Top Form

not the best

for me it wasn't it to be honest this series is over hyped I watch and sorry to say but boom was something else as someone who watched the other series he did chain of Heart or something like that am not a fave of his acting it was so cringe smart did well but for me overall the storyline was good but it was cringey to me and I think the actors need to improve on their acting especially boom those cry scene was just torture he really need. to improve especially on the facial expressions I would say it was ok but was so over hyped as someone who is just watching it now

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Industry drama

Credit where credit is due, there was no feeling between the characters when the show first started, but through the storytelling of the characters getting to know each other and showing more of their personalities and dedication to acting, the connection and chemistry grew. That's how it should be even if it wasn't the case for a good story. Usually the bangs in the eyes styling is very annoying to look at, but the hair stylists styled it just right to convey vulnerability. It's seems to be a signature stylized feather look like Jin's occasional angel wings.

Other than Jin creepily kissing and taking pictures of an ill and unconscious man continuing portray those red flag actions as cute, his immense crush and adoration for Akin is actually pretty sweet. Akin navigates being the ultimate professional to his craft and also dealing with with threats of losing his career. Jin is really down bad that he still lovingly cleans Akin after the latter got sick all over the both of them. The smells must have been atrocious but Jin happily cleans away. It's interesting that this Thai series looks to be based on a Japanese work that gets the delectable angst of Chinese costume martial arts dramas spot on. It's so funny that they even get the wounds only having the nonsensically tiniest splash of blood right. It's strange that the show treats Akin like he's 50 years old. He's only in his late 20's, he shouldn't be confused about livestreams and other typical social media promotional etiquette.

Ironically, I was thinking that Jin didn't get any of that honey because they didn't bother to mix it in the water after dripping some into the mug, but soon after he gets a whole body's worth, the amount that's not soiling that white fur rug anyways. It makes no sense how neither their skin or hair is all sticky and all the furniture ruined the next morning, unless the honey was imaginary. The shower version looks torturous also. I get them trying to be creative, but water doesn't get hot that fast so it must be freezing cold at first blast. The break up sex was an attempt at angst. I don't think the execution was successful, but I appreciate the thought process and attempt. Jin acted cold and angry, but it seemed to just be an act to keep Akin in the dark about Jin's true machinations to help Akin. This is a bit weird, Akin almost fully sacrificed himself if the broadcast where Jin enacts his scheme right before Akin does his noble idiot plan because he didn't just tell him he has an alternate plan.

Poor Akin was made to believe he had sex with, but really in context is that he may have been raped by his co-star after he got blitzed out drunk. It's pretty terrifying to think how many times it might have happened before without Akin even knowing if he's so incapacitated when he drinks. It's so utterly tragic that Akin can only think that he's guilty towards Jin when he's a victim. Aside from a bad co-star, Akin also has to deal with a creepy sasaeng. This man just keep getting tortured. The sasaeng needed to go straight to jail, but I think the show is trying not to alienate the bl fandom which does encourage the kind of obsession, which is very uncomfortable. The photos she took still got to be used to blackmail him and he tries the noble idiot trope. Akin is a great actor, but he's no good at being cunning. Good thing his boyfriend is a crafted a smart plan with Judy to double kill their rumors together. It's supposed to be a custom ring that Akin for Jin, but it looks pretty loose in the close up. Prop department could have done better. I knew there would be marriage at the end since the years were counting up to current day. It's beautiful that the legalization of gay marriage is a benchmark in time for these queer love stories.

It's tragic that the company sabotage depicted in this series also happened in real life and affected the actors and the entire production. It would truly a shame that there may be no further continuation in either a special episode or season of this story as it looked like it was set up to have. I hope the situation will somehow, some way be resolved well for the actors and production team who really did seem to put their efforts into this drama.

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Boom could be a revolutionary industry twunk

I haven't written a review in forever but Boom's performance in this is just exceptionally good that I just have to.

pros:
1. Boom is one of the most believable actor who has such a wide emotional range. I haven't seen a performance this convincing with a script this complex in a while.

2. soundtrack is sexy as fuuuuuck. enough said.

3. NC-17 scenes are not cringe, mostly thanks to Booms natural blush and his begging for the d eyes.

4. Smartboom's chemistry is exceptional!!

areas for improvement:
1. pacing is off - I wish there was better balance between sweet scenes and pure anguish. Literally if I experience half of Akin's hardships I would kms. Like let the boy live for an episode man. Some of the conflict was also useless - what was the point of the SA scene with Johnny? Did it really progress the plot? Not in my eyes.

2. Boom's performance just outshined everyone else's. This is not a complaint by any means but there is a stark difference in the level of acting between Boom and the rest of the cast. Don't get me wrong, there was absolutely no bad actors in the series, but there was different levels of believability in my opinion. Having Boom there just highlights the minor flaws in the other performances.

