This review may contain spoilers
Even the story talk about important themes, it's not enough to make it a good product
First of all:The biggest flaw of the entire series is the lack of well-constructed and contextualized drama. In my opinion this defect is due to a lack of knowledge and poor exploitation of the historical period. there is an idea that is not very solid and confusing, and the intent to entertain becomes more important instead of telling. dramas exist because they are an end in themselves as is the drama of the characters. In short, the story is not sad and dramatic because it shows a difficult reality, but it is so because it claims to be. It is didactic, theatrical, exaggerated, a hyperbole of actions and events constructed on the drawing board.
Despite the romantic moments, the idea that could have been very interesting, the actors who aren't even that bad and the various potentials, this series remains easy, bland, and full of errors and historical inaccuracies.
The issue of homosexuality is treated by these characters as if they were in 2023 and no more than 100 years ago. It is overlooked that at times it was considered an illness, and a happy ending like what they present is not only inaccurate but it is a big fuck you to all those homosexuals who really lived in those times and who suffered from it.
There are plenty of errors and inaccuracies and I won't be here to tell them all, the fact is that you can watch what you want but have a bit of critical sense instead of being carried away only by emotion, especially if you make a judgment
The love story and the two Main character:
In 12 episodes we follow the story of Jom and Yai and in the end we realize that we know nothing about them: we know about Jom that he is an architect, has a sister and had a bastard boyfriend. But then? We don't know what other interests he has, what ideas he has about the world or what ideas he is having about the era in which he finds himself.
We don't know what things scare him, what he loves and what he hates. We don't know the most important thing: what he wants.
Do he want to return to the present? We don't know because he never gets homesick. Do he want to stay there? We don't know because he never shows that he's feeling neither good nor bad, but he makes whatever happens to him go well.
He certainly becomes fond of Yai but doesn't seem to have any scruples about his situation.
In short, what does he want and what does he need?
And Yai?
We know that he grew up in luxury, that he suffered pressure from his father that led him not to decide about his life, that he has a more open mind than his family, as well as a kind nature.
But beyond that? What is his relationship with his family? Have her ever felt different because of his open and modern mentality?
What relationship does Yai have with his sister ? Do they get along or not? And it's not enough that he's worried about her because of her husband, because that's the least.
What is his relationship with Robert? Do he hate him, feel intimidated, admire him, respect him?
We barely know shit about Yai. What does Yai want?
If his father had let him take his own path independently, what would he have done? What does he like to do, what are his interests?
We see that he is a great reader and scholar, but of what? Literature, journalism, history, economics, science? What do you always read?
We might say he desires Jom, but why? Why this boy who he barely knows and not Ming, who has been working for him longer, who certainly knows him better, who is an even better servant than Jom (since he knows how to distill liquor, he is brave in taking the whippings in place of the mother.
We discover later that he dreams of traveling and going to France "where there are many thinkers and writers, strikes and debates" he couldn't say more vague things. However, it makes sense that you dream of France, given that in Thai history the English and French were the main exporters of culture and trade. Then, why doesn't his father allow him to travel? To expand his knowledge and therefore enrich his future? Nothing makes sense...
The relationship of the two protagonists is based on little or nothing, because if we were to think about it we wouldn't be able to say what the foundations on which their love was built are. What we see and perceive, to be honest, is that these two are together out of pure physical attraction, and nothing else is apparent. the few things we know about them they never share, they limit themselves to kissing, caressing and hug Nothing else.
The Ambience:
Throughout the entire series, there is zero attention to detail. A lack of care that undermines the pleasantness and naturalness of the narrative.
The things that happen are sometimes so forced precisely because of this flaw.
To. Ex. When Yai's sister and her servant are discovered together it's because they had the brilliant idea of sleeping together in the same bed without closing the door. Instead of having been due to a fatality. Or yai and jom being caught in the garden holding hands. All of this is idiotic, it's a gigantic stretch that makes these characters seem like morons, imprudent and impulsive. Which they are not describe be like. But not only on a narrative level is there an absurd carelessness, but also in the staging.
