That Summer

muito bom… até os três episódios finais

O título da review diz tudo. É um drama muito bem produzido, com atuações convincentes e detalhes técnicos impecáveis, uma prova de como os bl se consolidam cada vez mais em indústria, e uma de peso. O problema, para mim, se dá no final: todos os clichês possíveis foram utilizados, mas não se aprofundou o suficiente nas consequências desses clichês de modo a tornar possível um real aproveitamento por parte da história. Um exemplo: Darvin e Lava ficam um ano sem contato, e, quando se reúnem, parece que nada mudou, e a relação deles avança imediatamente. O roteiro tinha tudo na mão para fazer desse clichê horrendo e desnecessário em algo verdadeiramente interessante. Poderiam explorar as mágoas e incertezas dessa separação, poderiam mostrar o esforço do Davin em reconquistar o Lava (ao invés de fazer o otario ser largado por um ano e ainda pedir em casamento… ugh), e fazer o episódio girar mais em torno deles se amarem apesar de tudo. Tentaram criar ao máximo a angústia para proporcionar uma grande catarse, e terminaram por desperdiçar o final em clichês batidos que podem até servir para emocionar no momento, mas que em nada contribuem para tornar o drama memorável e alvo de revisitas

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Welcome to the island

1/ Jojo
To get this thing out of the way first: I’m not a fan of Jojo’s work. I was critical of "Only Friends" and still consider "Never Let Me Go" as well as "The Heart Killers" to be among the very worst GMMTV releases. This time, however, I have to applaud Jojo’s work; "That Summer" is by far my favorite of Jojo-made shows, with none of the schlock that annoyed me before. This time we got decent cinematography featuring a wonderful island setting and two beautiful gay couples, mostly good writing and Winny's show-carrying performance. Nicely done, sir.
2/ Plot and writing
Loved the plot – which, by the way, is not about a prince and a commoner falling in love, but about an amnesiac and the guy who saved him falling in love. The story writing is consistent and – with the exception of ep. 10 – pretty even; Jojo and Zaii mostly did a good job in this regard. Some of the writing choices I applaud include: (1) it's not a story about politics (even though it features local elections and a failed coup), (2) it’s not an "enemies to lovers" story either, (3) keeping the Arantha part of the story minimal, (4) Wave and Davin being – up to a point – separate and different characters (however the show could have done more with it). It’s not a "summer love" kind of love story either, and – after considering it for a while – I think it’s good that way. Getting reminded that all of this is fleeting and temporary, that things will return to "normal" after a while (once Wave regains his memories, Lava ends his stay on the island and returns home) etc. would have hovered over the show like a dark cloud, preventing me from enjoying it.
While the story progresses nicely from ep. 1 to ep. 9, I’m not sure why ep. 10 was so different – as if Jojo and Zaii didn’t know how to end the main plotline. It’s not like they have written themselves into a corner and couldn’t find a good way out – there are shows out there with this problem, but "That Summer" isn’t one of them. We got an "end of summer" with a shoe-horned, last-minute attempt to create tension or cast doubt that there will be a happy ending. It was pointless, just like the time jump – a fatal trademark of GMMTV shows. With minimal tweaks to its script ep. 10 could tell a story of Lava and Davin parting ways for real – there was so much put into this episode as obstacles for their relationship. The most annoying part was that once Davin told his parents he’s gay and doesn’t want the throne, everyone was okay with it. If so, what was the point of all that talk of returning to pre-island life, royal obligations, forced secrecy, living an unwanted life build on a lie etc.? Storywise it made no sense for Davin waiting one whole year to have that important talk with his parents. The whole ep. 10 Arantha part of the main story should have either (1) been expanded and come in ep. 8 or 9, to present an actual obstacle for Lava and Wave being together, a problem for them to solve and to create real stakes, or (2) been dropped entirely, getting dealt with off camera or with one scene in ep. 10. We got neither of that and most of ep. 10 was wasted on a non-problem.
As for characters, I liked how Lava was written, with solid background and good characterization. He’s unapologetically gay – one can clearly see Jojo’s hand here – and I loved it. Lava doesn’t have a full arc, but does mature during his stay at Peng’s, primarily due to his love for Wave. When he faces Davin in Arantha, Lava is a calmer, more collected version of himself; he also switches from stubborn to patient, which lets him wait for Davin once they part ways. That’s character development I like to see.
