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The story will keep your interest and make up for its shortcomings (First update to original review)

After a few years marked by an unexpected and unthinkable pandemic, ideas that have the coronavirus as another protagonist continue to arrive at the script tables. As it is often said: ""There is no evil that does not come with good"," and this saying has been carried out to the letter by audiovisual creators.
Series that had signed new seasons, movies pending filming or festivals waiting to be held, were paralyzed, postponed or canceled worldwide due to COVID-19. Despite not being a topic of good taste and having been discussed since its terrible appearance until today, the coronavirus has marked an era in the lives of citizens globally and, therefore, the scriptwriters have wanted to introduce it into their stories so that do not fall on deaf ears and give it the importance and validity it deserves.
The famous Thai youth writer who publishes her works under the pseudonym Yeonin, author of the novel "Unforgotten Night", which was adapted into a television series of the same name in 2022, was writing "Live in Love" ('รักผ่านไลฟ์') when it appeared the coronavirus. Although she had a writing project well underway, it was interrupted by the health situation, so she decided to remake the fiction to introduce greater truthfulness into the story.
Yeonim has publicly stated in interviews and on her social media that 'Live in Love' is inspired by two real people she had been following during the first pandemic quarantine period. She felt that the beginning of getting to know each other was interesting. So, that drives her to write a story and continue it according to her imagination.
From the effort to put a human face on what has happened with the pandemic, which could not stop our lives, but did change a lot, a pure and pleasant love story emerges between Kla and Cake in times of coronavirus, where the romance begins through from a live broadcast to gradually turning into love.
The quite different style from other stories that characterizes the novel written by Yeonim, full of happiness, joy, tenderness and warmth, did not go unnoticed by Hearth Chindanai Decawaleekul, the young actor known to the public for his participation in the dramas 'Love Songs Love Series: Belief (2018)', 'Love Syndrome III' and 'Twins', the latter two from 2023, to adapt and turn it into the first BL series and first project of Studio On Fire, the new film studio built by him same in August 2023.
With the title 'Live in Love, Love Through Live The Series', Hearth Chindanai not only debuts in the production of films and series, but also as one of their scriptwriters. To write the script, Hearth relies on the solid experience of three renowned romance and BL writers: Patty Patraputrasorn Warissaraphuricha, the author of the lesbian dramas 'GAP' (2022) and 'My Marvelous Dream Is You' (2024); Jungjing Wanna Kortunyavat, who debuted as a screenwriter in 2020 with 'TharnType', and also wrote the scripts for the dramas 'Lovely Writer' (2021), 'Second Chance' (2021), Hidden Agenda (2023) and 'Unforgotten Night', as well as the film 'After Sundown' (2023), and May Thidaphon Phrueksamaswong, writer of 'Unforgotten Night' (2022), 'Bed Friend' (2023), 'The Middleman's Love (2023) and 'Battle of the Writers ' (2024).
"Ball" Kanathorn Tabvilai was called to direct the series, a cinematographer and director who debuted in 2024 with the BL series 'Twins', which was followed by 'Night Dream', of the same year and genre.
'Live in Love' is a gay romance between young Thai adults. The cast is young and fresh, and the plot is light with a bit of seriousness. The story takes place during the COVID-19 pandemic, so everyone is in quarantine. Because of this, most of the action takes place online on social media, live streams, and video chats. To keep the story moving and maintain interest, the cast is overly emotional and almost comical in some cases. And it works well.
The series revolves around a boy named Kla, a young university student and heir to a resort in tourist Phuket, who loves photography, playing the guitar and computing. Despite his cold and hard-as-a-stone heart, he is loved by his friends Bee (Omnmon Poppat Lertpradit), Dol (Chan Phuliwat Yananruenon) and especially Poon (Boat Napat Srinakluan – 'TharnType' and 'TharnType Season 2: 7 Years of Love'), with whom he will weave a beautiful friendship.
Gina (Mimi Ruethaiphat Phatthananapaphangkorn) and Khing (Nina Pichayanin Pichayadechakarn) are also part of Kla's close circle of friends. Khing has developed feelings towards the character played by the actor who graduated in Marketing from Mahidol University International College for the Faculty of Business Administration and who was one of the eight Bravo Boys.
Hearth is a revelation. His performance is very intuitive and layered, with a gaze that traverses the screen. It conveys the awakening of Kla's sexuality through subtle emotional twists and shifts in consciousness. There is between him and Junior Chokkorn Deotrakul, the actor who brings Cake to life, a wonderful chemistry, the kind that creates a deep relationship that allows the relationship of their characters to mature despite the short time on screen... characters that feel deep, vivid and real.
Introduced to this protagonist, it is the turn of Cake, the warm, expressive and popular student from another university, who likes to play the piano and maintains a close relationship with his brother Itim (Tee Vitsarut Suwinijjit - 'Restart (ed)', 2022), his best friend Gam (Tiger Tanawat Hudchaleelaha - 'Love Syndrome: The Beginning' (2024) and the rest of the lively gang: Pao (Worachai Areewong), Pat (Jamee Jameekorn Wongcha-oum ), Fat (Debbie Kanchanisa Lim), and Jim (Thitivut Susereechai).
