Blank

Underrated Gem

I was kinda bored of some bl series nowadays, so YouTube recommended this true gem to me today. I wonder why there is no review for this series till now. So here I'm to write my opinion.
This is a story between two women and they have a big age gap. One is in her mid 30s (neung) and the other one is 16 or 18 I guess. The women who ran away from her wedding is now finding her career in painting. And the girl is devoted to this women, finding peace in her presence. Both of them have family problems mainly with their grandmother.
1st I didn't like the acting of the girl (always behaving like a kid, clingy), but at the end of episode one I realised that, to show their age gap she has to act like a kid. And I'm telling you that everybody can act in this series. After gap, I think this has one of the cute actors, good acting, story, music everything.
I like the way neung always protect the girl at any cost like she's a personal bodyguard for that girl.
I'm waiting for the next episode to air.
I heard that this a mini series with only few episodes, then that will be the main drawback of this series. I hope they will give justice to the series by giving us minimum 10 episodes.
Anyway you can give it a try.. no don't try.. watch it guys. It's good. Believe me and please don't drop it in the first few minutes.. you'll regret

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A Beautiful Pairing with a Complicated Romance

Adapted from a novel of the same name, this mini-series is a spin-off of the famous GL “Gap The Series”. This an age-gap GL between Khun Nueng (Faye Peraya) and Anueng (Yoko Apasra), though I want to make it clear that the characters are at the right age to date, so the age difference doesn’t seem inappropriate. The series is a fresh breath of air in between lots of cringy and plain situations. The chemistry between the leads is cute and Yoko’s acting has an innocence to it that will make you adore her with all your heart. Faye as Khun Neung is brilliant, her acting is commendable, her expression doesn’t seem forced or awkward and is very detailed. She has put a lot of effort into her role and while watching the series you won’t find awkward pauses, forced acting, or expressions. Faye has grasped the very essence of Khun Neung’s character, who can mask her feelings.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/06/07/blank-series-review-ep-1-to-6/

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Watch it in 2x speed, it's no worth your time.

I do not believe anyone out there truly enjoyed this, are y'all bot ? I've seen a LOT of people out there, saying the acting being good and all.. It's one of the worst gl I've ever seen honestly. If you still want to watch it, WATCH IT IN X2 ISTG ITS FUNNIER + IT WILL SAFE YOUR TIME.

I kinda like Faye as an actress, being out as queer (slay girl go for it) is so nice, but let me get straight to the point (contain spoilers, if you want an overall, go in the summery at the end):

- The acting is completely shitty, all they did was crying, yelling or looking each other's in the blank of the eyes. Overall it was not natural AT ALL, it was always super cringe. Anueng character want me to yell everytime I hear her talk, why is she acting like a 14years old ? It's bothered me, and I don't really care Abt the age gap, it's a bit weird but ok sure, BUT her, acting like a fucking child is upsetting, it's adding a creepy and cringe layer. The kisses where so bad, this more prod thing but please don't add disgusting kisses sound, why the kisses looked so off ? No eyes closed ? Where do they kiss ? Sorry this is odd.
- Let's talk about the story... Bad storyline overall, Ar-nueng was annoyed but then falled in love ? Ex fiance of her DAD ? it's because of her Anueng have bad sight because of HER, and if i remember (I took like a pause of 4months so it may not be true, it was too annoying) Nueng just tell her she didn't believed her mom ? So we're going to do nothing about it ? Plus, tell me, HOW THE FUCK the main problem at the end is them being gays, the grandma and dad were not understanding but after seeing Ar-nueng taking care of Anueng FEET (wtf you're massaging her feet please) they simply like "ok they're gay cool" ? Where the construction ? Where the redemption ? The grandma being a total bitch is ok now ? I hope people didn't forget she slap them both. PLUS, who the fuck is folk, why there was a whole thing about Nueng doing podcast and then nothing ? Popularity ? AND MAJOR POINT, doesn't Ar Nueng character supposed to not give a fuck about what her (dead) grandma not family think ? We literally saw her in gap, it's not respecting ANYTHING.
- Prod/filming : Ok, so there fucking scène, were they just stare or take litteraly 5min to tell something absolutely useless, to repeat thing or to just not do anything. Like I said, I needed to watch it X2 because everything was too long, and when I did, I was flabbergasted in HOW long the scene were, EVEN in X2 it lasted like 3minutes, and it sounded like a normal conversation IN X2, ITS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS EVERYTIME. + There problem with filters in this, in some plan it has different lighting, different colors, and in another (where two characters talk) one if blank one is yellow, we can see it clearly when Anueng and the maid/auntie idk are cooking together for Ar-Nueng... They didn't have budget ?

Anyways,
SUMMARY :

The acting is horrible, no emotion, no real kisses (like even if we try to fake it we do it better), Anueng character is one of the worst. The storyline is shitty, the prod and filming is horrible, everything is too slow, too cliché. Anueng acting like a child when the other is a grown ass adult make me ick. Don't watch it, or do if you want, at your own risk I guess.

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I LOVE THIS SERIES!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS!!

