Love of Silom (Uncut Ver.)

Love of Silom Delivers Everything I Wanted and More

This series came in strong and instantly set the bar high. After two years, seeing Poom and Up reunite feels like a full circle moment, and they return with something that feels fresh, grounded, and genuinely engaging. From the very first episodes, the show pulls you into its world with a sense of realism that makes the story feel alive rather than overly polished or artificial.
What stands out most is how natural everything feels. The setting, the struggles, and the emotions all come across as believable without trying too hard. There is a perfect balance between intensity and lighter moments, with just enough action and tension to keep things exciting while still allowing space for warmth and character growth. Nothing feels forced or cringey, which is honestly rare.

What I especially love is how well the series balances its many different elements. It moves effortlessly between police investigations, fight scenes, criminal cases, the bar setting, hosting, male stripping, and family life without ever feeling cluttered or losing focus. Every aspect serves a purpose and adds something meaningful to the story. The family moments are especially memorable, with Singto easily becoming one of the highlights of the series. Watching Wayu as a devoted dad and Krit embrace his role as Papa brings so much heart and warmth to the show. Their little family is incredibly sweet, and those moments provide the perfect emotional balance to the more intense parts of the story.

Poom brings a quiet strength to Wayu that makes him incredibly easy to root for. You can feel his determination and emotional depth without it being overplayed. Up, on the other hand, nails the guarded and distant nature of Krit while still letting subtle vulnerability slip through. Watching that emotional wall slowly shift is one of the most satisfying parts of the show.
And the chemistry is undeniable. It is not just about big dramatic moments but also the small, intimate details that make their connection feel real. A glance, a smile, a simple gesture carries so much weight. Those s ofter scenes are what truly make the relationship shine and pull you in emotionally.

What makes this series special is how it respects its characters. There is no unnecessary judgment or exaggerated conflict just for drama. Instead, it focuses on connection, growth, and the quiet ways people change each other’s lives.
This is easily one of the strongest Thai BLs this year. It is heartfelt, engaging, and beautifully acted, with a story that already feels meaningful

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A Crime Drama Wearing a Romance Costume

I'm a big fan of Up and Poom as an on-screen pair. They have this calm, effortless chemistry that makes them feel like industry veterans who know exactly what they're doing, both individually and together. So when this show was announced, I was genuinely excited. A forbidden romance between a police officer and a host who ends up working undercover for him?
That's an incredibly strong premise.

Which is exactly why it's so frustrating that the series never fully commits to it.

Buried somewhere inside Love of Silom is a far more interesting, more political story—one that explores sex work in Thailand, the complicated relationship between sex workers and the police, or even the realities of sex tourism in a place like Silom. Instead, the series keeps brushing against these ideas without ever really engaging with them. I kept hoping for something closer to Spare Me Your Mercy: a crime drama with a romance at its core, rather than a romance dressed up as a crime drama.

You can feel that missed potential in the characters themselves. Wayu's backstory falls into the familiar trope of financial hardship pushing someone into sex work, and despite supposedly being good at his job, he's written as surprisingly naïve once romance enters the picture. Krit, meanwhile, has a genuinely compelling conflict—a controlling father shaping every aspect of his life—but the series rarely gives that storyline the attention it deserves.
Even the undercover operation, which could have driven the entire plot, is introduced with promise before quickly fading into the background.

Personally, I would have leaned much harder into that premise. Let Wayu already be an experienced host who knows Bangkok's nightlife better than any police officer ever could, and force Krit to rely on someone he initially misunderstands. Their partnership could then have become a way to explore why sex workers often distrust the police, how Thailand's nightlife operates in legal gray areas, and how both men gradually challenge their own assumptions about each other's worlds. I think that would have made not only the investigation, but also the romance, feel far more earned.

To be fair, the show does get some things right. Up and Poom's chemistry carries much of the series, and there are moments that hint at something much stronger: Krit slowly questioning his own prejudices, Wayu refusing to be defined by either his profession or his past, and a relationship that feels built on mutual respect rather than rescue. The ending also feels emotionally satisfying.

My biggest issue is that the series seems far more interested in being charming than challenging. It introduces heavy topics—family rejection, homophobia, human trafficking, sex work, gambling addiction, childhood neglect—but rarely allows them the space they deserve. They're there, but mostly as background decoration rather than subjects the story genuinely wants to explore.

Add in a few overly cheesy moments and I was left with the feeling that the show repeatedly reaches for depth, only to pull back at the last second.