Cake's cheerful group will soon be joined by the lonely Af (Haii Sarunsathorn Tanawatcharawat), an actor known for playing Ken, one of the protagonists of the BL series 'Chains of Heart' (2023), and for getting into the shoes of Cirrus, a character from 'TharnType Season 2: 7 Years of Love' (2021), who will develop an unhealthy attraction for Cake and will do anything to have him.
Junior Chokkorn Deotrakul is one of the protagonists of the BL series 'My Universe', from 2023, in which he got into the skin of the character of Mok in the stories 'Friends Forever, 'Right Time, Right You' and 'You Are My So(ul) Mate'.
Initially, this romantic drama would star Hearth Chindanai and Non Ratchanon, as main characters, a secondary couple in the drama 'Love Syndrome III'. However, Non decided to resign, and the role was eventually awarded to Junior Chokkorn.
They are both actors in their roles and bring their characters to real life... and virtual. Dialogues, emotions, cinematography and script combine quite decently to make this a work that will delight BL lovers.
And if Kla and Cake could have met on another previous occasion, since their mutual friend Poon has invited them to share dinners and walks, this was prevented by the mandatory quarantine and the closure of study centers, which led to university students They must study online and do most of their activities at home.
However, the inevitable will happen, and the meeting of the two main characters of 'Live in Love' will take place accidentally, when both meet through 'live', after being invited by Poon to participate in a virtual meeting.
Hearing such a delicious name brings back memories of that enigmatic moment Kla, whose personality has not been able to be unraveled by his friends or by so many girls who, like Khing and Amp (Auttarinya Uengsilpsrikul), have tried to get his attention with gifts of appetizing pastries, whom he has equally insistently rejected. And suddenly, his nature is revealed before Cake's bright and innocent smile, which will make the heart of the young man who has never looked at or given hope to anyone, beat in his chest.
Kla's perfect world is put to the test when she meets Cake. That virtual meeting is one of those instant connections. Sparks fly immediately and Kla's desire is awakened for the first time in his life.
And Poon does not miss the nervousness evident in both young people when they meet. It's as if he understands that there is a crush between his two friends, as if he has taken their pulse, which has begun to accelerate after their gazes meet and even remain there for a while, while they try to hide their emotions.
Who gave rise to the hashtags #Dare to eat cake? Who would have thought that teasing from friends was a challenge at first? Who would have imagined that the germ of a love relationship would be a provocation? Who would think that a "teasing" would spark a romance? Poon came up with the idea of ​​using hashtags like "#กล้าเค้ก (#KlaCake)" and "#กล้ากินเค้กไหม (Dare 'Kla' Eat 'Cake')", which cemented the already awakened love interest between the two boys since they met.
Therefore, Kla and Cake decide to do a joint live broadcast on social networks. #Do you dare to eat cake? And this is the beginning of a beautiful love relationship, which became an online trend overnight, and which both build, little by little, into a triumphant gay fairy tale. And with the possibility, like all fairy tales, that they can live happily ever after.
What begins as a friendly joke will end up becoming a journey of no return. 'Live in Love' continually puts at risk the boundaries between the mandatory social distancing caused by the pandemic and male friendship. Suddenly, both characters feel attracted, but that attraction is not only physical, but also intersects with a virtual attachment in which they share tastes, conversations, memories, feelings, waiting for the opportunity to meet in person and go out street to shout your love. All of this is collected in the adapted novel, which should also be a must-see for lovers of the genre.
By telling a story whose main characters are university students and by being set in university and social networks, 'Live in Love' is full of diverse characters, young people who have just left adolescence and moved towards adulthood or are in this process, young people like those of today and those from anywhere in the world, with the cell phone as an extension of their hands, who like going out in groups, showing the world online as they perceive it, exhibiting their skills for use of technology, characterized by spontaneity, interactivity, critical thinking and the constant search for new experiences.
Likewise, the series addresses topics such as family, acceptance, coming of age, coming out, the use of social networks, digital harassment, the use of hate speech on the Internet, the violation of the privacy of people in digital media, and individual and collective protection against the deadly risk posed by the pandemic. In this sense, the viewer can visualize the use of masks and various protection products by the characters involved in the story.
Although the story is very simple, the director is smart enough to keep it that way, with a casual pace that works. It will lull you into the story while keeping your interest. The acting isn't bad, but it makes me wonder how much better it would be with a more experienced cast. The series is good enough that this won't ruin it, it's just an idea.
In short, 'Live in Love' is a decent series for those who enjoy a slow-paced character study. The story will keep your interest and make up for your shortcomings.
In summary, 'Live in Love' is a good series for those who enjoy a slow-paced character study. The story will keep your interest and make up for your shortcomings.
YA