As for Peng, I understand his hesitation to come out and reveal he’s Wut’s boyfriend – that part of his character, as well as his at times strained relationship with Wut, was well written. What I don’t get about Peng is his attitude towards Lava. Throughout the entire series he’s overly critical of his nephew, complaining about everything Lava does; this doesn’t change a bit even in ep. 10. There’s no development nor progression, but also no explanation of why Peng would stay like that even after everything that happened to him and Lava in the show. Was Peng supposed to be a replacement for a strict parent or teacher or different figure of authority for Lava to oppose and rebel against? That could make sense if Lava actually was rebellious – which wasn’t the case.
My biggest complaint when it comes to characters regards Wave/Davin. He’s not a damsel in distress, but he’s not a fighter nor rebel either. It might be my bias, but I expected Lava and Wave having a different dynamic, resembling the Sound-Win relationship from MSP. With Wave being far softer that Sound this couldn’t happen. What almost ruined this character for me was ep. 10, which showed Davin as an undecided, timid pushover, scared to stand up for himself, to be honest with Lava and his parents, even when directly offered an opportunity to clear the air or given time to work on his parents (he literally did nothing for one whole year).
3/ Cast
After MSP Winny didn’t really get a chance to shine – the "Our Skyy 2" special was good, but his other appearances, especially in "We Are", were subpar. Fortunately we got none of this here; Winny’s performance in "That Summer" is by far his best. Lava seems like a part written specifically for the young actor and Winny played it beautifully – carrying the show and throwing in some surprises. Lava helping Wave after he got high in ep. 2 might be my favorite Winny scene ever; he nailed the delivery being warm, soft and reassuring – displaying features unusual for characters he portrayed thus far. Also, I enjoyed his performance of the title song "สายลมกับเกลียวคลื่น" ("Wind and Wave"). My only – and very minor – complaint is that in a scene or two Winny’s delivery was almost monotone, as if he lacked proper direction and didn’t know how to act; this shows that there’s still room for improvement when it comes to Winny’s skill.
I like Satang’s performance as it saved Wave/Davin for me. When the script wasn’t doing the character justice, Satang helped a lot, portraying Wave as confident or sickly-sweet and sassy. If I had to guess I’d say Satang followed his instincts on this one and was not lead astray.
Other cast members – who included some long time GMMTV employees like Sing, Thor and Gawin – gave serviceable performances. The supporting cast included Neo and his real-life girlfriend Mint as the only opposite-sex couple and Mond paired with Ryu. That couple initially surprised me, as the last time I saw Ryu paired with a guy was in 2024’s "Summer Night", where he portrayed a high schooler and Java’s boyfriend. Here he’s more his actual age and portrays a doctor – calm and responsible. Even if the character seems a bit boring, Ryu and Mond look good together and do what a supporting couple should do. Despite my reservations about how his part was written, I liked Mond’s portrayal of Peng; he brought some badly needed warmth to the character, with his big smile and goo-goo eyes.
4/ Final thoughts
All in all "That Summer" mostly works well. WinnySatang finally got a show for their own ("We Are" was more like a PondPhuwin + friends show) and did their best: the chemistry is there, the banter is there and they look great together. "That Summer" confirmed that this ship works well and can be entrusted with a BL, doing a better job than some other ships in the company's employ; hope GMMTV was paying attention.

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I didn't expect much, because I'm not a big fan of the main couple - even tought I don't hate them, I'm neutral toward them). But It was a great surprise, they portray well the two main characters.

I just did really hate the "re-lost" memory, it was unecessary and just boring.

Obvioulsy coming from Jojo, the queer part of the story is well written. I mostly enjoy the queer part of the story more than the romance (If that make sense to people). But the main couple and the secondary couple are well with each other (I hope MondRui will be playing together again).

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Finally Winny & Satang have their own drama… Let’s watch…

Story about Lava & Wave. Lava is a troubled teen, especially since his mother remarried. To get him away from the tension at home, she sends him to live with his young uncle by the beach. His uncle wastes no time—he puts Lava straight to work helping run the seaside shop and maintain the property.

