Okay. So here are my thoughts (Hi fellow buddies!).
I think there has been some kind of major narrative misstep in this episode. I honestly have no idea whether they sadly broke up for the moment or if they’re going to fake a break up (and I don’t think that’s a good sign - I no longer understand their relationship). I don’t get specifically why Pran wants to go back home (is it to pursue his dreams or because he can’t bare to not have his mom in his life?). I think the ending feels manipulative and dishonest, really.
Also, I have no idea what these boys think of their parents anymore. We really should have gotten some exploration of that in this episode. It seemed like Pran still thought his mom had treated him pretty badly. Pat still seems to think his Dad is awful. Maybe they’re lying to their parents to get together after they graduate, but then why would we spend time watching Pran be sad over his mom now if he’s planning on losing her afterwards? If the theme is that you can’t change other people, are we supposed to be sympathetic that Pran wants to return to his often emotionally abusive mother? (And the fact that he’s scared to even play the guitar should tell you something about their relationship.)
Maybe we are supposed to think they peacefully broke up? But that doesn’t really make sense at this point either. Also, you’d think they’d be pretty devastated about it if that were true. So, it almost seems like we’re *not* supposed to think they broke up, but we’re not given a clear reason for why they went back. (Is it their dreams? Why didn’t the episode focus more on their dreams and what college meant to them?)
So, I’m lost. What was that episode? Why did they go back? Why didn’t they unpack their feelings for their parents? Is this another Thai show about “I can’t possibly go against my family, so I’ll just have to be sad until they give me permission to be with my significant other”?
Seriously, though what a missed opportunity for them to not have helped each other unpack their feelings for their parents. Really wanted to see Pran comfort Pat for the discovery.
Okay, so I was really hoping I would disagree with everyone on this episode and like it, but I definitely did not love it.
First: Nubsib and Gene's relationship...where to even start with this? It was obviously coded heavily romantic to the point where it was SUPER uncomfortable to watch. How else to explain the music playing in the background every time they interact or the deliberately slow, soft way Gene speaks to to Nubsib or the reticent way Gene holds Nubsib in bed (leading to his father suggesting there's something off about their relationship)? At no point did the story seem to be suggesting that they had any kind of meaningful, unique friendship or that Gene intended to mentor Nubsib or treat him as a younger brother (especially when Gene seems to take it personally that Nubsib doesn't see him off).
Second: there really is no other interpretation that works besides romantic. Nubsib and Gene never look like they're actually having fun together. Gene never changes the way he talks to Nubsib like you'd expect someone to talk to a child (remember, he's old enough to babysit Nubsib - he's absolutely old enough to be seen not as an equal but as an authority figure). Also, how is a 12-14 year old still playing with stuffed animals in such an absurdly unsophisticated way (and being totally unwilling to share them)? Like, what DID Nubsib and Gene actually do together? Didn't seem like Nubsib actually wanted to play soccer with Gene. And there really was no explanation for why Gene wanted to hang out with Nubsib in general. They had nothing in common; Gene had other friends so it didn't seem to be shared loneliness. If Gene just felt bad for him, then that was never stated.
Third: Uh, the piano teaching is grabbing Nubsib when no one's around? That's not going to get addressed? And then Gene and Nubsib have a weirdly romantic relationship as children (resulting in Nubsib having a very long-standing romantic memory of him and more or less "falling in love with Gene" when he was around 8)? Gene says the feelings they had were reignited? The dad says the relationship between the boys is unnatural when they're supposed to be friends? Gene freaks out when he realizes that Nubsib is THAT Nubsib? Gene suggesting that he and Nubsib go up to his bedroom after softly asking Nubsib if he's mad at him? Honestly - and I don't think this is what the writer is getting at - but this has a weird pedophile vibe to it. Just what the world needed - more conflations between queer men and possible pedophilia. Cool beans.
And here I was hoping that Gene was going to have been playing with Nubsib as a babysitter or someone who felt sorry for him, confessed to Nubsib that he had a crush on a boy from his grade, and then Nubsib would have told Gene's family resulting in massive trauma for Gene. Honestly, this whole episode felt like the romanticizing of a series of red flags.
