Styling isn’t just vain aesthetics, it’s how I understand people. I was a quiet child, a confused teenager, and it took me over a decade to grasp how my brain works. I connect more through how people express themselves than through their words, and that naturally carries over into fiction.
More than romance, I read characters through their styling - the way it betrays emotions before anyone says anything.
So allow me to nerd out a bit for this episode because I really loved the visual cues of up and down emotions.
The Emotional Language of Styling - As seen through the eyes of an aesthetic obsessed semi ace who finds more thrill in the styling department than in the smutt 😂
Hair ~ Emotional Journey. Take your favourite show, and watch the lead character's hair change to mimic their journey and growth. Hair is the quickest and easiest way for a character to show their feelings, especially in film because the camera is often focused on their head, neck and shoulders. Although this is much easier on women, there are subtle ways for men.
Sorn’s hair alone says a lot. Despite resembling Boss from LITA, a tight brushed back ponytail is all about restriction, structure and the stiff upper lip. Ariana Grande didn't just bring ponytails back, she also said 'Keep it Together' for a number of years. For Sorn, he has one thin piece of hair fallen loose, which for me, gives the impression that he's about to burst. His hair band is about to snap and his hair is just going to dramatically fall around his face like a shampoo commercial. He's been keeping it together for a little too long that he's now starting to crack at the seams. Just like Payu in LITA, it's the love interest that is taking the scissors to that long suffering hair band.
The style doesn't suit Boat's facial features, he doesn't have Boss's cheekbones, which is why it looks a little off on him, but the idea for the character is to give that cool bad boy aesthetic. It's meant to say that this character is with holding a lot of emotion and/or a wild side.
Last week, as Sorn spoke to his brother about how he could never be with Jun, his tangled man bun (the same one Jun had pulled into place during their bathroom counter rendezvous) was still holding strong. His words said one thing, but his hair betrayed the truth ~ Sorn is completely, hopelessly entwined in Jun. It reminded me of my stray nipple hair observation from their first love scene. Sorn is so in love that he’ll take whatever version of Jun he’s given.
Then we shift to the bedroom. Sorn’s bun is barely holding together, just like his emotional state. It looks even messier here like the band is going to snap at any minute. In contrast, Jun’s hair, is brushed forward, covering his eyes. While Sorn is about to burst into a song and dance, Jun is silently hiding his freshly broken heart. This scene was particular raw for me. They had romantic music over it and all I could think of was, uhhhhhh, nooo, editing team, this is not the right time for this music. LOL
At home, Sorn’s hair is finally loose but tidy, a step toward emotional openness. But Jun is going in to himself. His hair remains brushed into his eyes, reflecting his emotional retreat. And then there’s his shirt choice - oversized, open, dark, muddied colors, drowning him in someone else’s flavours. The thick stripes resemble bars, visually trapping him. In my neck of the woods, there classic rugby shirts, and to me, that says, they're about to tackle each other very soon.
~Clothing If hair is the emotional ground, the clothing is the shield, or lack of one.
Sorn’s wardrobe is quietly telling us who he is. His casual wear isn’t ripped jeans and a graphic tee, he doesn't have the cool guy look despite his hair. Instead, he’s dressed like a reserved schoolboy, collared shirts giving him structure. Perhaps mirroring his ruined reputation when he was a schoolboy. It's only in the office when he's seen with gelled hair, open shirt to display his collarbones, I can almost smell his cologne through the screen. He's fully masked for the world. His emotional chaos is safely concealed behind this image.
Jun, meanwhile, is in a safe and friendly plain white shirt and black pants. Hair neatly parted. He's tidy and semi professional looking with not much personality showing through. He's a blank slate to the corporate world. Suitable for an intern. But outside, we see his character much more clearly. He wears a lot of graphics and t shirts. He's boyish, youthful and fun loving. That shirt he was wearing at the start of the episode with Sorn, looked awful on him because that's not who he is. It looked like a costume that was mimicking Sorn's outfit, as a safety net to protect his feelings and keep things friendly with Sorn.