One day, Lava finds an unconscious man washed up on the shore. At the hospital, Dr. Wut diagnoses the man with amnesia. With no ID or leads, Lava’s uncle decides to take responsibility—and assigns Lava as the stranger’s caretaker.

Lava names him Wave, and quickly shifts all his chores onto him. But Wave is clumsy, fussy, and clearly unaccustomed to physical labor—clues that he came from a very different life. But slowly, he begins to adapt to life on the island.

And as they spend more time together, Lava and Wave grow closer. They become more understanding and tolerant of each other. What started as frustration turns into understanding. They grow closer—learning each other’s moods, sharing small laughs, leaning on one another.

Before they realize it, something deeper begins to form between them—something quietly romantic.

But then, the Wave’s past starts catching up. Wave’s identity isn’t ordinary. And the reason he ended up on that shore? It was no accident at all.

So now the questions are:
? What will Lava do when he finds out Wave’s true identity… Will it change how he treats him…
? Will Wave regain his memories before the truth comes for him—or will the outside world reach him first…
? And when Wave remembers everything… Will he still remember Lava? Or will he forget the man who saved him?
? And what will happen to their relationship when Wave has to return to his real world… Will Wave’s family be able to accept Lava as his lover..

That's pretty much the story without giving the spoiler. Now what I like and don't.

What I like:
+ I'm so happy Winny & Satang have their own drama. And it's not really dissapointed… Although their character still feels one dimensional, that's just the problem for another day…
+ Wave’s uncle & Doc kinda cute couple.
+ Quite happy to see Neo didn't play a toxic character.

What I don’t too like:
- The story just too good to be true

Overall I'm happy for Winny & Satang for their first drama, but this just another drama on my list

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Unexpectedly good!

Definitely an underdog in the BL world especially because I didn’t see a lot of hype but surprisingly, it ended up being really good. The story was touching and compelling. I liked how every episode flowed smoothly and it never felt cheesy. It had a little bit of everything: it was funny, it was romantic, and it felt very balanced.

I also appreciated that, compared to other BLs, the intimate scenes didn’t rely on a heavy sexual tone. It felt perfect for the couples, even the second leads; everything fit their dynamics so well. The scenery was beautiful, and the soundtrack was lovely. If you want something that’s not toxic, not over-the-top cheesy, and not packed with sexual content, just a soothing series overall, definitely give it a watch.

The only thing I didn’t love was how they packed everything into the last episode. They even did a one-year time jump, but we didn’t really get to see them simply being themselves before suddenly jumping into “Okay, now we’re good, now we’re living our lives and doing what we want.” Still, overall, it was good.

I personally hadn’t seen Winny or Satang act before. From the cast, I’d only seen Neo and Mond and they’re obviously really good at what they do; so it was refreshing to see new faces too. The whole cast delivered really nice character portrayals.

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I got bored

I went into this series with zero expectations. I loved Winny and Satang in We Are, but I was dragging my feet when it came to this series because I was pretty sure I wouldn't like it. Why? I am not sure, because the summary makes it sound like something I would really be into. That being said, my gut feeling wasn't wrong.

Thinking about it, I think my main problem with the series was the fact that I never once felt like Wave/Davin was in danger. It felt like I was watching 10 1-hour-long slice-of-life episodes about a prince with amnesia & a hot-headed city boy falling in love, with side couples that got more than enough screen time. (I honestly didn't even care about the side couples.) There was no running or hiding or stress; it was just a couple of bad guys showing up only to be dealt with almost immediately. We don't see any of what the royal family was going through or how the rebellion was dealt with. Important things in my book that were just handled off-screen. Pheng running for village head was more stressful.

In my opinion, they spent way too much time on the side characters when they could have added actual conflict between the rebels and our main cast and Davin's family, and made the situation feel like something other than a mild annoyance.

I also didn't really believe the love between Wave & Lava. I did on Wave's end because he lost his memory & Lava is literally the one he's around all the time, & taking care of him. On Lava's end, it felt like it came out of nowhere & wasn't something that would have lasted a year of not talking to each other. I really don't think they are ready to get engaged after dating a few months and then not contacting each other for a year. I feel like it was just unrealistic that someone could wait for someone else that long without their feelings changing when the other person may get married. I will say it would have been interesting to see a Prince Lava lmao.