3. Award show and the whole sexiest man competition is so poorly done. Award show looks cheap and empty, the sexiest man competition show just looks very poorly edited. Ruined the watching experience a little bit.

4. Writing is subpar. They mainly rely on SmartBoom's acting and chemistry to save the show. Episode 1 to the episode where they get together is great, the rest feels plotless

Honestly it's worth the watch even if its just for Boom's acting.

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I read the manga. I watched the anime, and yet everytime; I forgot what I watched/read. I don't know why.
So I watched this drama as if I didn't know the story, only with familiar feeling..
It was great, definitly a good drama. I loooooved the op and the musics.
I loved how being flirt with is seems as an attack by Akin.

And I'm sorry for people who want Johnny with the other guy (sorry I forgot his name) but Johhny is like a rapist... I hate him. Some may say he didn't do it. Buuuuut he stop himself only because Akin was calling Jin. Not because "having sex" with someone who passed out is rape??! He have no morals.
Akin please baby get therapy... No episode without him having to cry. Please Mangaka let him be happy (I say that as if I wasn't the first to watch show where the MC suffer).
Jin, please keep being yourself and make Akin and you happy.

I wrote this part before and time show me how wrong I am, because even BL fans are homophobic toward real gay?? Like WTH?!
"Maybe I am wrong because I'm not Thai (Yes me from the past, you are wrong) and not in the entertainement industry BUT the fact that ot take place in Thailand and not in Japan make the homophobic less credible. I think most people would die to make a serie with 2 men who are a couple IRL."

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GREEN FLAGS ONLY

If you feel annoyed by all of these repetitive plots about manipulative and toxic characters being mean to each other then welcome to the green forest territory.
This must be one of the most healthiest relationship in BL history.. or at least in Thai BL..

I didn't know anything about this story at all and haven't watched anime but I can feel that the casting was on top. Both Smart and Boom did a great job in portraying characters. Chemistry is overflowing.
Also the height and age difference played really well in this case.

**Let's get to the plot**

The idea to show the downside of the entertainment industry seems interesting from the start. The love story is intertwined with the behind-the-scenes struggles that add up a spice to the story. The series pictured plenty of different aspects of being an artist but I wish they'd dug a little deeper to show us the most ugliest sides of fame.
It's quite easy to watch cause the problems solve as fast as they come.

***
Also justice for the Akin's manager Jade. Why the hell his story didn't get any development? Because of season 2 that we will probably never be able to witness? Well..thanks.
***

* JIN (SMART)

I was surprised to see that a lot of people calling him an obsessive weirdo. I couldn't see anything creepy about him. He's just a nice kid who's head over heels for his lover and that's nothing weird.
Jin treats his partner the most carrying way that's possible throughout the story.
The tenderness and softness in Smart's voice made character even more attractive.

* Akin (Boom)
The pretty crier in action. Is it even possible to look this good while crying ?
Well, Akin is probably one of the most naive and pure actors with experience so far. I don't know if this even possible in reality because the entertainment industry is a rough place. Akin being this trustful despite being and icon for more then 10 years is a little bit weird.
So this detail may disturb sometimes while the characters are having a crisis moments but nonetheless it doesn't conflicts with the plot.
Well, I'm glad that boom didn't stop evolving in his acting since "The chains of heart". He's made a tremendous job to portray various complicated emotions.
Loves his relationship with his grandma. This plot line adds depth to the character and the story itself.

***
Even though the ending was great but I still feel robbed of one last episode.. just to clarify all the uncertainties.
***
The original soundtrack felt so good to hear. Lyrics definitely match the characters feeling.
The other musical accompaniment was still in theme and complement some touchy and teary scenes.

P.S.
Hope you can eat honey without being traumatized :)

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A Good Adaption to Dakaichi

As a long-time fan of Dakaichi who’s read the manga, watched all the anime, and seen the movie, I was a bit hesitant to watch this at first. I wasn’t sure a live-action adaptation would do this well-known piece of anime justice, but I was wrong.

The casting was phenomenal. The actors had the most chemistry I’ve seen in a BL live-action in a long time, and the emotional scenes gave me the same feelings I had when watching the anime, which I appreciated. It felt like they truly understood the emotional core of Junta and Takato’s relationship. The intimate scenes, too, were handled with surprising care; the camera angles and cinematography worked seamlessly to keep the tone consistent with the original while also making it feel grounded and cinematic in its own right.

Taking the plot out of the equation, this was a very well-done adaptation. There were a few changes here and there, but they felt necessary or wise rather than distracting. That said, the plot of Dakaichi has always been a bit questionable for me, especially in terms of pacing and consent dynamics, and this version doesn’t change that. Seeing it played out in live-action makes some of those issues stand out more clearly. But I think fans are already familiar with the story and will know what to expect.

Overall, though, I was impressed. This live-action series managed to bring the heart and drama of Dakaichi to a new medium without losing its soul, and for fans of the franchise, that’s all you can ask for.