Love of Silom isn't a bad BL. In fact, it's an enjoyable one with likable leads and solid chemistry. I just can't shake the feeling that it had everything it needed to become something far more memorable—and chose to play it safe instead.

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Not as bad as "Dare You to Death"...

As usual with "police dramas" - the police work makes no sense and is completely unbelievable.... Then we also have the lazy writing especially of Wayus mom. Gambling addiction does not "heal" over night. I mean they have team of four writers and all of them can't put a realistic story to paper. And of course we have the 08/15 cliché homophobe father, who this time, did not die but made a 180 degrees turn in a matters of days.

And whats with all the dancing throughout every episode? Yes he is a host, yes he is sexy and yes he can dance, but we don't need to be reminded of it every damn episode... it was just a filler to strech out the episodes. Especially the first half of the show was too much lacorn for my taste.

There are some redeeming properties of this show, especially the involvment of a special needs kid was a nice touch. There is no doubt about their chemistry either, but the acting was a bit meh. I think the support actors/actresses did a better job.

So overall, I don't agree with the hyped reviews here again - as mostly usual. I don't think it's a bad show, but it's not good either. At least it was all framed quite nicely, so production quality was well enough. It's a show you can watch, but not a show you must watch.

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What is the point of teasing serious plot if you want to do a cheesy melodrama?

Its not like this show is horrbly unwatchable. There is, definitely worse ones in both production and plot. But its hard to look at all this wadted potential andnot feel deeply disappointed.

But first the good things.
It is so very pretty. Atmospheric coloring, very well done choreography (of both dances and fights), all actors styled nicely. One of the best places to get your eye candy this spring/summer season.

Set up is also very intriguing. Both detective part (host getting kidnapped, killed or trafficed), social part (Wayu quitting university to support his struggling family) and even romantic one (with so much separating our main leads, from occupation to family situation).
Amazing support cast. Moonlight parts are definitely the best.

Unfortunately, it spectacularly flops on everything, except dances.
Krit as a detective is profoundly useless (from the very first time when hemanages to scare offthe vitness ready to file assult charges on his suspect). He does try. We get to see his thinking board and he does... stuff. But somehow all the progress is made by other people and in the end the case is closed offscreen with no definite villains named/punished beyond some off hand remarks. But Krit gets promoted andyou get to wonder if dad forced the case closed to protect his corrupt buddies.

Family struggles of both Wayu and Krit solved magicaly when plot convenient. This is extremely annoying, because everything is big deal before it gets solved with no effort from anyone. End if you can give a pass for mom beating gambling addiction or sister returning to family (even though that last one makes "daddy and papa" parts extremely strange if you let yourself think about it for an extra minute). Krits father... the way Krit breaks up with Wayu for his safety, so heart breaking, so dangerous. And its nothing. Dad does nothing and changes his mind in 2 episodes. Splendid.

Personally i am not a big fan of nc/intimacy scenes in this. Too comedic for my tastes straight into cringe territory next to bdsm gear from last episodes.

I think the only way to enjoy this is is you are die hard fan of main actors or just dont care if plot moves due to what is happening on screen or what author wants to happen.

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I got through it barely

To be honest if I've never watched it, I really wouldn't be missing much.

The actual story, I was more invested in the police investigation of the kidnappings and murders of hosts so were vulnerable. The whole informant idea fell through pretty quick where Krit only allowed it when he didn't have feelings for Wayu which doesn't usually work like that.

I'm sorry but I really didn't like Up's acting, like seriously, I preferred it in "My Stand-in." His scenes I wanted to end so quickly too bad he was one of the ML so had the most screen time. None of his scenes have stuck with me. At times, I felt Krit was immature and didn't fully listen to Wayu.
On the other hand, Poom can act with just his eyes and body language and really knows how to deliver a powerful performance. My favourite scene is when he called Krit so he and Singto can sleep in a safe environment. You can feel the hopelessness and uncertainty in his voice when he was unsure who to call that he can depend on as his first priority was making sure Singto was safe. He showed he cared for Singto throughout the drama and took the responsibility when his sister ran away. He could've just said no or do the bare miniumum but he never and did the best he could. He is the one I got emotionally connected with.

I did skip half of the last episode but at times it was too slow and at times it was too fast. There was no in-between for this so sometimes you were stuck behind someone walking so slow and you can't past them or on the fastest roller-coaster.

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Either people loved it or hated it

It's funny how black and white the reviews of this show are... some claim this is the worst show in the history of civilization and have dropped it after watching some episodes. Others claim this the best freaking show on Earth.
I think this is right in the middle and here is why.

