So Much More Than NC Scenes
The series has not finished airing, so this is a preliminary review because I am reading so much vitriol around this title.All the talk about this series concerns the NC scenes. Yes, they are many and they are legend, but I take serious umbrage with those who are saying the NC scenes are the totality of the series. We are witnessing two characters Sasom (an actor) and Po (an illustrator) who seemingly enter into an erotic contract purely for sexual gratification. Both characters use sex not only to self-medicate and wrest control back for their lives, but they use sex to keep others at arms length. What unravels between them is a slow lowering of emotional and psychological walls- and yes, that lowering happens first through sex. Their emotional and psychological bond is formed in the moments they spend together after sexual encounters, when the artifice (or contractual purpose) of their relationship slips and they are human with each other.
To state there is no plot is to state that you might not be paying attention to a portrayal of one of the oldest defense mechanisms men and women use when they are emotionally and psychologically fragile- sex. This is a mature examination of what happens after the pretense of orgasm lends itself to emotional vulnerability.
There is a narrative arc for the couple and character arcs for the individuals (though admittedly, up to episode six, this seems more clear with Po).
We don't often see characters who hide in sex when all they want is emotional connection. Only Friends did it (and did it well) and that series was lauded for its bravery and frankness. Peach Lover, in my opinion, is taking Sasom and Po on a similar emotional awakening and is doing so without trope.
I will say, however, that criticism is warranted for the second couple. They are so tonally mismatched with the overall tone of the larger narrative that I feel like I'm watching amateur hour whenever they are onscreen.
I commend the director and actors for their bravery in telling a story they had to know would be wildly misinterpreted: all attention paid to NC scenes without some of the audience bothering to do the work of attempting to see their purpose in the larger narrative.
The series hasn't concluded, so they may not stick the landing. This is a series for a mature-minded audience who understands that sometimes, for far too many broken people, it is easier to get naked with your body than it is with your heart and mind. Finding that balance- to be naked physically, emotionally, and mentally in equal measure- is a healing journey and one worth telling and spending time with. Do they tell this story perfectly? No. Do they tell it well if you are paying attention- yes.
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Plot Is Sometimes Bonkers But Performances On Point
There are many warranted and unwarranted criticisms here on Reloved's MDL page and if you're looking to figure out whether or not to watch, hopefully the preponderance of the evidence will help you decide. I truly enjoyed the small story they told, even if the narrative itself was sometimes outlandish and uneven. I would highly recommend it for its performances and its commitment to showing a segment of queer life not often represented on screen.First and foremost, kudos to the writers and production team for giving a glimpse of queer love that mirrors more the daily lived experience of many queer men outside of the falling in love arc. We rarely if ever see gay men raising children, trying and sometimes failing to "launch" adult lives, all while the giant roulette wheel of life throws unexpected triumphs and tragedies in willy nilly. We sometimes forget that life truly is luck- both good and bad- and life will throw both at us whether we deserve the type we get or not.
Far too often queer representation wallows in the (very real) tragedies and neglects to tell other stories. P'Than has loving, solidly middle-class parents who embrace the totality of who he is, as well as embracing (without forced villainy for conflict's sake) the truth of people and their situations. They respond to life and their children's lives as thinking, rational adults and are supportive. These are not parents who neglect grandchildren simply because they are unhappy about the choices and mistakes the adult's who made them have committed. They reflect the kind of parent I hope I am to my queer child.
I will thoroughly concede that the "mystery" behind why our MLs broke up in the past drags on for far too many episodes. However, I understand Akin's commitment to that secret. He is not keeping this secret simply for himself or to exacerbate the story's conflict. In fact, to break the promise he made to Meya and reveal the secret would have long-lasting and potentially detrimental consequences for not only Meya, but for Mawin as well. He is silent because he has chosen to be a father. Though not explicitly stated in the script, the performance attests to the internal conflict Akin feels. He wants to be done with the secrecy for his own selfish reason, but that is balanced heavily by the commitment he made to be in Mawin's life. To reveal the mystery is to potentially put Mawin at risk emotionally and psychologically. Perhaps this was too underwritten to be made clear to the audience, but I certainly saw that tension in his arc. As a single mother I may have overly-identified with the need to put your own wants and desires on the back burner and make choices for your child that protect his emotional and psychological well-being. But the production team certainly laid out that internal conflict within the five axis of film, whether it was in the juxtaposition of scene and flashback, or the way the camera stayed with Akin as the conflict played out on his face when looking at Mawin and P'Than.
And the Don situation. While others find it a weakness of the series, I find it is one of its strengths and reinforces the team's commitment to tell a "real story." Sometimes, no matter how hard we commit to growth and understanding, the aforementioned roulette wheel lands on a number you didn't deserve. You can do everything right- every choice, every introspection, grab every opportunity to be a better version of yourself- and still be dealt an illogical and cruel blow by life. This isn't just reflected in Don's arc, but in the gym's struggle are as well. This too is often neglected on screen and is a shame. Sometimes I'm tired of the happy ending because who hasn't at some point sat at night and lamented, "I've done everything right- so why does so much of my life feel unfair?".