I don't have anything to really say about the chemistry other than I checked out during the NC scenes. I just wasn't interested. The kisses seemed okay; at least they weren't the worst I've seen by far.

The acting was probably the best thing about the series. The only complaint I have is that there was one scene where I felt Lava would have cried if he really loved Wave, and when he did cry at the end of the series, it just didn't look real.

It's disappointing because this plot had a lot of potential, but it felt like they were afraid to do anything that would push the age rating above PG-13.

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Wholesome, alas with room for improvement

Well, a wholesome themed series finally found its end, and I assume it ended exactly as everyone assumed from early on, lol. Which, well is no shame, but a bit an ongoing watershed between good and REALLY good series. And it is a beef I have with series I know others see very different. I like BL stories, but personally I feel a BL just on its own just doesn carry enough interest for me, with some rare exception when either the actors or the directing is so great, it does all the job, like some of those small Korean "Kammerspiele" - small chamber plays which revolve around two people with little extra.

But that is not the Thai style, and if I compare it to, right now "Goddess Bless You from Death" (Pooh/Pavel) I felt there was a lack of story here. I mean BESIDE the love, a background against which the lovers to be develop and measure their growth. In this, this series was quite shallow waters. David/Wave had a very helpful memory loss, with Lava first disliking and then falling for him. Not entirely a really breathtaking or new idea, alas. As it is that story was well written and performed, but it had a foreseeable hiccup at Episode 9, the inevitable and again entirely foreseeable "I remember the past but not you" which again to no one's surprise made the 10th episode extremely rushed. So many problems were solved, even a one year time skip. Nothing about the coup, no development of the parents or the fake marriage, not much to see of a year of suffering. And suddenly a five minute happy end, which was nicer than other five minute endings but as lacking as such endings unavoidable always are.

Goods to mention are the scenery, the locations, camera directing and also the many beautiful songs. A scope of many different moods between the actors and their stages of relationship. However, being true to heart, Winny/Satang is not a power couple. Both seemed to act reserved and I have seen many stronger emotions on display given the dramatic moments involved. Satang's acting is okay, but I just could not really feel so much behind the face of Winny. He just sorely lacked the strength to show anger, fear, sadness convincingly enough to me. Often it felt more like a variations of stares. One could accept this, if we had a backstory, maybe he was traumatized, maybe if he had a form of autism or anything that would explain such a reduced facial reaction. It was just a love, given the acting, thinking of it without music, scenery and story supported I had a hard time to buy. Even in wording, I missed those powerful breaking points, explaining deep love or deep suffering at least in words. If you compare it to other series actors (First, Fourth or Pooh) there is just a way too steep difference.

I laude them for making an unusual couple, breaking a bit from the mold. Winny is no model type and Satang is. Winny is stoic manly but Satang isn't "feminine" but strong on its own. It saddens me to say, but Winny just was the weak link of the entire series. And I hate to say that because it seems like "I just want perfect doll actors", but he just didn't work for me as a convincing lover. And the problem is: it isn't their first roles, even though their first main couple series. So how much air to learn to act better is in the stars.

As a wholesome series I felt well watching it, I wasn't bored, it was okay, but against the rising competition it felt just weak. Sure a lot of series are worse, but a lot also now are just better. Just take Pond currently playing the excentric Mafia boss and you know what I mean with really interesting acting. As ever making use of the full scale, it is one of the more difficult series to rate, knowing some prefer just BL and not too much other stuff, so I split it up to explain:
STORY: 7
DIRECTING: 8
ACTING: 5
MUSIC: 9

OVERALL 7/10

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That Summer, a story about fantasy but reality

While I came to watch this with less expectations, I spent a pleasant time with Lava, Wave and the blue beauty of Southern Thailand.

The plot was not new but the way the storyline goes was nice. I do not much to say here because they picked a very simple plot, crafted it to be a better drama and story telling with good acting. Though I wish we got to see a little more of Prince Davin's family and what happened back in Arantha while the time he was gone. The ending didn't fully satisfy me, leaving me craving for more. But over all, even with a simple, slightly cliche plot they brought us a drama with characters that felt closer. The show also tackled few sensitive topic such a LGBTQ+ right, city cleanliness etc. too.