A really beautifully designed scene was in the staff room, where Jun is just so done, he can't even bring himself to argue with Sorn, despite being chastised for leaving Sorn in the dust.
Both Jun and Sorn are mirroring with the classic yin and yang. Jun is in his usual, non identity work outfit while Sorn is countering Jun with a dark grey shirt and white pants, so that works nicely with their little back and forth spat. It's in this scene when I first noticed the painting behind Jun on the wall. A black and white photo of a Roman/Grecian structure with pillars and lit lanterns, the yellow light being the only colour. Jun is completed closed off, walled up, behind those large pillars, completely numbed to everything around him. He's just going through the motions. But Sorn is right in front of him and shouting, like a burning yellow glow in all the gray. Both harsh and bright, as well as soft and warm. Jun is conflicted between wanting to be with and wanting to run away from Sorn. Sorn isn't any different. The background behind him is nearly the same grey as his shirt, with spot lights dotted. He's is also confused and is just following the trail to find some sort of answer.
After this, Sorn switches to an all black suit to showcase his dominance over Jun. He was a literal wall between Jun and Jom.
Then, when we get to the bar scene, the balance shifts. Jun returns to his natural youthful, trendy styling. But this time, it's black and red (which kind of matched the bar LED screen behind him LOL) And then when I got a closer look, it was racing jacket. Interesting. His hair was also much softer, and casually styled. Although he was shifting gears, and still hiding his feelings, it still showed that he felt a lot more comfortable with Jom than he did with Sorn.
When Sorn storms in later, it's not just saying that he's jumped into his car in his lounge wear, the all black vest, the track pants, he’s stripped down now, clinging to a pinstripe shirt over his shoulder like it’s his last shred of dignity.
During the argument at home, Jun's racing motif jacket fits the scene as Jun slams his foot down on the accelerator, lets all his feelings out to the sound of a revved engine, and drives a stake through the energy vampire's heart. Gloriously done by Oat <3
When Jun knocks Sorn's hand away and the shirt falls. That's it. Game over. Sorn has nothing left to defend himself with. He just has to stand there, in a vulnerable outfit, a lot of skin exposed and taking the lashing from Jun's verbal claws.
He spends the rest of the episode in either all black suit, calculating his next move, or the red shirt he is wearing when he's texting Jun some lovely threats about finding him like a serial killer LOL And then the classic grey. Void of all feeling.
In the last scene, I noticed how monotone everything was. Sorn's grey shirt, the soft grey sofa, the curtains, Champ's white shirt making him look like a part of the white wall behind him. Everything had a very soft, colourless lens, before finally leaving us with the shot of the fluffy grey rhino. For Sorn, he might as well be in an empty room with this rhino, giving him a hard stare because that's how he feels. The curtains are closed and the coloured cushions are gone. There is no life without Jun.
Despite the sponged on beard they tried on Boat's beautifully kissable face, the art of styling is storytelling without words. If you can turn off the sound, and still feel your way through a show, then the styling has been done right, even if it's not to your taste.
Thank you for making it to the end of possibly my longest comment to date LOL
No 1 ~ They did not sponge a beard, onto Boat's beautiful face. Hey, makeup department, I demand a word with you. Listen, I've made some faux pas with make up in my time line, but damn, that was a sin against heaven, to do that to their canvas.
No 2 ~ Uhhhh, the editing team was in clear crisis mode this week 😂 Between juggling their usual battle with the subs, they have now blessed us with an unforgivably clear film splice at the 46-minute mark. Ooof, that hurt.
No 3 ~ BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA *gasps for breath* AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! YES!! BABY JUN. The gloves were ON. This was better than an NC scene. A masterpiece. The reckoning of a maturing Bottom. My boy took a stand! I'll forgive Win phasing through the door like a plot phantom, the editing team is under duress, but MY BABY delivered. I punched the air like it was Sorn himself. I don’t smoke, but I needed a cigarette after that scene. I'll be rewatching that for the rest of the evening.
