BadPenny

Iloved your review! It brought up several good points, especially about Mark and kit. And I liked your perspective on Pha's death.

You know, I believe that's the first time anyone has asked that of me. Uhm. Sure. But it requires set up that's super personal. So be ready for the TMI.

First, I don't really always love BL's for what they are meant to be. I love them for what I can relate to within them. Because as an LGBT person, I can tell you, BL's are not actually about the gay. Not in the least. The LGBT community watches them in spite of them being written for straight women who fetishize gayness, not because of it. So when I see someone complaining about a BL ship not being exciting enough, I know damn well most of the audience is straight women who just came for the pretense of a story wrapped around cute guys kissing and fucking and they're not interested in couples where that takes too long or doesn't happen at all. And I don't really care who that pisses off. It's the truth.

For me, BL's are nice because I get to see a fictional universe where LGBT representation, inaccurate as it is, is also often a lot softer and less dangerous than it is in the real world. And I like Star Hunter Productions because they tune toward actual representation in their management, in their hiring, in their mission statement, and in their actual storytelling.

I love Thanu/Wayu as a ship, but because it's an opinion it's of course based on my perceptions of what a good romance is. And it kind of starts with why I like the characters themselves.

I am not a quiet person when around other people. I am loud and charismatic and often too much for a small space. I fill a room the more a room is filled with other people. Because I am an inveterate introvert. Almost textbook, in fact. So I can be a lot. Like, a LOT lot. Like a Bee with a garden, trying to land on each flower and micromanage the room...make the throng feel more at home, more in order. It looks a fuck-ton like really effective socialization, because it is. But on the inside I have this battery and it runs down fast.

An introvert loves the person who doesn't drain that battery, while enriching them at the same time.

Wayu does not drain my batteries. Wayu is like a fresh breeze. He is everything that does not grate. He is like all my favorite friends and relatives that fit quietly into my life, making it more colorful without it costing me more. Wayu is quiet and humble, reticent but brave, intelligent but not egotistical, dependable and practical but with a flair for the romantic, and straight forward in his emotions. He is generous and hopeful. And I can quote you a moment in the drama for every adjective I've just used.

Wayu is the peacefulness of a study and a good chair and a favorite book, with my cats nearby. Wayu is NOT boring. He's just very much not a damn discotheque, either. (Hint, not all gays like those) People like Wayu are rare and I hoard them to me. They aren't shallow. They know who they are and who they are not, so they need about 1/3 the words that the rest of us assholes use. I love the quietly brilliant ones like Wayu who know their strengths because they've embraced their own flaws.

Wayu is additionally appealing because he is genderqueer and by all appearances he's asexual spectrum. Demisexual, to be exact. And anyone reading this who doesn't know what that is should look it up before mouthing off. It's an asexual spectrum identity where you don't usually experience arousal or interest in sex until you develop a certain level and variety of emotional intimacy with someone. Wayu is exactly this. And often when a Demisexual is starting out with someone who is pinging them right, it's awkward and slow to the point of being timid or halting. That doesn't mean there's anything wrong or unnatural in it. And Wayu is this lovely slice of introvert's paradise, representing with his Demi, fem self.

Thanu is also quiet, but in a stalwart way. (My own significant other to a T.) Someone for whom right actions are more important than what others think of them. But who also has perhaps too much respect for boundaries. Someone who doesn't speak a lot but tends to be pithy when they do. Who trolls gently and consistently but never cruelly. Who supports unquestioningly. Who understands romance and is as affected by sentimentality as all the very best storybook heroes are. Thanu's only hot button is defense of the person he loves. I know Thanu. I've been glued at the hip to one just like him for a long time. Dark hair, brown eyes and long legs included.

So Wayu and Thanu represent my favorite people. I always marvel at anyone who thinks they're dull. They're magnificent. Just not showy. Still waters, and all that.

And to be straight forward, I think anyone who looks at their romance and sees a lack doesn't understand happily ever after the same way I do. It's not in the grand gestures. It's not in the wildly romantic adventures or exciting sexual moments. It's not in the speed in which it unfolds. It's not in who leans into the kiss first, or who consistently waits to be kissed instead of initiating it. It's not in the sass or the "attitude" or in any of a number of bizarre complaints I've heard from people about what Wayu or Thanu lack.