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The Power of a Kiss

With a rider on a white horse arriving at the Royal Palace in Davin City, 'The Next Prince' opens with a dizzying premise and has the audacity to succeed.
The plot is as follows: Since being appointed captain of the Royal Guard, Charan Phithakdheva's (Zee Pruk Panich) life has focused solely on duties, which he gallantly performs after laying down the brush with which he paints beautiful paintings. This includes secretly flying from Emmaly to London to find and bring back Khanin (NuNew Chawarin Perdpiriyawong), one of the heirs to the throne of a kingdom ruled by a monarchy divided into four regions and leaders.
However, Khanin is unaware of his origins as a member of the Atsawathewathin Royal Family, belonging to one of the regions that divide Emmaly. After his mother's assassination, his grandfather, King Thipokbowon (Nhing Nirut Sirijanya), decided to protect him by sending him outside the kingdom's borders. He must return to comply with the law that requires a new successor to be chosen periodically, and therefore the heirs must compete to win the throne for their families. According to royal law, since reigns are not for life, the father of the winning heir becomes the new king of Emmaly.
The story shows how love can blossom between a crown prince and a subject, someone who, precisely, must protect him and bring him back to his homeland.
'The Next Prince' is the third BL series in which Zee and NuNew have acted together, following their successful debut as a couple in 'Cutie Pie' and its special episodes 'Cutie Pie 2 You', and in 'Naughty Babe' in 2023. Both directed by Aoftion Kittipat Champa, who here makes us cheer on the daring couple's transition from strangers to lovers, from crown prince to subject, with the support of cinematographer Sarawut Chuparkpanich, who photographs the protagonists with such adoration that you almost expect them to turn to the camera and offer a bottle of cologne.
Additionally, Zee and NuNew starred in the 2023 horror romance film 'After Sundown'.
Based on the novel of the same name by CEO. ft. ENNICE features some familiar names in the cast of this series, which blends equal parts action, drama, and romance, many of them in supporting roles. These include Tom Phollawat Manuprasert as Prince Tharin, Khanin's father; and Saksit Tangthong, who plays Thatdanai Keerakul, the man who, following the king's instructions, brought the heir to the throne to Great Britain to educate and raise the young man as if he were his own son.
Instead, the two lead actors, winners of major awards in 2022, including the "Y Universe Award for Best Leading Actor", the "Shining Star of the Year" Award, and "Most Outstanding Artists" at the Kazz Awards for their participation in the BL series "Cutie Pie", are at the center of attention, and both are undoubtedly seductive, both individually and as a couple. Basically, the chemistry between the two is also good, so a receptive audience in this regard has much to talk about and dream about.
It will be extraordinary when the captain of the Royal Guard and the crown prince become lovers. And while this happens later, what is clear to the audience is that when the two kiss while playing a game at a party —unbeknownst to Khanin, according to an Emmaly legend, when one person kisses another it is considered a promise of love with that person— you know they are meant for each other, even if they themselves don't know it. It doesn't take much to understand that.
Within minutes of the first episode, these two very different people have become two people who desire each other; after that, there's talk of a great love. This can also make you dream.
Produced by Domundi and Mandee Work, with the initial situation (two young people, one destined to be the heir to the throne of Emmaly and the other the person who must protect him from those seeking to assassinate him and, with his death, prevent the Royal Family of Atsawathewathin from remaining on the throne for any longer), 'The Next Prince' already has all BL romance fans in the palm of their hand. A more forbidden love can hardly be imagined.