No 4 ~ Um…what in the found footage horror film was that preview?! 😂😂😂 Sorn lurking through the factory pallets like he’s auditioning for a slasher movie? 😂
I just seen the new picture there, with the schedule and emojis? That's cute. So there's obvious separation in ep 9. looks like they might make up in 10 though? ep 11, all the couples together, and 12 .... is the ladder a stairway to heaven? LOL
I don't want to talk about toxic fandom, greedy managment or whatever. I'm talking as long time fan of the story,…
I am not acquainted with the original work so I'm looking at this from a very bewildered on looker perspective, but this comment really did just make me sad. When you put it through the lens of a long time fan, this whole thing just sounds like corporate bullshit and as usual, it's the little guy that gets hurt.
damn, I just watched the series at the weekend and was looking forward to a season 2 LOL How ironic what's happening right now. Isn't this almost the plot of the show? Unless Smart has been cornered, that he would make this decision, just makes him seem like another celebrity who's used BL shows as an avenue for popularity and that's always disappointing to find out. This is why I dont stan anybody because you never know what's happening behind the scenes. Enjoy the show and move on. I will keep an eye on Boom though, I really enjoyed his acting.
~OK. Why was Krist acting as Phi being cutesy and annoying more adorable than Nudee? LOL I've never heard the thai word for sorry, said in a more adorable manner 😂 I wonder if it has something do with the pitch of voice, because when women act like this, across asian dramas, it's just annoying, but when men do it, it's cute. I wonder if the higher pitch in a woman's voice creates a more chalk on a board effect LOL ~I wonder who Phi's ex boyfriend was?
~ DAMN, Singto is a succulent specimen. The deep chocolate pools for eyes, the soft fluffy cheekies, the cheeky smile. My self esteem eviscerated for the week, in a 3 second clip 😂
~Big red flags around Phi's mom though, between her being forgetful and talking about not being around, I feel apprehensive about her future.
oooooooo, I just got to the opening of episode 5. I remember joking about Sorn getting transferred when all is revealed but considering next Sunday's preview, that could be a very real threat now LOL But that would be awkward narrative wise, he'd need to be there to sort things out, so, is Jun going to the factory with Win, because he did want to, until Sorn ruined the mood LOL
This show .... My Ex Morning - KristSingto/PhiTam, I'm with you until the bitter - well, Happy end, but you've got company because I'm going to have this show on repeat for a while, and fyi Sorn is even more annoying the second time round 😂
I know we're being set up to suspect Tee or possibly Rose as Angel, but I'd personally find it hilarious if it was Boss 😂 I kind of want it to be Boss, like he's hired them to help him with Jued or something.
I'm waiting for my Monday show, chewing over these comments, and I agree with most of them. I think we can all recognize that both Sorn and Jun struggle with communication. Jun because he's young and sheltered, Sorn because he's carrying trauma.
Since I approach this from a gender neutral perspective, I don’t see their behaviors as gender coded. When Jun fails to express his needs, I view it as part of his personal growth rather than a trope. He’s 21, still figuring himself out, still learning how to navigate relationships and the world around him. That kind of emotional uncertainty isn’t about being passive or feminine, it’s a universal human experience. And like a lot of young adults, he’s navigating this process alone.
Sorn may have stated nothing more than a friends with benefits arrangement but he constantly contradicts himself. His hot and cold behavior has broken through Jun’s protective barriers, leaving him grasping for something more, even if he doesn’t fully understand what that ‘more’ is yet. That’s why I’ve always seen Jun’s hesitation not as manipulation, but as emotional overload. He’s reacting to mixed signals, trying to reconcile his feelings in an environment where clarity isn’t being offered. Hearing Sorn outright say that he can't have anymore with Jun, is the clarity he needs, even if it's a painful one. Oddsare said in a comment below, I have done it, I've had a friend who's done it, when you just keeping holding on to a situation that has your closest around you telling you get out of there. Now.
Even though Sorn’s past makes him more complicated, I find myself relating to Jun’s confusion and restraint more. His emotional uncertainty resonates with me more as a viewer. I'm not cold to Sorn's pain, but Jun's just feels a little closer to home.
