That Summer

That Summer: A Summer That Stretched Too Long

Let me start by saying that I went into this series genuinely excited. It had all the ingredients for a delicious romance: an island setting, summertime vibes, an amnesia arc, a city-boy-to-island-boy character arc, and etc. Unfortunately, the show didn’t go the way I’d hoped.

Starting with the main couple, as someone who really enjoyed Winny and Satang’s chemistry in MSP, I expected their chemistry to be even stronger with them as the leads. To my surprise, I felt none of that chemistry here. On top of that, the writers made Lava quite unlikeable in the early episodes, which made it hard for me to root for the romance and him as a character.

As for the main romance, I understand they were going for a “simple summer love story,” but with ten episodes to fill, it needed more . Halfway through, it felt like the plot stopped moving forwards. Instead, we repeatedly watched the characters do everyday activities like teaching, playing on the beach, and so on. While the visuals were defo beautiful, there’s only so much visuals can do. This drama really could've been better with fewer episodes and a tighter screenplay.

Then there’s the palace arc, where the prince’s family was trapped. This could have added some spice or story depth, but because the show was so focused on the simple romance mode, they didn’t explore it at all. All we really learn is that Davin’s family was held hostage and then somehow won in the end. Honestly, the palace arc with another guy trying to take over made no sense. Since he was trying to get rid of the prince, he should’ve asked for proof of the prince’s death or sent a larger group to finish the job. The fact that only Victor and Paolo were sent made zero sense to me. With no deeper explanation or build up, it was hard to take any of it seriously. It felt like a fever dream.

There was also a second amnesia trope which, while completely unnecessary, I was still able to tolerate. However, the way they rushed through that entire arc in just two episodes really weakened the emotional impact of everything that happened earlier. I genuinely wanted to see more of Prince Davin and the realistic struggles that would come with a relationship that had such a clear power imbalance, but the show ignored all of that until the very last episode. By then, it felt far too late to matter. I did not care about the main couple at all by that point.

The second couple actually had more of a storyline, with more well-developed problems and feelings, but their arc still felt rushed. Especially the adoption plot. It felt like the writers suddenly decided, “Hey, let’s add an adoption angle, people will like that,” without thinking it through. It ended up portraying adoption as something easy and casual, which left a bad taste in my mouth.

The supporting characters, while enjoyable, were also quite one dimensional. Tum = Tik-tok obsessed, loves weed & alcohol, likes Kratae. Kratae = Responsible nurse and Tum's crush. Till the end, I never quite understood why they liked each other / what they liked about each other.

PROS
1. Beautiful cinematography
2. Strong production quality in terms of location setting and color grading.
3. Brings out topics that are fairly new to Thai BLs such as adoption, weed use, queer people in politics, etc.
4. Stronger second couple
5. Decent Acting

CONS
1. Main leads had no chemistry
2. Extremely slow/draggy plot line
3. Wasted potential with the palace arc.
4. Rushed second couple
5. Inconsistency between the 'simple summer romance' idea and the attempted dramatic political elements.

Overall, That Summer had the potential, but the weak development and draggy pacing made it bland and way less impactful than it could have been.

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Uma história simples que me prendeu do jeito certo

Eu gostei de assistir essa série. Assim… não foi a minha preferida, de fato não foi. Mas é gostosinha, sabe? Dá um certo conforto, aquele tipo de história que você coloca pra ver e, do nada, percebe que está acolhida ali dentro. E o Winny e o Satang… meu Deus. Belíssimos. Eles entregaram tudo aqui, química, presença, aquele brilho que faz a gente acreditar nos personagens. Eles realmente deram alma ao romance, que é bem construído e tem uma doçura que combina com a vibe mais melancólica da série.

O mistério em torno do Wave funciona muito bem: de onde ele apareceu, o que aconteceu com ele, por que ele parece sempre meio entre dois mundos. E aí, quando ele perde a memória pela segunda vez e volta a ser o príncipe Dawin, eu achei isso ainda mais interessante. A série ganha um fôlego novo, cria essa correria emocional pra recuperar a memória dele de novo. Não é a reviravolta mais revolucionária, mas é boa, é divertida de acompanhar, e faz sentido naquele universo.

