THE DRAMA STORY w/BL VS THE “BL DRAMA”
For clarity’s sake, “Hi, by My Luck” (left) and “Love Me if You Swear” (right) are both categorically BL dramas. However, I believe the former is “story-first”; reliant on fully realized character arcs and compelling themes to engage the audience in a romantic journey. In comparison, the latter is “BL-first”; reliant on evoking the audience’s affinity for BL media to offset underdeveloped characters and lackluster storytelling.
It’s worth noting that I enjoyed watching “Love Me if You Swear”. More BL-first favorites of mine include: "Secret Lover", "Jun and Jun", and "Love in the Air". So, this isn’t to say these types of dramas shouldn’t be enjoyed; they serve a purpose in the realm of entertainment. This analysis is merely a fun exercise that I found these two anthology siblings perfect for.
If you’re a drama geek like me, examining your enjoyment of a drama is part of what makes the hobby interesting and deepens your appreciation for it. I like to ask myself: “Did I enjoy this story because of the quality? Or, did I enjoy this story despite the quality?” These two dramas would prompt different answers.
*Warning: some spoilers ahead.
STORY PLOT AND CHARACTER ARCS
The Drama Story w/BL
In “Hi, by My Luck”, Keen Suwijak’s character, “Err”, serves as the main protagonist. By way of accolades, bulletin boards, and praise from his teachers and peers, we learn that Err is at the top of his class. Something he takes great pride in, but also feels pressured to maintain. When “Mawin”, the student genius played by Sea Dechchart, transfers to Err’s school, his presence threatens Err’s top spot and deepens his insecurity.
Opposite to Err, Mawin appears isolated and detached from the school environment. The character is caught daydreaming in class, before giving perfect answers to the teacher. He always sits in the back of the room, separated from his classmates. The students socialize around him at school, but not with him; all making the character seem lonely.
The story’s plot takes shape when they both qualify for an academic retreat and set off to compete with other schools for a scholarship. The series of events that occur guides these characters through a gradual evolution. Err, who studies constantly, is not confident in his answers. This causes him to miss opportunities to move up the leaderboard because he’d rather hinder himself than risk embarrassment. Mawin, being the frontrunner for the scholarship, is quickly identified as the competitors’ biggest threat. Knowing his presence makes the other students uncomfortable, he distances himself from the group during downtime.
Over the course of the competition, our self-conscious protagonist would finally gain his confidence and soar up the leaderboard. Through a series of interactions with Mawin, Err is coached to break through his performance anxiety and encouraged to believe in himself more. Getting to the point where he flawlessly solves a whiteboard-length equation in front of everyone, without realizing how easily he was doing it.
Meanwhile, the loner isn’t so alone anymore. Through group activities and Err’s efforts to befriend him, Mawin begins to let his guard down and becomes more social with his peers. Putting away his headphones at lunch, Mawin is shown preferring the company of new friends over his favorite talk radio shows. He would also make more friends during his English course over the summer.
“Hi, by My Luck” doesn’t insert the academic retreat merely to force proximity between these characters; it presents them with challenges that highlight their internal struggles. When they overcome these struggles, the character growth that follows is earned and understandable to the viewer.
The “BL Drama”
“Love Me if You Swear” begins with “Tum”, played by Surf Patchara, and his gang getting into a fight with a rival gang. When it becomes clear that the rival gang is winning, Tum’s gang ditches him. He is left to be captured with his best friend, Messi, after they clumsily slip on a banana peel he brought to the fight. This shows us that Tum isn’t very competent or respected as a leader.
On the other hand, Java Bhobdhama’s character, “Oh”, is a well-respected leader in the gang world. When Tum is brought to him by his underlings, Oh begins to flaunt his “legendary” pants, which bear the badges of all the rival gangs he has seemingly defeated. Eventually, Oh allows them to leave unharmed after he takes Tum's badge. Adding insult to injury.