I loved how harmonious the drama is through out. To match the scenic beauty of ocean they did a color grading which made the a hundred times better and their outfits matched the color grading and outfit to the character. I absolutely loved the abundance of blue color everywhere. One good thing about Jojo is he will bring a whole exotic vibe to it. The cast put a lot of effort to travel back and forth between Bangok and the island and had to shot multiple scenes under water. The way of direction is also little different as it made it feel like I was being a part of Lava and Wave's life. It was definitely pleasant to the eyes.

Lava was definitely Winn's best role so far. He truly captured every emotion the Director was conveying to him. Satang is such a versatile actor. The subtle changes of behavior as Prince and Wave was portrayed beautifully. I am so glad Mond got a partner. Ryu along with Mond makes a great pair. Seeing NeoMint on screen made me feel giddy. And lastly Namtan was meant for the princess role. The cast didn't just defined the characters for the screen.

It truly felt like I was brought back to That Summer.

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there's always haters on the review ? dang

So.. here we go
It’s not a series with a completely new genre or theme, but it still has its own distinct charm.
The story and pacing are light, the cinematography is pleasing to the eye, and the chemistry between the main leads—along with the acting of the supporting cast—is very strong.
I first knew Winny and Satang from My School President, and their performances have continued to catch my attention. They perform exceptionally well in this series. Their eye acting, micro-expressions, and body language have clearly improved here.
For those who haven’t watched it yet, don’t hesitate. Just prepare some snacks, get into a comfortable position, and you’ll be able to finish it in one sitting.

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Come on, Let's be objective.

Everyone has to admit that the cinematography in this series is very pleasing to the eye. The acting from all the cast members is solid, and the chemistry between the main leads (Winny and Satang) is undeniable.

From me to those of you who haven’t watched it yet and are still hesitant: don’t rely on reviews that are overly biased or overly filled with hate. Look for reviews that are neutral and objective, and give this series a chance.

It’s a light, easy-to-watch series with a fast-paced storyline. However, because of that, one of its weaknesses lies in the duration, the episodes feel very compressed, and some scene transitions may come across as a bit abrupt. And even if you want to discuss the details or feel dissatisfied about certain aspects, there are still many good things about this series that are worth talking about right?

Overall, I don’t regret watching this series. It’s a light show that carries a warm summer vibe and is truly a feast for the eyes.

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That Summer (I Met a Prince on the Beach)

When I started That Summer, I went in with moderate expectations, even though the trailer had been on my radar for a while. I was immediately impressed; the series does an excellent job of balancing a classic summer romance with an unexpected layer of political drama. The production value is notably high, particularly with the gorgeous seaside setting.

The core strength of the series is the character of Lava. His portrayal was excellent, showcasing a dynamic shift in personality. He starts out stubbornly rebellious, trying to maintain a cool exterior. However, the performance successfully conveys that underneath his initial defenses, he is the most genuinely empathetic and caring person among the group.
​Wave (Prince Davin), dropped onto an unfamiliar island with amnesia, is the catalyst for the central conflict. The memory loss storyline, which could have been cliché, actually works brilliantly. It allowed the relationship between Lava and Wave to develop organically, building a strong, close foundation based on who they are, not their titles.
​The drama smartly uses Davin's political situation to deliver a powerful message: the betrayal comes from the person he trusted most. The story highlights the necessity of checking your surroundings, making the complicated plot feel grounded in high-stakes reality. Their destiny coming together on that beach felt both sweet and compelling.

​I have to highlight Uncle Pheng and Dr. Wut. Pheng, who perhaps looks too young to carry the "Uncle" title, provides a grounding presence. What I loved most was the maturity and stability of their relationship. There was no tedious back-and-forth drama; their connection was straightforward, supportive, and already established. Their subtle, secretly-dating dynamic added a charming and mature contrast to the main couple’s intense journey.

Overall, the story is fantastic. The characterizations are strong, the plot is layered, and the entire cast delivered phenomenal performances. That Summer is a highly recommended watch for anyone looking for a BL drama that delivers not just on chemistry, but also on a genuinely engaging, well-executed plot.

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