To make you understand more about the series, I picked out three question that covered much in interviews: Q1: Why did you want to make a political BL drama? P'Moo (Producer): There are very few Thai dramas and movies that deal with political themes. "Mandate" might even be the first. When I first came up with the idea for a BL drama, I said I wanted to explore new themes and not just repeat the traditional BL drama format. Also, I tend to enjoy novelty and unconventionality, so I wanted to make a political BL drama that Thais haven't seen much of yet and see how it would be received.
Q2: Ben, although you've acted in BL dramas before, this role is different. He's the son of a former Thai Prime Minister (as Withu). What kind of preparation did you go through? Was it difficult?
Ben: It was difficult. Very difficult! My last role was very close to myself, so I didn't have to adjust much. But this time, he's a politician, and his father is a former Prime Minister, so he's more mature. I needed to speak more slowly and clearly. Besides the workshops with P'Boy, I also practiced on my own, trying to understand the character's background and daily life. Every day when I got home, I'd practice "talking"—talking to myself, my cat, or just random things. (P'Moo: If he couldn't get his lines right, he'd get spanked... but he acted really well, completely meeting everyone's expectations.)
Q3: How did P'Boy (as Doctor Nong) understand his role?
P'Boy: Perhaps at first, everyone couldn't imagine what a politically themed BL drama could be like. But when we started to think about it, we realized that society has become more accepting. Same-sex love can arise in any context; it's simply been distilled and showcased in this drama. We were just the first to do so. Initially, since it was my first BL drama and I was a "newcomer," I felt I needed to learn all the BL aspects. But later on, I realized it was just two people falling in love, and their gender didn't need to be considered. Traditional BL dramas might explicitly define this as 1 and that as 0, but we didn't. We simply wanted to express the bond between two people, such as mutual worry, jealousy, and love.
PS. Their first scene where Nong sang happy birthday to Wi on the rooftop scene in Episode 5 is their first scene together, it took place around 6:00 AM that day.
To all people who commented that This series has no romance or it's like a BL, only political theme. First, Doctor Nong is around 40,41 years old, he dated, but since graduating university he hasn't dated no one, this kind of no dating or love feeling is fine to himself Second, he has bigger thing to do is to change the political system, he is more ambitious to political thing compared to love Third, he is straight from the beginning, to love a man or to become lgbt is not something that can happen is one day or one week, especially he's not 14 year-old boy who can stay all day to chase after someone he likes. Because he feels Wi's sincerity, he knows Wi's feeling towards him, so he keeps flirting with Wi, they live together for a year. Wi also knows that such things couldn't cross the line, so Wi chooses constant dropping wears away a stone, being a dear friend until Nong's heart is moved by his sincerity. Furthermore, they are both very busy, so how could they be so affectionate and love-struck all the time? What I love most Nong tells to Wi that he would always be available for him. The most terrifying thing about a mature relationship of grown adult isn't a breakup caused by arguments, but a gradual separation caused by being busy. Nong: You already know that, I'm always available for you. To let Wi know that he's the most important person to him. A grown man will not promise, but his every word is a vow.
Peace gave the painting to Sun, It is his bravest confession and also his most painful farewell. Sun, remember our night. Sun, I am leaving. Sun, if one day you find out the truth and see this painting, how will you remember about me? Will it be passion or hatred? Will it be happiness or sorrow? What will you do with the painting? Tear it up or throw it away? I want my love is like this painting that I can stand in the light where everyone knows our relationship, to shout to the world that I love you, but it’s a pity that I can’t even say the three words “I am sorry”. Sun, don’t forget me, don’t forget our night…
For those who complains about the Thai lines of Peace. The production can have one dubbing for Peace, but they didnt. Nearly 4 years in Thailand, but Peace's Thais doesnt improve at all, which means how little communication between him and every thing relating to Thai. The only one he communicates in Thai is his dad forcing him. The first sentence he asked Sun is in English, which means he was NOT AWARE of he's in Thailand, his world stops at the day his dad broke all his dreams. But after meeting Sun, he starts to speak in Thais, because his world is now finding out a reason for him to touch Sun, to love a place that he used to deny.
