I Feel You Linger in the Air: Uncut Version

Una gemma, non solo tra i BL

Ho voluto guardare quest'opera nella versione più lunga, in quanto ritenuto che fosse probabilmente più comprensibile e comunque più aderente a quello che doveva essere stato l'intento del regista. se ciò si è tradotto, in certi momenti, in qualche lentezza, penso che la mia scelta mi abbia comunque permesso di guardare un drama molto più ricco.
Sarebbe ingiusto incasellare e quindi declassare questo drama in una casistica denominata BL. siamo in gran parte propensi a pensare e a credere che un prodotto con queste tematiche debba essere per forza un prodotto di nicchia, un po' snob o magari un po' all'acqua di rose, fatto solo per passare qualche ora di divertimento un po' fuori dal coro, magari un po' pruriginoso.
se a volte può anche essere, e non vedo cosa ci sia di male, non è assolutamente questo il caso. Quello che ho appena finito di vedere è un drama che rasenta il capolavoro. Non assurge a questo titolo, a mio modesto e personalissimo parere, solo per qualche incongruenza, probabilmente dettata da necessità cinematografiche, di trasposizione dal libro originale che non ho letto, e così via. C'è una scena madre in cui al maggiordomo Jom viene consentito di interrompere un pranzo con personalità importanti per presentare un'esibizione che non si sa bene come sia potuta avvenire, c'è forse qualche coincidenza di troppo, e ci si potrebbe legittimamente domandare come un subacqueo con muta, pinne, e tutto l'armamentario, sia pronto a salvare il protagonista caduto in un fiume. Ma, per quanto questi accadimenti disturbino sul momento il fluire meraviglioso di quest'opera, sono peccatucci veniali che si perdonano più che volentieri perché sommersi dal flusso indimenticabile di tutte le vicende.
La prima cosa che si nota in questo dramma è la stupenda cinematografia. Colori, inquadrature, transizioni, sfumature, tutto grida professionalità e, prima ancora, arte. ambientazioni e costumi sono spettacolari, pur senza essere sontuosi perché non ci si trova in un ambientazione di palazzo. Ci sono molti riferimenti, allusioni, per esempio tutto un gioco sui fiori di frangipane, splendidi, profumatissimi, ma velenosi e proni ad appassire in fretta.
La storia ci narra le avventure di un architetto, Jom, che sta rimodernando una casa di un secolo prima ed è perseguitato da sogni e da quelle che crede di essere allucinazioni in cui si vede assieme a un uomo in quella stessa casa. Lasciato improvvisamente dal proprio compagno, si ubriaca e finisce con l'auto in un fiume, per poi risvegliarsi nello stesso luogo ma cent'anni prima. Lì conosce l'uomo che vedeva nei suoi sogni, che risulta essere il figlio di un signorotto locale, e i due avranno una passionale storia d'amore. C'è tutto un contorno di relazioni burrascose, forse un po' troppo concentrate per essere all'interno di una stessa famiglia, mentre il nostro Jom risulta essere pivotale al cambiamento nella famiglia, molto all'Antica e incentrata, come spesso all'epoca, su un patriarca duro ma con debolezze.
I personaggi di spalla e secondari sono tutti ammirevolmente recitati dagli attori a cui sono stati affidati, non assistiamo, se non forse in rarissimi casi, ad eccessi di recitazione, il che contribuisce a rendere questo titolo ancora più godibile.
Ma la standing ovation va sicuramente alla coppia principale, due attori magnifici che hanno saputo interpretare una coppia di amanti contrastati in modo persuasivo e coinvolgente, senza praticamente mai sforare nell'eccesso di melodramma. Le musiche e le canzoni hanno sapientemente accompagnato tutta la visione, molto adatte alle immagini e sicuramente coinvolgenti nei testi.
Dove forse è mancato qualcosa è nella contestualizzazione storica delle vicende: sappiamo che avvengono nel 1928 , periodo che nella mia ignoranza penso sia foriero di grandi cambiamenti in Thailandia, ma del quale non so nulla di più. Tutta la vicenda è concentrata nella magione padronale, che risulta essere un po' avulsa da spazio, tempo e accadimenti. Stiamo comunque sempre parlando di un isekai, e quindi questa cosa ci può anche stare.
Il finale, dopo le ultime due puntate costellate da tante lacrime impossibili da trattenere, è una chicca che perdura anche dopo i titoli di coda, per cui si raccomanda di guardare l'ultima puntata fino all'ultimo secondo.
Ci sono coppie e amori che trascendono lo spazio e il tempo. Non è vero, ma fa tanto bene all'anima pensarlo.

