-Aprillen-

I think maybe "genderfluid" might be a better term than "nonbinary" in this case. But I'm not sure if Thai gender definitions have 100% overlap with western/English gender terms.

I think it's a matter of definition. In the West people tend to think that you're either cis or trans or neither (nonbinary), although there are other, more fluid states as well. But other cultures may have other gender definitions. Some cultures have several. In Thailand, kathoey ("ladyboys") are seen as a third gender, so it may not fit completely into the current western gender definitions. It's very possible that it's not directly equivalent to "trans woman", or at least not in every case.

Yes, this. It's now obvious that Worradej loved Banjong but not Kosol, but that Prince definitely prefers Kosol. And Kosol seems to be pretty taken with Prince as well. Banjong... he didn't have (strong enough) feelings for Worradej, but now, with Prince, it looks like he's starting to waver? If Prince actually left at this point, he'd leave such a mess behind 😂
I also have to say that I'm super impressed with Nut's acting. When he is Prince and when he is Worradej, he's like two different people, to the point that they don't even look similar. It's almost uncanny.

I only watched episode 6 because I was thinking the same thing and hoping for answers. I was ready to drop it after ep 5, but wanted to give it a chance for redemption. But we got the opposite. No explanation, gaslighting and downplaying the severity of the event. Add to that the incredibly bad writing, where nobody's reactions make any sense at all.
If they wanted to keep me watching, they really botched it.

Exactly. I was hoping for a resolution in the following episode, but we didn't get one, and now my hopes for this series feel completely dashed. Not sure if I'll even continue watching.

I'm usually pretty sensitive to problematic elements and the romanticisation of toxic behaviour and have noped out of several books and series because of that. But in this case it didn't bother me the same way, and I've been trying to put my finger on why. I think it's a combination of on one hand the tone of the series, the obviously preposterous premise that doesn't even take itself 100% seriously, and on the other hand, the hidden depths that are slowly revealed, the character and relationship developments, going from something ridiculous and kind of bonkers to something increasingly, surprisingly, genuine and heartfelt (while still keeping aspects of that absurd tone). I started out thinking "at least it will be entertaining" and walked right into that trap, haha. I guess that because of the premise, I never took it as realistic, which means I could more easily accept the dark, messed up aspects of the characters and their behaviours. It just seemed to bypass all my usual filters.
(The sizzling chemistry also helped, I guess 😂)

You missed the shared craziness in this comment section and elsewhere as we were watching it air! I kept wanting to binge it at the time, the six-day wait felt intolerable, but it was also not bad to discuss and gush and delve into everything here while we were on our seats looking forward to the next episode. The constant build-up and anticipation was also a pretty great experience. When they decided to fast track the last few episodes, many of us actually lamented that, not just because it would be over sooner, but because we would miss the anticipation. For better or worse, RL ended up defining this summer for us (or winter, depending on your hemisphere).

The author, who is also the producer of this adaptation, has said that she prefers people to watch the show and not read the novel, since she wrote it when she was young and unhinged and not in a good place, and that she herself can't stomach some of the elements of the book anymore. Do with that information as you please. If you decide to read it, be prepared for it to be a lot more toxic and problematic than the series.

Thank you for this explanation. It's obvious from the other examples that they *could* do it if they wanted to, but have actively decided not to, since it would not be worth the potential consequences. The other BL pairings all seem much more low-key when it comes to popularity, which also means that they are relatively safer.
I personally don't care so much about this fanservice. They gave us amazing performances in RL, and for that I wish them safety and success in the future, and if that means closing the chapter of RL, so be it. Being a celebrity is a double-edged sword, I don't think we normal people can imagine the pressures and the razor edge balance act you have to do to avoid pitfalls.

I agree, they show even less "intimacy" in 40 Made, but somehow their interactions seem so much more convincing? There's a tension, a fluttery feeling. The chemistry is there.

I love this review because you put your finger so precisely and unerringly on why we love this series. It's a combination of the perfect casting, an obviously extremely passionate creative team , and actors who have the range of acting to go from unhinged comedy ridiculousness to emotional subtlety and even devastating heartbreak. And they made us believe every second of it. But there was also that other intangible thing, the hidden hooks that lay beneath the initial clownery, that snuck up on us and buried themselves in our hearts and brains. Knowing Chai Jidan, I was prepared for unhingedness and red flags and the messy entertainment of it all, and started it mostly out of mere curiosity. And before even the first episode was over, I was caught like a fish on those hooks. And I didn't care. I gave up on trying to rationalise why I was hooked, and just let it pull me along. The bait on those hooks was delicious. And that's why it's a 10 for me as well, because there aren't a lot of BLs (or dramas in general) that have managed to do that for me.

There are one or two ongoing BLs right now that are objectively good, I agree with that. But for me, none of them have made me so emotionally invested as I was with RL. It became my summer hyperfixation and not a lot of other BLs have managed to do that in the past couple of years at least. It really lit up my summer. So I totally understand the sentiment that even if other amazing BL series crop up before the end of the year, it's unlikely that they will surpass the effect that RL had on me, in my heart. It's like falling in love. The one you like is not necessarily better than everyone else *objectively* speaking. but they are the number one person for you right then, right there.

I think if we all show that we are interested in a genuine discussion and don't devolve into sandbox mentality, we can have really fruitful and interesting conversations with people who have different opinions from ourselves. Let's not forget that there are real trolls, though, and some people have been trolled so much that they see trolls in every corner. Sometimes, with some people, it becomes harder to communicate, sometimes virtually impossible. And then maybe the best thing you can do is to not engage, but to say thank you for the conversation, and walk away.

It's a trap (and I'm walking into it on my own two feet, lol)

There's a rumour going around about a new unoffical Chinese NRTA policy that any actors from now on who participate in a BL will get banned from acting in other dramas. So no, I don't want their careers to be ruined. We got this gem and can wish them all the best and support them in their further endeavours.

Welcome to the RL brainrot 😂

I agree, some people think that if you criticise something they love or have a different opinion it's like a personal attack on them. But it's not, we all have different baggage and preferences and everybody cannot like the same thing. While I loved this series to bits and got the full-on brainrot, I can still see why some people can't get past certain elements of it, and that's fine. But also, if someone has misinterpreted something, being hostile and dismissive isn't how you have a conversation that might change their mind. That will just make them dig in their heels. Let's not play into that whole partisan fandom thing. Love what you love, and let others love what they love. Diversity is good.

Sometimes it doesn't matter how calm and factual you try to be, though. Some people only want to pick fights, and then you have to choose whether you want to lower yourself to their level or walk away.

What do you mean? Here on MDL? Just don't interact with any gay series if you don't like them. Coming to the comment section of a LGBTQ themed series and commenting there is not how you avoid recommendations

Yeah, there was a Thai version as well. I dropped that midway though but it ended at around the same place as SWM (I think) and hasn't been renewed for a second season afaik.

I'm watching it too, but it's not close to RL in my mind. Too slow, nothing much is happening so far, the plot isn't plotting, I feel more frustration than enjoyment, but I'll still continue. With RL there wasn't a boring or slow moment even when it was frustrating. The script and the pacing was better.