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An enjoyable watch thanks to some great acting and chemistry

The MLs' acting and chemistry was what made this series such an enjoyable watch. There were some beautiful and iconic moments such as the moment when Akin gave Jin his first lesson on breathing right, the scene where the two main leads were under the sheets and the much hyped honey scene, where the cinematography wowed me (acting, lighting, musicality all came together magically). Choice of music was also refreshing with tracks in various languages.

I do wish more effort was spent developing Jin's character. The actor playing Akin cries beautifully and did a wonderful job smoothing out some of the overly dramatic parts of the story with his subtle acting. I think the series tried to emulate some Japanese cinematography, especially how they tried to build up Jade's character (the incessant smoking, the clicking sounds of the lighter etc), which at times came across as some what awkward. Some parts of the editing were also chunky, disrupting the story-telling Episode 10 was also a bit of a drag and could've benefited from sharper screen-writing e.g. focusing on non-verbal cues to convey strong emotions like deep grief and anger borne from injustice, so that the audience could interpret it and as a result be more emotionally engaged. Casting choice for Akin's grandmother was also a little strange.

All in all this was still a good watch with some very solid acting from the MLs and captivating cinematography.

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Screenplay analysis point of view

Top Form isn’t just another BL series flirting with romance and the usual showbiz drama tropes — it’s a piece that dares to lean into subtext, plays with layered symbolism (even when not everything is fully explored), and delivers a story that, while centered around love, boldly exposes the cracks in the entertainment industry. The show offers aesthetic brilliance, emotional depth, and committed performances — even if it stumbles slightly in development and pacing.

Right from the opening scenes, we meet Akin — the ideal celebrity package: actor, model, desired by all, and recently voted the "sexiest man alive." In contrast, we’re introduced to Jin, the emotional protagonist of the story — a timid aspiring actor with a “hollow heart,” striving to change that by holding on to whatever he can once he finds it. This early contrast sets the tone of the narrative: a collision between fame and something much more fragile — genuine affection.

Jin begins as a passive character, but his arc grows subtly and meaningfully. His intense admiration for Akin borders on obsession — watching all his films, recording him asleep, kissing him without consent. It’s undeniably invasive, yet the narrative reframes this as love expressed through care rather than psychosis. Uncomfortable? A bit. But at least Top Form doesn’t look away from the mess.

Akin, in turn, comes off as proud and untouchable — but underneath that façade is a man overworked, emotionally guarded, and unwilling to let anyone in. Only Jin (and later Sine) manage to pierce that wall. Their connection builds in silences, in the spaces between lines — their first emotional exchange, the crying technique scene, the moment Jin "saves" Akin — all paint a picture of love that seeps in rather than explodes.

Subtext is the show’s sharpest tool. When Akin memorizes lines from roles that aren’t even his, we’re nudged to ask: is he hiding behind characters because he can’t face his own feelings?

Technically, the show is stunning. The cinematography is breathtaking, with rich lighting, striking visuals, and an aesthetic that practically begs to be screenshotted. The sound design, too, is deeply immersive, blending perfectly with the actors’ emotional performances. The use of classical music in intimate scenes is a highlight — raw, elegant, and haunting — though it could have been used more for even greater impact.

The behind-the-scenes portrayal of the industry is another strength. Top Form lays bare the power plays, the silencing of LGBTQIA+ identities for the sake of marketability, and the expendability of talent. The chess motif in the opening credits is brilliant — the industry as a game of strategy, where Sigma, with its queen logo, controls the board while actors are pawns, often sacrificed for a bigger win.

Still, the pacing falters. The stalker subplot, rich with thematic potential, is resolved far too quickly. It had the substance to span three full episodes, but instead feels rushed and undercooked. Additionally, there’s a narrative imbalance — Akin has 13 canonical story beats, while Jin has only 8, making their character arcs feel uneven at times.

The attempted rape scene — while narratively pivotal as a test for the protagonists’ bond — feels out of sync with the rest of the show. Up to that point, the antagonist had been the system, the industry. Bringing in a sudden external threat feels jarring, even if the scene serves its dramatic purpose.

Sex scenes in Top Form are refreshingly non-cliché. They carry weight, discomfort, vulnerability — especially in episode 9. That particular scene might have hit even harder without a soundtrack, allowing the silence to amplify the emotional rupture.

By the end, both leads undergo meaningful transformation. Jin, once hesitant and soft-spoken, stands up against his agency and takes control of his life. Akin, who once gave everything to his craft — including his health — finally chooses love, and trust, and something real.

The proposal scene is sweet, understated, and filled with inside jokes — maybe not grand, but deeply personal. And that’s Top Form in essence: not perfect, but real, emotionally raw, and visually magnetic.

Despite some narrative shortcuts, Top Form is a BL series that knows what it's saying. It tackles serious issues with a rare blend of grace and intensity. A drama drenched in feeling, polished with cinematic care, and built on characters who are memorable, flawed, and utterly human.

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