With a script by Jungjing Wanna Kortunyavat ('After Sundown'), directors Aoftion Kittipat Jampa and Den Panuwat Inthawat ('War of Y') almost manage to square the circle of romantic dramas. Strange, diverse, and charming, just like its two highly engaging protagonists, this romantic series about a nonexistent kingdom impresses with its clever staging and is particularly notable for its wit, lively dialogue, and combat action.
The two directors keep "The Next Prince" in a solidly fantastical space. You never believe anything you're seeing, from the inability of a skilled fencer to defend himself against a knife-wielding assassin, to the fact that someone so well-informed about Emmaly's history, culture, and traditions is unaware of the legend of that kingdom's kiss. And yet, like a summer read, it's easy to understand and has enough wit and insight to rise above many mediocre BL films.
I'll return to the review later.

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One of the most memorable phrases in cinema: "I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her", is uttered by Julia Roberts to Hugh Grant in the film 'Notting Hill', one of the comedy classics romantic from the 90s.
The truth is that marriage proposals are one of the most anticipated moments, both for men and women. It is when they declare their love and the hope of staying together for longer, sharing a life. In television series, many characters have waited a long time until the moment arrives, or they have not been able to decide, but the truth is that when it happens we cannot take our eyes off the screen.
With flowers? With candles? In the moonlight? On a plane? On a sinking ocean liner? In a movie theater before the surprised gaze of spectators? With the most beautiful words we have ever heard? Kneeling on the ground?
All of us love to show in detail how much we love our partners. Sometimes we do it with flowers; other times, inviting him out to dinner or preparing a romantic dinner at home; others, doing something for the other that we would never dare to do. In this sense, perhaps you or your partner are considering going one step further and asking the other person to marry him/her.
Beyond the ring or getting on your knees, what you will remember all your life will be the words they say to you and that moment in which the world stops spinning, or maybe it spins faster than usual, because you and your beloved boy They are the center of the universe.
Ai and Yu, the protagonists of WeTV's 'Special: I Saw You in My Dream: You & I in Our Dream', walk these paths.
Four years after the events narrated in the series, the two boys are a happy couple. One night, Ai dreams that Yu makes her one of the impossible-to-forget movie proposals, but the next day she sees in a dream that her boyfriend breaks up with him.
Puzzled about what the future holds for him, along with Yu, Ing and Yo, he travels to Chonbury for a three-day vacation.
And if it seems that Ai and Yu have a radiant and healthy relationship, some incidents could suggest just the opposite. And this worries the young man in love with his neighbor and lifelong friend.
Are they ready to take that big step before the altar (remember that they are Catholic? Do they have shared purposes or not? Do they trust each other? Is one the safe harbor for the other? Are they convinced that their future fiancé really motivates you to be better people? Are you ready to take on a life together? Doesn't committing yourself mean being by that person's side forever? Doesn't this mean being able to feel happy, calm and inspired by your side and that the first one? The emotion you feel when thinking about the other is: joy!? Between doubts and insecurities, Ai struggles.
It won't be "I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her" the phrase we will hear from Yu's lips, but, to play with the entire series: "Our wedding won't be just a dream... because it's going to happen" be real", feeling both their feet sink into the sand of the beach, receiving the warm sea breeze on their faces, in the light of the bright sun, with their hearts racing, and with Me and Ing as unexpected witnesses.
I hope to see other marriage proposals in Thai BLs, the last one more emotional and touching than the last.
Let 'Special: I Saw You in My Dream: You & I in Our Dream' serve as the fair and definitive demand for Thailand to finally approve the Equal Marriage Law and, above all, to combat discrimination and harassment of people Thai LGBT+. At least the first of these wishes seems to be close to being achieved.

