Gelboys Season 2

Why make a second season when there just isn’t enough material for one?

Season 1 was so good that it makes this sequel even more disappointing.

First of all, the plot is thin. To compensate, they keep dragging scenes out and the characters overdo all the time. The whole Gelboys concept is good, but it’s already very busy. There’s no need to pile even more on top of it.

The new characters were supposed to bring some freshness and bridge the gap between generations, but their storyline is so bland that you just want to skip ahead whenever they appear. Honestly, there was no need to add them at all. The same goes for the adult Gelboys, who aren’t remotely believable.

As for Bua and Babin’s storyline, it makes no sense and is constantly confusing. Things are better with 4Mod and Chian, but unfortunately, their story also has its fair share of inconsistencies.

The only real positive is the acting, which is still excellent. Unfortunately, that’s not enough to save this season!

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Love Doesn't Disappear Just Because a Relationship Ends

Gelboys Season 2 may look colorful, fashionable, chaotic, and sometimes completely crazy on the surface, but underneath all of that, it tells a surprisingly thoughtful story about how love changes over time.
Season 1 was almost like a romantic chase going endlessly in circles. Four boys loved, chased, supported, hurt, and sacrificed for one another in different ways.
Season 2 asks a much more difficult question:
What happened to all that love after they grew up?
Baby and Gelz want to understand the romantic history of their fathers. For Baby especially, this isn't simply curiosity. He carries the fear that he may have been the reason Bua and Baabin's relationship ended.
The final episode finally gives us the answer.
Chen loved Fourmod enough to make himself the villain in order to protect Fourmod's career. Baabin worked hard just to buy tickets and support Fourmod as his fan. And Bua, rather than simply becoming jealous of Baabin's devotion to Fourmod, helped Fourmod himself.
Why?
Because Bua loved the Baabin who loved his idol.
I found that incredibly touching.
And yet, despite all this love, their relationships did not remain the same forever.
That may be the most beautiful and mature idea in Gelboys Season 2.
A relationship ending doesn't mean the love that existed within it was a failure.
People grow. Families are created. Priorities change. Romantic love can transform into another kind of love, while the memories and connections it created remain.
Baby and Gelz grew up seeing the consequences of those complicated relationships. One pair loved each other but eventually separated. Another loved each other but couldn't simply remain together in the way they once wanted.
No wonder the sons were afraid to begin their own relationship.
But after learning the full history of their families, Baby and Gelz finally understand something important.
Their fathers' stories do not have to become their story.
They don't know whether their relationship will last forever.
They simply choose to begin.
And I loved that.
The final moment, with Gelz listening to Baby's recorded message asking him to date while Baby is nearby, is wonderfully simple after such a complicated journey through two generations of love.
Season 1 was about chasing love.
Season 2 was about understanding what remains after love changes.
And finally, the next generation gets to write its own story.
Gelboys is stylish, strange, funny and sometimes completely over-the-top—but beneath all that glitter, it has much more to say about love than I ever expected.
I really love this series.

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stan culture

Overall: I had trouble relating to a major part of the plot; however, the styling and acting was fantastic. 8 episodes about 1 hour each. Aired on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/gelboys-2-episode-1-1ax2cmfaea8?lang=en_us

What I Liked
- styling
- sniff/cheek kisses/sweet moments
- the first recap*
- appreciated that they showed the difficulty of being a celebrity and having a love life

Room For Improvement
- *I did not need that much screentime to be recap
- a bit confused with time jumps in the beginning
- I like apologies but the apology tour was too much for all at the same time in episode 1
- not into what the 2054 characters revealed and I did not connect with them, kept wanting to go back to the original 4 characters
- noble idiot trope

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My thoughts so far! [SPOILERSSSS NOT JUST DOING IT FOR FUN] EDITED REVEIW AFTER FINSIHING THE SERIS

I loveddd season 1 and I'm really enjoying season 2; the chemistry between the 4 main actors is incredible. The switch between the main story and their kids in the future is really interesting and new (in a good way)! I think 4mod going down the idol route and the show focusing on idol-fan culture is really in par with GELBOYS concept since a BIG part of season one was stan culture.

My current theory on who broke up is 4mod and Chian BUTTTTTTT it can always change. The reason why I think this is because 1 the actor in the beginning has brown eyes and is very asian looking, same as the actor on the facetime call with Baby (I'm guessing they're the two that broke up since the actor in the beginning nails said "miss u") so neither of them can be Bua. 2 Timethai one looks a bit like Baabin and two has Baabin's style since Baabin dresses more baggy? I guess you can say. Though they could've swapped couples like 4mod and Baabin start dating and Chian and Bua start dating vice versa, so we truly never know butttttt that's my theory.