Happily ever after is spilling coffee on your shirt because you know your virgin lover is too shy to be forward with. Happily ever after is one day at a time treasuring "Coming up to use the washroom" as a coy language for being invited inside a person's life to stay. Happily ever after is waiting for a person when things are dark because you respect and trust them enough to find their way back to you. Happily ever after is linking your heartbeat with someone who gives you strength in a moment when you feel you don't have what it takes. Happily ever after is the first steps of understanding the depth of what someone is offering, even if you aren't ready for it. It's giving your lover the time to deal with their unresolved past. It's in finding the storybook prince in someone who's having a bad hair day. It's in making mistakes and steps backwards but in not giving up. It's in loving each other when it's least easy and most needed. It's in knowing when someone's quiet is a good one or a bad one. It's in accepting hurt and giving loyalty in return. It's looking past your fear to hope for something lovely, despite what you've been through. It's in holding hands and it meaning something more.

That's why I ship them. Because Wayu and Thanu understand commitment the same way. That love isn't about what you receive, it's about what you give even when you AREN'T receiving it. Thanu stood there on that curb and told Wayu he would wait for him. No matter what. Earlier in season one when Wayu realized he was falling for Thanu he said his original definition of love had changed. To appreciating the privilege of loving someone, even if it's one sided. (Which of course, it wasn't)

So what if they move slow? Unlike some of the audience, I'm not here just to see boys kiss and fuck. I'm here to see two people who "get it" move inexorably and inevitably toward each other. Even if it takes a long time.

I ship Thanu and Wayu because years ago, when I was thirteen, I wrote to someone who was two years older than me. And we stayed writing. We stayed that little window of hope and clarity for each other. And it happened slow. And there were times when each of us was overwhelmed by other things in our lives. And we had a lot of false starts and hard stops. And then years later we had the privilege of marrying.

I have several Wayu's in my life, I have a Thanu at my side. I am enjoying the fuck out of watching the two on screen work it out.

You are my favorite person to debate with. LOL. We both have a background in visual arts and experience in film.

In the end, I get what you are saying. The moments in the dorm were drawn out. I just felt like it wasn't drawn out unnaturally. Wayu has this kind of "time out of time" quality to his romance with Thanu. That being said, the protraction of time can be overused. There have been moments when I did feel time dragged on too much. Episode 8, sure. They could have shaved off some of that time in editing. In episode 7 maybe just a tiny smidge. But this ep felt solid to me. In fact, this ep for me zipped by. It was over and I was looking at the bar on the timer going "Where are the last 20 minutes!!!"

I think for me it passed so fast because I was immersed. In the last 2 eps I was thrown out by small things from time to time. It didn't detract from my enjoyment, but this episode I was lost in the world.

The only time I think I was thrown out this ep was after the Play when Wayu and Thanu are together. The fabric of that gold turtleneck rolled up under the jerkin on one side and was getting caught around the right side of the brass torq. The mom in me wanted to just fucking run up and straighten his clothing. But then I can be a bit obsessive about things. We've talked about my issue with ties before. ROFL.

Wayo himself spent quite a while chickening out on his own emotions which is why he was showing all that attitude you speak of. Instead of being honest with Pha, he just blurted out whatever acerbic sass came to mind. And even he would then flop on his bed and pull his hair out, frustrated with himself and wondering why he said any of it.

That being said, Wayo wouldn't have slapped Wayu. Being sassy doesn't equal being violent. He'd probably be a little confused by Wayu's emotional openness. But I think Wayo would understand given how hard Wayu's road has been in comparison to Wayo's.

Wayu would end up treating Wayo the same way he does Mark when he's gotten sassy as a result of not properly processing his anger or disappointment. In which case Wayu has always been very gently scolding as he redirects and encourages him. Wayu has big "mom" energy.

There's nothing wrong with a man who is gentle. Who cries, either frequently or infrequently. And there is nothing wrong with not having an attitude. Some of the most interesting and wonderful people I have ever known in my life were uncomplicated, quiet and sweet and felt things very deeply. And I think that's why Wayu resonates so well with me. He's still, but not empty. There's an elegance to his personality that is very honest and "What you see is what you get". Which is refreshing.