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Just one doubt: Will it be as empty and boring as the prequel?

'Season of Love in Shimane' is a Thai BL series featuring a travel advertisement mixed with softcore erotica, continuing the story of P (Ekkapop Tata) and Pan (Pan Jirachot Chotticomporn), which began in 'Kiseki Chapter 2' (2024), whose plot immerses us in a travel vlog where four handsome guys who share a house end up sleeping together.
The arrival of Pan, Plai (Plai Chattrin Chotticomporn), PJ (Kritsana Planchai), and Tontae (Tontae Tinnakorn Puwasakdiwong), a group of Thai tourists eager to explore Japan, to the beautiful teakwood home of P, the Thai expat who now lives not in Tokyo but in Shimane Prefecture and works as a high-quality travel blogger, stirs memories in the host, who hasn't forgotten the romantic connection he had a year earlier with one of the visiting twins.
With the same strict rules of coexistence seen in 'Kiseki Chapter 2,' P awaits the arrival of the now young man who has achieved his dreams of becoming a singer, but he will be accompanied by his manager, who also aims to win Pan's love.
The encounter proves explosive, and the union of old and new friends is bound to trigger a series of tense situations, as well as some sexual encounters. We're here to see it. But above all, to see if it will lead to the definitive beginning of the two protagonists' romantic relationship.
Based on what we've seen in the first episode, 'Season of Love in Shimane' will show us passionate encounters, lots of skin, and the turmoil that every love triangle entails.
Without a doubt, these seven days of living together will lead to changes in the lives of these five people, in some cases for the better, and in others not so much... Will it end up radically changing their lives?
The series has a simple premise: the reunion of two lovers after a year apart due to their respective jobs and living in different countries, and the possibility of rekindling their romance and finally consolidating their relationship.
It also seeks to reflect the journey of a group of Thai tourists looking to have fun and relax while touring Japan.
'Season of Love in Shimane' successfully recreates the relaxed and casual atmosphere of a vacation. There's a pleasant charm in watching the five young people experience a trip to a destination unknown to them, living together in a house made entirely of teak, tasting food and drinks native to another country, experiencing the cold and snow, and touring exotic places.
However, the story is poorly written, and, as in 'Kiseki Chapter 2,' many scenes seem forced, as can be seen after Plai and Tontae arrive at P's house, where they are tasked with letting the host know that Pan will arrive the next day and that he won't be alone.
As in the prequel, the characters interact awkwardly, as if they don't want to be there, and only do so because it's written in a script they must follow. For example, it doesn't seem like P and Plain have met yet, and their reunion is rather cold and distant, not like that of two friends and possibly brothers-in-law.
The series explores themes such as friendship, love, travel vlogging, tourism, and long-distance relationships.

