Top Form

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.

Read More

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."

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

Could've been a 9....

This is a great serie... except it isn't.
The first 4 episodes suck you right in. They are great, amazing even and while watching them I was already thinking this serie was going to be a 9 or, dare I say, a 10.

Then eps 4 happened.

First, let me say that I did not read the manga. I do understand that this is an adaptation and they had to keep a number of elements intact.
However, how is it possible in 2025 to have a caracter kiss another while he is sleeping?? That is not okay.
Even if Akin opened his eyes after Jin left, Jin still kissed him while he thought he was sleeping. You have no idea how my blood started boiling when I saw that. It is just not acceptable in 2025.

That was just the beginning of the serie going downhill.

Let me be clear : there is a rape/fake rape/sexual assault scene, however you want to call it. Per usual, the reaction of the characters was underwhelming and there was next to none consequences.
At the risk of repeating myself, how is that still okay in 2025? Even if they had to stay close to the manga, I believe they should've still made some changes regarding this part.

I won't go into much details because I don't want to give spoilers, but at least now you were warned of the lack of awareness of the director.

Other than the non-consensual kiss and the rape sequence, the serie was incredible! Which is why these two elements are so maddening : if better executed, this serie could've been a 9.

At first, I didn't want to give over a 6 to the serie because of that, but the undeniable chemistry between the main actors convinced me to mark it a 7.5.
They truly saved the serie.

I was also a bit disappointed we couldn't learn more about Jin other than his quick backstory, as the serie seemed to focus more about Akin.

The NC scenes were great, but there are no sex scenes that could compensate the two major sexual aggressions that happened in this serie.

Read More

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.

Read More

Who doesn't love good Honey

Jin and Akin have taken us on a roller-coaster ride, and I liked it but...... The true story of was lost in the overdramatic acting at times. From their first meeting, Jin has had an agenda, and his purpose never shifted. How to bag Akin? How to be the one who can make Akin the happiest? I will say that after the first nc scene, he had nothing to worry about. Akin was giggling like a teen with his first crush. Racing heart beats, shy hesitant looks, and my man Jin made full use of the kryptonite, honey. I'm sure the demand for honey must have skyrocketed after that episode. We were served and, I must say, served very well. Jin's members (tongue, fingers and.......) should be framed and held in high esteem for eternity. The award winning honey should be glass encased. Viewed but never touched. A population surge, we do not need.

Jin gave new meaning to the term green flag. He came in every sense, he saw and he conquered. He knew that getting through to Akin would take loads of patience, perseverance, flexibility, and vision. He walked beside him, holding his hand every step of their journey. He gently drew him out of his shell and understood him. He allowed him to express himself, validate his feelings, and made him feel safe. His dreams always included Akin at the center. He teased the inner freak out of Akin and was up for the challenge. He was that good.

From being an high strung pampered introvert, Akin matured over time to be a strong, thoughtful decisive lover. Yes, he was a handful, but good actors usually are. Once the reality of his position in the acting world hit, he changed his agenda from ego to lover. Jin had quietly entered his world and gave his life the much needed assurance he craved. He was loved and would be truly loved for himself and not the adoration he had known as an actor. Akin's strength was bringing each actor he worked with to a higher level. It worked well with Jin as Jin loved him. Johnny, on the other hand, should have been left alone. Though, being a perfectionist brought him unwanted pain. He doesn't know how to do mediocre.

Two times Akin let me down. The night after the 'rape' scene and when he was going to be blackmailed with the picture. Firstly, the night after the 'rape'. Unless his anatomy was acting a role and disconnected from his body, he must have known if he was violated from recent activity. Drugged or not, a quick clench would let him know. Either way, confront Johnny instead of running away and continuing to act with him. I didn't like Jin saving him. A good kick to the groin by Akin was needed here. Secondly, why did he feel that taking on the blackmailer by himself was the best way to go? There are different levels of dumb. He chose the highest level. If he wanted to protect Jin, discuss with him what is the best option. But it did make for an anguished nc, which is good tv.

Best lines of the script:
"Did I mean so little to you?"
"You were never supposed to mean anything at all."

Johnny, being a royal pain, should have understood his role from the beginning. A clown will always be a clown, whether he wore fancy clothes or not. I did like his unknowing confession. He knew what he was and the lengths he would take to reach his dreams. Still, don't overreach your position.

What was a big plus for me in this series other than the chemistry and the benefits of honey, was the different difficulties being presented over the course of years. They were together but with the core nemesis still trying to break them as an ongoing thread. It could have become a hindrance if it became too convoluted. It gave the series a realistic passing of time. The secondary actors all did well enough to make it credible. I would have preferred that the series surrounded the battle of an aging actor vs a new actor replacing him. A neurotic Akin would have made must-see moments. Their interractions at this point was electric. Jin winning the award caused the best friction between them. Everything else felt lackluster.