But I do like them and I'm not in Thailand either. And while obviously Thai BL's aren't made to suit the taste of Westerners, Thai BL's do please Westerners consistently. And it's odd that you group together all Thai BL's into the same pile, which you seem to revile ubiquitously--and yet you keep watching them.

Thanu/Wayu (And Thai BL's in general) are simply a matter of taste and your opinion on them is not actually a sign of the overall appeal of the couple or the genre.

Also, "Victorian" is a Western qualifier. It's counterintuitive to complain that an Eastern form of storytelling doesn't suit your Western tastes based on that. Because complaining it's too like Victorian storytelling for your Western tastes is literally complaining it's too Western for your Western tastes.

I actually think, for reasons I stated in a new post, that the circumstances of Pha's death were well planned. it's an interesting question though and certainly sometimes my questions about the show go unanswered. This may be one of them too.

I didn't feel any of the scene with Thanu was unnecessary. But I do see why you would feel so. For me, the spread out nature of Thanu's and Wayu's moments in the dorm suite just felt very, very much like domestic exploration of the calm before the storm. And I love those. Wayu was much less concerned with the phone and more concerned with the half naked hottie. I suspect had Thanu not decided that after the second call he'd just head out (And remember to hide Wayu's phone in the toilet the next time) I suspect Wayu would have continued to ignore the phone calls and just let Thanu kiss him more.

I also feel there was a need for Thanu to find out the musical box was broken. They like to foreshadow a lot in this show. And anything with that bow on it is tied to Wayu's relationship with Thanu. The symbolism is on the nose, but symbolism usually is. And since season 2 was planned but not written when Season 1 was, it's probably just a plot hole because the writer of season 2 didn't recall that in season 1 Mark fixed the music box. I have seen huge, critically acclaimed American shows forget bigger plot points from season to season than one small music box. It happens. I don't like plot holes but I accept they happen, regardless. LOL.

But on Wayu's conversation with Kit not being double sided so we knew what Kit was saying? I would argue we didn't need to know. What we needed was the tonal shift. And that did it. Sure, what Kit might have said should have sent Wayu to the hospital ASAP. But then again, all Kit might have said is "In the morning I'm coming to get you and I'm taking you to see Pha. He's not doing well." It would legit cover everything that happened. But it's not something we needed to hear. No, in that moment all we needed to know is that shit with Pha was about to get real and the bareness of the moment gave us that without spilling how bad shit was about to get.

I think the scene with Phai was easily the weakest in the episode, largely because it wasn't about them, it was about whether they were going to meddle in Pok and Tong's relationship. And just...ugh. You'd think Phai wouldn't be that tone deaf. Saendee, sure. But Phai? Hahahaha! WTF!

I rewatched some of the ep and as usual had some more things roll through my head. I can complain about the editing, but by and large the small weird moments are always useful in one way or another. And that's not always the case in all dramas, Western or Eastern. I mean, I have torn shows apart before for all the loose bits laying around. For all that some people complain of no plot, I've found most of Gen Y to be very deliberate in its moments and accomplished in the weave of what goes on. Always paced well after editing? No. But well woven, definitely.

I figured when Pha died what they would do would be ride him on a decline, then maybe next have him rally. Have it seem like treatments were working and then at the end of the season have him die suddenly. But in after thought that didn't make a lot of sense for a couple reasons.

But still I thought it would be later on. At least at the end of episode 11/beginning episode 12 have him pass on and everybody deal with the death in episode 12. I did not see him suddenly kicking it during episode 9. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. I just had to have time to see past my own initial shock.

We have a lot of ground to cover yet. Tong and Pok, I suspect have quite a packed ending to the season. And I presume so do Saendee and Phai. It's going to perhaps require more than a bit of screen time to get Kit and Wayu over Pha's death, and we still have the evolution of Thanu/Wayu and the repair of Mark/Kit going on. We also have yet to see the ending of Padbok's part in things or the culmination of Jack and Koh's...thing.

