This review may contain spoilers
a political series
Overall: this is not a romance series and I tried my best not to judge it by that. Perhaps it's because I wasn't familiar with Thai politics, but seeing a bunch of characters (including those we were supposed to root for) be terrible was not entertaining. My attention frequently drifted. Originally aired on Monomax in Thailand. Later released on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/6093/mandate-2025 (available in the U.S., Europe, Southeast Asia (except Thailand) and Taiwan).Content Warnings: past death, current attempted murder, blood, punches, coercion, manipulation, blackmail, drugging, corruption, drug addition/abuse
(if you want to watch romance watch)
episode 5, 22-35:30
episode 6, 18:15-21, 22-26:45, 36-42
episode 7, 45-52:45
episode 8, 12-16:30
What I Liked
- different premise with the politics
- older characters
- production value
Room For Improvement
- the first few episodes moved quickly and I found the politics confusing
- a character faked something about another character in ep 1
- I don't mind flawed protagonists but I couldn't root for one in particular based on what he did
- noble idiot trope
- cliffhanger ending
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This review may contain spoilers
Not your typical BL, this one has set the standards
I was waiting for this bl since the promo last year, thought it was gonna be like ‘Red White and Royal Blue’ thai version but it’s completely different from that. I feel like this is the first bl which had shown a deep political story with a slight romance. This show solely focused on the story, character development and the plot rather than unlimited of cringe or spicy content. the only lack is, many people couldn’t access this bl to watch because they didn’t release this masterpiece internationally. I hope later more people find this.From the ep 1-8, there are some scenes were slow but its somehow important to the storyline. The last episode made me think that this bl deserves a sequel and there are more to discover and explore. AGAIN TO SAY, THIS IS A MASTERPIECE.
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What BL can be when it has matured!
I'm absolutely floored by this masterpiece! But where to begin explaining why? Ok, I will start with the fact that I went into this a bit apprehensive. Did not really know what to expect with 2 ML that I've seen in previous performances but never expected together. Ben is known from the (also quite good) Step By Step, while Boy, who is quite a bit older, has not done a BL role before, but has a ton of experience in other acting fields.Mandate is about the plot, the story is being told low-paced and deliberate. While we see tension between the ML, it is a slow slow burn, that takes a backseat to the political scenery and the changes that causes in Dr. Nhong. From a sincere and upright country doctor we see him change into a political beast who appears to have some secrets under his belt.
The political climate, lead by Vee's father and ex-lover makes it all too easy to throw away your principles and scrupules to hold on to power. While telling yourself you're doing it all for the good of the people.
When someone shows even a little sign of weakness, the hungry sharks won't hesitate to immediately come out with manipulation and blackmail, escalating throughout the series.
It all culminates in a smoking heap of mistrust and misunderstanding, forcing a desparate decision that breaks the cycle and opens the road for a fresh and cleaner start.
We end with an emotional scene where grief and relief battle for the prime emotion.
Boy and Ben are delivering the performance of a lifetime. Flawlessly executing the struggles, emotions and fear that belong in this environment while also falling in love and wanting to hold on to that.
If you are a (perhaps younger) bl-fan, you might initially feel that this is all too slow and political. I beg of you to watch till the end. You won't be disappointed i promise!
I do desparately need a S2, because i'm enough of a bl-girl that I want to see them take it all down and finally be happy and together.
This S1 has somewhat of a bittersweet and unfinished ending. Not a bad one, it just left me needing more closure. And revenge. That too.
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wow
had low expectations. But this is the real deal. Please watch. It is not your usual BL or even Thai show. the acting is off the charts. Hope they do another season . My fav one this year.Oh I have to add more characters. The Doctor is hot and a lovely actor. The story begins to look at how coirrupt Thai politics are and the cost of that. But the slow burn is worth the price of admission. It just has so many elements to enjoy. Was enraptured the whole time.
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Truly captivating.
First of all, I want to make it clear that this is not a BL series, but rather a mature, realistic, and politically charged story in which two men fall deeply in love.Wi is openly gay, while Nong is heterosexual. The relationship that develops between them is, above all, rooted in respect, admiration, companionship, and mutual trust. What follows can be understood as a natural consequence when love transcends sex and gender.
Nong is a rural doctor, deeply loved by the public for his professional competence and his humanitarian dedication to the village population. He is a mature man, around 35 to 40 years old, both handsome and rugged in equal measure. His honest and engaging personality leads several political parties to see him as an ideal candidate. Nong, however, despises politics and politicians, which makes him firmly reject every proposal presented to him.
Wi is the youngest son of a powerful political leader who heads one of the most corrupt parties in the country. He is young, between 25 and 30 years old, educated abroad, refined, attractive, proud, and unwavering in his choices. He decides that Nong is the perfect candidate to run in the next election under his father’s party. He does not accept refusal and relentlessly follows Nong wherever he goes.
For this occasion, Nong’s sister suffers an accident due to the exhausting workload at the hospital where she worked as a doctor alongside her brother.
This event leads Nong to enter politics, driven by the desire to fight for better working conditions for doctors.
At this point, little imagination is needed to foresee the countless complications that Nong and Wi will face within the deeply corrupt political environment of their country.
If in so-called first-world countries corruption and fraud tend to operate behind a veil of discretion, in the Thailand presented here, these practices occur openly, without the slightest sense of shame.
And yet, the drama unfolds beautifully. Despite the rigidity of its political subject matter, the narrative remains engaging, accessible, and genuinely compelling to follow. The dialogues are coherent, fluid, and easy to understand.
That said, I can confidently state that *Mandate* has one of the best-written screenplays I have ever seen within this genre.
