Wholesome, alas with room for improvement
Well, a wholesome themed series finally found its end, and I assume it ended exactly as everyone assumed from early on, lol. Which, well is no shame, but a bit an ongoing watershed between good and REALLY good series. And it is a beef I have with series I know others see very different. I like BL stories, but personally I feel a BL just on its own just doesn carry enough interest for me, with some rare exception when either the actors or the directing is so great, it does all the job, like some of those small Korean "Kammerspiele" - small chamber plays which revolve around two people with little extra.But that is not the Thai style, and if I compare it to, right now "Goddess Bless You from Death" (Pooh/Pavel) I felt there was a lack of story here. I mean BESIDE the love, a background against which the lovers to be develop and measure their growth. In this, this series was quite shallow waters. David/Wave had a very helpful memory loss, with Lava first disliking and then falling for him. Not entirely a really breathtaking or new idea, alas. As it is that story was well written and performed, but it had a foreseeable hiccup at Episode 9, the inevitable and again entirely foreseeable "I remember the past but not you" which again to no one's surprise made the 10th episode extremely rushed. So many problems were solved, even a one year time skip. Nothing about the coup, no development of the parents or the fake marriage, not much to see of a year of suffering. And suddenly a five minute happy end, which was nicer than other five minute endings but as lacking as such endings unavoidable always are.
Goods to mention are the scenery, the locations, camera directing and also the many beautiful songs. A scope of many different moods between the actors and their stages of relationship. However, being true to heart, Winny/Satang is not a power couple. Both seemed to act reserved and I have seen many stronger emotions on display given the dramatic moments involved. Satang's acting is okay, but I just could not really feel so much behind the face of Winny. He just sorely lacked the strength to show anger, fear, sadness convincingly enough to me. Often it felt more like a variations of stares. One could accept this, if we had a backstory, maybe he was traumatized, maybe if he had a form of autism or anything that would explain such a reduced facial reaction. It was just a love, given the acting, thinking of it without music, scenery and story supported I had a hard time to buy. Even in wording, I missed those powerful breaking points, explaining deep love or deep suffering at least in words. If you compare it to other series actors (First, Fourth or Pooh) there is just a way too steep difference.
I laude them for making an unusual couple, breaking a bit from the mold. Winny is no model type and Satang is. Winny is stoic manly but Satang isn't "feminine" but strong on its own. It saddens me to say, but Winny just was the weak link of the entire series. And I hate to say that because it seems like "I just want perfect doll actors", but he just didn't work for me as a convincing lover. And the problem is: it isn't their first roles, even though their first main couple series. So how much air to learn to act better is in the stars.
As a wholesome series I felt well watching it, I wasn't bored, it was okay, but against the rising competition it felt just weak. Sure a lot of series are worse, but a lot also now are just better. Just take Pond currently playing the excentric Mafia boss and you know what I mean with really interesting acting. As ever making use of the full scale, it is one of the more difficult series to rate, knowing some prefer just BL and not too much other stuff, so I split it up to explain:
STORY: 7
DIRECTING: 8
ACTING: 5
MUSIC: 9
OVERALL 7/10
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Another highly praiseworthy milestone for Pooh/Pavel
What a series, and what a dramatic high impact ending! We are used to drama and high stakes from Pooh and Pavel since the two “Pit Babe” series with terrifying villains, deadly moments, but this series topped it all tenfold! Evil sorcery, creepy ghost and moments surely not for the faint of heart, I was glad I watched the blurred version on Youtube. Despite my usually sensitive nerves, I found even the dark scenes bearable, walking just the fine line of too much horror and hope.Both MC actors Pavel but especially Pooh proved to have extended their range as actors in this most challenging story. Some may say the love story took a bit of a back-seat and while I would agree, it made it all the more memorable. I am sure anyone who liked it, will remember this series for a very long time. In all it set out to do, mix horror, crime and love, they succeeded with flying colors! The last two episodes and especially the last part was a true highlight of drama, with everything at stake and on the edge of a knife, giving the viewer the feeling that all possible ends remained on the table until the very last moments.
