—story, romance, cultural texture, and emotional payoff. Whether you're new to Thai GLs or already deep in the fandom, this one is absolutely worth your time.

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" A Heartfelt Tribute to Thai GL Series and Their Bold Celebration of Love and Culture"

First of all, I want to thank Thailand for producing GL (Girls’ Love) series while other narrow-minded countries remain immersed in promoting homophobia through media content. I am genuinely grateful to this country because I would not have been able to find happiness and joy during my darkest times if it weren’t for Thai GL series. Thank you so much.

As for this series, it created an unforgettable space in my once-shrouded heart. To be honest, I found some episodes to be dull, as it felt like they repeatedly featured similar scenes. However, despite this flaw, the show deserves to be praised and applauded for its unique qualities.

The series beautifully captures the little details in the environment, making every scene vivid and immersive. It showcases traditional Thai food so exquisitely that I felt like I was watching an aesthetic food blog—something rare in television. Moreover, it highlights Thai royal traditions, cultural events, and functions, offering viewers a glimpse into the royal attitudes and behavior of Thailand.

Above all, the show masterfully portrays the calm, sweet, lovely, restless, emotional, romantic, intense, overwhelming, and even dangerous love between two Thai royal women—Princess Anil and Lady Pin—who belong to a conservative society.

One of my favorite moments was the scene where Anil bravely declared her love in front of her mother, brother, and Lady Pin's aunt, Pattamika. Her courage to confess her secret love for someone of the same gender in front of her family filled me with pride and left my heart boiling with emotion. I admired her guts to stand up for her love against societal rules and restrictions.

This show is not only a beautiful love story but also a bold statement about love, culture, and courage. I truly loved it.

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A Great Period GL Series

The plot is great, but the pace slows down in the middle. Most importantly, it inserts advocations for the LGTBQ+ community and marriage equality into the storyline, especially towards the end.

The acting is phenomenal. Freen acted exceptionally well as Khun Pin through her eyes and body language. While, Becky is the dark horse who improved drastically from GAP with little cringey scenes.

The OSTs are beautiful with variety types of music.

Lastly, the production is grand and well-done, specifically the cinematography. Not one shot is ugly.

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Sortez les mouchoirs !

Comme on pouvait s'y attendre de la part d'un drama avec Freen/Becky, on est sur du très haut niveau en terme d'acting et d'émotions véhiculées. Mention spéciale au reste du cast qui est d'une pertinence et d'une justesse qu'on voit rarement.
Côté scénario, on part sur une intrigue historique qui, forcément, de part son contexte sera très présente. Que ce soit dans la manière d'agir ou de réfléchir des personnages, ce qui peut être particulièrement frustrant par moment. Cependant, il faut tout de même applaudir le rythme du scénario qui est très bien géré selon moi (ni trop de rebondissements, ni trop peu).
D'un point musique, c'est un grand "OUI". Avec une bande son d'une justesse rare, des paroles qui collent à l'intrigue, que demander de plus ?

Bref, vous l'aurez compris, The Loyal Pin est un drama à ne pas manquer.

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