That's the big problem with GMMTV and I feel like I'm repeating myself in every comment section. They have so…
I still complain, but I also drop A LOT of Thai BLs these days. I try to give everything a chance, but it's really obvious when a show is not worth my time.
I don't blame the vast majority of the actors. They are being directed by people who aren't interested in making quality series and most do their best with basic scripts. But I won't give a pass to the ones who don't bother taking acting classes.
I can't really think of a stand-out Thai BL from 2024. Many started well, but like you said, the stories fell apart by the halfway point. Hopefully things improve in 2025.
I'm really surprised that the initial rating isn't sky high, that rarely happens with GMMTV BLs. But 7.7 seems fitting after the first episode.
First abd Khao were great together as always. Joong was somewhat convincing in his stern older brother role and Dunk was also on screen. He wasn't moving his head as much as he used to, so I'll call it progress. I know people freak out these days when other people write their initial thoughts on this DISCUSSION BOARD and I'm not in the mood to argue over a tv series today, so I won't bother talking about the plot. But I do think who ever worked on the sound design and editing should try a bit harder going forward.
Characters that feel like real people will always be my favorite and in a year with so many amazing characters there's something about Haruki that I can't get enough of. And the dynamic between him and Jin just hits different. I'm loving this show sooooooo much!
That's the big problem with GMMTV and I feel like I'm repeating myself in every comment section. They have so…
Your comment really hit me and I've been thinking about it all day. I feel like this is a discussion all of us who have been watching Thai BL for a long have been having with ourselves and each other for at least the last 2 years.
"Something has to change in regards to how GMMTV and frankly very many other Thai based production companies..." As much as I want to agree with you I'm not sure anything has to change. While other countries are regularly making top tier series that center gay characters/experiences/lives, Thailand seems content to churn out an endless supply of ships. Every week a new ship arrives with a dedicated fandom, full of people ready to shell out money for any OST, event, t shirt, subpar dance/song performance and maybe even a tv show once a year. These fans Thai and international love every bit of content these imagery couples in vaguely gay relationships give them. And the companies know that.
It's hard to imagine a shift in their business models when what they're doing now works so well financially. If your core audience likes what you're putting out and paying you more and more to do that every year, why change?
Those of us who want strong plots about gay characters and actors who are skilled and the best fit for a role, have been left behind. That's not what the majority of series in Thailand these are made for. It really is just a business and the business model is working.
Obviously, I wish none of what I wrote was true, but with each new show, it feels more and more true. Endless a majority of fans/viewers demand change, we're gonna keep getting lazy, bland, cookie-cutter scripts with handsome guys who can barely deliver lines and talented actors who have no room to grow creatively.
I've known for a while that Thai BL has completely jumped the shark and watching the most highly rated BL ever on MDL every week continues to prove me right. Wow that episode was exhausting. It felt like deja vu, but also surprisingly random. No one could have convinced me a year ago that there would be a BL that turned into one of the Saw movies, but here we are!
It's amazing that nearly every episode has the same things happen on repeat. Joke blames himself for everything and cries a lot, Grandma is the voice of reason and the best character, Jack goes home once, Joke and Jack don't communicate, Arun/Tattoo/Hoy are given nothing to do, the endless pool of villains/antagonists fill scene after scene with violence/laughter/games/cruelty, there are comedic moments that don't fit with the rest of the story and Rose constantly shows up to be in the way. That's the show, I guess this really is the best Thailand has to offer. Ok cool.
We all know if this was airing on GMMTV or had a known ship as the leads, the rating would be 8.3 or higher. I hope people give the show a chance, it's really adorable.
That's the big problem with GMMTV and I feel like I'm repeating myself in every comment section. They have so…
I agree with everything you said and I think your comment also applies to most companies who make Thai BLs. The quality of script doesn't matter. They think as long as they cast good looking guys, their job is done. Skilled writers and directors aren't needed because they assume that people will watch as long as it's a BL. Which is why so many terrible writers/directors keep getting new series.
Unfortunately for the actors, that's not really true anymore. People like you and me are more willing to drop series we don't connect to than we may have been a few years ago. And with other countries consistently putting out well written/well acted series, Thailand no longer has the power in the industry it once did.
I think it's a real shame because we all know Thai BLs can be great. But I don't think these companies will course correct until people stop buying all the merch, concert/fan meet tickets and when the sponsors stop hiring their actors to sell their products because that's where the companies make their real money. The shows make the ships popular, but they get rich from everything else. But if all that stops, the actors will be the main ones to suffer while the companies move on whatever genre becomes popular next.
Well written series set in high school will always be my favorites because it's so rare to see writers/actors/directors effectively capture all the complex feelings/emotions that high schoolers experience. This show does that so well every single episode and I absolutely love it.
Liu Ming is also there, frustrating me and confusing Tan Yin. I kinda wish him and his guilt tripping mom would go somewhere else, but I still love the series and hope Qi Lu, Qin Xiao and Tan Yin get happy endings.
I am sorry but you could have concluded that base of the pilot trailer and the official trailer. I you dont like…
It's kind of adorable that someone who has finished 3 series is so pressed by me writing my initial thoughts on a series I literally said I only watched for 15 minutes.