A trivial example: a servant is serving the meal at the table of her masters who are arguing. she not only listens to what they are saying but intervenes in the discussion by interrupting his service. Now, this is an example of how in this series there is very little and intolerable documentation for a historical series, as a simple search is enough to understand that a servant would never have dared such behavior. The servants had the task of being noticed as little as possible, not to bother and to be invisible under penalty of severe punishment.
In conclusion:
I could still discuss a lot about the lack of depth of any character, the emptiness of our protagonist who never demonstrates his profound detachment of mentality from the people he meets, the lack of evolution of his character from the first to the last episode do not show that much has changed, the vagueness with which everything is treated, the flatness of certain choices in storytelling which are completely unfounded on a historical level (such as the unrealistic arrest of a wealthy and important man like Robert)
Yet I don't consider this series a disaster across the board as I didn't despise the music or certain acting performances. I think this series is a waste of an interesting idea in favor of the usual dramatic sob story with no meaning or some intriguing subtext.
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This review may contain spoilers
I can't give a 10, but it's so close to perfection
I loved the story and I'm so eager to watch season 2, for so many reasons.I still have some doubts about the ending and the special episode ('cause as far as I understood, Khun Yai never traveled to the present in the novel, and in episode 12 he was not travelling, but how was it possible? It was just Jom's imagination? Who knows.
If I have to say something negative, there were some parts I found a bit boring to watch (in the middle of the series), but it didn't stop me from watching the series.
I loooooved the chemistry between the leads, and I think Bright is one of my favourite thai actors at the moment.
Nonkul is fine too, but Bright caught my attention from the start.
Their love is so pure and realistic, that I believed every minute of it.
Of course, if you're not a time-travel fan, please, skip this drama.
There's a lot of history (which is not easy to understand for foreigners, even though it's not undermining the plot at all), and I get that it's not everyone piece of cake.
But if you focus on their romantic journey, it's so good.
The side stories are also well written and interesting (Eung Peung and Maey are soooo cute), while it is super dramatic at times, it's not heavy. I enjoyed it a lot and I will wait patiently for the special episode and S2.
(Bright is so good with that ugly mustache... so who am I to miss this?)
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BEST BL SERIES IN 2023
Everything is a top-notch! ((not biased)) The story is well-explained, not too fast or too slow. The acting from the casts are amazing. The casts ability's to show us a wide-range emotions from the character deserves a standing-ovation. For the production, from the camerawork to the color grading, it's just perfect!! The way they ((sometimes)) blurred Jom –put the focus on Khun Yai– is a smart things to do! I'm not going to give any spoilers here, but there's a logical explanation why the team decided to do that, and that's brilliant! This series has 4 osts and all of them are nicely made! If you ask me to choose the best from those 4 songs, it will be a hard decision for me because every songs have their own meanings and it perfectly aligned with Khun Yai - Jom story.This series ungraves deep in my heart. I'm happy that I've waited for almost a year for this series because every hours that I spend waiting for this is all worth it.
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It lingered with me
This one is a real gem of a time travel romance. Ironically, I actually found the world-building and time travel aspects more interesting than the romance at times, but I'm going to put that down to personal taste.The production quality for this show is truly excellent, the cinematography, music, and editing are all absolutely wonderful and serve to create that romantic and melancholy atmosphere that seems to have resonated with so many viewers, myself included.
The performances and script are absolutely stellar as well; you can tell just how much love and effort was put into this entire story.
The characters are all interesting and complex and their sheer likeability makes all aspects of the story more enjoyable and impactful, from the romance, to the humour, to the tragedy and drama.
Personal favourites of mine are James and Mei, but I honestly would happily watch an entire drama dedicated to pretty much any one of the supporting characters.
A lot of folks have praised the show for the varied and diverse relationships it depicts, as well as for how unflinching and brutally honest it is in showcasing the realities of life for servants, the lower classes, women, and queer people in 1920s Thailand - and rightfully so! The show-runners do a fantastic job of highlighting the social and systemic oppression these marginalised groups used to and still do face to this day in a way that is both realistic and relevant to story.
