BenedictTan

Before EP 1 (circa 1994)

Nut came to Prachuap with his mother after his parents got divorced. He was very affected by the divorce and felt so down that he was in fact thinking of just going into the sea to end it all.

Phob, who happened to be there and was distraught as well, happened by chance to meet Nut at the same beach. And from there, 7-8 years of friendship blossomed between them, over yo-yo, Harry Potter and other things youth at that time grew fond on.

The following posts under this one will detail the episode by episode analysis + summary (and plus timeline) of The Yearbook's rich story (Full of spoilers so please don't read if you don't want to be spoiled)

Note: I actually cried as I wrote these following posts, for some of the things that happened between Phob and Nut were real to me, of my own experiences.

The last few episodes will be better, so don’t worry too much. But do be prepared because there will be quite a few flashbacks in ep 7 and 8.

But as mentioned by someone below, ep 7 flashbacks is in fact very touching and beautiful.

Glad to see someone who thinks alike with me regarding the flashbacks! It was told from Phob’s POV and also is his ‘love confession’ for Nut. There was really a chance that he could die, and taking that into consideration, that made the scene to be really powerful and touching.

I think if we look beyond certain things and see it from all perspectives, including all the BTS and scenes including the amputee, this is a wonderful series.

Therefore, in the end, I would actually applaud the decision and effort of the production team, to complete and release The Yearbook:

Knowing that the pandemic isn’t the best time to release a series. Not much chance to have fanmeet or publicity, and without big names in the industry to back them.

Knowing that without any hot or very sensual scenes, they may not be viewed or known by as many people.

Knowing that having come after I Told Sunset About You (and its sequel) by the more seasoned Billkin-PP and Nadao backing them, it will inevitably be compared to them and be found wanting.

Knowing that with a newbie director and main leads both, they would lack the experience and most importantly, the drawing star power of most other series.

And still, they delivered us, a beautiful product in the end. With flaws yes, but overall, very beautiful, meaningful and touching.

Thank you!

And I just have to be frank, after analysing quite a few popular BL series in the past few weeks… it’s quite obvious (as many of us would have known too), that viewership exploded especially when there are hot scenes included in that part, so much so that you can suddenly have over ten million views for the particular segment of the video (esp. if the thumbnail shows it) and the other segments much lesser views)

This series, without any hot or even shirtless scenes, would definitely not attract as many viewers as those that had them (ITSAY and IPYTM had them, so it’s no surprise either, and by popular Billkin and PP, who are my favourites actors too). It’s of course a valid reason to watch, but at the same time sad to see how people in the end often value sensual actions and s*x a lot more than romance. And sometimes, even over a better and more wholesome storyline.

Almost all of the most popular series have them, with some notable exceptions like 2gether (being as popular as it already was), SOTUS from a much more conservative times (maybe I have missed it, but I didn’t recall seeing any).

But should we then look down on a series because of this? Definitely not. It’s beautiful nonetheless. Just my thoughts and reflections after looking through those series again, and this one.

Looking back at the series again, besides the two main actors who performed wonderfully and comparable to or even better than veterans who have starred in many series, Mean as a director, while he still has a lot to learn, I feel that he has done a good job, making this series at least of a mid-high tier level among the hundreds of series out there.

The main reason for the lower view count is not the issues related to the flashbacks in my opinion. While it may not be favourable to quite a few among us, but I feel the main reason is that, it is not released by well-established and well-known publishers like GMM or Studio Wabi Sabi.

Don't Say No (which I am watching now too) isn't published by those, but still related to the very popular TharnType series (I know that quite a few people dislike that series - but they had lots and lots of viewers nonetheless, so the opinion might have also been of a rather vocal minority while most people might still enjoy the series).

I would thus attribute the much more viewed Don't Say No to the coattail effect from Tharntype, as well as JaFirst's amazing visuals (that's one of the reasons why I watch, coz Ja as Leo in particular looks stunning) - all these while some have already been commenting that the story is rather flat at times (which I did feel as well)

And yes, while I will still rate Don't Say No quite highly, but I will place it below the Yearbook at least in terms of story and acting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ojKJY3XAV4

MV บอกว่า (คิดถึง) ost.หนังสือรุ่น The Yearbook (original version) - เอิร์ท JA-RU
This music played at the finale episode has actually been playing in the background throughout the earlier episodes (it's amazing detail if you think about it)

I know that many of us are bothered by the flashbacks' repetitions in the last episodes. But if we take a step back and see this video, in the end, it is one of the most amazing love story we have seen in many series. And this is no BL to me. It is a wholesome love story, love that blossoms and endures through time.

I hope that, as more people come to see this and we re-watch this series again, we can begin to appreciate the fine details and the story rather than being too bothered by the excessive flashbacks. We are often guilty of nitpicking on the mistakes, and become too distracted by them to see the true beauty underneath that.

(It did bother me, but I kept firmly focused on the story, and the flashbacks were part of it, and that's how I still enjoyed it in the end.)

It’s a wholesome story. And no worries, it has happy moments too! It won’t make you too sad :)

Hehe, you can’t really compare one series to another, and rating is never absolute.