I love this series how the cast portray their roles very well, I can feel all the emotions whether it's love, sadness this series is a masterpiece I'm aware that a lot of you guys is uncomfortable about their age gap but if you watched this series you'll understand. That love knows no age and gender when you really love a person and it shows the reality of having a relationship Is not easy you both need to put a lot of effort to make it work, I LOVE ALL THE CAST #FAYEYOKO #MARISSAICE I wanted to thanks all the casts, staff, CEO P'wan CEO p'Ice to make it really happen. I'm very satisfied

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A Battle of Delicious Kiss Scenes vs an Awful Plot

As my rather eggagerated title says, this show has two extremes and just not much else inbetween. I've heard good reviews of the overall series but after watching it to see for myself I'm suspecting the high ratings and praise MIGHT just be so plentiful because of the [life saving] kiss scenes. I can give Blank credit for that anyhow. BOTH actressess seem to give their all and passionately so, Faye Peraya is the more impressive of the two in both the lovescenes and her overall performance but Yoko despite some critiscism I've seen here and there unfairly so surprised me in some of her scenes by playing her part at least decently. Faye is a very skilled and believable crier, one of the more natural ones I've seen in GL series and for that she deserves half the credit of the entire show. Plus a bonus for being AN EYECATCH [Don't get me squealing about the scene she wears that dress..........] There's nothing wrong with the acting from either of the leads or any of the other [rather aimlessly hovering] cast. The big problem and demonstrative of Dissapointmenit is nothing other than the extremely weak sagging plot and the laughably low-budget production. Concerning the plot I can go all out and sick up sour critiscism everywhere but I' rather not bother. I'll keep things calm saying there were far too many lags, gaps and bits that just got shoved in without having any explanation as to why they came along or fit in and then slinking sneakily into the background as if the production team expected their audience to have the object permanence values of a toddler. Aneung's mother having a childhood crush on Khun Neung to apparently serious levels in one episode then it never being mentioned once again after that is just one of my scrutinizing examples. As well as the random shoving in of the tom- oh sorry, ''Queer'' character as perhaps an attempt to create tension/conflict between Aneung and K. Neung only again to completely shove any follow-ups of that introduction away into the corner in later episodes. Oh and of course the infamously infuriating Grandma Switch where in one episode Aneung's strict sharp-haired authoritatian grandma is suddenly replaced by a whole new actress with a much more obviously placid personality. That was one of the funniest ''whoops-es'' in the series for me. By that time I already decided not to take the show so seriously as it would just beckon forth more incredulous disapointment. Anyhow, as my large point says, the production and story were just not up there at all. If we have Faye on the top shelf and Yoko a little way below to illustrate the quality they added to the show...well the aforementioned production and plot would be shattered on the floor in front of that shelf.

My issue is with the components making up the rest of the show that is not the acting and scene directory. I think Blank could have been a lot better if it had been treated more intricately and taken seriously by its own crew. I would certainly rewatch it though just for the delightful kissing scenes which along with Faye and [most of] Yoko's acting make up all of the five stars I rate this series. It could have been a lot better than it was.

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Watching this was a mistake. (This Review is for both S1 and S2)

First Review of me so don't expect much from my crappy writing. Tbh i don't like writing reviews, i m lazy af. But this has f#cked my mind so much that i need to write this so that some innocent soul doesn't misunderstand the drama and i can move on from this.
To start, i liked the drama no doubt. Acting good, visuals good, music good. BUT the AGE GAP of 16 is a problem. while normally i dont mind age gap, this is a different case. BECOZ the younger FL is 20. This didn't look much weird in the drama becoz of the circumstances around the FL's. While most people who are above 23 mentally and physically know what's good for them, anyone below might get influenced by this drama. And i really find that disturbing. Seriously, this drama definitely glorified the 16 year age gap romance with younger FL as 20 years. And that is a problem.
It did help early in the story since the older FL didnt look like 36 but when all hell lose, it was frustrating af.
Moral of the story : Don't fall in love with someone who is almost your mothers age/fathers age. Honestly i feel like its almost impossible in real life unless the older person is rich af. But definitely don't fall in love with someone who is 16yrs younger than you. in drama it was bearable but it's really f#cked up in reality. As i thought i shouldn't have started this. i mean imagine a 35 year old comes and says that he/she slept with your 20 year old child. i would straight up report that into police. this has f#cked my mind. honestly ideal age gap i see is 4-6, it can go up to 10 but more than 10 is a dangerous boundary (16 is out of the question unless the younger one is 23+) . and in the novel she was 18 wtf.... i really shouldn't have tested my limits... this was a mistake.
also people might think i am bullshitting but had the parents/grandparents been normal for 20yr old FL, perspectives of a lot of people will change. i for sure did think that since her family is so f#cked up at least her lover loves her, whats the problem if she is 36, she cares for her.... i still stand by that BUT REALITY is different. I just hope that people don't take bad influence from this, people in reality aren't this naive... they have ulterior motives.... every single one of them. there might be 100 people who are this naive in the billions of people but trust me you ain't finding that person. Don't take wrong moral from the drama...... i m talking to the people below 23 mentally/physically.