SOME GOOD

1. Support characters: I like some of the supporting cast, particularly the bar owner and some of the guys who work with Wayu. They give him decent advice during the show and provide some emotional moments as well mixing some fun (like the banter between them) and some sad (when they find out Sky was murdered and then have the funeral). We have Wayu's sister, who redeems herself (partially) by coming back after just abandoning her child and leaving. Speaking of child, I liked the kid playing Wayu's nephew as he does not speak much but he provides some relief from all the adults around doing bad or silly things.

2. Police investigation: The theme has been exploited quite a lot recently in other shows and in most of them, this one is no exception, the police work gets lost along the way or is just so utterly implausible that any police officer would do such silly things. However, the topic of the investigation, human/organ trafficking and drugs, was an interesting one, at least when the show began.

3. Chemistry: The lead actors have decent chemistry (at least more than some other actors we've seen recently in other BLs).

A LOT OF BAD

1. Support characters: Just like my first point in the good section, some of the support characters were completely useless. Kit's parents are the usual cliché in Thai BLs of parents who are cheerleaders supporting their son being gay (not the case here) or the parents (in this case, the dad) who are vehemently against it and try to do whatever they can to stop his son from having a relationship with another man. Of course, in another cliché, the father is more worried about his image and reputation BUT THEN... SURPRISE! in another cliché, he changes his mind in 2 seconds in the last episode when he meets him at school and hears how good of an interior designer he is and how handsome he is.
By the way, as a side note... apparently Thailand does not have a lot of support actors who can play the parents as the same actor who plays Kit's dad is also the parent of one of the lead characters in "Ticket to Heaven", "Don't Be Too Emotional", and "Flower Boy"... and all airing simultaneously for a few episodes.

Then, we had Wayu's mother solving her gambling addiction in one episode and Talay's character who came in as a potential love interest for Wayu but devolved into a useless whiny character trying to win Wayu despite the latter not being interested in him and telling him so several times.

2. Acting: I'm sorry... Up either had too much botox or he can't act... no matter what type of scene he had, sad, happy, serious, his facial expressions were all exactly the same. Just slightly curling the mouth to smile was the only sign he was doing a happy scene. The rest, no change no matter what it was. Poom has improved but he also doesn't convince me in his scenes, specially the more serious ones like the police investigation or the issues with Krit's father.

3. Writing/Directing: Part of the acting issues come from the writing... the police investigation began as the centerpiece in the first episodes and then faded away only to morph into a network of BDSM and drugs, people getting arrested and then poof! all ended just like that. The way Sky dies was not seen on-screen but that could have been a worthy theme to explore more as we never truly find out how involved he really was in all the trafficking scheme.
The issues with Wayu's mother and Krit's father are lazily solved in one episode and the learning problem Wayu's nephew has is somewhat explored but again, forgotten for a lot of episodes.

So, all-in-all, NO, this is not the worst series in Thai BL history, and NO, this is not the best BL series ever created. It is just a mediocre one that could have been evolved into something great, but sadly, it didn't.

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Opposites attract

Loved this! They packed so much into 12 episodes. Having watched several of the BTS videos, I could tell that Poom worked so hard to fulfill his role as Wayu - the 'Host'.
Because Poom and Up are so different - physically, temperamentality and facially - I think their pairing works very well, especially for this series.
The series had drama, comedy, love, sadness, emotion - the lot!
Little "Singto" stole the show a few times.
One of my favourites was Jai Sira - he was outstanding as Foei, the bar owner!
All the 'hosts' were fabulous! Their dance skills - of different genre - were perfect.
(one minor problem - I don't know who made the jacket for "Krit's "uniform in one of the last scenes, but they
really stuffed up)
I loved the closing scenes - even stiff old Dad got in on the dancing!
Rewatch value - 9

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I just need one night, to show you I'm the right guy

Starting, of course, with "I just need one night, to tell you I'm the right guy. 🎶" I think everyone will agree that their performances at Moonlit Bar were absolutely lit! Seeing their behind-the-scenes practice clips made it even more impressive. They were definitely not playing around with those dance performances. Even the action scenes were executed really well. Kudos to the entire cast!

Back to the story, the plot was very interesting. A police officer and a host. They delivered it well, though I'll admit there were still some missed opportunities. But the chemistry and visuals of UpPoom were never in question.

I really loved the ending. That low-key marriage? Heart, heart! ❤️

And of course, the true show-stealer... our baby Singto!! Love that kid. 🥹

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A raw look into the host world, where ambition, love, and struggles collide.

Recommended for: Fans of BL romance with a strong crime investigation plot, nightlife immersion, emotional character journeys, and a balance of romance, action, and heavier themes.