So this show is pretty spectacularly creepy so far. I wouldn't be surprised if Jaime turns out to be a serial killer, but for how creepy Winston himself acts in Episode 2. There's nothing sweet or romantic about it. It's all very gross, very over the top, and very predatory.
You are so absolutely right about everything you say - and eloquent. Some of what we see here does indeed represent…
Thank you for your response - yes, I wholeheartedly agree. Honestly, the way they placate Tonhon is offensive to straight people as well. Like, why do you need to visit a strip club (or prostitution house, whatever that was) or dance seductively with girls just because you're straight? Why can't they have just said "Hey, no matter what our sexuality is, we shouldn't be pressured into doing these things we're not comfortable with"? And when Tonhon is ranting about queer people, why is the implication that if they defend queer people they're outing themselves? Has this show never heard of allies?
Really the openly queer characters are just as bad as Tonhon. Because even straight people would find Tonhon's behavior offensive. How can Ai and Nhai go along with Tonhon's homophobia, knowing (or at least strongly suspecting) that Chon is gay? What is so wonderful about Tonhon that they're willing to be complicit in Tonhon's abusiveness? Everyone's so fixated on whether or not Tonhon likes Chon - why don't they ask if Tonhon likes himself or if his internalized homophobia is killing him slowly?
If you have a virulently homophobic friend, it is not your job to support them at the expense of the innocent.
If you're considering watching this show, and you haven't seen I Told Sunset About You, just watch ITSAY. The plot of this show is basically ITSAY but worse. And here's why...
Tonhon's homophobia feels very heavy-handed and almost unbelievable some times. It's just not written well, and it doesn't feel specific to his character. I'm all for showing homophobia as it actually is, but the homophobia here feels lazy and false.
The comedy of the show - and I feel like this show is primarily a comedy - is based around Tonhon's homophobia. And it's exhausting. I think the writers of the show find it hilarious that a closeted man would be homophobic, especially when surround by other gay men, but... it's actually a pretty real phenomenon and not at all hilarious.
Probably the worst part of this show is how all the characters attempt to placate Tonhon's view that queer people are weird. They absolutely bend over backwards to appear straight and tell Tonhon they think homosexuality is also weird and allow themselves to be pressured into a lot of situations that embody toxic masculinity (like when Tonhon pressures them all to sleep with prostitutes). If Tonhon actually had people being honest towards him about his views, he might so much as consider changing, but everyone - and I mean EVERYONE - is just so concerned about protecting him from realizing how much damage he inflicts. Which, really, is perhaps the most homophobic part of this series. Sorry, but queer people do not need to protect anyone from the consequences of their homophobia.
I think there has been some kind of major narrative misstep in this episode. I honestly have no idea whether they sadly broke up for the moment or if they’re going to fake a break up (and I don’t think that’s a good sign - I no longer understand their relationship). I don’t get specifically why Pran wants to go back home (is it to pursue his dreams or because he can’t bare to not have his mom in his life?). I think the ending feels manipulative and dishonest, really.
Also, I have no idea what these boys think of their parents anymore. We really should have gotten some exploration of that in this episode. It seemed like Pran still thought his mom had treated him pretty badly. Pat still seems to think his Dad is awful. Maybe they’re lying to their parents to get together after they graduate, but then why would we spend time watching Pran be sad over his mom now if he’s planning on losing her afterwards? If the theme is that you can’t change other people, are we supposed to be sympathetic that Pran wants to return to his often emotionally abusive mother? (And the fact that he’s scared to even play the guitar should tell you something about their relationship.)
Maybe we are supposed to think they peacefully broke up? But that doesn’t really make sense at this point either. Also, you’d think they’d be pretty devastated about it if that were true. So, it almost seems like we’re *not* supposed to think they broke up, but we’re not given a clear reason for why they went back. (Is it their dreams? Why didn’t the episode focus more on their dreams and what college meant to them?)
So, I’m lost. What was that episode? Why did they go back? Why didn’t they unpack their feelings for their parents? Is this another Thai show about “I can’t possibly go against my family, so I’ll just have to be sad until they give me permission to be with my significant other”?