When it’s revealed that Tum secretly wished to a deity to make him leader, an omen convinces him that his bad luck is due to his unfulfilled vow: making merit at 9 temples. The story’s main plot begins when Tum embarks on his journey and runs into Oh at the first temple. Oh, having his own fulfilled wish to make merit for, discovers Tum’s secret and nearly embarrasses him online. To prevent Oh from exposing him, Tum forces them to travel together. It’s at this point that we encounter the story’s greatest shortcoming; no real importance or stakes are established for their 9-temple journey.
It’s clear that Tum wants to fulfill his vow, reclaim his badge, and keep his position as a leader, but throughout most of the trip, we aren’t privy to why the gang is so important to him in the first place. On their first night, we learn that Tum rose to his position by sheer happenstance. This makes for a funny flashback scene, but it also undermines the character's sincerity. His ambition lacks the effort the audience can get behind, e.g., Err from the previous story.
Finally, towards the end of the journey, Tum confesses that being a loner is the reason for his attachment to the gang. Messi was his only friend until becoming a gang leader secured him a group of comrades. In theory, this is understandable, but harder to sympathize with when there’s no imagery of this character as an outcast like our previous character, Mawin.
The motive behind Oh’s vow to the deity is kept hidden from the audience for most of the trip. This gives Oh an air of mystery, but it relegates him to a side character in Tum’s story since no stand-alone narrative is offered until the story’s backend. Turns out, he prayed for his grandmother, who’d gone missing due to her alzheimer’s. Her safe return is the reason for Oh’s merit-giving vow. A beautiful sentiment, but the lack of meaningful connections to his grandmother along their journey gives the reveal very little retrospective significance.
When “Love Me if You Swear” concludes with Tum outgrowing the validation of a gang he was never portrayed to have a meaningful connection to, and Oh is virtually the same character he was in episode 1… what was the purpose of the plot? I would guess the purpose was to create conditions in which these characters get to travel together, bond, bicker, and tease each other for our BL-viewing pleasure. And, it succeeds at this.
ROMANCE DEVELOPMENT
The Drama Story w/BL
The romance in “Hi, by My Luck” is a gradual build with a tender climax. Err and Mawin go from misunderstood rivals to friends who lean on each other, to lovers who long for each other. When Err seeks the advice of a virtual fortune teller on how to beat his rival, Err’s friend misinterprets the advice as getting Mawin to fall for him.
Initially, Err’s awkward attempts to break the ice with his stoic rival are a bust. Mawin, however, is very attentive and breaks the ice in his own way. He notices when Err needs to eat and has something on his mind, prompting him to initiate an after-hours ramen date in the hotel kitchen. An intimate moment where these characters share a pot of noodles and get to know each other better.
Err is always checking in with Mawin to make sure he’s having fun at the retreat. When he notices Mawin letting his guard down and having fun with the other students, he can’t help but smile to himself. It brings him joy to see Mawin happy. Same with Mawin, when he notices Err gaining confidence to participate in academic challenges, it brings him happiness.
A defining scene in their romance development is when Mawin finally reveals what he always listens to when he has his headphones on. He shares an earpiece with Err, a moment that symbolizes him letting Err into his world. As Mawin catches himself getting too excited while discussing his talk radio obsession, they hear a caller on the show describing what it’s like to lock eyes with her crush. Her description narrates their feelings in real time and ends with a question for the host: “Do you think I have feelings for him?”
Mawin’s flirting gets bolder the more comfortable he gets. Casually shooting the line: “When I like someone, I will do it for them,” in response to Err wondering why he’s helping him get ahead in the competition. After Mawin has a falling-out with some of the other students, he doesn’t show up for class. Err risks losing leaderboard points by skipping class to search for him. “If you were just a schoolmate to me, I wouldn’t be running around this hotel looking for you!” Err declares.