One may say, that made the time after the happy ending a bit too short, but in all honesty I didn't mind. Singha and Thup had already grown together and their backstories had been unfolded step by step, that despite this I felt the ending satisfying and didn't feel I missed another extra “all happy” time added to it. It may be regarded as more horror drama with BL, alright, but looking for BL to dare more story, and feeling myself these days bored of “just BL” this was most welcome to watch. A truly cinematic masterpiece that doesn't have to shy away from being compared to any big international series. In the end, mama and papa (the forever homeless^^) found together as if in one more universe. Feeling thoroughly greatly entertained throughout the entire series, great actors I every single role, and Pooh making the happiest happy face there is, I am confident with a
10/10
Memorable Series!
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A must watch
A very interesting story, where both characters and the plot unfold ever more complex and fascinating levels during the show. It was both charming and exciting and is a timeless classic. There are so many topics covered and no moment is boring or filler. The MCs are fascinating and plausible, the support characters are recognizable and also are integrated well. Every episode adds something new, interesting and rich. Some really unexpected surprise twists, and overall a memorable series both as BL but also as a story in itself.Was this review helpful to you?
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You Happy Neighbourhood Vampires
My Secret Vampire is an eight episode long Korean BL with, as unexpected as it may sound to to you, Vampires. And a non Vampire. And of course everyone is gay. 😅Anyway, I really like this sort of less dramatic version of Vampire meets non-Vampire BL than the other big one. No big blood scenes, and I liked the calm pacing of this studio, whose MC actors I think I saw before. Though looking it up I could neither verify any other show nor the studio. Maybe you know more.
Anyhow, I really liked this lighthearted show, with all endearing characters. There is no "real" solution to a certain issue, meaning aging. But I guess like star gazing or marveling at the cherry blossom, sometimes we just lose ourselves in a happy moment. Not reinventing the wheel and staying a bit on the surface with the Vampire story, each actor and scene was enjoyable and lovely, I give this a good
8/10 rating.
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Seriously... I tried. I am close to the end of Episode 3, just right around the same point where I quit the series months ago. Sigh. I mean... I began fast forwarding seggs scenes! I felt so NOTHING about it. Like romance was sucked out of me from some emotional vacuum cleaner!
Yes it looks all hot and steamy, but Lordylord... I feel nothing about Sorn and Jun. Like not an inkling of romance. Both are brash, hyper-acting, irrational characters, whose actions make zero sense to me. Is any of them feeling any affection for the other, for I can't tell. And everyone seems to take seggs and relationships so nilly-willy. Like Jun has this lukewarm boyfriend, whom he treats like a random stranger he just met in a hook up bar.
And then this "oh I teach you" plot. .... Seriously? Does Jun have the IQ of 30? Rrriiiiight. I am having seggs with a guy to train.... There is no character develop... can that, there is no CHARACTER I feel behind any of these actors. Sorry, if you liked it, but I feel like nothing. Nobody seems even remotely having any normal human emotion, at least as far as I can tell. I don't feel any personal interest of Jun or Sorn towards each other whatsoever. Or maybe they are the Asian face-masters of hiding, but then... what the heck is this BL even about?
I know the series is leading lists, and yes "oh it gets interesting at Episode 7"... but each episode is LONG and by now... I feel nothing about them.
"Jun, a mischievous high school boy and expert in pushing people’s buttons, and Sorn, a composed, orderly man who absolutely cannot stand kids like him, have been at odds since the day they met. From sneaking salt into toothpaste to hiding personal belongings, Jun’s endless pranks have made Sorn loathe him to the core"
Sorn is composed WHEN? What pranks did Jun make? Isn't it more the other way around Sorn is pushing Jun's buttons for no reason at least I can see.
"But fate has a sense of humor." (DO I look like I am smiling??) "When Jun unexpectedly runs into Sorn in an unusual situation, (Liike Sorn letting Jun almost DIE!) what starts as awkwardness soon becomes the beginning of a complicated connection. The man who once firmly declared, “I don’t like kids,” finds himself slowly stirred by unfamiliar emotions. From conflict to closeness, the line between annoyance and affection begins to blur."
Or like this. Jun receives a parcel from a delivery guy for someone else. Sorn: WHO WAS THIS? WHAT DID HE WANT?
I'd really want to channel my inner working class Englishman and say "Oi mate, that's none of yer bloody business, innit?"