**this is my last essay until next week LOL Pinky Promise 😂
I can’t believe I’m writing this seriously about a show where the love language is allergic reactions and…
It's a great thing to have something so ridiculous, provoke you into thinking so deeply 😂There can't be character growth when our leads are stuck in oh so familiar cycles of toxic behaviour. Now the walls are down, and we can be the besties cheering from the side lines with tea and cookies. - Although having said that, I do feel Jun has grown quietly in being able to voice himself more confidently. Now it's showdown time 😂
I love how the soft porn show has us all reflecting so deeply on what love is and how we allow people to treat us. My inner counsellor has a big happy smile with her tea this morning LOL
I am genuinely fascinated by this twist that everything Sorn was terrified of happening, is now going to happen because he couldn't contain himself around Jun. He didnt want to ever experience again being the senior who takes advantage, saying he 'hates kids' and only having sex, denying himself a loving relationship, and now he has become that very thing he feared. Our biggest shadows always find a way to get us to face ourselves, even if it has to destroy us first. I've been vocal that I dont like Sorn, because I dont agree with his behaviour. But I do understand him, and I'm entirely invested in watching him deal with his issues and getting his happiness in a healthy way, along with Jun.
Character development is practically nonexistent in this show but ig that's life because what do you do when you…
- the last paragraph - That's why I was so happy to see that snippet in the preview. It was Sorn's biggest fear and Jun's worst ammunition. Telling Tai what's happening, the one who has been trusting Sorn to look after Jun when he's not available, rather than having Jun suffer and carry everything on his own.
1 
More than romance, I read characters through their styling - the way it betrays emotions before anyone says anything.
So allow me to nerd out a bit for this episode because I really loved the visual cues of up and down emotions.
The Emotional Language of Styling - As seen through the eyes of an aesthetic obsessed semi ace who finds more thrill in the styling department than in the smutt 😂
Hair ~ Emotional Journey.
Take your favourite show, and watch the lead character's hair change to mimic their journey and growth.
Hair is the quickest and easiest way for a character to show their feelings, especially in film because the camera is often focused on their head, neck and shoulders. Although this is much easier on women, there are subtle ways for men.
Sorn’s hair alone says a lot. Despite resembling Boss from LITA, a tight brushed back ponytail is all about restriction, structure and the stiff upper lip. Ariana Grande didn't just bring ponytails back, she also said 'Keep it Together' for a number of years. For Sorn, he has one thin piece of hair fallen loose, which for me, gives the impression that he's about to burst. His hair band is about to snap and his hair is just going to dramatically fall around his face like a shampoo commercial. He's been keeping it together for a little too long that he's now starting to crack at the seams. Just like Payu in LITA, it's the love interest that is taking the scissors to that long suffering hair band.
The style doesn't suit Boat's facial features, he doesn't have Boss's cheekbones, which is why it looks a little off on him, but the idea for the character is to give that cool bad boy aesthetic. It's meant to say that this character is with holding a lot of emotion and/or a wild side.
Last week, as Sorn spoke to his brother about how he could never be with Jun, his tangled man bun (the same one Jun had pulled into place during their bathroom counter rendezvous) was still holding strong. His words said one thing, but his hair betrayed the truth ~ Sorn is completely, hopelessly entwined in Jun. It reminded me of my stray nipple hair observation from their first love scene. Sorn is so in love that he’ll take whatever version of Jun he’s given.
Then we shift to the bedroom. Sorn’s bun is barely holding together, just like his emotional state. It looks even messier here like the band is going to snap at any minute.
In contrast, Jun’s hair, is brushed forward, covering his eyes. While Sorn is about to burst into a song and dance, Jun is silently hiding his freshly broken heart. This scene was particular raw for me. They had romantic music over it and all I could think of was, uhhhhhh, nooo, editing team, this is not the right time for this music. LOL
At home, Sorn’s hair is finally loose but tidy, a step toward emotional openness. But Jun is going in to himself. His hair remains brushed into his eyes, reflecting his emotional retreat. And then there’s his shirt choice - oversized, open, dark, muddied colors, drowning him in someone else’s flavours. The thick stripes resemble bars, visually trapping him. In my neck of the woods, there classic rugby shirts, and to me, that says, they're about to tackle each other very soon.