So when these characters begin sneaking away from prying eyes to share intimate moments, it feels like a natural evolution to their relationship. Not something forced for the sake of having a kissing scene.
The “BL Drama”
Contrary to “Hi, by My Luck”, the romance development in “Love Me if You Swear” isn’t gradual; it’s an escalation out of the blue. When Tum's vengeful gang members are pursuing Oh, and they need a place to hide out, the pair hilariously stumble upon the “Kissy” motel. In the motel room, their argument about Tum’s gang gets physical when Tum tries to forcibly remove Oh’s pants and reclaim the badge taken from him.
After scuffling on the bed for a few moments, the two stop, gaze at each other lustfully, and proceed to use the love motel for its intended purpose. Though I find nothing wrong with portraying a relationship that is more sexual, the lack of story-building up to this scene makes it feel ham-fisted. The sudden overflow of passion between Tum and Oh doesn’t have a tangible trail of sexual tension behind it. No naughty dreams, no lingering glances at attractive features, no subtle signs of arousal during skinship; nothing that tells us of their swelling desires.
There is one river dock scene where Oh teases Tum with a flick on the chin, and they have a slow-motion stare. Afterwards, we see signs of Tum falling for Oh as he stares at him adoringly, but it’s a huge leap from this moment to the motel room scene. As BL fans, we’re expected to recontextualize the rivalry up to this point as sexual tension, but should that responsibility be ours, or the writer’s?
The romance development from this point on is quite fun to watch, though. The characters bond at a temple festival and confide in each other in meaningful ways. Oh challenges Tum’s loyalty to his gang, which doesn’t truly care about him. “If my friend were beaten and had his badge taken, I’d be mad at those responsible, not my friend.”
Ultimately, when Tum betrays Oh because he’s too afraid to stand up to his gang, his short redemption arc feels sincere. “Can you bring Oh back into my life? Please, tell me what I should do to get him back.” Tum’s new prayer to the deity shows a full-circle moment for the character. A decent recovery that secures our enjoyment of the TumOh ship despite its developmental flaws.
CONCLUSION
When I ask myself, “Did I enjoy this story because of the quality?’ in regards to “Love Me if You Swear”, unfortunately, the answer is no. I enjoyed the story despite the quality. If I removed Surf and Java's magnetic charm, which made it fun to watch, would I be left with compelling, fully realized characters? Was the plot well-executed? Was I immersed in their journey story-wise? The answer is again, no. And yet, I would happily rewatch it as a mood-booster.
Choosing to analyze “Love Me if You Swear” critically wasn’t to talk myself out of liking it, but to explore why this BL drama felt more superficial to me than its predecessor. Same anthology series, same amount of runtime, but different levels of execution. I found this very intriguing.
As much as I’ve praised “Hi by My Luck”’s storytelling, it’s not completely flawless. The virtual fortune teller arc feels unnecessary in the grand scheme of things. That particular plotline seemed to have been penciled into the script to fit the "MuTeLuv" supernatural theme. However, when I ask myself, “Did I enjoy this story because of the quality?’ The answer is yes.
My appreciation for the plot, my relatability to the characters, and my investment in the romantic development all stemmed from the creators’ ability to convey feeling and circumstance in a way that was comprehensible and captivating. A creative feat that isn’t the end-all, be-all of fictional entertainment, but one that I find most impressive and most exciting about the power of dramas.
Author: Blue
BL drama enthusiast. Habitual consumer of web articles, podcasts, and video essays.
Yellen:
Would you have other examples of Dramas with BL?
I'm watching Pit Babe right now. Although they don't hold back with kissing and making-out scenes in almost every episode, I think, it's rather on the plot driven side.
I didn't watch Not Me yet, but I read a lot that the plot is the main focus.
I love the difference between these two types of dramas: it never occurred to me. I wouldn't have thought to apply it to these series but it is only because I watched them really quickly while doing other things....
haha I get you. Honestly, I wasn't expecting to be as impressed with the intention behind HBML's storytelling as I was. I was expecting short, cute, funny, and done. Similar to LMIYS. So when I noticed the differences, I just had to write about them.