There really wasn't time to get all that into a plot flow and pack it in with due attention if the audience was still dealing with Pha's story as well. So I'll have to disagree with JayDeeJay that it felt like a last minute or sudden change in the order the plot was perhaps originally meant to unfold. It felt very deliberate to me. As well as comics, I work in their cousin in the film industry, storyboarding, from time to time. Last minute changes like that occur, but they are rare and tend to be restricted to the very end of a series or movie for the most part. Because "Alternate endings" notwithstanding, last minute changes like that alter the fabric of everything that comes after and you can't plan for all the different "maybe's" in your filming schedule that would happen around the timing of the death of a character. So Pha's death was definitely planned for when it happened.

Another reason it works at this particular point in the season is because if contracts prevent it and there isn't a timely way to do a season 3, then this enables the creators to resolve all the plot threads enough by the end of the season to make a clean break for the whole story. Having Pha die at the end would need to be handled in a very particular way not to really feel unfinished if it wasn't followed by at least a special episode dealing with the aftermath. This way, that aftermath is written into the normal flow of the season.

In general, we all probably knew Pha was going to die, at least instinctually. They had no pairing for Pha. And generally, BL romantic characters aren't left at odd ends. If someone is rejected they get another person to be with. At very least next season. But there is no male CP for Big, other than apparently Jet and Jaime. And the show creators weren't suddenly going to have Pha get with someone new. The only time someone goes without a lover when they are rejected, is if they are the villain of the story. And sometimes not even then. Romances and Bl's in particular obey a sort of symmetry.

So Pha was going to die.

I just wasn't sure the show had the legs to carry off a character death. But slowly they've been making the show just heavy enough to support it, I think. Wayu is grown up now and he has a more grown up understanding of how the emotions in his surrounding relationships weave together. And part of being a grown up is the reality of death.

I am only concerned with the circumstances surrounding Pha stopping treatment. When did he stop treatment? How did Kit find out? From Pha's parents? From Pha? Did he stop because he was ready to go or because he had succumbed to some weird idea after Wayu rejected him?

Or had he never started the treatments to begin with? See, Pha asked Kit to step out while he talked to Thanu, early on in Thanu's discovery of the truth. I now suspect that Pha told Thanu he either never started or was going to stop the treatments. And he quite possibly asked Thanu to be patient with Wayu while Pha declined in health. As for the thwarted hand kiss? What if it wasn't meant to be as claiming as we thought. As Wayu thought. Perhaps it was just Pha showing his love in a way he might have customarily done so and Wayu's refusal drove home to Pha that he couldn't really expect Wayu to understand. So he pushed him away. Especially considering Kit said to Pha about his refusal to see Wayu "I just don't understand you."

I am so looking forward to next ep. This show keeps me guessing!

Tons of people ship Thanu and Wayu. They are phenomenally popular. In Thailand they've been holding the top two spots on Twitter trends. That some people here on MDL don't like Thanu/Wayu isn't an indicator of their overall appeal. It's just a matter of not all people liking the same thing. Which is cool.

Different character. Not the same Pha. Pharawee, not Phana, and while Gen Y has its roots in 2 Moons, the story and characters are unique in many ways. Both the original author and the show's creators are clear about it being a different universe from 2 Moons.

But certainly his death is a big, big moment for all the characters.

Well, the did it. They killed Pha off.

Wow.

Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoy my reviews.

Thank you! I enjoy doing them and at some point I may write a blog. I appreciate the encouragement!

OKay,

First, man, the kiss was worth it and the setup was kind of cute! So no hate there. And Thanu looked really good in those shots.

In fact, for most of the episode he looked great. And was funny. The deliberate coffee stain! jklfjklgfjkl It's as much a "them" thing now as the bow. I love it. And the strip down? Nice.

Sorry it didn't pay off for you. Pharawee was busy doing...stuff. I am sure he didn't mean to harsh your elf boner.

Wayu, honey. That response to the prospect of washing Thanu's shirt was adorable but also kind of outed your laundry kink. It thought you were going to giggle in glee for a moment.

He was sweet in all the regular Wayu ways, and even took time to scold Thanu for being a troll. Which, fair. I think I now have a thing for the elf wig and make-up, though. (Keep the ears.)

Saendee continues to prove that without his evil he's not really interesting. Which is odd because I thought he'd be at least half as interesting as a normal boy. But no, his entire personality is wrapped up in twisty side smirks, threateningly direct, shrewd staring, and planning other peoples' destinies out for them.