As a soft, gentle, and at times even humorous backdrop, our couple grows closer step by step, and our affection and admiration grow alongside them.
Truly captivating.
Their actions, words, reddened eyes, and restrained tears tell their story. The wait for their reunion is long, but deeply rewarding.
The final episode is devastating and breathtaking. I was completely taken by surprise and came very close to tears from pure emotion.
Flawless performances and a perfectly chosen cast.
Please, give this series a chance. I guarantee you will not regret it.
The only thing I want now is a second season. The ending strongly suggests this possibility, and I will honestly be waiting for it with great anticipation.
Do I recommend it? Absolutely. It is entirely worth your time. We are looking at a masterpiece.
One of the very best of 2025.
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A terrible waste of good material
This series had such great potential. It had a strong start, intriguing context (politics), underdog main characters (both the Dr and Vee), great character design and build-up (I grew to really adore Vee, couldn't say the same about the Dr cos his character development felt somewhat stunted, other side characters like Gale and Vee's father were also very interesting), enemy-to-lovers dynamic, decent world building (somewhat realistic portrayal of politics), witty and well-written dialogue, well crafted bgm.I had great hopes jumping into the series and it was a good watch until episode 6 where things started to fall apart. The Dr's character design started to fall apart and it felt like the plot was getting nowhere (the 2 MLs trying to fight against the system and constantly facing setback after setback, trying to rescue the situation and just digging further into the ditch). I don't know if it was intentional to make viewers feel this complete sense of hopelessness and if that was the goal, the writers certainly achieved that cos the minute the Dr decided to make his nephew a scapegoat, I completely lost all interest in any further plot development. Up until the end, I was still hoping that the Dr would turn things around and correct what was wrong or exact some sort of payback and yet all we got was him still struggling like a bug under the thumb of his party leaders. Sigh....
That said, I did enjoy the acting, the musicality, dialogue and cinematography for certain scenes e.g. the scene where the Dr rescued Vee from a stampede, and the Dr's debate speech in the dark. I simply wish there was a more uplifting conclusion to the series, an ending that didn't reflect reality too accurately.
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Producers if you are reading this PLEASE REMOVE GEO BLOCK! This is so good!
Just finished this and I really hope there is a sequel - it’s so good and it’s got so much potential…it’s a shame it’s not as popular due to it being geo blocked.I really enjoyed it. Exactly what I’ve been looking for in Thai BL…a mature romance that also isn’t just about the romance.
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Disappointed
This was an overall interesting series, I love the actors and the intrigue however the drama was way overdone. Everything was very unrealistic and never that easy in order to black mail people. Was I a fan no this could have been done more tasteful than it, A lot of it was just all mouthy and everyone talking over and over again and everyone blackmailing each other back and forth nothing special nothing that was worth surprising it was all one-sided and typical of what you would anticipate for a political movie. The BL part was practically non-existent from. To be honest I found it quite boring. The only good part was seeing an amazing cast that was in it. Even the ending was dumb.Was this review helpful to you?
Lacre do ano
Pense num bl bom!! Acho que nunca nem quis uma segunda temporada de um bl mas esse mudou toda a trajetoria da minha vida. Enredo impecável, protagonistas ótimos, cativantes, carismaticos e cheios de personalidade. E que final FODA, Vee você é O MOMENTO!! Toda a trajetoria do Dr Nong foi intigantemente maravilhosa de acompanhar, mesmo que não entendas muito sobre política da Tailândia (que é o meu caso). Todas as nuances do personagem, as virtudes e os defeitos. Delícia do começo ao fim.Was this review helpful to you?
A Bold, Mature BL That Dares to Be Different
Mandate is the kind of series that proves a story with queer characters can be more than romance — it can have political weight, complexity, and real stakes. This drama isn’t about fan-service moments or fluffy clichés. It’s about two men navigating power, loyalty, and love in a world where every choice has consequences.The chemistry is beautifully grounded — slow, subtle, and earned. The leads deliver performances that feel raw and human, and the supporting cast brings surprising depth to what could’ve been just another BL setup. The production is strong, and the uncut version especially lets the narrative breathe the way it deserves to.
And that ending? A perfect mix of frustration and hope. It’s clear the story isn’t done yet, and I refuse to accept anything less than a Season 2 to give these characters the resolution they fought so hard to reach.
If you’re looking for a sweet, easy romance — this might not be your pick.
But if you want a BL with substance, strategy, and soul? Mandate is a must-watch.
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Quand l’amour se mélange avec la politique
C’est plus une série sur les magouilles politiciennes qu’un BLLes personnes qui aiment les BL "guimauve" n’aimeront pas
Personnellement, j’ai adoré cette série
Elle dénonce toute hypocrisie, les magouilles, les pots-de-vin... des politiciens qui, parfois, peut être très dangereux
Que ce soit les rôles principaux ou secondaires, les acteurs étaient tous excellents
La fin ouvre la porte pour une saison 2, qui j'espère existera
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CANSATIVO
Isso definitivamente não é para mim, vi 2 episódios e os 2 episódios me cansaram.Vamos começar pelo fato de que o Wi é extremamente irritante e cansativo se achando melhor e mais bem intencionado do que os outros insistindo o tempo todo para o Nong entrar para a politica. Ele não quer e é um direito dele.
Esse pensamento de que uma uma única pessoa pode mudar o mundo se ela entrar para a politica é bobo, ingênuo e superficial.
Tudo soa forçado, um roteiro que foca no bem X mal, certo X errado, pessoas boas X pessoa más me incomoda muito.
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