I'm currently on episode 3 about to watch 4 but I'm scared cuz Baabin is a fan of 4mod now so I'm really scared that Baabin might fall for 4mod again and leave my baby Bua alone 😔😔😔

Anywaysss I am excited to see how this plays out since I'm LOVINGGGGG this season so far!!!!!!

EDIT: I started episode 4 and now I'm confused on my theory 😭. Like if it's meant to be Bua and Baabin that broke up its very bad casting in terms of Bua because Leon is very white looking and it's something they acknowledge in season one it wasn't like just never talked about it so they should've casted an actor that is white with blue eyes. Obviously again like I said before they could've switched couples but then why would either Chian or fou4mod keep memorabilia from when they were a couple if they're with someone else??? AHHHHHHHH WHY CAN'T THEY JUST TELL US WHO BROKE UPPPPPPP IM GOING CRAZYYY!!!

EDIT: BRUHHHHH I'm 1 more minute in and the freaking microphone is something he gave to all his fans so it could be any of them 😭😭😭😭 lemme just watch the damn show this is my last edit 😭😭😭

EDIT: OMG I WAS RIGHT IT IS FOU4MOD AND CHIAN THAT BROKE UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP !!!!! okay forreal this is my last edit promise 🙏🙏

EDIT: im on episode 5 and these people piss me off atp im just going stop guessing 😭😭

EDIT: I just finished the show; this show put me through so many emotions like I was crying, gagged, angry, annoyed, confused, like I went through the 5 stages of grief watching this show 😭😭 Anyways overall I really enjoyed watching, though all of them are a fucking mess that's what I love about the gelboys!! Honestly, I was hoping for maybe a third season with the gelboys as adults and maybe explore Baby's and Gelz relationship more or a least 2-3 special eps but they concluded everything in the last episode, so I doubt they'll do anything else 😔 but I really enjoyed the mess that is gelboys and I will miss them!

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Better, Much Better!

Even if its relatability was as far removed from me as conceptual thinking of myself as ever living on the planet Mars. Yet, underneath all the gloss and nails and completely unrecognizable noise that they considered music, is a heartfelt story. And the unmistakable diegesis is one, much like it was in the original Gelboys, around redefining/reimagining love. Here, giving it a crisp, new way of defining it. And I loved it. This is NOT Gelboys One and simply cannot be compared to that; so stop. Somehow the expectations were, I think, that the saga would be a continuation of the innocence of youth that we saw unfold in Gelboys One. This story hits you with a hard new reality check within the standards of today’s linguistics. The actors, and characters, have matured. This is truly a masterpiece production with all the right elements. The cinematography, like its predecessor, is spectacular. Unquestionably, this will be a Top Ten Series and ought to be seen by every BL fan out there. Do not let this one pass you by. You can read my full review of this unique series at BLBliss.com

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Much more conventional than the 1st season...

I found this season to be less interesting and much less "original" than the 1st one. Moreover, the story shifts between moments where the characters’ relationships progress very slowly and an ending that feels rushed.

Something that really bothered me was that nowhere is it said, or explained how the f*ck did the Gelboys end up with kids. I mean, can anyone see any of them rising a child ? (because I really can't).

Also, what the heck happened to the Gelboys ? In the first season, they were kind of manipulatives as*holes (which was a good thing to be honest), and now only a few months after season 1, they all are "nice" and romantic to each other ? That feels off.

And about the Gelbabies and Geldaddies, I'd say it's a missed opportunity, too little screen time for them to flesh out what is already a fairly thin plot, for my opinion.

Lastly, the Gelboys' acting performances were really impressive.

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What they have done with you Baabin?

I love the aesthetic they’ve created; I love the set design of the series, which is definitely its biggest selling point. What left me a little disappointed was the story—not because they focused on the relationship between fans and idols, but because of the way it was handled. We know that in today’s landscape, many things seem to mimic real life, but I felt as though what was built up in the first season had been lost a bit. Since the first season focused on the other couple, we wanted and expected them to be happy this season. My biggest disappointment was Baabin; as my favorite character, he really made me angry. The way he treated his own boyfriend—constantly making him feel insecure and doubt himself—makes me very sad. In the end, I really see that their relationship wasn’t meant to end well, because no one deserves to live walking on eggshells all the time. It made me sad how he made Fou4Mod the center of their relationship, even though in the first season that seemed like a conflict that had been resolved. I liked GelzBaby, but their story was also very abrupt. In short, I expected much more from this series. I hope that in the future we’ll see these actors working together on other projects because they’re good.