E é isso que eu tenho gostado nesses novos BLs: eles finalmente saindo um pouco da mesmice de máfia, faculdade e colegial. Aqui eles apostam em outro clima, outra estética, e isso já deixa tudo mais refrescante. A fotografia ajuda muito, tem cenas tão bonitinhas e calorosas que dá vontade de pausar e só ficar olhando. E aqui isso fica claro: é uma trama simples, mas feita com carinho. E eu gostei bastante de acompanhar.

O Lava é fofíssimo, mesmo com toda aquela pose de durão, "Sou foda, e não me importo com ninguém!", Aham, tá bom. O Wave chega, quebra aquela casca inteira, e de repente o homem tá ali apaixonado, arriado os quatro pneus sem saber como lidar com os próprios sentimentos. Essa construção deles é uma delícia de ver, lenta, doce, e com um cuidado gostosinho de acompanhar.

E os personagens secundários? O tio do Lava e o médico são o puro açúcar. É aquele romance fofinho que equilibra o drama mais carregado do casal principal. A série inteira fica nessa divisão gostosa: o peso emocional com Wave e Lava, e do outro lado um casal que só quer ser feliz e dar beijinho na testa um do outro. Eu realmente amei acompanhar os dois núcleos.

No fim das contas, não é um 10… mas tá ali no topo do coração, sabe? Daqueles que você lembra com carinho, mesmo que não tenha sido perfeito. não muda sua vida, não reinventa o mundo BL, mas dá pra sentir que foi feito com coração. É uma daquelas histórias que você termina pensando: “é, eu gostei de estar aqui”.

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Perhaps I'm biased towards Thatsummer, since Winny and Satang are my favorite couple – and my comfort zone. But, for me, there's absolutely no way I wouldn't give this production a 10/10. Everything fit together perfectly, as it should. Some points are debatable, but overall, they delivered everything they promised and even more. Thatsummer is the kind of BL that leaves a cozy feeling in your heart – even after making you cry a little – and the desire to watch it again and again.

First, I want to praise the impeccable acting of ALL the actors: none of them behaved like doormats, they all portrayed their characters very well and embodied their pure essence. Winny was incredible; at the beginning, everyone expected a bad boy for no apparent reason, but little by little we understood the character, and his construction and development were surreal, both in his complex personality and in the way he represented "real people" with a real body, a real personality, and family and personal problems. Satang was literally a prince; I found his character development incredible, both personally—it was beautiful to see how he evolved as an actor over the years—and as a character. Wave (Nava Mahasamut) and Davin were different people, and Satang's gaze showed that difference between them. But overall, Wave's growth throughout the story was beautiful, going from someone totally dependent to a young leader. Davin, on the other hand, was a giant in choosing his own path.

The secondary couples charmed me. The two parents of the year: Uncle Peng and Dr. Wut, and the charismatic and funny Tum and Kratae, who represented typical young love. Both couples had a beautiful love story that made me very happy, a relief from the inevitable that was to come. I loved how this BL didn't leave any loose ends (except for Arantha's storyline, which, for me, is the only point that could be improved). We had development regarding Tum: his love for Kratae and his dream of being an influencer! And what about Lava: her mother and also her father's motorcycle. These are points that worried me in the middle of the BL about how they would be addressed, but I was very happy to know that we had resolutions.

The highlights of the BL are MANY, but I can't fail to mention: when Wave realizes he loves Lava and declares his love (literally), when Uncle Peng and Dr. Wut get married, and when Prince Davin comes out to his parents! The BL in general is beautiful: it's visually pleasing and lovely to watch, the music makes the whole plot more engaging and enjoyable, the acting, for me, is 10/10. In short, a perfect score because some things can be overlooked and because it was clear how much Winny and Satang dedicated themselves to the entire production.

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Sob Céus Cor de Mel, O Amor Desenhou Seu Próprio Lar

“That Summer” é aquele tipo de BL que chega devagar… e de repente te abraça por completo. Desde a primeira cena, eu fiquei simplesmente apaixonada pela cinematografia cada enquadramento parece uma pintura, cada cor conversa com a emoção dos personagens, e o verão vira quase um personagem próprio, quente, suave e cheio de memórias.