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This is a story about fated love

Just finished watching this very sweet and excellent fantasy drama that left me in tears and with a big smile.
Everything about this production was well thought out and flowed. The BL relationship issues were tastefully handled with great sensitivity. Both ML's were invested in their roles and very believable. Some of the other characters were also top notch and overall the standard of acting was very high. There are side characters and other family dramas playing out but the focus remained firmly on Jom and Yai.

It was interesting to get a glimpse of an older, more feudal, Thai family of the 1920's and the dependence of their servants.

I was very invested in their love and anxious right until the end to know how they could resolve this time-span issue. The intrigue and suspense is masterfully maintained and I love that there are not trite answers, I was left happily wondering ................
Simply wonderful and raises the bar for future BL's

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Almost but not Quite

Definitely an interesting premise with beautiful cinematography and good acting, but bland writing and execution. It attempted to give focus to many characters and escape the common BL standard, but with lukewarm results. The story that was building up for the majority of the episodes --even though interesting-- wasn't properly developed and got written off very quickly to give space to the romance, which wasn't properly developed either.

The main characters didn't feel as main characters at all. The actors were good, but their characters were not strongly written, making me unable to get emotionally attached to them or their story. And that goes for the rest of the cast as well. The writting only scratched the surface for their roles with the only exceptions being a few side characters that actually managed to show depth, despite their very limited screen time, making you want for their stories to be explored more.

Another thing that fell short, for me, is that for a period drama, it didn't give you the illusion that it was set in a different period of time. It lacked the cultural references that would create a strong world built and the characters felt modern both in the way they spoke and the way they approached some matters, which seemed unrealistic for a past context.

Overall, it's a nice story to watch and a genre you won't easily find in bls, so I do recommend it to those who want to watch something different and also love slow burns.

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Though no chemistry, in my opinion

Overall, I am very satisfied with the series . It boasts excellent cinematography, an engaging plot, and strong performances. However, I cannot share the overly high ratings given by other users.

In my opinion, the series lacks chemistry between the main characters, Jom and Yai. This might be because, in real life, they do not have BL relationships. As a result, there is a constant emotional distance between the characters. While Nonkul Chanon's restrained acting style is generally fitting, the relationship between Jom and Yai feels more like that of two people stranded on a deserted island—brought together and bonded solely by circumstances.

Despite this, I really enjoyed the series. It offers a unique take on the BL genre, combining elements of history, fantasy, and mystery, making it truly special.

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A new take on BL

The series is a beautiful new take on a BL story. I did really enjoy this series a lot as it takes on you a rollercoaster of emotions. The actors, location, and costumes are amazing. There are a few down parts to this series, as there are a lot of castes to remember who is who. Some of the storylines were annoying and not needed at all. The whole ex situation was very annoying and I hated that he forgave his loser ex and his girlfriend because of their past lives. No matter what he was not worth coming back in the end and there was no point in forgiving him, karam did its job. I did not like the father and brother-in-law and to be honest that time period was a very sad time to live. There were a few over-dramatic moments that looked and felt unrealistic. I wish James and Ming got to shine a bit more. The biggest issue was the end, which was horrible with lots of unanswered questions and I hate when a movie leaves you with more questions than answers. I get that the company is leading the way to a season two maybe but I hate the open ending, there was a better way to introduce a second season. The series has beautiful storytelling with the main couple I do wish they grow the relationship more than focus on the side characters. Sadly I did find myself fast-forwarding a bit to get to parts I really wanted to see as there are a few times it is boring and dragging on. I love the main couple's chemistry and wish they developed it more. This series was a nice start to a fresh look to the BL series. I wish it showed more growth and better flow, as felt slow at some point and fast at others. I do hope to see the main couple again.

