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Of tropes, high school romances, and sexual awakening
'Boys in Love' is a Thai BL high school romance series centered on four love stories, three of which are portrayed during the teenage years, highlighting the emotional intensity of first love, self-discovery, and social interaction. It also explores themes such as crushes, friendships, peer pressure, and the excitement and drama of young romance.
Set in a Bangkok high school, today turned into a real chaos with disobedient students since its teaching staff decided to implement a policy of canceling the school uniform, the series portrays several romances that explore the challenges and joys of growing up.
Waa Waasuthep Ketpetch, the award-winning writer and director of the LGBT+-themed films 'Malila: The Farewell Flower' (2017), 'The Blue Hour', and the series 'Be My Favorite' (2023), writes and directs a lighthearted and very funny drama that perfectly captures the rollercoaster ride of first love.
Renowned screenwriters PingPong Suwanun Pohgudsai, Yui Kanokphan Ornrattanasakul, and Issaraporn Kuntisuk, who have collaborated on the scripts for the BL series 'ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat' (2024-2025), 'Kidnap' (2024), 'Cherry Magic' (2024), 'My Golden Blood' (2025), 'The Heart Killers' (2024-2025), and 'This Love Doesn't Have Long Beans', among others, team up once again to tell a story that narrates the excitement of newness, the awkwardness of that first love filled with awkward moments, and the emotional intensity of those first loves and relationships. What strikes me most about this series is that it goes all out on the romance front, and very quickly for its 12 episodes, so we'll have to hold on tight to our seats for the twists and turns that await us: in other words, the sweet moments and the sad ones that are sure to come.
I love how much the series extols the value of friendship and how beautiful relationships beyond romance can be.
Likewise, I like how it reflects the importance of forging bonds based on trust and having people to lean on and look out for you no matter what. Watching Shane, Kit, Kim, Mon, Ken, Paul, Nat, and Tan form these kinds of connections with each other is very heartwarming. As they open up and we get to know them better, we'll realize the power of high school romances that explore the challenges and joys of growing up, making them accessible to both teen and adult viewers, whether they're members of the LGBT+ community or not.
'Boys in Love' has just the right amount of drama, as we can't forget that we're watching several teenagers discovering their sexuality, but this doesn't overshadow the show's lighthearted, fun, joyful, and humorous tone.
First Romance:
The first romance stars Kit (Luke Peemsan Sotangkur) and Shane (Mick Metas Opas-iamkajorn). This relationship explores the tropes "The popular kid and the outcast (nerd)" and "Opposites attract".
Kit is a very popular boy and… a real clown. He has a group of friends in a class of bad students. Cheerful, mischievous, outgoing, with a sense of humor, a perpetually disconcerting smile on his face, a fan of electronic games, and the youngest son of a wealthy family, this boy is doing poorly in school.
On the other hand, Shane is totally different. This shy, artistic, absent-minded, and unsociable person is achievement-oriented, and focuses its efforts on acquiring knowledge and skills that guarantee a promising future.
The son of divorced, absent parents, he has two sisters: Jin (Ciize Rutricha Phapakithi), older than him, and Cheese, younger, so his house is rarely quiet. Helping to ensure the chaos at home is Name (Aun Napat Patcharachavalit), the fourth child in this family, and Kaiju, the recently adopted cat. Although he locks himself in his room, he is always interrupted when all he wants is some peace and quiet so he can study.
When one of his teachers asks him to help a notoriously troubled student pass his exams, the self-proclaimed bore sees it as his chance to earn the money he needs to achieve his dream of studying abroad. That's how he meets Kit, but despite their two very different personalities—one with a bad reputation as a student and the other considered a bookworm—they soon hit it off.
For Shane, the character played by the younger brother of actor "Win" Metawin Opas-iamkajorn, Kit will be his escape from all the academic pressures, showing him that there is life beyond school.