Pok, I'm with Tong. You haven't shown you really get the manner in which you were wrong. Until then, no dice, bro. Tong isn't obligated to get back with you after a "Sorry I pulled a dick move" speech. Try respecting him as a person first and then work up to asking for his foregiveness. Even Saendee was never quite that big a dick to Tong. Congrats. YOu've out villained the former villain.

Did I mention Mark was adorable but him and Kit are still stupid? All the reservations I had about their relationship by the end of last season are back in full swing. I have come right back around to not liking Mark/Kit.

Also, the cameraman has gotten Wayu and Kit in one of those terrible, wide lens shots from underneath--during season 1. And now they've done it to Thanu. So here Thanu is, standing at Pha's death bed, and minding his own business. And in comes the needless shot from underneath, to make him look like a live action Rugrats character. No! This is a handsome man! Wayu is pretty, Kit is cute. Stop ruining the way people look with poorly thought out worm's eye shots. They aren't edgy unless distorting your characters into balloon animals is edgy.

Pha, as I mentioned, dies. Like kicks it supper sudden. Apparently he stopped taking the experimental treatment. On one hand, if he stopped taking it because he was ready to die, then cool. I get that. Kit kind of forced him to undergo it anyway. Maybe Pha had already come to terms with dying and didn't want to keep doing that uphill battle. But if he stopped because Wayu rejected him, then fuck Pha. Fuck him with a rusty spoon because that is some last minute magnificence in the "Dick move" department. So I sure as hell hope we don't find out next episode that Wayu was the reason he quit. I'm not saying it's not plausible. But man, that would make Pha an epic jackass. My magic 8 ball says "outcome is likely". But hopefully Pha stopped treatments because he was ready.

I gotta be real. I was expecting Pha to flag, then rebound back and seem like all was perfect and he was getting well, and THEN smack us all with the sad salmon in the final ep. Alas, no. They killed him dead as my dreams of marrying Lucy Lawless. The last moment death scene was well enough done. Including the DNR order (Do Not Resuscitate)

And Copter and Bas both acted their little asses off. It was tragic! I am just hoping he didn't leave like a letter goodbye to each of them explaining how Wayu wasn't meant for him blah, blah, blah.

Jack and Koh were actually the best they've been all season. I could actually see them having some progreassion of emotions here, instead of general asshattery. I kind of actually almost like Koh here. And fuck, let me tell you how much of an accomplishment that is. I have hated Koh since day one.

Barring the one incident of bad camera work, I really loved this episode. The plot with Pha came to a sudden, crashing end. But that too happens. I can't fault it for lack of realism and they even dressed the scene at least somewhat properly for it. Which is deeply unusual for a BL drama.

The metadramas were cute but ultimately just commentary on the character identities we already worked out. And to act as a vehicle for character exploration a little. So they did their job, most of the time, even if I wasn't in love with any of them.

Next week we get The Amulate™. The bow and arrow charm necklace Thanu gives Wayu. As well as the resort scenes and some really buck wild romance for Thanu and Wayu. After they bury Pha, of course. I expect Kit will use Pha's death as an excuse not to take the scholarship for study abroad that he never wanted anyway and he'll blissfully fall into Mark's arms without the two of them having learned anything. *shrugs* At least I am expecting it this time.

And of course maybe we'll get some Padbok and Sab not getting together at all. (Which I am still so scarred by)

This remains very fun to watch. But I could have wished for them to drag Pha's death out in order to milk the most out of the angst and plot possibilities.

RIP Pha.

I double checked time and posting date that was entered. The settings for the time zone and airing times are correct. So the clock should work. That it's exactly 24 hours fast, despite correct settings, means that the website's code module for counting based upon the input date is off in some way.

No. It's not due out until tomorrow at 11:20 am, EST.

He didn't look good, did he? I keep telling JayDeeJay that I worry they'll kill him off.

OMG!!! I know right!!!!
I was shook!

I almost died this morning!!!! Star Hunter Entertainment's IG has stills from tomorrow's episode! I almost lost my damn mind!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ9Sz6CP0RK/?utm_medium=copy_link

Both seasons of Gen Y were saved because of Bas and Dun. So I am really looking forward to this series.

I added a Discussion thread that explains the plot, since the MDL synopsis was useless.