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I really wish I had liked this second season as much as the first one. The execution is just such a mess. The second season jumps about 30 years into the future, but the styling and makeup didn’t sell that time jump nearly as well as the script wanted them to. It expects us to believe there’s a huge gap in time, but it doesn’t give us enough visual cues to make that passage feel believable right away. Thirty years have gone by, but Siam Square looks exactly the same. I didn’t need the show to turn Bangkok into Blade Runner, but it definitely needed something to actually mark that difference.

The show also didn’t bother investing in a truly convincing aging process; instead, it chose to hide who the character was and just expected us to buy that he’d aged 30 years. I spent the first few episodes trying to figure out what on earth I was watching and who all these “new” characters were. Gelboys has always had a really strong visual identity, and it could have used that to highlight the generational gap and the consequences of the characters’ choices. Instead of wondering what happened to everyone, I was stuck playing a guessing game of “who is this character, and whose dad is whose.” It was genuinely exhausting, and at certain points, it completely derailed the story just so we could play that guessing game.

The only reason I didn’t drop the show entirely was because of the performances by PJ, Pide, Leon, and New. Just like in the first season, they’re the absolute highlight. The last two episodes were the best part for me. On the flip side, the adult versions just couldn’t match the same level of intimacy as the younger ones. Their acting felt stiff, and the few moments of affection between them came across as forced and inauthentic.

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I definitely enjoyed Season 2 more than the first one. 🥹🤍 The story pulled me in more this time, and I found myself much more invested in the characters and everything happening around them.
There were plenty of cute, funny and emotional moments, and overall it felt like a nice continuation of the story. 🌸✨
Not perfect, but definitely an improvement for me — and a solid 8/10! 💕📺


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Still an entertaining show

This second season is so different from the first! Visually, it's way more colorful, and content-wise, it feels much more mature. You can really tell the characters have grown up: even though they're still young adults, their actions and words show how much they’ve matured (we even see them get older and have kids, with the main plot revolving around them, which I found super interesting!).

Chian & 4Mod's relationship:
A total success! The dynamics completely flipped: while 4Mod was chasing Chian in Season 1, it's the exact opposite now. It's pretty funny seeing 4Mod become an idol even though he's a bad singer! But above all, the writing around their couple—balancing private and professional life—is excellent. Hiding a relationship in the spotlight and the whole concept of parasocial relationships are explained really well (and feel so real compared to what BL/GL actors go through).

Bua & Baabin's relationship:
On the other hand... I really didn't get it. A guy who prefers spending his time in fandoms and going to concerts instead of giving attention to his boyfriend is something I'd expect in high school, but they're in college now! When Bua says he accepts coming second to Baabin's favorite celebrity, I find that honestly crazy. But hey, to each their own relationship, I guess...

Despite that, I had a blast watching it! To be completely honest, I didn't care about the new characters at all, but they didn't really get in the way either.

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different with S1 but in a good way

Gelboys never failed me. From Season 1 to Season 2. But Season 2 is built around a completely different story. It honestly feels like a different entity from Season 1, but in a good way.
First things first, I would like to highlight their acting skills! Have you SEEN how good they are?! Most of their intense scenes had me completely quiet because I was so drawn to how they showed their emotions. There are so many scenes like that in Season 2 that if I included them one by one, this review would be way too long. 😂
Next is the strategy of Gelboys 2 to make every episode feel like a jigsaw puzzle for the viewers to solve. Who is who? Who are the parents of GelzBaby? Every week, my friend and I basically turned into our own podcast, discussing our theories about who 4Mod would grow up to be, who the parents were, and so on. And they actually revealed it after 7 episodes. WHAT?! What a nice way to keep us hooked!
And when they revealed that there were 2 new Gelboys, I honestly did NOT expect them to be the OG 4 kids! Who thought of that concept?! Because that was GOOD! 👏
This season also made me learn and understand more about what it means to be a fan while watching. As an international fan, Thai culture and Philippine culture have a lot of differences. Gelboys showed us two kinds of fans: the mommy fans and the faen fans. I realized that I knew these things existed, but I somehow lacked the deeper understanding of what they really meant in the Thai context.
And believe it or not, what was happening with 4Mod and Chian's relationship may actually happen in real life too. The same goes for fanservice. We have to accept that sometimes fans can become toxic and things can get out of hand. I hope that watching stories like this can also make us reflect on our own behavior and help us recognize when our mindset as fans becomes unhealthy.
The friendship between them was also highlighted a lot. And honestly, a lot of people might hate Baa for what happened because part of me hates him too. Hehehe. 😂 But that’s also what made the story interesting. And of course, the character development! Especially Chian. 😭😭 The love he has for 4Mod, the sacrifices he made for 4Mod's dream... I FELT THAT. His character really got me.
And of course, I love how they managed to keep the original hype of the series alive. GEL NAILS! 💅 I guess I’ll still be doing nail extensions until I’m old. LOL.
The OST, the cinematography, and of course, our Siam. Everything deserves praise.
And a BIG kudos to the casting of the grown-up versions of the OG 4! If you look at them, they really feel like the older versions of the characters. The resemblance, the personalities, and especially the chemistry are all there. It honestly felt like they chose the best actors to carry those characters into their adult versions.
Overall, Gelboys Season 2 proved that the series can tell a completely different story while still keeping what made the original special. It made me laugh, theorize, scream, get frustrated, and most importantly, feel.
So... do we need a Season 3 for GelzBaby? YES. Obviously. 😂😭