I think it's a wholesome show, but you have to be patient. And, one of the MLs is 32 y/o which doesn't sit well…
Peace in the series is around 25, 26 and Sun is around 22, if someone has suffered like Sun and went to prison, will his face look so young and innocent anymore?
every time new ep releases I always have to watch twice, because the first time I always feel it's too slowburn but the second time it's reasonable Idk why lmao
Two Boys. Two Fathers. Two Ways to Survive.The preview for Episode 4 hit me hard—because it looks like Peace…
OMG your comment makes my eyes teary. Both of them, from 18-year-old that day, two paralyzed fates collided. Without sun, peace will never be recognised. Without peace, sun will stay lonely on his path as a wanderer. I love how they name two MLs.
Q1: Why did you want to make a political BL drama?
P'Moo (Producer): There are very few Thai dramas and movies that deal with political themes. "Mandate" might even be the first. When I first came up with the idea for a BL drama, I said I wanted to explore new themes and not just repeat the traditional BL drama format. Also, I tend to enjoy novelty and unconventionality, so I wanted to make a political BL drama that Thais haven't seen much of yet and see how it would be received.
Q2: Ben, although you've acted in BL dramas before, this role is different. He's the son of a former Thai Prime Minister (as Withu). What kind of preparation did you go through? Was it difficult?
Ben: It was difficult. Very difficult! My last role was very close to myself, so I didn't have to adjust much. But this time, he's a politician, and his father is a former Prime Minister, so he's more mature. I needed to speak more slowly and clearly. Besides the workshops with P'Boy, I also practiced on my own, trying to understand the character's background and daily life. Every day when I got home, I'd practice "talking"—talking to myself, my cat, or just random things. (P'Moo: If he couldn't get his lines right, he'd get spanked... but he acted really well, completely meeting everyone's expectations.)
Q3: How did P'Boy (as Doctor Nong) understand his role?
P'Boy: Perhaps at first, everyone couldn't imagine what a politically themed BL drama could be like. But when we started to think about it, we realized that society has become more accepting. Same-sex love can arise in any context; it's simply been distilled and showcased in this drama. We were just the first to do so. Initially, since it was my first BL drama and I was a "newcomer," I felt I needed to learn all the BL aspects. But later on, I realized it was just two people falling in love, and their gender didn't need to be considered. Traditional BL dramas might explicitly define this as 1 and that as 0, but we didn't. We simply wanted to express the bond between two people, such as mutual worry, jealousy, and love.
PS. Their first scene where Nong sang happy birthday to Wi on the rooftop scene in Episode 5 is their first scene together, it took place around 6:00 AM that day.
First, Doctor Nong is around 40,41 years old, he dated, but since graduating university he hasn't dated no one, this kind of no dating or love feeling is fine to himself
Second, he has bigger thing to do is to change the political system, he is more ambitious to political thing compared to love
Third, he is straight from the beginning, to love a man or to become lgbt is not something that can happen is one day or one week, especially he's not 14 year-old boy who can stay all day to chase after someone he likes.
Because he feels Wi's sincerity, he knows Wi's feeling towards him, so he keeps flirting with Wi, they live together for a year. Wi also knows that such things couldn't cross the line, so Wi chooses constant dropping wears away a stone, being a dear friend until Nong's heart is moved by his sincerity.
Furthermore, they are both very busy, so how could they be so affectionate and love-struck all the time?
What I love most Nong tells to Wi that he would always be available for him. The most terrifying thing about a mature relationship of grown adult isn't a breakup caused by arguments, but a gradual separation caused by being busy.
Nong: You already know that, I'm always available for you.
To let Wi know that he's the most important person to him.
A grown man will not promise, but his every word is a vow.
It is his bravest confession and also his most painful farewell.
Sun, remember our night.
Sun, I am leaving.
Sun, if one day you find out the truth and see this painting, how will you remember about me?
Will it be passion or hatred?
Will it be happiness or sorrow?
What will you do with the painting? Tear it up or throw it away?
I want my love is like this painting that I can stand in the light where everyone knows our relationship, to shout to the world that I love you, but it’s a pity that I can’t even say the three words “I am sorry”.
Sun, don’t forget me, don’t forget our night…
Nearly 4 years in Thailand, but Peace's Thais doesnt improve at all, which means how little communication between him and every thing relating to Thai.
The only one he communicates in Thai is his dad forcing him.
The first sentence he asked Sun is in English, which means he was NOT AWARE of he's in Thailand, his world stops at the day his dad broke all his dreams.
But after meeting Sun, he starts to speak in Thais, because his world is now finding out a reason for him to touch Sun, to love a place that he used to deny.
Both of them, from 18-year-old that day, two paralyzed fates collided.
Without sun, peace will never be recognised. Without peace, sun will stay lonely on his path as a wanderer.
I love how they name two MLs.