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I'm glad that I watched this after the hype, so I wouldn't be swept up with it

Let me say this first- I have watched 5 series by Dup Hup House, with this being the 6th. And...it has fallen into 1 of 2 patterns that I see Dup Hup House has. The series is either meh, but you watch it for the chemistry of the actors or it starts off good, gets meh and ends good/ okay-ish. I felt the ending for this was more why, but then I guess it's set up to have a season 2, I guess (I won't hold my breath for it as trashy BL's seem to get second season before outstanding/ good BL's.

There were some parts I like, some parts I hate and some parts I just wondered why. Like why did Jom end up inthe past? To experience what true love is just to loose it again?! That does not make sense to me. A time travel drama is supposed to have a specific reason for WHY did they end up inthe past. And yes, I see that he helped all those people in the past. But yet, he looses his love.

And the that ending- HOW and WHY? I'm sorry, this series just had to much flaws for me and because I have no idea if it's going to get a second season, I'm rating it on what was present to me with this season.

P.S.- While the overall rating says 7.5 (which I was initially going to give this series), the ending did not sit with well (both parts), so I'm giving it a 7. I really feel like I may never like a Dee Hup House production series, as there is always something in it that I will find flaws in.

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Vibes but no plot

This review is coming at you from a non-novel reader, just FYI. But it's another one of these beloved dramas that I ended up just not quite clicking with.

The concept is fantastic. I love a good time travel / isekai type story à la Scarlet Heart Ryeo or Romance of Tiger and Rose. The acting is sometimes good and sometimes a little awkward.

I feel like my main issue with this drama is that so much of it feels unearned and aimless.

There's a sort of "mystery" subplot surrounding a conspiracy reveal that appears for maybe three episodes, and it's all played out so fast from the moment it's first mentioned to the final reveal. We never really follow the story; we just know it's happening in the background, and then the big reveal happens and the story just ends.

The romance, which is the biggest part of the story, gives me much of the same feeling. I am absolutely a hater of insta-love and "destined love," and here it really does show my biggest problem with it. I'm just not understanding why or when they fell in love with each other, and we're given these romantic moments when I feel like they should still be getting to know each other better. It's weird because the potential is definitely there — the massage scene, for example, is A+ — but it would've been even better if it felt earned.

It also feels aimless in the sense of Jom's time travelling not being explained. It's explored at the start when he's so frazzled and trying to figure out what's happening, but he gradually just starts living a normal life. His situation is only addressed when he's forcibly confronted with it, and it leaves a lot of questions by the end. I constantly wished the drama went deeper into this aspect and upped the stakes. I think this is where the conspiracy subplot could've been used, because it could've given Jom a goal, and a "oh, THIS is why I came back" moment.

Ultimately, the ending also feels quite rushed. I know there's a sequel though, so maybe it'll help. Nevertheless, I think the vibes are still there, and I know the novel probably explains more, but from a drama-only perspective, that's what I felt.

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Wish I had seen it sooner…

I love this series. The casting and production was top tier, really. I loved the chemistry between the main leads and the dramatic feeling of melancholy that overshadowed the love story.

My only issue is the ending.


***SPOILER***


Yai suddenly shows up and remembers Jom. This is so confusing to me because how does he remember if he supposedly died and isn’t a ghost or time traveler himself? We can infer that Yai was the one to request Jom specifically for the renovation of the small house, but HOW does he know/remember him? He’s the one in the past and Jom is the one who time traveled and is supposed to have retained his memories of that time. Yai and Jom are enjoying their reunion, the background of the house interior is shown to be renovated/restored, then they slipped in him traveling back even further to meet warrior Yai- who doesn’t know who he is…yet?! Why? How? When? My brain…

I know it can either move forward with a season 2 or wrap up how Warrior Yai came to him in the river to save him before he time traveled. But still. Poor Jom can’t catch a break and enjoy loving and being loved frfr.