20 year olds, please for god's sake don't trust an older person (male or female or anyone) no matter how good they are to you, reality isn't a drama. Please don't....

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maybe i was bias

I watched Blank as it was coming out and was not really aware of the plot of the show, all I knew was that Faye was in it. honestly she was honestly the reason I really tuned in. The first episode lowkey weirded me out since the other main actress looked so young, but found out she was of age, so I kept watching.
1) I did see a lot of comments that said that "Yoko" the younger actress, and Faye looked like mother and daughter, and I would not say that was the case. yoko has a young-looking face, and Faye has a very mature "aura", so i get where the comments came from, but it was exaggerated. the grooming allegation were too much ( i would not say the same for that book tho...)
2) Maybe if they aged up the characters a bit, it would not be as bad? starting it off with the younger one in highschool was... definitely a choice, even if she was an adult but the plot got a little better from there.
3) I think blank was good at the time because of the lack of content at the time ( and Faye was in it). comparing blank with alot of shows that are out now, blank would have a pretty hard time.
4) I was biased while watching the show past the 3rd episode. NOW rewatching it was clear eyes, the show was mid, though not as bad as it was said online, it was not the GREAT either, and quite controversial.
5) Do watch the show before judging. some of you might not like it, and that's understandable, other might like it, and that's also okay. form an opinion AFTER WATCHING.
6) Nothing in this series should happen in real life, because it's fiction. its contains elements of stalking, abuse, and harassment, so that might be too much for some.

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Blank: An exploration of everything wrong with early Thai GL. Watch with caution, if at all.

When I first started watching Thai girl love stories, one of the thoughts I had was, “Why are they speed-running everything the West got wrong with queer fiction?” The short answer is Chao Planoy. There is no shortage of criticism for her as a writer and as a person, so I won’t rehash those general complaints. Each season is only six episodes, so I will discuss the series as a whole.

Red Flags
Age gap – 16 years
Power imbalance
Secret Keeping
Kitchen sink - every possible horrible thing – the Planoy playbook

Green flags- None.

Blank, like GAP, holds an important place in Thai GL history. These were early stories that really showcased the financial viability of the genre, which is necessary for companies to continue investing in the genre. That said, it does not excuse the significant problems with this series, nor does it excuse the industry that saw the money but didn’t take the time to consider how they were portraying these characters and how that can affect viewers and the fandom.

Age gap romance has been a long-standing problem in sapphic fiction. I can overlook 5 years, maybe ten, as long as everything else in the relationship is healthy and the younger one is ethically and legally old enough to consent. Neung is 36, Aneung is 20, and that’s a 16-year age gap. At 50 and 66, this would be less of a problem, but at 20 and 36, there is no possibility of this being a healthy relationship. The difference in social experience creates a significant power imbalance in the relationship.

Making matters worse, if you missed the explicit declaration of Aneung’s age in Season 1, you could reasonably believe she is closer to 14 based on her behavior. I’ve seen people write this off as part of “cute culture,” which can make the characters and actresses of the GL world seem younger than they are, but I think that is a fragile argument in this case. The character appears to be infantilized to exaggerate the already disturbing age gap intentionally. These were choices made by the author, the screenwriter who adapted it, and the production staff. It’s just gross. I’ve had multiple conversations with friends about how icky the age gap is in this.

Continuing the power imbalance, we have Neung M.L. Sipakorn, who is literally royalty. Even though she is on the edges of the royal family, and Aneung, who is sufficiently well off that she attends a private school, but of a much lower social class than Neung. Taken as a whole, the power imbalance is fraught with problems.

Secret keeping in queer romances can be OK, but not this time. Keeping a relationship a secret because someone’s family is homophobic is reasonable and standard in genuine LGBTQ+ relationships. Keeping it a secret because the other family sees Neung as a step-mother figure and will assume she is taking advantage of Aneung is an admission that, while not technically pedophilia, the story is leaning really heavily into it.

Spoilers below.
Everything, and the kitchen sink.” This one is just tired and annoying, not actually disturbing. Part of the Planoy playbook is throwing every possible traumatic event at the leads. Blank is no exception. Looking at both seasons we have a disturbing age gap, an even larger maturity gap, a power imbalance, Neung nearly being responsible for the abortion of Aneung, Aneung’s mother being hung up on Neung, Neung once being engaged to Aneung’s father, who tries to get back with her, disaproving family on both sides, homophobic family, threats of forcing adult Aneung to go to college in the U.S. aganst her will, and then the car accident that puts Aneung in a coma for months so Neung can have a mini redemption arc. This is only 12 episodes when both seasons are included, and I probably missed at least one unnecessary hurdle thrown in their way.

All in all, this is one of the worst GLs I’ve watched. Sure, it has some cute scenes, but they just are not worth the mental damage of watching this mess of a show. For the folks who do like this show, I would ask, are you really comfortable with these things, or is it simply that it was early in Thai GLs, and there wasn’t much GL representation in Thai/Asian video series, combined with a bit of nostalgia and a rose-colored rearview mirror?

I'm annoyed the I was not allowed to rate any category at 0 stars. I could understand wanting to verify I didn't miss it, but I wouldn't rate this series at a 1.

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