Boy does Sorn hide these feelings well. They just push each other around like being really annoyed ALL THE TIME, and suddenly have seggs. I just raise my arms to the heavens, and like Maggie Thatcher long ago cry "NO. NO. NO."
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Just watching it will kill your braincells.
Tonhon Chonlatee - Breaking up at Episode 3, dead because of Fremdschämen"Fremdschämen (German): to feel embarrassed on behalf of someone else when they do something awkward or cringeworthy."
Powers help me. I so wanted to see Pod in a role not being sidechar. So googling I heard of Tonhon Chonlatee. Already Episode 1 with the cartoon "sissy gay" being beaten was... borderline bearable.
Then Ton (Pod), the supposed hetero living with THREE most obvious gay guys is oblivious and dumb like toast. Each step gets worse. He leads (forces almost) them all into a brothel to "have happy time with women". What is that, the soft version of "conversion therapy"?
In the middle of Episode 3, I could take it no more. What rubbish is this? I mean, seriously? In the not yet so long list of my watched BL series this was the worst, most embarrassing, cringe and outright offensive series I so far had the dubious privilege to watch.
What in the Twelvegods names were they THINKING? SO like a boxing judge I can only yell: OUT OUT OUT, with a relentless
0/10
Just watching it will kill your braincells.
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A nihilistic nightmare that will drain your happiness out of your soul!
tldr: STAY WAYGods above! I rarely so much wanted my time back I wasted here. It is by far the worst BL I have seen so far (which isn't so long but still). Actually it has BL slapped on but it is just a drama with gay characters and love in it.
Where to begin... okay the acting is good. That's is the good. Like all of it. What the studio tried to pull off was a Greek Tragedy or a Shakespearen Drama like Lear or Hamlet. And sorry, nameless studio, whose name I shall not look for to waste MORE time, YOU ARE NOT HOMER OR SHAKESPEARE!
What I saw was a nihilistic, depressive dark meta-message about life. As if I needed more! There was nothing dark in the sense of rape or violence. But the dark that ruins your feels.
The MC starts with his boyfriend breaking off, and a Cupid Reaper appears, giving the MC 7 people in the coming 7 nights before Valentine can "make vanish" whom he thinks will bring his BF back. And BOY this MC is an unbearable character! What starts as nuisance quickly descents into chaos and nihilistic horror. There is NOTHING interesting or even remotely entertaining in seeing this unfolding. So I broke up at the recent Episode 10, and I should slap myself for being too dumb to see there is nothing rewarding coming. I am really ANGRY about having watched this, since the idea could have been used for a fascinating plot. This series will literally suck joy out of your soul. Avoid it at any cost. As such
1/10
Stay away!
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THEE hallmark of BL series long to be remembered!
What a show! What an event, and what memorable characters. I say it outright, on my personal list, ME AND THEE has easily shot of my all-time favourite show. And while especially since late 2025 many top tier series were made, Me and Thee is like a summit of feeling good, of fun and romance, and most important the most inconic character since Darth Vader: Khun Thee! I mean, from the first moment to the end he captivated us all with his weird antics and everyone following social media knew, BL actors and fans alike imitated is lines and poses. This is a rare one-time hit where story, character, actor and directing come to create a perfect memorable character, with making a fan-wish into the show, when Khun Thee „buys“ GMMTV and renames is GMM Thee V.Just looking at the end now with Episode 10, I have a hard time to image there will any be a marriage proposal both so epic and yet so personal, with Khun Thee and Lookpeach so stunning on that rooftop where all began, with everyone involved, and really everyone being a wholesome character. Good parents, friends, family and not only a wedding but adopting two kids, this was just like a BL fan's feaver dream!
Both main actors, Pond and Phuwin were outstanding each in their own rights, and every other character was shining just the same, none felt awkward, misplaced or not up to the task. A story with a perfect rhythm from the early meeting of two different characters, beautiful sets, fashion, perfect cinematorgaphy and memorial musical score.
Me and Thee will long remain on top of the hallmarks for perfect Romance BL with much well placed comedy that never felt out of synch with the story – a rare feat in itself, when so often comedy and romance in series are hard to bring together, here both supported each other perfectly. If it ever will get better, well that's way beyond my imagination. As such to surely nobody's surprise I give a well deserved PERFECT
10/10
in every single aspect.