Would you have other examples of Dramas with BL?
There have been dramas which were sold as BLs without them being so: 180 Degrees, The Miracle of Teddy Bear or 7 Days to Valentine. These were, in my book, pure dramas where main characters happen to be gay. They would probably be in a category of their own?
I agree. The titles you've listed aren't in essence BL, but in using "BL" as a blanket term for Asian dramas with m/m romance, I would consider them "drama stories with BL". The focus on story & character progression is higher than serving us our favorite BL tropes. Whether that story progression was executed well *cough* 7DaystoValentine *cough*, is always up for debate. 😂
Some drama stories that are in essence BL, that I would also put in this category are: Cherry Magic, Bad Buddy, ThamePo, Gameboys, Stay With Me, Light on Me. These have clear BL themes that target the boys' love/teen romance audience, but they don't forego essential storytelling and characterization.
PizzaCat:
I didn't watch Not Me yet, but I read a lot that the plot is the main focus.
You've gotta check that one out. So thrilling! And Gun's acting is brilliant.
didn't watch Not Me
I did not watch it either. Actually, I tried watching it three times and dropping it every time during the first episode: I found the story set up (twin swap) completely unconvincing.
Blue:
*cough* 7DaystoValentine *cough*,
What's your beef with this one? 🤔🤣 I liked it quite a lot! The main character was an idiot but eventually he learned his lesson!
Though I must admit, when I watched it, I was at the final leg of my only Thai BL watching period and at the time I liked the dramas everyone else hated (and vice versa!). The worse the rating, the better I liked it! For example, I had so much fun watching House of Stars and wanted for it to have a sequel....horrible people left us on a cliffhanger!
PS Thanks for the award, Blue!🥰
What's your beef with this one? 🤔🤣 I liked it quite a lot! The main character was an idiot but eventually he learned his lesson!
Omg yes, the writing of the protagonist was a big thing. I adore the actor (loved him in Bake Me Please too). And also, the plot was agonizingly repetitive lol, which I get was the point to a certain extent. I thought this project was a bit more self-indulgent than the director's previous, 180 Degrees. Absolutely loved that one, btw.
For example, I had so much fun watching House of Stars and wanted for it to have a sequel....horrible people left us on a cliffhanger!
Everything about this quote is me. lol
I did not watch it either. Actually, I tried watching it three times and dropping it every time during the first episode: I found the story set up (twin swap) completely unconvincing.
Not Me was a rare 10/10 for me, but it has its flaws for sure. What about the twin swapping is hard to believe? You're probably right, and the rest of us were just able to overlook it.
What about the twin swapping is hard to believe?
I really did try to believe in it. Twins were separated young or something like that: they have not been in touch for a long time in any case. Then the rebel one is hurt or in a coma or dead, I don't remember any more but his twin brother decides to take his place in the gang to investigate. This is what bothered me: they have not seen each other in years and yet the twin successfully replaces his brother in the gang his brother spent all of his time with?!? And nobody finds his behaviour, odd speech and weird reactions strange? Nobody notices there is something different about? No matter how alike the twins are, your friends will notice the sudden odd behaviour.
I have to admit to a negative bias as well: ever since their turn in The Theory of Love, I cannot stand to see Gun and Off playing couples. I like them a lot separately. But together? Yuck! Sorry! But that is also one of the reasons I was so hard on Not Me.
The last reason (but I think it is generational), I think I remember the gang being some kind of eco-warriors group. Ecology and gangs....sorry I just could not find it believable!
Maybe everything is explained in later episodes but I couldn't even finish the first one. I know that a lot of people love this drama. I just cannot watch it: it is a deep down, visceral rejection. Strange reaction to a drama, right? Go figure! lol