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Expanding the Scope of Season 1

Season 1 of Gel Boys was a very small story in comparison to season two. Oh, the angst of season 1! But what was unique about season 1 was how the narrative kept the story firmly rooted in the cultural milieu these characters inhabited: a technofetishist world where young adults must navigate timeless rites of passage in a suffocating landscape: first crushes, becoming comfortable in your own identity, constructing and deconstructing who you want to be. But the cultural milieu is unique from previous generations owing to the technology available to this generation and as such, the technology creates new obstacles previous generations did not have to navigate, while offering a 2.0 version of "classic" rules of these rites (i.e. mix tape versus creating a playlist together). Season 1 navigated the timeless and the timely beautifully.

Season 2 widens those thematic examinations and invites the next generation of Gel Boys into the fray. The narrative framing (jumping between present day with the children of Gen 1 Gel Boys and the past) was unique insofar as we did not know which parents Gelz and Baby belonged to: which couple broke up and whose family was on the proverbial rocks. I thought the pacing for this "mystery' was just taut enough- it didn't unnecessarily belabor it, nor did it offer red herrings just to exacerbate the conflict. It was written to perfection.

Season 1 really drove home the point that parasocial relationships aren't just between fans and celebrities. Social media often means that parasocial relationships are created between "every day people"- classmates, coworkers, colleagues, etc. This examination was transplanted into the wider social media landscape by turning Foud and Bua into celebrities, but stayed true to season 1's examination by continuing to demonstrate how parasocial relationships effect your day-to-day experience with reality. While Foud and Bua had the celebrity parasocial relationship to navigate, they still had to navigate the parasocial nature of the romantic relationships they created. Realizing parasitic relationships are unsteady ground on which to build true connection was examined more deeply and broadly in season 2, while never disrespecting what is psychologically positive about parasocial relationships. The examination was thoughtful, heartbreaking, and never crossed the line into preachy.

The acting from our four main leads continued to be the series strength, along with the entire team's ability to build a world so unique and alien yet so familiar. The set-design, costume design (et. al) and how the director made the cultural milieu another character attests to the talent, dexterity, and vision of the entire team. The familiarity of the world rests in the human experience that was written, acted, and supported (through cinematography, editing, camera angle, etc) throughout the entire narrative. Joy, heartache, heartbreak, grief all present. The maturity of the characters (in juxtaposition to season 1) was evident and these characters weren't simply plopped into a "two years later" timeline without evidence of growth and maturity. From episode 1 it was clear that the characters had matured and morphed from the events of season 1 and were ready to test themselves and their relationships with newfound, burgeoning maturity (and get it wrong, sometimes).

The Gel Boys series is a unique entry into the BL canon not only because it represents a cultural milieu at a specific time and place, but because the story had a human immediacy that was able to cross generational cultural barriers. From writing to directing to acting, there was not a single missed beat or misfire.

One area of weakness that fans noted was the reason why the adult couple broke up. I don't want to spoil anything so I will leave it at this. Relationships have "classic" breakup reasons that are distinctive because of the time in your life when that break up happens. Reasons why relationships fail at 15, 20, 30 and 45 are often dependent upon what your life and its responsibilities define for you at that age. The reason why our relationships fail at 20 are sometimes very different as to why our relationships fail at 45. I understood the reason all to well (being on the other side of 45). I felt it in my core. It felt valid and real.

Highly, highly recommend both seasons.

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