In any event, this series took me a while to watch. I kept it in my queue for far too long, with frivolous BLs taking up space in my brain, and I regret not watching it sooner. I hope they make another season to explain my lingering questions. With the likely production costs and no cringeworthy product placements I have come to expect in Thai BL dramas, it may take a bit, but I can still hope for a 2024 or 2025 release, can’t I? A girl can dream.

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Time Travel Love Story (For Ending, Suggest Reading Novel Ending)

**Brief Synopsis**
B (Architech): Jom
T (Student): Khun Yai

- Beginning: B is an architect and is commissioned to renovate an old manor. Soon after starting however, he is caught up in an accident and time travels back to the past. There he meets T, who immediately recognizes B as the man he keeps dreaming about. That is because this isn’t B and T’s first life together but B doesn’t seem to remember as well as T. The following episodes, T tries to get closer to B, even going as far as taking him on as his personal manservant. B and T spends more time together after that and after another character confesses to B, T decides to confess as well because he is afraid that he will lose B. B accepts after T tells him he doesn’t care if their relationship isn’t accepted.

- Middle: However, their first challenge came when T’s mother tells him he needs to marry a girl from another affluent family. B knows T can’t refuse because of his family and convinces T to accept (**tears warning**) which hurts both of them. But in the end the betrothal is canceled after B finds proof to send the head of that family to jail.

- End: Soon after, their happiness is cut short again when B discovers that he is starting to disappear. He tells T the truth about his identity and the couple spends the last moments B has in this era together (**tears warning**). In the last episode, B returns to his era and finds a letter T has written him. Just as he was crying while reading this letter, he hears a voice calling him and he looks up to find T standing in front of him. T’s reincarnation (his grand grand grand son) with memories of the past came to find him.

**My Opinion**

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT IT:

- The concept is really good but the execution could have been better. I found the show extremely dramatic and too much focus was given to the other characters’ story in the sense that the main couple’s story feels somewhat underdeveloped.
- The episodes leading up to the confession lacked any noticeable foreplay or build up to that moment, significantly diminishing the emotional impact of that moment. In addition, because there is so much drama, even after the confession, watching their relationship can get a little tiring as you are always afraid that something bad is going to happen.
- This show obviously want to be a period drama which is a subject matter that I did not enjoy.
- The acting is really nice and the leads do a great job at displaying the love between the main characters. The rest of the actors do a pretty good job as well...at least better than other shows.
- The intimate scenes are pretty well acted out even if they are pretty tame. Some of their interactions are pretty cute and their crying scenes are emotionally impactful and can bring the audience in.
- Production quality is pretty high.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE ABOUT IT:
- Very simple and predictable storyline with no plot twists or especially notable moments.
- Pacing sometimes feels too slow other times feels too fast. I think it is because they are trying to deal with too much at the same time.
- Period piece is not something I like.

**Conclusion**
This is an okay watch with an interesting concept that you should give a chance.

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A gorgeous and heart breaking masterpiece

I haven’t been as moved by any other BL like I was with IFYLITA, the passion it was made with truly shows, It’s beautiful in every way, the way it was shot so elegantly makes you truly feel there in 1928 . Bright and Nonkul did a splendid job with the acting, tension and chemistry; the love scenes are the best I’ve ever seen, they are sensual and relevant to the story, not just for gratuity.
YaiJom love was so lovely and sweet their character are so well developed I felt immersed in the story even repeating it many times.
Even though I know not everyone is going to feel the same way I do, I want to at least spread the word of the drama that changed me in hopes someone else will find it as endearing as I did, so if you can do give it a try.

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