However, there is one aspect of these depictions that I take some issue with, which is the sheer amount of rape scenes included in the show. Don't get me wrong, they are very well done and brutally effective in how uncomfortable they are to watch, but some of them felt unneeded and borderline gratuitous. I don't think any of them are intended to be outright voyeuristic or titillating, but some of them end up unfortunately somewhat coming off as such, at least in my opinion.
If nothing else, I feel it's necessary to give potential viewers a heads up about this, so consider this your trigger warning.
All in all though, I really loved this show and can't wait for a potential season 2 to pick up where the finale left off (and shout-out to the kind souls in the comments who explained the ending more thoroughly than the show did). Seeing all the character dynamics change and evolve in a present-day setting would be an absolute delight and I hope we get to see it.
Meanwhile though, I would recommend this show to anyone looking for a beautifully shot, beautifully realised historical romance, or to any enjoyers of serious, yet wonderfully charming queer love stories that feel almost time-less.
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Deserve higher ratings
Impressed by the story and great acting of the two major actors, desperately looking forward the season 2.By the way, do I have the chance to watch the season 2 in rest of my life? If not, i will die with my eyes open. Bright and Nonkul, i know you two from this series, but it’s not enough. I hope both of you to show us more good work in the future.
Who haven’t watched this excellent series yet? It’s a great pity you know! Just watch it immediately. It won’t let you down .
Finally, the story and bright &nonkul will linger in my heart for a long time!
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This review may contain spoilers
A beautiful love story
FINALLY, a historical BL love story that didn't end in tragedy. I am absolutely in love with this series. Although they've changed some things from the novel, the setting, the acting, and the chemistry between the cast really enriched the story as a whole. The pace of the show was a bit slow for my taste, but I think they did it so that you'd have time to appreciate the Thai culture and history, and of course, the architecture of the houses. Also, the OST is absolutely fantastic, and really showcased the love and emotional connection of the two leads. Overall, I'm really happy with how this series turned out, and I can't wait for season 2 to come out.Was this review helpful to you?
The Best BL I’ve ever watched
This drama is really important to me and the only one I am so passionate for, and no, it’s not because I haven’t seen many dramas, but it’s captivating story, perfect acting and chemistry, gorgeous cinematography and such a sweet and lovely relationship.The NC scenes are so perfect as well I am personally not the type to care for that but they were placed perfectly and their charm and chemistry are beyond what I have seen before, it feels so really and genuine, the passion and desire was so well done.
So If you are interested in period drama with angst and a slower pacing this is the 100% show for you, but if you are looking for fast and easy show this will definitely not be for you and that’s okay, just try to give credit where credit is due and the production quality was beyond what other BLs have given so far.
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IFYLITA: A MASTERPIECE BL SERIES ❤️
I Feel You Linger in the Air is absolutely beautiful and heartwarming, it just hits different. As someone who’s always been drawn to historical dramas, I gave this a try and honestly, it did not disappoint. I also have a soft spot for time travel stories, and this one blends that element so well with emotional depth and storytelling that I was hooked from the start.I’ve watched a lot of BL series, but none have come close to the emotional pull of this one. I’m deeply invested in it—like, truly. Everything about it is top-tier: the cinematography is stunning, the acting is phenomenal (seriously, every emotion hits right where it should), and even the OST is perfect. It’s one of those rare shows where even the supporting cast gets their time to shine, and I really appreciated that.
Now, let’s talk about the chemistry, Nonkul and Bright? Undeniable. Their connection feels so raw and genuine, and it really sets this show apart. I’ve always loved historical BLs like To Sir, With Love, but that one lacked the intimacy between the leads. I Feel You Linger in the Air delivers that and more—you truly feel everything between Jom and Yai.
The ending definitely left me thinking, though, who is that modern-day Yai hugging Jom at the end? I have a theory he’s a reincarnation, and I’d love to see that explored more. Honestly, the whole story is so captivating, well-made, and beautifully written. It's a masterpiece in my eyes and the only BL series that’s ever made me cry.