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Wooden Acting 101 - A series that was only good when the MC was not in it
MOONLIGHT CHICKEN - REVIEWI must admit I have no idea what standing this series or the MC (Earth/Mix) have, but to be frank, while the series had some merits, I felt this was really a low end of sheer boredom, wooden acting and uninteresting MC couple of many BLs (which are not many) I have seen so far. You know me dear beloved father, who passed away 10 years ago, when hearing a joke used to say "if you pull out a toenail maybe that will make me laugh" when he found something meant to be funny unfun.
I don't know how many Gods I must have offended to be punished by this series. Since I feel it was a milestone and Earth-Mix used to be a name often spoken about, but most important for it, it was the first BL role as far as I know with Fourth and Gemini, and I had not continued if I had not seen Fourth in Episode 2. In this Episode 2 and the entire series Fourth Nattawat really shows he is BORN an actor and a star. His sheer presence overshines the entire series like a sun suddenly rising at midnight and driving the shadows of bore and wooden acting away. Just a gaze 10 seconds of him are condensed energy of an entire hour of the rest of each episode. Honor points also for the stellar acting of Gemini playing a deaf character very lovely.
As to the rest... I am sorry, but Earth Pirapat is the most wooden actor I have seen in BL and outside and I have no idea who cast him. He cannot act, he looks mediocre so there is nothing to see, and Gods above if people called me "Uncle" so many times instead of my name I would go crazy. There is Mix, playing Wen, who is in love with Uncle. Gods know why, I mean they had sex and I cannot see any charming quality of Uncle. He face is like a frozen Asian business smile. When he is sad, when his ex betrays him, when he is dead, when he is angry with Li Ming (Fourth) I feel like when God created him he forgot a bucket full of face muscles someone just Jim Carrey got extra.
And then starting the entire starting with seggs and Wen living with his ex... I mean seriously, that is probably THE most disqualifying thing I can imagine in any gay guy I would consider dating material. He broke with Alan, lies to himself it is "good for Alan" instead of it is just good for him not being all alone, and still seggsing around meanwhile, but hey lets keep doors open and maybe that Lung whose only quality is to make chicken is good. Why... I'll never know. What do they have in common? What connects them? What chemistry is there. Wen (Mix) is a bit better at acting, but honestly not really a lot. He has a neutral face, a somewhat off smiley-flirty face and swaps between those two and that's it. And I notice it so strongly every time the story moves to Fourth and Gemini making the contrast so unbelievable to me that I can only think, well people probably love it out of nostalgia. I mean each to his/hers.
Then there is First/Alan one of my favourite actors, because from others series I know, BOY HE CAN ACT. Like so different characters with so different layers. As much as I like Fourth for the radiance, First is IMVPO the most capable actor in terms of... well acting. He can play multi-layered characters and have so many different emotions run over his face, which I know from other series he played it. Maybe Earth and Mix can that and it was just not desired by the director, but when I expect someone to go through so much shit as Uncle Jim went through, it would SHOW on my face.
And then this forsaken restaurant. Even in the end, Uncle had to admit, he didn't even know why it was important or what he wanted to do. Like yeah, that fits with your acting, man! I didn't know why I should care. It wasn't a nice place, the menu was chicken... and chicken... and he was just drifting or rather not, he was just ... existing there. Now look, I lost a husband to a car accident, a boyfriend to lung cancer and another to a woman he married and had a kid with, so trust me, I know about life's misfortunes. But locking yourself into a chicken diner and staring at life is not a reacting. You cry and break, you become a monk or a killer to avenge or a sage or whatever, but it DOES something to you that MOVES your feelings. And I just did not see that. I don't mention that for pity points or to brag with what I got through but to say, I KNOW such things as in this series, and Earth's acting as well as the story around Uncle and Wen reflect nothing of that, neither in acting nor in any way how they come together.
There were some good points. The late story around Li Meng's mother, the closure - though I had hope we would have see some more about Alan and Gaipa. In the last episode it is said how much Uncle and Wen grew, but sorry I didn't believe it. The others, yes. But I don't buy a change which is said. And then the worst happens at the end which I personally vividly hate. Gay guys which are unable to say "I love you."