ONE-LINER QUICK THOUGHT: An engaging and surprisingly realistic look into the host scene, exploring ambition, relationships, and the emotional struggles behind the nightlife world.

OVERALL ENJOYMENT: 4.75/5

STORY SETTING: Modern city, Nightlife / host club / bar scene, University, Law & police

Immersion: The nightlife setting feels atmospheric and gives the story a distinct identity.

CINEMATOGRAPHY: 4.5/5

GENRE: Crime Thriller / BL Romantic Drama / Mystery / Action / Family Drama

VIBES / MOOD
🔥 Passionate
💘 Romantic
🥹 Emotional
💞 Sweet
🎉 Fun
👀 Suspenseful
🎯 Adrenaline-filled

REWATCH VALUE: 4/5

PACING & EPISODES: 12 episodes 4.5/5

Generally good pacing with a nice balance between emotional moments, romance, and action.

CHARACTERS

Overall: 5/5
Likeable protagonist 5/5
Supporting cast 5/5
Character development 5/5
Best supporting character Foei!

STORY QUALITY: 5/5

ANGST FACTOR: 3/5

EMOTIONAL IMPACT: 4/5

WHAT I WISHED WAS BETTER:


- spoiler ahead -



The recovery portion of Krit’s storyline felt a little rushed and underexplained. The medical aspect could have used more clarity, especially regarding the cause and severity of his coma. The transition from the accident to his critical condition felt slightly disproportionate, making that part of the storyline harder to fully understand.

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I Actually Liked It??‍♀️

Quick Overall Thoughts:
The ship, their chemistry, the acting by the cast members, and the romance plot carried this show. The production value is incredible as well. However, the plot involving the police case could've been better. It wasn't explored deeply enough for the issues it tried to handle/bring to light.

I do enjoy watching this ship, so some may call me biased. But I do feel that, despite the issues further outlined below, this is a good show to give your time to. While it still deals with deep family and societal matters, it is a much lighter instalment than what we got in 'My Stand In,' and a chance to see what else the actors bring to the proverbial table

Okay, now for my actual thought spewing...👇🏾

What I Liked

🍓The Acting - The people in the cast did their job well. I saw Up back in 2022 in 'Lovely Writer,' then spent 2 years hoping he'd grace my screen again. I'm glad he and Poom chose to be a pair coz I get to see more of him. Poom, the man, blew me away in his role as Joe in 'My Stand In'. And now in this show, he once again proves that he is not a one-hit wonder. May the BL gods and whatever powers that be in that world keep giving them more roles, interesting scripts, good production budgets, and good directors.

Ps. I feel like I should give a shout-out to the actress who played Wayu's sister. Her crying in their reunion scene remains stuck in my mind. It genuinely felt and sounded like she was crying from the very depths of her soul.

🍓The Chemistry - The ship never fails to deliver on the chemistry front, and I love that they choose to go all the way in delivering the scenes as they are required.

🍓The Comedy - From the bits of the trailer that I'd seen b4 the show aired, I'd expected the show to be more on the more serious and sensual side. So you can imagine my confusion and worry after seeing all the comedy in the 1st 2 episodes. It is no secret that Thai comedy is usually a miss for me. However, I liked it in this one. It wasn't overly done and didn't overwhelm or take away from the show. I appreciate that toning down from what we're generally used to

🍓Wayu's & Tai's Friendship - Somebody once left a comment saying that these two gave off the vibe of 'two idiots sitting together telling each other 'exactly!'' and I couldn't have put it better if I tried. They are so idiotic. Great friends, but both are dumbasses. I still cannot believe that Wayu's police spy finsta was never discovered by the bad guys they were trying to catch and used against him/Krit.

🍓The Plot - It is different, and I appreciate that. While some aspects could've been explored further, I appreciate that we ventured outside the box. While Wayu was still in uni, this is not a university-based series. It is also more grounded in real-life issues that both characters face, including familial, financial, career, and societal concerns.

🍓The pole dancing - I liked most of the dance scenes in the Moonlight bar. However, the pole scene... that takes the entire cake. I have always had (and still have) a deep respect for people who can do pole. While I do agree that the dance is sexy, I think what always wows me more is the balance, as well as core and upper body strength needed for pole tricks. By God, I too shall learn how to do pole b4 I exit this earth.