So with all of its weaknesses, why did I love it? Authenticity. In the midst of the sometimes outlandish script, the actors made me care deeply about the characters and forgive the plot's shortcomings. The authenticity of performance, the glimpse into a segment of the queer community not often represented, and the obvious love of the production staff to tell this story won out over the flaws. Yes, so many of us turn to dramas for escapism, but sometimes that escapism- ironically- has the opposite effect; it makes us lament the unfairness that life sometimes throws our way. In its bid for authenticity, this drama dared to show that we are not always in control of the outcomes in our lives. Sometimes there is a car accident. Sometimes one success doesn't automatically breed another and we fail even though we did everything "right." Sometimes we have to make choices against our own self-interest because the roles we chose to assume have to take precedence. It was very comforting to see a drama that dared to say, "the happy ending doesn't always come in the package you expect or even at all- and it's not always your fault."
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Mature and Heartfelt
Do not let the high school setting fool you- this is a very mature examination of connection, loss, grief, and navigating your burgeoning sexual awakening.This Coming of Age tale wraps itself in a very grounded fantastical element while delivering the narrative with both a humorous and deeply existential deft hand.
The actors are perfectly cast and seemed to melt into their characters. The fantastical element could have been played very broadly (which Japanese dramas tend to do, I'm looking at you, Cherry Magic) but the actors' choices kept the fantastical firmly rooted in reality. What I particularly loved about their chemistry was the achievement of what I thought was impossible in standard BL fare: balancing the sweet and romantic with animal need.
A common complaint regarding Japanese BLs usually rests with endings. The refrain is that the oftentimes pessimistic, open-ended (bordering on nihilistic) endings leave the audience unsatisfied. I don't know how others will feel about the conclusion of this love story, but I was profoundly satisfied in its courage and honesty.
And don't get me wrong- this is a love story and not a romance, which should be evident from the synopsis.
If you are looking for a love story whose journey will warm, touch, and try your heart in all the satisfying ways, I highly recommend this drama.
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Standing Ovation
First and foremost, I have to state my utmost respect to Mile and Apo. They leveraged their clout, brand, and fan base to not only bring a stellar work to fruition, but to hand over the spotlight to other actors and cast themselves as supporting characters. The humility and commitment to their acting community, authentic and damn good storytelling, and the audience's experience should be loudly noted. This type of generosity should be resoundingly applauded and acknowledged.This should not be billed as a BL- not because it is lacking in BL romance and spice (oh, it brings it all) but because the representation of gay and bisexual love is incidental representation- gay and bisexual humans have existed throughout history, lived that history, and had to find ways to love and survive in that history. The history and the lived experience is what SHINES in this production. The human experience- gay, straight, and bi, young, old... human- is represented beautifully.
The storytelling does not paint villains and heroes easily. Instead, it leans into the moral ambiguity that often exists when fighting for what you believe. Living the consequences of your choices is a major theme to the piece, and instead of moralizing by assigning "happy endings" or "just desserts" to characters, the storytelling firmly takes the position that making the choice is what is important; to do nothing, to not choose, is the greatest sin we commit. This is a thematic statement that feels incredibly poignant to me as an American at this time and place in my nation's history.
The acting and delivery is truly next level, the production values are top notch including the sound engineering (a particular pet peeve of mine with regards to many Thai productions), and no budget was spared in recreating this indelible moment in Thai history. The script, directing, and execution are award-winning worthy.
Early in its run (as episodes were dropping) a great deal of negative reaction was popping up on social media. For some, I think they were expecting a redux of the Kinn Porsche aesthetic and storytelling. For others, I think they expected to be spoon fed important histocultural details that makes the viewing experience a little easier. It doesn't take much time to hop on Google and get some context to this period in Thai history so you can understand the sociopolitical implications as you watch. If we are going to embrace the art of a culture, don't we have a little bit of an obligation to do our homework and meet the storytelling halfway when we are lacking prior knowledge to enhance our understanding? I firmly believe the answer to that question is, "yes." For every 20 BLs that require no effort on the part of the international audience in order to understand and enjoy, you will find that beautiful treasure- like Shine- that requires a little more effort to participate. Take five minutes to gather some prior knowledge as it will truly make this viewing experience better.
I will rewatch this someday. But for now, I just want to sit with it in my heart and in my brain and give myself some time with it before I rewatch.
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Overcoming Intergenerational Traum
what a heartbreaking, bittersweet, human story of the long reach childhood abuse and neglect can have. Like Love in the Big City, I don’t feel this romance is center stage- the human pain and drama will sear into your memory.The acting is stellar. Tje awkwardness of first physical love is handled with honesty and dignity, all while forcing the viewer to remember their own unsure first steps into a romantic relationship.
Tjere is a significant time jump that is jarring, but by the end, I truly understood why the writers made this choice.
Solidly number one in my favorite BLs of the year.
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