Os atores entregam tudo: química natural, olhares que dizem mais que diálogos e uma sensibilidade que deixa cada momento carregado de significado. É impossível não se envolver com a jornada deles um romance que nasce aos poucos, cresce com cuidado e se transforma em algo maior do que eles imaginavam.

Mas o que torna “That Summer” realmente especial é algo histórico dentro dos BLs: foi a primeira vez que vi um casal protagonista vivendo uma história de amor e… criando uma filha juntos. Esse detalhe não só emociona, como amplia toda a narrativa, trazendo um toque de realidade, responsabilidade e ternura raríssimos no gênero. A dinâmica dos três é de derreter o coração afeto, descoberta e aquele sentimento doce de “família encontrada”.

No fim, “That Summer” não é só um BL; é uma experiência sensível, visualmente impecável e profundamente apaixonante. Um amor de verão que fica para sempre e que mostra, sem pressa, que o amor gay também pode ser sobre lar, futuro e escolhas que florescem além do romance.

Se você busca um BL bonito, envolvente e marcante… esse aqui é para guardar no peito.

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Um gostinho de quero mais.

No 10º episódio de That Summer, a série entrega um dos capítulos mais intensos e apaixonantes até agora. Os protagonistas finalmente começam a se abrir por completo, deixando cair as últimas barreiras e mostrando sentimentos que estavam escondidos desde o início. Cada olhar demorado, cada toque sutil e cada conversa cheia de emoção revelam o quanto a relação deles se fortaleceu. É um episódio que mistura doçura, maturidade e aquele friozinho na barriga que só um bom BL tailandês consegue trazer. Para qualquer fã, é impossível assistir sem se envolver totalmente e ficar ansioso pelo que vem a seguir. 🥰❤️

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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 "j 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.
‹ Avaliações de usuários: That Summer 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

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Al principio solo esperaba un enemies to lovers bastante lineal, los comportamientos de los personajes eran bastante repetitivos en los primeros caps, pero a medida que fue avanzando la serie, me sorprendió para bien.

Los personajes tienen un gran desarrollo a lo largo de la serie, hay introspección, miedos, amor, cuestionamientos y cambios muy de acuerdo al contexto, teniendo todos ellos un gran crecimiento personal. Además, a través de sus historias o miedos terminas empatizando con el por qué de sus actitudes y encariñandote con los personajes. Se destaca MUCHÍSIMO lo visual, esos paisajes, los tonos fríos que acompañan toda la serie y los planos tan detallados y naturales la hacen demasiado hermosa. El romance que van construyendo en ese contexto tan particular es muy bueno y lo manejaron de una forma bastante realista, dejando una pareja principal muy hermosa con escenas 10/10 y una tensión sexual que rompía la pantalla.
Lo que no me gustó fue la pareja secundaria, la actuación del doctor particularmente, y la falta de emoción ante sucesos impactantes como un casamiento o una adopción me hicieron sentir decepcionada. Otra cosa que no me encantó fue el apurado cierre COMO TODAS LAS SERIES DE LA GMM, fue un lindo final pero muy atolondrado todo. Aún así es una serie muy hermosa y entretenida

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Sem titulo

Escrever uma opinião mais básica. Achei uma das produções mais bonitas que vi esse ano, pelo menos a parte que se passava na Ilha. Os cenários, as lojinhas, as filmagens em que eles andavam de moto, os momentos no mar, até a escola. Todo o cenário belíssimo. Também achei muito caprichados os figurinos. Eles ornavam com os fundos, e não parecia uma bagunça. Gostaria de ter o guarda-roupa inteiro do Lava. Estou com vontade de visitar aquela ilha, minha meta se eu for pra Tailândia.
Achei o casal com muita química, gostei deles discutindo antes da paixão, que eram picuinhas bobas, mas realistas. Quem nunca se estressou com alguém até por ela respirar KKKKKKKKK O Lava virou um dos meus protagonistas favoritos de BL, achei bem desenvolvido e "racional" a forma que ele agia, apesar de ele sempre ir pela emoção. Não precisava do drama da perda de memória que acontece no ep 9? Não precisava. Achei mal desenvolvido o lance do Victor e a família? Sim. Poderiam ter pulado só pro Wave voltando e resolvendo as coisas com a família sobre estar apaixonado pelo cara da ilha. Enfim, mesmo assim eu me diverti muito nos 8 episódios, ri muito, tem um equilíbrio na comédia que não fica exagerada.

