Spoilers ahead. Episode 1 was everything I hoped it would be! Tanrak's pure heart shines through from the start and it's clear that Barth's attraction to him is based on the fact that he's never met someone like that before. Gemini and Fourth's acting was superb and it's so great to see them back, and on a show that allows them to actually act as they're both very talented and haven't had a chance to really show their skills since Moonlight Chicken. I also like the early nods to the problems with Catholicism (and indeed all organised religions) - the fact that some of the kids are total bullies, the manipulation of a grieving child, and the fact that Father threatened to kick Barth out immediately due to his attitude (not exactly the merciful doctrine that the religion portrays) beautifully demonstrate the hypocrisy of religious people and the problems with a system of belief created to control the masses 2000 years ago. The boys' hands clasped over Jesus' chest was an incredible metaphor and a thing of beauty. I just hope that the start isn't Barth going to see Tanrak be ordained - I'm going to hope he's there to see Kongdech.The series is insanely important and I applaud GMMTV and GeminiForth for doing it. I know that I'll cry and I know that I'm going to love this series!
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Spoilers ahead. Episode 6 was so moving! I didn't mind at all that we didn't see them running away, it didn't need to be seen. The minute Barth suggested it at the end of episode 5, you knew that it was the only thing that made sense for them both. I loved the addition of Auntie Lek, and how her being trans yet still retaining her faith showed Tan that he didn't need to choose between his love for God and his love for Barth - he could have them both.Their visit to the prison was beautiful and heartbreaking, and when Barth's mum told him that she loved him more than God, you could see something change in him, demonstrated perfectly by him praying for the first time in years. The love hotel scenes was adorable and charged and so real. Barth not being able to smoke any more was a really nice nod to how he wasn't the same person that he was when he joined Magdalena, and as a GemFourth fan, I was obviously very happy that we got another kiss!And the ending! I was so scared that it hadn't worked out, that Tan being dressed the night after they made love with that beatific smile on his face meant that he'd decided to go back and fulfill his religious path with a renewed heart. So when Phak asked how they both were, my intake of breath almost killed me! And I legit screamed when I saw Tan's hand with the wedding ring! Plus I loved him wearing Barth's Beloved crucifix. While I really liked that Phak and Kongdech signified a new generation of priests who are accepting of love in all it's forms, do I actually believe that in reality? No. Has the Bible, and therefore the Catholic Church as an institution, changed its stance on homosexuality? No. But who really listens to the Bible anyway? People have always cherry picked the bits they liked and ignored the bits they didn't. So maybe it doesn't matter. Heaven and hell don't really exist anyway but if believing that it does makes you feel better, and doesn't involve you discriminating against others because the Bible tells you to, then I don't really have a problem with that. And I loved the snapshot of their married life together. Tan writing a book about it, Barth working hard, the daisies on the table, the photo of them in the nativity, the obvious love that they still have for each other after all those years.So the series is over and it was a masterpiece. In my opinion, it's in the top 3 Thai BL's of all time list alongside Last Twilight and The Eclipse. Fourth and Gemini's acting was superb, the directing was impeccable and the story was so important. Congratulations to everyone involved, and thank you for such a heavenly series.
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Spoilers ahead:This episode hurt. Tanrak's pain was hard to watch but we all knew this moment would come. Seeing Tan burn the notes, the flowers, and in the very place where their love story began - I don't mind admitting that I shed some tears. The Catholic guilt runs deep, but that's how they keep you in servitude. Guilt. Fear. Eternal damnation. The painting that shows the rocky road to heaven and the sinners burning on either side has been constantly shown throughout the series. At the start, Tan saw it as a sign of the righteous path that he was on. Then he fell in love with Barth and the painting became meaningless. Today, he stood in front of it in fear. Let's also take a moment to process the scene when Barth calls his home phone just to hear his mother's voice on an answer machine. The flashback to happy times; the empty house; the dying flowers. Heartbreaking. As for Kongdech and his comments to Tan about betraying him, and asking if he didn't want to want to be with his parents in heaven anymore - he made my blood boil. And while Father seemed understanding, he spouted the same nonsense: Where is this love leading you? You can always repent. Their rhetoric of blaming and shaming is so typical of religion and it's why it really has no place in a modern society where people can love whoever they choose to love. I'm so scared that the first scene in episode 1 with Barth going to the church in going to be him seeing Tan in his priestly robes. I want then to run away together and leave the ignorance behind them. I want them to have the joy of loving each other in a place that doesn't judge them. I want a happy ending.