🍓Rose - The actress is talented and beautiful. The character she played was a good friend and offered good comedic relief. We should've seen more of her

What Could've Been Better

🍓The Plot - I think romantic shows that explore serious topics often have a problem balancing both sides.
For example, I loved the investigation side of 'Goddess Bless You From Death,' but I felt that the romance took a back seat. In this one, I loved seeing their feelings grow, their individual struggles with both families, Wayu's financial matters, both characters' relationship with Singto, etc., but felt disappointed by the investigative side.

The police plotline had some potential. Things like
a. Krit navigating being a superior at work while simultaneously being looked down upon since he likely got his title due to nepotism

b. The sex trafficking and human organ trafficking thing - We could have gone deeper with this. Imagine all the corrupt politicians and likely police officers who also benefited from the lives lost due to the organ and sex trafficking ring

c. Ice and his creepy darkweb sex, p🌽rn, and murder business. That likely could've been tied to point 'b' above
I think they'd have been really interesting had we seen more of these things. Could've also tied up the loose ends of the investigation plot better. The bad guy storyline just up and disappeared ater the arrest.

🍓The fight scenes - They could've been directed better TBH. They don't look realistic/convincing, and some feats were outright impossible

🍓 Krit's Parents - Just thinking about them makes me mad all over again. Episode 9 really hurt me. Unless I'm mistaken, this is the episode in which they break up because of the threat that Krit's dad made. The same episode where Krit's mother heard her son breaking down and weeping in his room, and simply walked away, doing nothing. Changing nothing. Just chose to stand behind her husband as he once again forced his son to get married. This time it's even worse coz they know what his sexual orientation is, but their wants and position in society matter more than their kid.

The mum makes me livid. She just sat there doing nothing, but it's framed as though she's the better parent because she didn't abuse her son or actively push him to get married. Yeah, she didn't do all that, but she sat passively while her husband did it. She turned a blind eye to it all, and that makes her just as bad, if not lowkey worse IMO. And let's not forget how she never even knew that her son hated potatoes!!

As for the dad.... Man, I'm tired of this man. Idk about the actor IRL. He's probably a great man. I wouldn't know. But, like..., why is this man a horrible dad in every universe I see him in? He was shit in this drama, he is shit in the currently airing 'Ticket to Heaven', and I'm currently on EP 6 of 'The Evil Lawyer' and guess what....he's a crappy dad and husband in there too!!!! Does the entire Thai industry have this man on speed dial when they need someone to play a homophobic dad and shitty husband? My God!

Now back to the show. After all the shit they put their son through for (I'm assuming) 30 years of his life, all that gets sorted (read swept under the rug) in point 5 seconds because the mum sees Wayu take care of Krit at the hospital and the dad hears that Wayu is a talented and award-winning interior designer? This once again shows how uncaring and classist Krit's parents were. Horrible people.

I do love that Krit got to be happy and accepted by his family, and they accepted the man he loved and his poorer family, too. I think he deserved to feel that familial love from his family after being denied it for so long. But still... I'd have liked a better resolution than what we got.

🍓Wait...now that I think of it, wasn't Wayu in school to be an architect? How did that change to interior design?

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It was good until ep 8

This show had so much potential. We have a main couple who come from two different worlds, crime plot and some personal drama on the side. Unfortunately this show lost it's excitement and tension after the first half.

The show on paper has a very interesting plot that progresses very well until episode 8. The suspension of Krit and Wayu trying to work together to solve the human trafficking case, while navigating their feelings keeps you watching and waiting for another episode. On the side the criminal case and falling in love, both of the main characters have issues in their family life they are navigating. Best part of the show for me was especially seeing Wayu's character development from somehow bit naive host, realizing that he needs to start making decisions for himself and his family that will be better in long-term future and setting up boundaries with Krit.

Unfortunately the shows suspension falls apart in episode 8 onward, and what I was not a fan of at the end, was the crime plot almost completely fading in the background and the show turning into a family drama. This would not be an issue if the show would have been promoted as such, but the catch that made me want to watch this was the crime aspect and the main couples relationship development as the case progresses. The end result of the family drama is also very unsurprising, if you have watched a lot of Thai BLs with this kind of a story ark.

What was also bothersome for me, as the show ended, was that what if Krit was not injured in a life threatening manner, would he still have had the guts to stand up against his father and choose Wayu? Considering how fast he was just willing to move on to marrying some random politician's daughter after his and Rose's fake relationship failed, just to appease his father, makes me question his readiness to defy him, if he had not almost lost his own life.

I think the show would have been better as 10 ep show. In terms of acting and production this was a high quality show and for those who are fans of Up and Poom this will probably still be enjoyable even if it's not perfect to the very end. In conclusion it was just okay for me, not the most memorable, but not a completely bad BL to watch either.

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