This series makes no sense from a historical standpoint, and that doesn’t help.
The series takes place in 1915! Five people in the same circle, including two from high society, who don’t really hide being LGBT—that’s huge for the time! And you mention gossip, but back then it would have been a state scandal. A French official having an affair with a wealthy Thai heir? That would have been a major diplomatic incident.
This series makes no sense from a historical standpoint, and that doesn’t help.
We still have five characters who have feelings for men and don’t really hide it. The chess scene makes that quite clear. As for Mek, I still maintain that it’s unrealistic. And sure, I can believe that societies aren’t always homogeneous in their representations, but there are limits. It’s inconceivable that two men—one of them from high society—could live out their love story without really hiding it at that time, even in Thailand.
This series makes no sense from a historical standpoint, and that doesn’t help.
That many characters who are almost openly LGBT at that time? Impossible. That many people who accept them? Impossible. A guy who is illiterate in his own language but learns French in just a few lessons (not even the same writing system)? Impossible. Shall I go on?
Having them stay in the closet for 12 episodes would have been more realistic, but I think it wouldn’t appeal to the majority of fans who just want to relax with a romantic series.
If you're looking for a sweet, love focused, rather slow paced, 'read between the lines and stares' historical…
100% agree with you. If you’re not looking for realism in terms of the historical context, you can have a good time. It’s a romantic series that works on that level.
Who’s talking about watching a documentary? We just want it to make sense. Bua’s reaction is pure 2025. Who’s going to believe she would react like that in 1914?
Personally, I’m not a big fan. It has no realism at all. It’s supposed to take place in 1914, but the characters act as if they were living in 2025. Episode 8 is ridiculous. The trailer for episode 9 gives the impression that it might be a bit more realistic.
That scene where Shen Wen Lang calls out Gao Tu for missing a zero on a contract really reminds me of a scene in the Chinese BL Uncontrolled Love (Irresistible Love), where Xie Yan says something similar to Shu Nian who also missed a zero on a contract. The two scenes feel very alike!