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Spoilers ahead. There were so many beautiful moments and references in this episode! The green light on Tan's face representing growth; Tan and Barth sitting on the stage and turning their backs on Jesus (literally); Barth giving Tan daisies which symbolise purity and new beginnings; their fingers touching like The Creation of Adam - God gives Adam life in the same way that Barth gives Tanrak life, their baptism in the waterfall acting as a rebirth for them both - after so much heartache, they've finally found a home in each other; and finally the red apple - they are in their own Garden of Eden, secluded from the horrors of the world, and partaking in the ultimate symbol of giving in to temptation. I thought Barth's story was so powerful and gave us this episode's Deadly Sin - wrath. The irony of a man of God spending his life beating his defenceless wife, and berating and pummeling his teenage son for "embarrassing him in front of God" for simply being gay will not be lost on anyone. Also the punishment that Barth's mum received for protecting her son after suffering years of physical abuse clearly highlighted the injustice so prevalent in our male-centric society - a society, in part, founded on the beliefs espoused in the Bible. Just some of the many reasons why this show is so so important. This episode also showed Tan expressing his first real doubts about joining the priesthood. I thought Joe's comments about how hard the seminary was were really impactful and, as someone who Tan looks up to, his words held a lot of weight. When he said Tan should "listen to" and "follow his heart", it was such a powerful anti- religious statement. And finally, the lyrics of Heavenly summed everything up so perfectly:"If heaven exists, how beautiful could it be? I'm not even sure I still want it...If heaven doesn't have you, then I don't want to go there."This show is a masterpiece.
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Spoilers ahead. And much gushing. This is just such a beautifully understated series. I love the seven deadly sins motif of this episode, and the last one too. Episode 2 dealt with lust but this one was all about envy. Now it could be said that Tan was jealous, but that's not quite right, and the implications of the difference say so much about Tan's feelings. Jealousy is the fear of losing something that you have to another, but envy is wanting something that another possesses. Tan doesn't have Barth, and - although it's based on assumptions and rumours - he feels like Cherry and Barth are essentially an item. He envies Cherry, not only because he (incorrectly) thinks she has Barth, but also because of the ease with which she can express her interest in Barth. The boys all think Barth is more cool because of Cherry liking him, and they can openly flirt (as least Tanrak thinks they're flirting when he sees Joseph tying Mary's sash), and Tan knows that this would not be the case for him. It's such an important statement about how LGBTQ people are ultimately not afforded the same right to love by society as heterosexuals.The shower room scene was amazing!! Tan being left alone and then Barth appearing brilliantly highlighted how their relationship is other, separated from the normal world. But that separation leads to freedom. I loved the way that Barth looked calm and confident, openly looking at Tan's body, while Tan looked scared and only took surreptitious glances at Barth's body - it beautifully showed the difference in how each of them view their feelings. The care that Barth showed seeing if Tan had a fever, and Tan's face - you could imagine how it must have felt for him having Barth touch him like that. And it clearly emboldened him because when Barth started tickling him and Tan told him to stop, who was it who went back to the other one first? Tan! And the tickling leading to that moment where their eyes locked and they both knew how the other felt was electrifying. And then the lights went off?!I may have screamed at the screen, "IT'S A SIGN! GOD WANTS YOU TO KISS!" ^_^; And the moment being broken by society returning around them - the room filling with people who would never understand - was so poignant.And the final scene. Tanrak physically shutting Barth out by closing the door on him but then still communicating through the mesh window?! An astounding metaphor for the fact that we can't lock out our true feelings, they always find a way in. Tan saying, "I don't even understand myself" with that pained expression on his face was so sad and I'm sure it will resonate hugely with a lot of people who have, and are, struggling with their sexuality, expecially those whose religions tell them that what they are feeling is wrong. "I'm not God's favourite son" is one of the most heartbreaking lines I've heard in a long time. T_T But also, I have to take a minute to fangirl at GemFot's kiss!! HOLY CRAP!! It was SOOOO good!! The way Tan's eyes stayed closed after the first kiss! The way that his eyes stayed locked on Barth's lips after it - the hunger in those eyes was insane!! The way he pushed Barth against the wall, hands in his hair, and kept going back for more!! It was sublime. Unless something goes very very wrong, this show is going to go down in history as one of the best Thai BL's ever made! I'm counting down the days until episode 4!!
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Spoilers ahead. Episode 2 is just so beautiful. To see Tanrak's journey from believing lust is not being able to control your desires, to openly embracing that desire was so incredible. Tanrak and Barth's hands touching, such an innocent thing to happen between two friends, becoming so much more than that just felt so real. And the religious iconography that he thought of as he walked towards the bathroom - and he still went in? Such a huge statement. And I loved it. I really like that this episode wasn't about love, but desire. There was of course the song - which is stunning - but ultimately, these are teenage boys. Lust comes before love and you never see that in GMMTV BL's! "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." At the end of this episode, Tanrak made a choice. He chose love. Like we all should. I know that some will complain about how fast the eps are moving and believe me, nobody wishes there were 16 episodes of this more than me, but I think it's understandable that GMMTV were nervous about this release and so made it a short series. But I'm also saddened by it - this series is so insanely important that I wish they had got behind it a little more. Still, let's just be grateful that it got made at all.
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FirstKhao's chemistry is off the scale as always. And the ep also has what might be the best ending to anything ever 😍
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FirstKhao are hands down the best actors at GMMTV and yet again, they don't disappoint. First's acting ability is so amazing and they are just so goddam beautiful together ❤️
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😍😍 Exactly what we were dreaming of 🍆 ... well, maybe not EXACTLY as Kleung only unbuttons the neck of Dao's jumper but still, pretty good for them - and surprisingly way hot! 😅 It is actually awesome though - they are so fricking cute together!! 🥰 Loved it!
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