Two completely different characters—one loud and confident, the other quiet and introverted—Shane and Kit's differences will create challenges. I have no doubt they'll ultimately balance each other out.
One, descendant of a ruined and dysfunctional family, manages to become a professional thanks to his talent and dedication. The other, from a wealthy background and with parents who are role models in society, sees himself as the black sheep of the family.
This romance will break social barriers, as the two boys realize that status doesn't matter as much as they thought.
Second romance:
The romance between Kim, "The Lovestruck Boy" or "The Smiley Boy," and Mon, "The Adorable Boy" or "The Dimple Boy," explores the trope known as the "new kid in school".
Kim (Chokun Puttipong Jitbut) is Shane's best friend. Less intelligent than his friend, Kim has suffered several heartbreaks and dreams of meeting the right boy.
The boy of her dreams enters Kim's life on the very first day of sophomore year, when Mon (Aston Ratiphat Luengvoraphan) arrives at school. While trying to fit in with the school's various cliques and rules, "The Dimple Boy" revolutionizes the school's social dynamics... and attracts Kim's full attention, turning he personal and academic life upside down. Will Mon be able to find his place—and perhaps love—in a new environment?
The character known for playing Half in 'My Love Mix-Up!' (2024) he speaks truthfully and doesn't hesitate to say whatever's on his mind, but always with respect. We love that he's so outgoing when he meets Mon, and that he doesn't care what others think!
Third Romance:
At high school, which often feels like a miniature version of the real world, there's the social group that, in addition to Shane and Kim, includes Per (Ken Kanthee Limpitikranon) and Tar (Paul Tanan Lohawatanakul).
Both have a cheerful and fun attitude. Despite being in the "Smart Group", Shane and Kim's two friends don't take their studies seriously and enjoy copying Shane's homework. In addition, the two make a big deal out of the things that happen to them.
Everything seems to indicate that Per and Tar's romance explores the "friends to lovers" trope. If so, these two best friends will slowly realize they have romantic feelings for each other. In that case, the tension will arise from not wanting to ruin the friendship. It's a slow process as the two navigate the transition from friends to something more. The first two episodes, the only ones aired so far, don't tell us whether or not this third romance will happen, but GMTTV teases it. So, I'm hoping for it.
Per and Tar are two somewhat clumsy and carefree teenagers whose outings, comings and goings, make this series stand out among its genre, providing memorable scenes as friends with each other and with the other members of the group.
Fourth Romance:
Teachers Nat (Pod Suphakorn Sriphothong) and Tan (Papang Phromphiriya Thongputtaruk) play a supporting couple while exploring various tropes, such as "Enemies to Lovers", "Opposites Attract", and the adult version of "New Kid in School".
Tan, the serious, quiet math teacher, one of those who doesn't like to speak at faculty meetings, but who opens up early with Nat, the new literature teacher, is captivated by the elegance, haughtiness, good manners, and self-confidence of Nat, the teacher who has just arrived at the school.
They aren't exactly two characters who can't stand each other. In fact, they're rivals because they're simply too different.
When Tan and Nat are forced to share a storage room due to the lack of desks in their respective staff rooms, they clash. Tan, feeling that he's lost his privacy and the unique advantage of being the sole occupant of the space, develops a tension between them that must transform into attraction. It's all about serious, adult conversations, heated moments, and finding common ground.
Why watch 'Boys in Love'?:
Thai director Waa Waasuthep Ketpetc has tackled LGBTQ+ themes many times throughout his career, and as in his previous works, in this romantic comedy, which is a pure delight for the viewer, he once again delves into the questions that six young homosexual teenagers ask themselves regarding their emotional and sexual awakening. Elegant, cheerful, funny, with an adorable artistic design, a pleasant aesthetic, precise and beautiful writing, solid performances, some 'Heartstopper' vibes, a great directorial exercise, this series about sexual awakening that coincides with the passage to adulthood and that is surrounded by complicated components, such as the portrait of several romantic relationships, the exploration of various tropes and problems at school, has a soundtrack performed by Barcode Tinnasit ('Kinnporsche' and 'DFF').