I Told Sunset About You and its sequel have their own charm, and this one has its own, and not sure if you’ll like it. Prepare lots of tissues anyway, as I mentioned.

Go and try this one after you watch Nitiman. :D

At the end of this series, just want to say that while there are some of us who may not like this series, I am one of those who like this series a lot, for every single episodes to the last one.

(Is it perfect? Of course not. It has its flaws and beautiful parts. But just as we look at diamonds and gems differently from one person to another, it is the same with this series and other series out there. What is a perfect gem to me, may be a flawed one for others, and what is a flawed gem to me, is excellent for others.)

Honestly, I can’t explain it in words, as some others also mentioned. I don’t know why, but it just has this great charm and attractiveness in it, that makes you really touched inside, and again, I can’t explain the feeling in words. It’s almost like magic (isn’t it fitting that Harry Potter featured prominently in parts of the story? :D) yes, it did feel magical!

And yes, I have been periodically rewatching the episodes again. Just like a yearbook, that you keep on looking at, to relive those good (and also bad) memories. I feel that it stays true to its title in the end. Flashbacks may be on the excessive side, but that’s what yearbooks (and diaries) are for many of us.

Feel free to disagree, this is my personal opinion, feelings and take after completing the series.

Agreed! Glad to see that this is one of the few series that does not have that typical BL cliche. It is a love story, one that is old and yet at the same time feels real and close to heart.

I like your ‘always in love’ point, because that is what I feel too. Love takes time to mature and develop, but in this story, it has always been there since the beginning. Sometimes, love does not come to fulfilment and disappears, while other times, like in this one, it comes to a full circle.

Yup, it's quite a good and decent rating to me. But some others may think that anything below 8 is low. Maybe to jaybee82098 it's a bit low compared to others he liked and watched? It's always subjective.

(One example I can put is that famous 2gether the Series - despite having close to 700 million views as of now, by my count in YouTube and LineTV, it only has a 7.9 rating in MDL. It seemed that many people really liked it, but I find it to be pretty ordinary and not much of the hype it seemed to be.)

When we watch a series, some may be very sentimental for us, but many others may think otherwise. End of the day, that's why, we watch the way we like it.

Rating is just one thing. It is possible for a series to have a high rating here in MDL and not well-liked elsewhere, and vice versa. MDL represents a particular demographic of viewers, which itself may be skewed as well in its opinions and thoughts on any particular series. The same applies to any other channels and drama forums as well.

And if we have some thoughts on a series, then we should share it here, perhaps to help others to understand a bit better from different perspectives we may have :)
(But we have to do it in a respectful and reasonable manner)

Petch's reaction video for Episode 8 (Petch is one of the main leads of Oxygen the Series)
EP 8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYTQmeKKuVI

Actually when you watch you may realise that some people may not find it to their liking, while some others may find it very good (like me for example).

So don't be influenced by the rating. I recommend you to try it out. If you don't like it, then you can drop it. But who knows you may find it to your liking?

Spoiler ahead

Happy ending
Won't tell you more about the story - but be prepared to cry a lot during the episodes.
It will be happy in the end though, a wholesome story (My personal opinion).

Happy ending! And open to possibility of sequel/season 2

But please be prepared to cry a lot during the episodes!

@solipsism5 Agree with quite a few of your points. Thank you for the detailed comment. Yes, there are areas of improvement that this series and its production team, plus Mean as director can do as you mentioned.

Regarding the separation of the main leads that I remember you mentioned in an earlier post before too, I think and reflect about it again, and I kind of having the impression that since Phob left behind without a notice and without telling where he was going, not even Note (Nut's older brother) knew his new contact and address.

Remember that Nut had to call Phob's house phone to contact him. He did not have a personal mobile phone yet back then (in the high school time) and probably neither did Phob. When Phob sang to Nut on the public payphone, Nut was using Note's borrowed phone.

At that time, without knowing the address, contacts and whereabouts of the other person, practically it was impossible for one to find the other person. Phob could have contacted Nut within those 4 years period, but as you see in the episode 7, I think he explained it clearly enough why he did not do so.

(Did I wish that he had contacted Nut in those 4 years? I sure did! But he had his reasons, and I am ok with that.)

Even today, if one were to change their phone number without telling others, shutting down their social media accounts and their address, it is possible for a person to disappear (yes, even in our much more interconnected, socially connected world). It is whether that person wants to be discovered or not.

Just sharing my thoughts! Thanks for your detailed comment again!

Someone below in these comments really can’t get the idea that each one of us have our own thoughts and comments, and we have to respect each other for that.

(And I still respect that person by not mentioning here what his/her username is)

I am not going to respond unnecessarily if one is not going to listen to reason. You do not put down others’ opinions just because what they think or feel is not aligned with what you think or feel.

Just because you feel that a series is lousy or the actors are terrible does not mean you have the right to impose that on others who think otherwise.

Be respectful when posting the comments, here is a place to put our thoughts, not to seek conflict with each other.

Thank you

Haha, didn’t think of that at all! Who knows you may be right! :D