Seriously, though what a missed opportunity for them to not have helped each other unpack their feelings for their parents. Really wanted to see Pran comfort Pat for the discovery.
First: Nubsib and Gene's relationship...where to even start with this? It was obviously coded heavily romantic to the point where it was SUPER uncomfortable to watch. How else to explain the music playing in the background every time they interact or the deliberately slow, soft way Gene speaks to to Nubsib or the reticent way Gene holds Nubsib in bed (leading to his father suggesting there's something off about their relationship)? At no point did the story seem to be suggesting that they had any kind of meaningful, unique friendship or that Gene intended to mentor Nubsib or treat him as a younger brother (especially when Gene seems to take it personally that Nubsib doesn't see him off).
Second: there really is no other interpretation that works besides romantic. Nubsib and Gene never look like they're actually having fun together. Gene never changes the way he talks to Nubsib like you'd expect someone to talk to a child (remember, he's old enough to babysit Nubsib - he's absolutely old enough to be seen not as an equal but as an authority figure). Also, how is a 12-14 year old still playing with stuffed animals in such an absurdly unsophisticated way (and being totally unwilling to share them)? Like, what DID Nubsib and Gene actually do together? Didn't seem like Nubsib actually wanted to play soccer with Gene. And there really was no explanation for why Gene wanted to hang out with Nubsib in general. They had nothing in common; Gene had other friends so it didn't seem to be shared loneliness. If Gene just felt bad for him, then that was never stated.
Third: Uh, the piano teaching is grabbing Nubsib when no one's around? That's not going to get addressed? And then Gene and Nubsib have a weirdly romantic relationship as children (resulting in Nubsib having a very long-standing romantic memory of him and more or less "falling in love with Gene" when he was around 8)? Gene says the feelings they had were reignited? The dad says the relationship between the boys is unnatural when they're supposed to be friends? Gene freaks out when he realizes that Nubsib is THAT Nubsib? Gene suggesting that he and Nubsib go up to his bedroom after softly asking Nubsib if he's mad at him? Honestly - and I don't think this is what the writer is getting at - but this has a weird pedophile vibe to it. Just what the world needed - more conflations between queer men and possible pedophilia. Cool beans.
And here I was hoping that Gene was going to have been playing with Nubsib as a babysitter or someone who felt sorry for him, confessed to Nubsib that he had a crush on a boy from his grade, and then Nubsib would have told Gene's family resulting in massive trauma for Gene. Honestly, this whole episode felt like the romanticizing of a series of red flags.
Really the openly queer characters are just as bad as Tonhon. Because even straight people would find Tonhon's behavior offensive. How can Ai and Nhai go along with Tonhon's homophobia, knowing (or at least strongly suspecting) that Chon is gay? What is so wonderful about Tonhon that they're willing to be complicit in Tonhon's abusiveness? Everyone's so fixated on whether or not Tonhon likes Chon - why don't they ask if Tonhon likes himself or if his internalized homophobia is killing him slowly?
If you have a virulently homophobic friend, it is not your job to support them at the expense of the innocent.
Tonhon's homophobia feels very heavy-handed and almost unbelievable some times. It's just not written well, and it doesn't feel specific to his character. I'm all for showing homophobia as it actually is, but the homophobia here feels lazy and false.
The comedy of the show - and I feel like this show is primarily a comedy - is based around Tonhon's homophobia. And it's exhausting. I think the writers of the show find it hilarious that a closeted man would be homophobic, especially when surround by other gay men, but... it's actually a pretty real phenomenon and not at all hilarious.
Probably the worst part of this show is how all the characters attempt to placate Tonhon's view that queer people are weird. They absolutely bend over backwards to appear straight and tell Tonhon they think homosexuality is also weird and allow themselves to be pressured into a lot of situations that embody toxic masculinity (like when Tonhon pressures them all to sleep with prostitutes). If Tonhon actually had people being honest towards him about his views, he might so much as consider changing, but everyone - and I mean EVERYONE - is just so concerned about protecting him from realizing how much damage he inflicts. Which, really, is perhaps the most homophobic part of this series. Sorry, but queer people do not need to protect anyone from the consequences of their homophobia.