I'll come back to the review later.
Set in a Bangkok high school, today turned into a real chaos with disobedient students since its teaching staff decided to implement a policy of canceling the school uniform, the series portrays several romances that explore the challenges and joys of growing up.
Waa Waasuthep Ketpetch, the award-winning writer and director of the LGBT+-themed films 'Malila: The Farewell Flower' (2017), 'The Blue Hour', and the series 'Be My Favorite' (2023), writes and directs a lighthearted and very funny drama that perfectly captures the rollercoaster ride of first love.
Renowned screenwriters PingPong Suwanun Pohgudsai, Yui Kanokphan Ornrattanasakul, and Issaraporn Kuntisuk, who have collaborated on the scripts for the BL series 'ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat' (2024-2025), 'Kidnap' (2024), 'Cherry Magic' (2024), 'My Golden Blood' (2025), 'The Heart Killers' (2024-2025), and 'This Love Doesn't Have Long Beans', among others, team up once again to tell a story that narrates the excitement of newness, the awkwardness of that first love filled with awkward moments, and the emotional intensity of those first loves and relationships. What strikes me most about this series is that it goes all out on the romance front, and very quickly for its 12 episodes, so we'll have to hold on tight to our seats for the twists and turns that await us: in other words, the sweet moments and the sad ones that are sure to come.
I love how much the series extols the value of friendship and how beautiful relationships beyond romance can be.
Likewise, I like how it reflects the importance of forging bonds based on trust and having people to lean on and look out for you no matter what. Watching Shane, Kit, Kim, Mon, Ken, Paul, Nat, and Tan form these kinds of connections with each other is very heartwarming. As they open up and we get to know them better, we'll realize the power of high school romances that explore the challenges and joys of growing up, making them accessible to both teen and adult viewers, whether they're members of the LGBT+ community or not.
'Boys in Love' has just the right amount of drama, as we can't forget that we're watching several teenagers discovering their sexuality, but this doesn't overshadow the show's lighthearted, fun, joyful, and humorous tone.
First Romance:
The first romance stars Kit (Luke Peemsan Sotangkur) and Shane (Mick Metas Opas-iamkajorn). This relationship explores the tropes "The popular kid and the outcast (nerd)" and "Opposites attract".
Kit is a very popular boy and… a real clown. He has a group of friends in a class of bad students. Cheerful, mischievous, outgoing, with a sense of humor, a perpetually disconcerting smile on his face, a fan of electronic games, and the youngest son of a wealthy family, this boy is doing poorly in school.
On the other hand, Shane is totally different. This shy, artistic, absent-minded, and unsociable person is achievement-oriented, and focuses its efforts on acquiring knowledge and skills that guarantee a promising future.
The son of divorced, absent parents, he has two sisters: Jin (Ciize Rutricha Phapakithi), older than him, and Cheese, younger, so his house is rarely quiet. Helping to ensure the chaos at home is Name (Aun Napat Patcharachavalit), the fourth child in this family, and Kaiju, the recently adopted cat. Although he locks himself in his room, he is always interrupted when all he wants is some peace and quiet so he can study.
When one of his teachers asks him to help a notoriously troubled student pass his exams, the self-proclaimed bore sees it as his chance to earn the money he needs to achieve his dream of studying abroad. That's how he meets Kit, but despite their two very different personalities—one with a bad reputation as a student and the other considered a bookworm—they soon hit it off.
For Shane, the character played by the younger brother of actor "Win" Metawin Opas-iamkajorn, Kit will be his escape from all the academic pressures, showing him that there is life beyond school.
Two completely different characters—one loud and confident, the other quiet and introverted—Shane and Kit's differences will create challenges. I have no doubt they'll ultimately balance each other out.