Please, let there be a Season 2. I need more. 💙
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Best TV show of the year
As a massive fan of the book I think this series definitely did it justice. While they did have to change some bits to make it more suitable for TV they didn’t take any of the essence away. I really hope they can do a season 2 with Commander Yai (but without the ridiculous moustache) and flesh out the ending a bit more.Overall the actors and writers did a great job bringing this book to life, if you haven’t read the book, I definitely recommend you read it because it gives more details, especially the second part and the ending.
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The Best BL Series Ever
Before watching this, I won't be able to answer if someone would ask me, "What's your all-time favorite BL series?" I've been binging BL series these past weeks; many are good, some are mediocre, but this is exceptionally good!Everyone in the cast is great! I'm surprised that only Nonkul is popular among them! Bright deserves more main roles; he's so, so good for a "newbie" actor! I couldn't imagine someone else take his role. Kim is such a pleasant surprise! As a pageant fan, I've already known him as the Mister International, yet he surprised me here. He needs to have a main role, too! June and Alee are so gorgeous, and they're amazing here, too. How did the team behind this series get these great actors and actresses?
The plot itself is intriguing. I was concerned with how they'd execute it, but they pulled it off! No awkward scenes. I just felt that the story was a bit rushed in the last episode. Maybe they should've just made this series have 16 episodes, or a season two!
The intimate scenes were so good, unlike most BL series which are either too much or lacking. This shows how professional Nonkul and Bright are. They don't even know each other for so long, yet they were able to do such challenging scenes.
I understand that the production company behind this masterpiece is not huge yet, but this deserves to be available on major streaming sites and channels. Every BL fan must discover this gem!
"I Feel You Linger in the Air" is definitely deserving of more. 10/10 No, 11/10.
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Cultural Time shift story
For me the OST is the best since Dark blue kisses, very well.Nonkul, I believe isn’t know in the BL field much and it shows a bit like his kissing. Probably Bright isn’t familiar either, but gives a more convincing gay character. Gradually both do grow towards each other and chemistry is getting there with some good kissing scenes. The story itself starts quite slow and has Nonkul moving in as major domus for Bright. Both do take a convincing stand in favour of being gay and show these sweet moments. I’ve seen other shows with great acting and strong commitment wording to gay life but no proof of the pudding (like teddy bear).
Some of the episodes are a bit too long, but don’t miss out on the cute moments.
The sceneries are very nice and a good eye for the detail and architecture.
One of the better BL’s in 2023, maybe a sequel given the open end?
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This review may contain spoilers
Two hearts, two different times, one epic lovestory
I can't believe what a wonderful journey this was. My heart is still beating fast from the events of the final episode. I would like to go back to this story immediately and find out what happens in the past and also in the future of Jom and Yai. At the same time, I have to take a deep breath and process everything.What impressed me right from the first episode was the beautiful cinematrography and the good acting of the main and supporting roles.
After a car accident that throws Jom into the water, he reappears in a different time, 1928. Suddenly being in a place almost 100 years in the past has triggered a chaos of emotions within him. He was stunned, shocked, afraid, overwhelmed, sad... I was impressed by how believably and detailed his initial problems were shown. It doesn't take long before he meets Yai. From the first moment they lay eyes on each other, it is clear that they are meant for each other. That they are somehow connected. That they have history.
Yai is so loving, gentle, considerate, kind and concerned towards Jom... and also confused and fascinated by him. The actors did such a good job. Every scene they shared felt natural, impressed me, made me excited and made me blush. One of the biggest highlights for me was the kiss in the rain. The passion and love between them was breathtaking, I can't stop thinking about it.
I loved the music. It fits beautifully into the historical setting. The songs reflect the feelings and thoughts of Jom and Yai, with tender and soulful sounds. At the same time the songs show their pain and sadness, their spark of hope and their love that transcends everything.
I'm so happy about the GL side couple. When the two women were first introduced, I was already hoping that they would have deeper feelings for each other.
I also became particularly fond of James and especially of Ming. Jom and Maey really couldn't have a better friend. I'm glad that Ming provided a lot of support for Jom as he struggled to come to terms with his difficult situation. Ming is definitely a new comfort character.
I'm grateful for this fantastic series.
[finished watching on 3 January 2024]
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