I have watched over 600 BLs, many of them were set in college. You don't get to tell me that I don't like college BLs just because I'm not interested in this one. I made it clear in my initial comment, that the tired/unoriginal story is what made me drop the show, not the college setting. You assume that I watched the trailer, but I didn't and I'm not required to watch a trailer before I start a series.
You decided to comment on my comment for some reason, but you've wasted your time and mine. Reading your sassy obnoxious comment defending a series that just started reminded me that this series is not for me. But I already dropped it so again this conversation was a waste of time for both of us.
Maybe when you've seen more series you'll be more discerning in the content you choose to watch or maybe not. Either way, MDL is a discussion board and anyone is allowed to watch a series for any reason and come here and comment on what they watch. If you don't like the comments, there is a block botton. I'm done with this conversation.
*sigh* the series with the same plots we've seen 100s of times before get immediate subs. But the series with unique premises and great actors, no subs. I get it, series like this don't generally have wide international appeal, subbing costs money and this is airing on Thai PBS. But I'm really hoping a fan subber picks this up!
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I don't blame the vast majority of the actors. They are being directed by people who aren't interested in making quality series and most do their best with basic scripts. But I won't give a pass to the ones who don't bother taking acting classes.
I can't really think of a stand-out Thai BL from 2024. Many started well, but like you said, the stories fell apart by the halfway point. Hopefully things improve in 2025.
First abd Khao were great together as always. Joong was somewhat convincing in his stern older brother role and Dunk was also on screen. He wasn't moving his head as much as he used to, so I'll call it progress. I know people freak out these days when other people write their initial thoughts on this DISCUSSION BOARD and I'm not in the mood to argue over a tv series today, so I won't bother talking about the plot. But I do think who ever worked on the sound design and editing should try a bit harder going forward.
"Something has to change in regards to how GMMTV and frankly very many other Thai based production companies..." As much as I want to agree with you I'm not sure anything has to change. While other countries are regularly making top tier series that center gay characters/experiences/lives, Thailand seems content to churn out an endless supply of ships. Every week a new ship arrives with a dedicated fandom, full of people ready to shell out money for any OST, event, t shirt, subpar dance/song performance and maybe even a tv show once a year. These fans Thai and international love every bit of content these imagery couples in vaguely gay relationships give them. And the companies know that.
It's hard to imagine a shift in their business models when what they're doing now works so well financially. If your core audience likes what you're putting out and paying you more and more to do that every year, why change?
Those of us who want strong plots about gay characters and actors who are skilled and the best fit for a role, have been left behind. That's not what the majority of series in Thailand these are made for. It really is just a business and the business model is working.
Obviously, I wish none of what I wrote was true, but with each new show, it feels more and more true. Endless a majority of fans/viewers demand change, we're gonna keep getting lazy, bland, cookie-cutter scripts with handsome guys who can barely deliver lines and talented actors who have no room to grow creatively.
It's amazing that nearly every episode has the same things happen on repeat. Joke blames himself for everything and cries a lot, Grandma is the voice of reason and the best character, Jack goes home once, Joke and Jack don't communicate, Arun/Tattoo/Hoy are given nothing to do, the endless pool of villains/antagonists fill scene after scene with violence/laughter/games/cruelty, there are comedic moments that don't fit with the rest of the story and Rose constantly shows up to be in the way. That's the show, I guess this really is the best Thailand has to offer. Ok cool.
Unfortunately for the actors, that's not really true anymore. People like you and me are more willing to drop series we don't connect to than we may have been a few years ago. And with other countries consistently putting out well written/well acted series, Thailand no longer has the power in the industry it once did.
I think it's a real shame because we all know Thai BLs can be great. But I don't think these companies will course correct until people stop buying all the merch, concert/fan
meet tickets and when the sponsors stop hiring their actors to sell their products because that's where the companies make their real money. The shows make the ships popular, but they get rich from everything else. But if all that stops, the actors will be the main ones to suffer while the companies move on whatever genre becomes popular next.
Liu Ming is also there, frustrating me and confusing Tan Yin. I kinda wish him and his guilt tripping mom would go somewhere else, but I still love the series and hope Qi Lu, Qin Xiao and Tan Yin get happy endings.
I have watched over 600 BLs, many of them were set in college. You don't get to tell me that I don't like college BLs just because I'm not interested in this one. I made it clear in my initial comment, that the tired/unoriginal story is what made me drop the show, not the college setting. You assume that I watched the trailer, but I didn't and I'm not required to watch a trailer before I start a series.
You decided to comment on my comment for some reason, but you've wasted your time and mine. Reading your sassy obnoxious comment defending a series that just started reminded me that this series is not for me. But I already dropped it so again this conversation was a waste of time for both of us.
Maybe when you've seen more series you'll be more discerning in the content you choose to watch or maybe not. Either way, MDL is a discussion board and anyone is allowed to watch a series for any reason and come here and comment on what they watch. If you don't like the comments, there is a block botton. I'm done with this conversation.