Gelboys

Aaaah.. How to start...

I think some series are made for fun and entertainment, and some are art. This one is art. I think a part of me has change after watching it.

First of all, the way it's filmed, bring so much more than words. I mean for exemple, the scene in episode 7, where Bua and Baabin are talking, the way it's filmed - i don't know the word - make it seem they are kissing. It show great intimacy, even without physical touch or no word.

Maybe I read too much between lines, but the way their nails is a representation of their feelings, is so cool. Baabin and Bua putting gel on their toenails because they want to be discret about nails - and their "relationship" -. Baabin trying to hide his toenails because he want to hide his feelins - and feeling to do both, plus I think wearing two pair of socks may be uncomfortable as much as hiding your feelings. And the way they wants matching nails at the end, because their feelings are now mutuals.

Only wanted to mention that. But I love when Chian say "just accept Bua", to Baabin when they were on phone. The parallel between the phone call and his feelings... Maybe there are more parallel betweens their feelings and others things such as like on tiktok for Bua and Close friend for Fou4mod and Chian.

Wanted to mention a silly thing, but Bua gave me gender euphoria. Didn't know I could feel that for a character, but it's part of the reasons of why I love him so much.

They represent really teenage love, stupid, losers, makes mitsakes and I love them for that.

Also, I love their music references, great band and artist - and I discorver a few because of them.

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WHY DO I THINK GELBOYS IS PEAK CINEMA?

"Gelboys" isn't just another high school romance; it's a quiet reflection on the ripple effects of our everyday actions. What struck me most about this series is its ability to highlight how seemingly small choices and interactions can significantly impact the lives of those around us. The characters, navigating their complex web of friendships and budding romantic feelings, are a poignant reminder that we often exist within our own bubbles, oblivious to the subtle ways our words and actions can wound or heal.
The show masterfully portrays the delicate balance between self-absorption and empathy. It gently nudges viewers to consider the perspectives of others, prompting introspection about our own tendencies to prioritize our feelings over the potential hurt we might inflict. The "slice-of-life" approach, coupled with the authentic Gen Z digital aesthetics, creates a relatable and immersive experience.
While the romantic entanglements provide the narrative drive, the series' true strength lies in its ability to reveal the unspoken emotional undercurrents that connect and divide us. "Gelboys" is a thoughtful exploration of human connection, urging us to be more mindful of the invisible threads that bind us to one another. If you're looking for a series that will make you reflect on your own interactions and the impact you have on the world, this one is definitely worth watching. It is a series that leaves you with a lingering sense of emotional awareness.

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A hauntingly accurate and visceral depiction of adolescence

Genuinely in shock over how good this was.

I saw someone on reddit describe gelboys and cringey, suffocating, and deeply human and I couldnt agree more. I feel like this show gave me PTSD of my own teenage experience. I felt my heart beating out of my chest and my face red with embarrassment over so many scenes. I was feeling things I haven't felt in years. 😂

The cinematography (that was done using only an iPhone?!) was so unique. It felt vouyouristic, almost as if you were standing at the sidelines of these four boys lives and just seeing glimpses of them.

The script was fantastic, I felt like it perfectly represented how gen z (or young teenagers in general) interact with each other and see the world. It felt very cringey, but in an incredibly believable and real way. Like yes, so much of this story could have been solved by simple direct communication with each other BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT, that's not reality! Humans (especially teenage ones) can be incredibly obtuse and hurtful to one another, or do embarrassing and shameful things for the sake of their own benefit.

The acting was actually insane. I (unfortunately) am incredibly sensitive to watching poor or over the top acting and have dropped so many other bl shows because I couldn't get past it. But New, Pide, PJ, and Leon were amazing! I can't believe they all had little to no acting experience when they came on to this show (it's giving Skins vibes tbh). The script for this show is actually so minimal that the acting is so important. There are so many scenes of long silent close ups on the actors faces or scenes where even when they are not the focal point of a shot, their facial expressions and actions work to add more context to the overarching scene. I was so so impressed!