~Clothing
If hair is the emotional ground, the clothing is the shield, or lack of one.
Sorn’s wardrobe is quietly telling us who he is. His casual wear isn’t ripped jeans and a graphic tee, he doesn't have the cool guy look despite his hair. Instead, he’s dressed like a reserved schoolboy, collared shirts giving him structure. Perhaps mirroring his ruined reputation when he was a schoolboy.
It's only in the office when he's seen with gelled hair, open shirt to display his collarbones, I can almost smell his cologne through the screen. He's fully masked for the world. His emotional chaos is safely concealed behind this image.
Jun, meanwhile, is in a safe and friendly plain white shirt and black pants. Hair neatly parted. He's tidy and semi professional looking with not much personality showing through. He's a blank slate to the corporate world. Suitable for an intern.
But outside, we see his character much more clearly. He wears a lot of graphics and t shirts. He's boyish, youthful and fun loving.
That shirt he was wearing at the start of the episode with Sorn, looked awful on him because that's not who he is. It looked like a costume that was mimicking Sorn's outfit, as a safety net to protect his feelings and keep things friendly with Sorn.
A really beautifully designed scene was in the staff room, where Jun is just so done, he can't even bring himself to argue with Sorn, despite being chastised for leaving Sorn in the dust.
Both Jun and Sorn are mirroring with the classic yin and yang. Jun is in his usual, non identity work outfit while Sorn is countering Jun with a dark grey shirt and white pants, so that works nicely with their little back and forth spat.
It's in this scene when I first noticed the painting behind Jun on the wall. A black and white photo of a Roman/Grecian structure with pillars and lit lanterns, the yellow light being the only colour.
Jun is completed closed off, walled up, behind those large pillars, completely numbed to everything around him. He's just going through the motions. But Sorn is right in front of him and shouting, like a burning yellow glow in all the gray. Both harsh and bright, as well as soft and warm. Jun is conflicted between wanting to be with and wanting to run away from Sorn.
Sorn isn't any different. The background behind him is nearly the same grey as his shirt, with spot lights dotted. He's is also confused and is just following the trail to find some sort of answer.
After this, Sorn switches to an all black suit to showcase his dominance over Jun. He was a literal wall between Jun and Jom.
Then, when we get to the bar scene, the balance shifts. Jun returns to his natural youthful, trendy styling. But this time, it's black and red (which kind of matched the bar LED screen behind him LOL) And then when I got a closer look, it was racing jacket. Interesting. His hair was also much softer, and casually styled. Although he was shifting gears, and still hiding his feelings, it still showed that he felt a lot more comfortable with Jom than he did with Sorn.
When Sorn storms in later, it's not just saying that he's jumped into his car in his lounge wear, the all black vest, the track pants, he’s stripped down now, clinging to a pinstripe shirt over his shoulder like it’s his last shred of dignity.
During the argument at home, Jun's racing motif jacket fits the scene as Jun slams his foot down on the accelerator, lets all his feelings out to the sound of a revved engine, and drives a stake through the energy vampire's heart. Gloriously done by Oat <3
When Jun knocks Sorn's hand away and the shirt falls. That's it. Game over. Sorn has nothing left to defend himself with. He just has to stand there, in a vulnerable outfit, a lot of skin exposed and taking the lashing from Jun's verbal claws.
He spends the rest of the episode in either all black suit, calculating his next move, or the red shirt he is wearing when he's texting Jun some lovely threats about finding him like a serial killer LOL
And then the classic grey. Void of all feeling.
In the last scene, I noticed how monotone everything was. Sorn's grey shirt, the soft grey sofa, the curtains, Champ's white shirt making him look like a part of the white wall behind him. Everything had a very soft, colourless lens, before finally leaving us with the shot of the fluffy grey rhino. For Sorn, he might as well be in an empty room with this rhino, giving him a hard stare because that's how he feels. The curtains are closed and the coloured cushions are gone. There is no life without Jun.