See, I am scarred with this. I had a boyfriend 4 years, and he never said it, and when after 2 years I argued with him he said what is so often a trope in BL "my actions tell you."
NO. NO. NO. There are things you want to hear. Period. Paragraph. I don't buy this. A man who can't say he loves you is a red flag. (This was the guy who left me for a lie of a "normie life" out of fear, so you get why I am so passionately against this *thing*.) Humans are not mind-readers. And even to deaf people we can "talk."
In the end, I did not know where to put it. It wasn't a total disaster, but that was because there were other people than the MC in the story. Like my view or hate it, that's how I felt. Given the screen time measuring both the MC's presence which I felt nothing about and the sometimes fantastic other parts when it wasn't about them, but the ratio is still so much time about Uncle and Wen I have to give it heartfelt
3/10
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A must have seen series - a new gold standard for BL Series!
REVENGED LOVE – ReviewA must have seen series - a new gold standard for BL Series!
A first long go, now showered out in fast pace, we came to an end of something which set nothing less than a new Gold Standard for BL Series. Given my rating system, I must admit, this series crashed rating system of mine. What a run! What is there to say that can give justice to this? To paraphrase the words of Aragorn from Lord of the Rings: A day may come where we see a better BL Series, but it is not this day – and it will hardly be one I can foresee.
First, the daring to go through such a long and complex story of no less that 24 episodes each around 40 minutes is much time to fill, and it wasn't a single minute I felt was uninteresting or anything but breathtaking. It is probably what Lord of the Rings is for Fantasy for Boys Love. In a year blessed with many new great series and a generally huge step up for the BL genre, I have no doubt this will long be remembered as THE series that demonstrated how well BL stories in more than „mere love“ can be. The many ups and downs of each of the character, the development of both characters and story were all nothing short of breathtaking. A cast entirely perfectly chosen, and I am sure few can doubt that Zi Yu, the actor of Wu Suo Wei demonstrated a range of acting worth any great movie or series production you can imagine, and despite all MCs being very good, he shines over the entire series giving it his imprint and in many ways making it his story. So we can only wish that this series brings to him and all MC actors a well deserved career in the future.
The music scores, the camera use, the many sets and places – all are of equal high quality, convincing and superb. From the side streets where Wu Suo Wei sold his sweets over his mother's family house and garden, the 181s clinic serving as a story hub to the many houses, clubs and landscapes; nothing of this was other than perfect, as was the pacing and change from drama to happiness, back and forth to a nice and well deserved happy ending for everyone who deserved so. I tried to think of the best moments, but the show had so many, I can't pinpoint any. Each meeting, each conversation, each glance and look so subtle to emotional strong scenes of crying and joy, all were in so many variations, it satiated every desire and style.
The one sad thought is as commonly known, that mainland China while bringing forth such great actors and so perfectly a series, does not recognize it, but we from outside China can hope and wish that „Revenged Love“ will contribute to a change both in the making of BL and maybe in a bit more acceptance of gay people someday, someway. For, as once I read, politics is downstream of culture, and were it not bards of old, the storytellers from times immemorial whose stories shaped minds? Plato once said, those who tell the stories rule the world. And as such I hope it changes hearts and attracts people to watch it, who maybe usually not find BL interesting. At least that is what I wish and this series is a great ambassador for both BL series, for the art of great storytelling and acting, and what Chinese culture can bring forth, if they put their effort into it. Revenged Love will be a game changer, a measure to which all who aspire for great BL series – or even series at large – have to measure themselves with. And while surely the small stories, the short wholesome others have equal place in the BL universe, this was like reading one of a great drama of epochal measure, put into the frame of a Asian-Chinese modern BL story. It is one of these series which after the end leaves the watcher with a longing, and empty place and a great memory. If I could I would change the rating scale just to highlight this series with all aspects. While we don't know what the future holds for actors and crew, I wish their careers find justice in their future as it left us with a great memory of what I regard as nothing but perfect BL story which goes way beyond the boundaries of BL itself. As such my rating is a glowing “must have seen”
10/10
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