The last thing I need to mention is the chemistry between the cast, in particular, PJ and Leon as Baabin and Bua. I was OBSESSED with them. They were so sweet and heartbreaking and I need 10 more shows of them playing across from each other. (Baabinbua spin-off when?!)

Edit: I can't believe I forgot to mention the whole aesthetics and fashion of this show too. The styling was genuinely so much fun to see! Just so colorful and bright! Bring nails! Bright clothes! Bright everything! I looked forward to seeing new styles in every episode. I'm envious, I almost wish I wore as many bright colors and styles as these guys 😂

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Reached The Top But...

Undoubtedly, this is one of the best BLs to come out of Thailand in a long, long time. Assuredly, it will be like nothing you have ever seen before. It is realistic, fresh, and reflective of today’s fast paced adolescent living. Antithetical to when I was their age? I hate to tell you this, but little has changed! It is exactly what it was like when I was their age. While the forms of communication, clothing styles and slang, and certainly the awesome freedom to express oneself are all vastly dissimilar, what the internal feelings and emotions are and how those are established and exhibited are exactly the same way that we expressed them some 60 years ago and I suspect goes back much further. It is comforting to know that egocentrically and emotionally little has changed. If this is representative of today’s generation, then the reality is we have always been generational gelboys. Where I wanted to see this unique series succeed was to tell a more truthful story. I wish they had used actual teens for the roles so as to have captured the genuine immaturity of the substantive times; not the reflections of the past memories of the current performers. I am not a proponent of using older performers for roles that are clearly contemporary and in the here and now. There is no reason to do so. That IS what the story is about. We want to see, sense, feel, and genuinely grasp what they are experiencing in real time. Not a reflection of what was but a reality of what is. If they had used contemporary performers this would have been a dynamic masterpiece and set the standards for others to follow. It would have lent a greater level of sincerity to the production and the story, and we would have grasped the deeper meaning of the emotions because they would not have lived them yet. We would have watched them project their raw emotions, and for me that would have given it a greater sense of uncertainty. After all, they are teenagers, and they have their whole lives ahead of them. Let us see how each of them would have portrayed their own ‘tabula rasa’.

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GAG

Gelboy totally captivated me! This teen series, a genre I particularly love, offers a relevant analysis of our current society, notably through its exploration of social networks. The modern vibe and references to cult series like "Skam", "Degrassi", "Skins", and "Sex Education" reinforced my enthusiasm.

I was particularly touched by the attachment we develop for the four main characters, Fourmod, Chian, Bua, and Baabin, whose complex journeys we follow, between good and bad decisions. Their relationships, both intense and ambiguous, are one of the series' strengths. I savored each episode and would have loved more, but I respect the creators' choices. In the spirit of "Hormones", an anthology with different characters each season would be an interesting idea.

"Gelboy" takes us through a rollercoaster of emotions and powerfully reminds us of that period of adolescence when we believe we are invincible, when time seems suspended, and when incoherence reigns supreme.

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Highchool cringeness

PLOT

I've no idea how I didn't drop it after the 1st ep. Everything was getting on my nerves. But then I reconsidered the environment and the characters ages. I realized that it portraits high schoolers with love life drama. They try to follow the trends and be relevant with everything. Their ego is so high and their feelings make a party in their bodies every second. That's why it becomes so easily cringe. But I couldn't oversee it. Why was everyone chasing each other's tail to become a forced couple. I understand that they have crushes and they try to make them jealous all the time but at some point you should move on. There's a constant circle of who likes who. They're always on stand by, holding their hearts and getting broken. It's sad how long they can last on hold but also so surprising with how patient they can become. I'm a little confused on the way they flirt but that's bc I'm passed that age and can't relate that much anymore. Not that strange though bc we have experienced this social media connected love life in a different version.