One, descendant of a ruined and dysfunctional family, manages to become a professional thanks to his talent and dedication. The other, from a wealthy background and with parents who are role models in society, sees himself as the black sheep of the family.
This romance will break social barriers, as the two boys realize that status doesn't matter as much as they thought.
Second romance:
The romance between Kim, "The Lovestruck Boy" or "The Smiley Boy," and Mon, "The Adorable Boy" or "The Dimple Boy," explores the trope known as the "new kid in school".
Kim (Chokun Puttipong Jitbut) is Shane's best friend. Less intelligent than his friend, Kim has suffered several heartbreaks and dreams of meeting the right boy.
The boy of her dreams enters Kim's life on the very first day of sophomore year, when Mon (Aston Ratiphat Luengvoraphan) arrives at school. While trying to fit in with the school's various cliques and rules, "The Dimple Boy" revolutionizes the school's social dynamics... and attracts Kim's full attention, turning he personal and academic life upside down. Will Mon be able to find his place—and perhaps love—in a new environment?
The character known for playing Half in 'My Love Mix-Up!' (2024) he speaks truthfully and doesn't hesitate to say whatever's on his mind, but always with respect. We love that he's so outgoing when he meets Mon, and that he doesn't care what others think!
Third Romance:
At high school, which often feels like a miniature version of the real world, there's the social group that, in addition to Shane and Kim, includes Per (Ken Kanthee Limpitikranon) and Tar (Paul Tanan Lohawatanakul).
Both have a cheerful and fun attitude. Despite being in the "Smart Group", Shane and Kim's two friends don't take their studies seriously and enjoy copying Shane's homework. In addition, the two make a big deal out of the things that happen to them.
Everything seems to indicate that Per and Tar's romance explores the "friends to lovers" trope. If so, these two best friends will slowly realize they have romantic feelings for each other. In that case, the tension will arise from not wanting to ruin the friendship. It's a slow process as the two navigate the transition from friends to something more. The first two episodes, the only ones aired so far, don't tell us whether or not this third romance will happen, but GMTTV teases it. So, I'm hoping for it.
Per and Tar are two somewhat clumsy and carefree teenagers whose outings, comings and goings, make this series stand out among its genre, providing memorable scenes as friends with each other and with the other members of the group.
Fourth Romance:
Teachers Nat (Pod Suphakorn Sriphothong) and Tan (Papang Phromphiriya Thongputtaruk) play a supporting couple while exploring various tropes, such as "Enemies to Lovers", "Opposites Attract", and the adult version of "New Kid in School".
Tan, the serious, quiet math teacher, one of those who doesn't like to speak at faculty meetings, but who opens up early with Nat, the new literature teacher, is captivated by the elegance, haughtiness, good manners, and self-confidence of Nat, the teacher who has just arrived at the school.
They aren't exactly two characters who can't stand each other. In fact, they're rivals because they're simply too different.
When Tan and Nat are forced to share a storage room due to the lack of desks in their respective staff rooms, they clash. Tan, feeling that he's lost his privacy and the unique advantage of being the sole occupant of the space, develops a tension between them that must transform into attraction. It's all about serious, adult conversations, heated moments, and finding common ground.
Why watch 'Boys in Love'?:
Thai director Waa Waasuthep Ketpetc has tackled LGBTQ+ themes many times throughout his career, and as in his previous works, in this romantic comedy, which is a pure delight for the viewer, he once again delves into the questions that six young homosexual teenagers ask themselves regarding their emotional and sexual awakening. Elegant, cheerful, funny, with an adorable artistic design, a pleasant aesthetic, precise and beautiful writing, solid performances, some 'Heartstopper' vibes, a great directorial exercise, this series about sexual awakening that coincides with the passage to adulthood and that is surrounded by complicated components, such as the portrait of several romantic relationships, the exploration of various tropes and problems at school, has a soundtrack performed by Barcode Tinnasit ('Kinnporsche' and 'DFF').
I'll come back to the review later.
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