Adding the multiple stories that were solved within an episode or two kind of made it less engaging. We would have still got the honey scene at the end when they got together and would end with a bang. In the other nc scenes, it felt like a decline. Didn't they know that you always save the best for last? Their character growth would be double and not more one-sided as it happened. Jin came in strong and stayed that way throughout. His sole purpose was to be at Akin's side. They way to do it was to become an actor to catch his attention and once that was achieved, follow Akins instructions. Akin is the only one shown to evolve.

The nc scenes aided a lot in the popularity and were done for adults. Boom's go-to crying for sympathy was becoming a little tedious. His baby girl antics, though cute but unrealistic, for a grown man. The ending unbelievable as the entire script felt like a soft breath leaving your lungs. No impact whatsoever. Smart has grown as an actor and adapted well to the script. Smart and Boom made good. This was enjoyable, a little too sweet and not enthralling enough. Should you go watch? Yes, if only for the sweet taste of honey.

Read More

Better than Expected

First, some BLs are a bit cringy (intimate scenes) for me. But TF shows the intimate scenes with more passion and romance if you ask me. The acting is top-notch, from the main cast to the supporting cast. The music is fantastic, and the angles of the (camera) film were great as well. Sometimes, the camera shakes (in other films) a little, and I hate that. The costume scenes were filled with conviction, and overall, I've seen some of the trailers for future episodes, and it should continue along these lines. All intimate scenes should be done with this level of attention and filming how two people falling in love begins. I believe the audience can recall what they felt like when they began falling for someone. Wow, so far impressed. Tons of chemistry.

Read More

Drama on Top ^^

Where do I even start?

Yet again another drama that I have looked forward to has released. I have been a fan of the source material for years now, I've rewatched it about 4 or 5 times. I understand what it would look like for something to not need to be remade or adapted, and coming from the source material- I was worried what would come out of the adaption. What I'm happy to say now is that it looks like my worries have been nullified by the end result of this drama, as it is not only a great adaptation- it is a great drama. Let me explain.

Dakaichi is a beloved BL series, that I don't feel the need to explain the plot or go in detail of what I like and dislike there. The adaptation 'Top Form' peaked my interest, and it's kept my interests in the end for several reasons. I have watched other Thai adaptations of my beloved BL series from Japan, and am able to recognize when the IP is used for money. The source material is used as a way for a 'sure fire' success, where what the production misses is that remaking something without adding or taking away is actually quite boring and frustrating to watch. If I love the source material, why not just go and rewatch that? Why would I want something tainting the legacy. With Dakaichi it has several issues, the anime adaptation already tamed down the manga, and coming now to the Thai adaptation I can say the series is able to stand as its own, as well as being a love letter to the original source.

Top Form clearly was made by fans of the original, but also from people that are self-aware and recognize the faults of the source material. There are flaws in all versions, but I am putting credit where credit is due. The team behind this drama is very competent, and I can tell from the consistency of this drama. The writing of the characters, the editing, the pacing, nothing it jittery and it is all just consistent.

Consistency could mean boring, and the runtime being much longer than the original could mean adding unnecessary filler also. What you get with this drama is a top notch production, a quality script, and instead of filler you get character arcs/development. I'm glad that the direction took it in the way of developing characters rather than adding drama or action.

So let me explain that...

Takato is Akin in this drama, played by Boom. I have watched a little bit of Chains of Hearts, so I recognize him. I didn't finish it so I'm not the most familiar with him, but wow. Boom is an amazing actor, and he is one that uses his expressions to the fullest. Just like Akin, he doesn't need a lot of lines to steal a scene, he understands his character to a degree that I had to rewatch several scenes to pick up on Akin's little antics. Just like a real person, this character is fleshed out to the point where he has nervous ticks/habits. I thinks it's interesting to see it all come from the source material, and realistically fit into this setting. What I also want to add is that the setting has some depth. As I said before, the team is competent, and what I can tell from that is how famous Akin and Jin really are.

There are billboards, magazines, merchandise, other people reacting.. all of these add to show that Jin and Akin are A-List actors, and are famous. It's details like that, that may seem small, but seriously add to the drama.

The chemistry is also realistic, and with the length you are now able to feel the yearning all the more. I can feel the absence of the other, in the main characters lives. I see them together and know they will get together, but notice a natural connection, that is growing naturally as well. The characterization of Akin and Jin is one of the best things of the drama. Boom plays Akin so well, and when you think about it- it can't be easy.

Akin is a very serious actor, a senior in the industry. He is also just a guy with his own worries, and weird obsessions. He is able to act arrogant to himself, and be polite and humble infront of others. I could write a whole character essay on why I love Akin, and how Top Form took Takato and made Akin so very perfect. It's not over the top, it's subtle with the nods to the original as well as taking the best parts. I am happy to see the age difference here, and it makes a lot of sense... I could get into why the casting is perfect also..

Smart plays Jin, Junta.. Junta is Jin. Smart is really capturing the energy of this lead, like Boom, so so well. I can't decide which characterization I like better. Both take the best of the original, while being unafraid to change the faults. For now, Jin still has a lot of backstory I could see them adding in, but I like what is here so far.

Overall I really like what is here so far. This drama is an example of a great adaptation. While I could list others that are horrible, I will just recommend this drama! You will be missing out if you don't watch.

Read More