CHARACTERS

Fou4mod and Chian were constantly getting on my nerves. This whole drama lasted 2 years between them? Took them so long to figure out their true feelings? Especially Chian that was taking for granded Fou4mod. And then we have Baa and Bua. Baa treated Bua unfairly. He messed up with his confidence. Criticized his look bc he couldn't admit his feelings when he clearly had developed for him. But he was in denial. He tried to stand by the choice of liking Fou4mod but failed. Everyone was taking the other person for granted and putting them on hold, just so that they won't be left alone. Losing their friends was a huge deal for them. I'm glad they figured out their true feelings and expressed without any more fear their minds.

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so overrated..

why do the characters have no brain cells..?
no literally..i genuinely cant take that none of them gives a damn fuck about their friends and just blatanly leaves them out like what??
and the plot is really bad too it genuinely took me till episode 4 to understand what was going on yet i didnt like it ; the lack of communication between the characters actually pissed me off so so bad :// sure it may be realistic but it was annoying to see that too
and the casting .. who casted new and pide to be high school students?? i dont mean this in a rude way whatsoever but it just didnt make sense.
things i liked : baabin and bua were really cute . too bad i had to wait a trillion years for them ; and the bus ost i love it

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oh to be young, stupid and in love

First I want to say that this was a wonderful series. I lately have had a fallen out of love with thai Bls but this series bought me back. I like the plot. Simple enough but also very complicated. I love how they incorporated latest trends in this series like reels, tiktok, random dances etc etc. Cuz it is a show about teenagers. I liked the characters so much, especially Fou4mod. These characters were all so messy and complicated but thats just the life of a teenager. I like the chemistry that they had with each other although I wasn't really digging Baa and Bua as much as everyone did but I still found them cute. The chemistry between Fou4mod and Cian was done very well. Even though they were both so messy, you can't help but cheer for them. Now the acting also was very good. I loved the sexsual tension they had on. It is definitely better than actually sex. This is the reason I think I come to like this series more. Thai Bls nowadays are always more about sex and less about tension. That I got bored of , it. So in conclusion, this was a really good series.

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So realistic

I cannot stress how realistically this portrayed high school relationships so much better than the majority of BL shows, the drama, the messiness, the selfishness of teenagers making bad decisions for their own gain without thinking about others is genuinely so realistic for high school I'm actually so happy that this was made.
It truly is one of the few shows that I can watch and be like "yeah... this would happen" Because legit the frustration I felt while watching whenever the characters would use each other or just make dumb decisions so that their own life/Love life could be better was like oOoOO so real for high school.
I really liked it! Super realistic! This show was really aesthetically pleasing too, loved all the nails, it got me to start doing my own nails more creatively so that's really fun!

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Unique but not for everyone

Gelboys is set to take a unique approach to BL. The reception of this series among the BL Shia Community has been quite mixed. While many viewers lauded the series for its captivating visuals, distinctive aesthetics, and striking compositions, others found it challenging to connect with the characters. Some fans appreciated certain aspects but struggled to understand the characters' motivations, leading to a feeling of emotional detachment from their journeys. One viewer described the characters as cold and distant, exhibiting a lack of emotional depth. Additionally, the pacing of the series has raised some eyebrows, with critics noting inconsistencies that affected the overall experience. Although the plot had the potential to stand out as unique, opinions varied on whether it delivered compelling intrigue; some felt it was well-crafted and believable, while others disagreed. On a positive note, many applauded the production quality, deeming it among the best they had seen.
In summary, Gelboys has received mixed feedback, highlighting that while certain standout scenes may attract viewers, essential elements like character development and narrative consistency might fall short for some viewers.
Our server Poll resulted in an overall average score of 7.5/10. This is an aggregated review from the BL Shia community. Want to know more and have your voice heard? Join us in Discord: https://discord.gg/zDynbwQpP4 and come talk about it!

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