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Happily Ever After✨

Realmente me gusto, el final podría haberlo cambiado pero noto que es una marca muy notoria en Jojo como director, pero tiene buenas escenografías y un guión perfecto.

La historia de los personajes, el porque actuaban de tal manera o incluso se desenvolvían, el hablar de la sexualidad, la libertad o incluso una libertad fingida Lava estaba muy marcado por ser el chico problematico pero jamás hizo nada malo y Davin había vivido encerrado en el palacio toda su vida, realmente si me hubiera gustado ver qué encerraran a Victor por haber atacado al príncipe y también ver al otro señor tras las rejas, creo que se perdonaron algunas cosas muy rápido.

Pheng y Wut, su relación fue hermosísima, esa manera de tener algo tan propio, cuidarlo aunque terminaba lastimando sin querer lo que en realidad Wut quería, aunque Pheng a veces se cerraba en sus emociones trato de entender a Wut y tuvo miedo en un momento de perderlo, su boda toda preciosa y ahora siendo papis 😭✨ LOS AMO! la mejor decisión es haber puesto juntos al MondRyu 💕 WinnySatang la dieron todisimaaa!

Mención especial a quien me robaba la atención Gawin 🫦 que no me entere que esa burra pasa hambre mi amor 🗣️

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ENFIN ce que j'espérais voir chez GMMTV

Je ne m'attendais à rien, surtout quand j'ai vu que c'était du GMMTV.
Et puis la hype monte à chaque épisode. Et finalement vers la moitié de la série un scène me fait dire :
"Je rêve ou GMMTV a engagé un scénariste qui sait ce qu'il fait."
Alors certes, ce n'est pas LA série de l'année, on pourra se dire qu'il ne se passe pas grand chose et qu'on passe à côté d'une histoire pleine de suspens avec la partie royale sous-exploitée.
Mais pour moi, c'est exactement ce que je voulais. Un scénario simple mais traité correctement jusqu'au bout. Je préfère ça aux habituels BL qui nous vendent une intrigue profonde mais qui ne savent pas les traiter avec logique.

Plusieurs choses m'ont surprises et notamment une réalisation un rien moins prude que d'habitude, des instants réglés par discussion mature et réaliste (merci enfin), pas de clichés régulier, et même la malédiction de l'avant-dernier épisode est tellement travaillée logiquement que je n'ai pas eu cette sensation d'élément qu'on nous force à avaler.
Bien entendu, tout ceci est purement personnel et est propre à mon ressenti. J'ai regardé cette série à un moment où c'est exactement ça que je cherchais.

Malgré tout, la musique est très agréable et porte bien les différents moments.
L'histoire est simple mais prenante et logique. Ils ont réussi à me faire verser ma petite larme, ce qui n'était plus arrivé depuis longtemps.
J'ai apprécié les histoires secondaire, autant pour le couple de l'oncle (Pheng) et du docteur (Wut) qui doivent gérer les doutes et peurs de Pheng, que pour Tum et Kratae, qui même s'ils n'ont pas une vraie intrigue autour d'eux, m'ont apporté une touche d'humour. J'ai beaucoup aimé leur complicité, certainement due au fait qu'ils sont un vrai couple dans la vie.

Et concernant le pairing principal, c'était la première fois que je les voyaient et à de nombreux moment, Satang m'a fait pensé à Perth, à cause de sa coupe de cheveux et de mimique que je trouvais assez ressemblantes. Surtout quand il prend un air plus froid et sérieux. Pour Winny, j'ai eu très peur au début qu'il me saoul car il me faisait pensé à un personnage comique, mais plus les épisodes passaient et plus je l'appréciais. Ils ont chacun une manière bien à eux de jouer mais les deux ensemble se marient très bien.

En conclusion, une très très belle surprise que je n'attendais pas.

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