Despite the sponged on beard they tried on Boat's beautifully kissable face, the art of styling is storytelling without words. If you can turn off the sound, and still feel your way through a show, then the styling has been done right, even if it's not to your taste.
Thank you for making it to the end of possibly my longest comment to date LOL
No 2 ~ Uhhhh, the editing team was in clear crisis mode this week 😂
Between juggling their usual battle with the subs, they have now blessed us with an unforgivably clear film splice at the 46-minute mark. Ooof, that hurt.
No 3 ~ BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA *gasps for breath*
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
YES!! BABY JUN. The gloves were ON. This was better than an NC scene. A masterpiece. The reckoning of a maturing Bottom. My boy took a stand! I'll forgive Win phasing through the door like a plot phantom, the editing team is under duress, but MY BABY delivered. I punched the air like it was Sorn himself. I don’t smoke, but I needed a cigarette after that scene. I'll be rewatching that for the rest of the evening.
No 4 ~ Um…what in the found footage horror film was that preview?! 😂😂😂 Sorn lurking through the factory pallets like he’s auditioning for a slasher movie? 😂
When you put it through the lens of a long time fan, this whole thing just sounds like corporate bullshit and as usual, it's the little guy that gets hurt.
This is why I dont stan anybody because you never know what's happening behind the scenes. Enjoy the show and move on. I will keep an eye on Boom though, I really enjoyed his acting.
I wonder if it has something do with the pitch of voice, because when women act like this, across asian dramas, it's just annoying, but when men do it, it's cute. I wonder if the higher pitch in a woman's voice creates a more chalk on a board effect LOL
~I wonder who Phi's ex boyfriend was?
~ DAMN, Singto is a succulent specimen. The deep chocolate pools for eyes, the soft fluffy cheekies, the cheeky smile. My self esteem eviscerated for the week, in a 3 second clip 😂
~Big red flags around Phi's mom though, between her being forgetful and talking about not being around, I feel apprehensive about her future.
Since I approach this from a gender neutral perspective, I don’t see their behaviors as gender coded. When Jun fails to express his needs, I view it as part of his personal growth rather than a trope. He’s 21, still figuring himself out, still learning how to navigate relationships and the world around him. That kind of emotional uncertainty isn’t about being passive or feminine, it’s a universal human experience. And like a lot of young adults, he’s navigating this process alone.
Sorn may have stated nothing more than a friends with benefits arrangement but he constantly contradicts himself. His hot and cold behavior has broken through Jun’s protective barriers, leaving him grasping for something more, even if he doesn’t fully understand what that ‘more’ is yet. That’s why I’ve always seen Jun’s hesitation not as manipulation, but as emotional overload. He’s reacting to mixed signals, trying to reconcile his feelings in an environment where clarity isn’t being offered. Hearing Sorn outright say that he can't have anymore with Jun, is the clarity he needs, even if it's a painful one. Oddsare said in a comment below, I have done it, I've had a friend who's done it, when you just keeping holding on to a situation that has your closest around you telling you get out of there. Now.
Even though Sorn’s past makes him more complicated, I find myself relating to Jun’s confusion and restraint more. His emotional uncertainty resonates with me more as a viewer. I'm not cold to Sorn's pain, but Jun's just feels a little closer to home.
**this is my last essay until next week LOL Pinky Promise 😂
I am genuinely fascinated by this twist that everything Sorn was terrified of happening, is now going to happen because he couldn't contain himself around Jun. He didnt want to ever experience again being the senior who takes advantage, saying he 'hates kids' and only having sex, denying himself a loving relationship, and now he has become that very thing he feared. Our biggest shadows always find a way to get us to face ourselves, even if it has to destroy us first.
I've been vocal that I dont like Sorn, because I dont agree with his behaviour. But I do understand him, and I'm entirely invested in watching him deal with his issues and getting his happiness in a healthy way, along with Jun.
That's why I was so happy to see that snippet in the preview. It was Sorn's biggest fear and Jun's worst ammunition. Telling Tai what's happening, the one who has been trusting Sorn to look after Jun when he's not available, rather than having Jun suffer and carry everything on his own.