Curiosities

Director Paapare Khachaporn Roopchang ('Venus in the Sky', 2024), and his co-writer Piyapat Nanthanoraseth ('Switch On', 2021-2022), were in charge of writing the series, which is intended to serve as a tourist advertisement to reflect, through tours to exotic natural settings and scenes of soft eroticism, how five people spend a week together to end up making friends, finding love, discussing issues related to their respective professions or the places they visited. With this in mind, 9NAA Production, the Thai BL studio that produced 'Check Out' (2022), 'I Am Your King' (2017), 'I Am Your King 2' (2019), 'Skinship' (2020), 'My Blessing' (2023) and 'Kiseki Chapter 2' (2024), decided it was time to make a second series to pick up the story of P and Pan, based on a narrative already seen, such as in the also Thai films 'Present Perfect (แค่นี้ก็ดีแล้ว / Khae ni k dilaew), from 2012 and its sequel, 'Present Still Perfect' (แค่นี้ก็ดีแล้ว Part 2 / Khae ni k dilaew Part 2), from 2020, but with the variation that the romantic story is not between two boys who travel on vacation to Japan and coincide in the same hostel, but only one of them travels, while the other has been living for some time in that country.
According to the director, he also consulted with BL-loving viewers, and a common theme was the desire to see how different types of relationships were explored, especially with characters who, because they live in different countries, would have to have long-distance relationships, how changes occur in them between one encounter and the next, and what will happen to them after the reunion.
His intention, in addition to serving as a tourist advertisement, is to reflect that neither time nor miles nor oceans seem to be insurmountable obstacles to starting a relationship.
The sex scenes seem particularly simple, as nothing suggests to me that the actors didn't enjoy themselves while filming them.
The filming wasn't complicated; once they found the perfect house and the ideal setting for filming, everything fell into place without a hitch.
We won't be featuring Japanese actress Kikkawa Yuu or Thai actor BeBoy Nanthakorn Sringenthap, but we have two new faces joining the project.
In addition to 'Kiseki Chapter 2,' we've seen Ekkapop Tata and Pan in the short film 'Juicy Lips Juicy Heart,' from 2024.

The Best

There are several scenes from the first episode that I liked, particularly the ones where we see P remember Pan and the days she spent with him just a year before the current events narrated in the series. Another is P's erotic dream, which gives us a preview of the sexual scenes to come and will remind us of other Thai BL series, such as 'TharType,' 'Kinn Porsche,' 'Ailonghai,' 'Bed Friend,' 'Big Dragon,' 'Only Friends,' 'Unforgettable Night,' 'Chain of Hearts,' 'Love in the Air,' 'Be My Superstar,' 'Playboy,' 'Manner of Death,' 'Together With Me,' among others.
And the scene of P, Plai, and Tontae's tour of some of Shimane's natural sites, especially the Hinomisaki Lighthouse, in Izumo, the tallest in all of East Asia, with its beautiful surroundings and the proximity of a 17th-century shrine, and its beautiful surroundings. You can even see the distant Oki Islands, 50 kilometers out to sea.
Of the cast, P Ekkapop Tata and the twins Pan and Plai reprise their roles from 'Kiseki Chapter 2,' while the other two actors went through a normal selection process, auditioning.

The Worst

It seems like a common technique in BL series is to use extremely attractive actors, show them sexy or semi-naked, and engage in sexual intercourse. This is undoubtedly to grab the viewer's attention; to show the "sexual freedom" achieved in Thailand, but in this case the actors are extremely poor in their performances.
We are shown conversations devoid of content and meaning, forced anger, poorly portrayed jealousy, and feelings more typical of vegetables. Once again, a group of terrible actors come together in a BL series.

The expected

I wish the study of relationships weren't as superficial as it was in the prequel.
I wish for a better-developed plot, better-developed characters and plot, and not just the presentation of Japanese tourist spots.
I wish for more than holiday sexual shenanigans.

I'll resume the review later. There will surely be changes to the final rating.

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From 'The Hidden Moon', Thailand and its BL dramatic universe

Everything seems to indicate that the Thai series 'The Hidden Moon' does unequivocal justice to its name. In its frames there are many mysteries and secrets hidden in the light of the moon and the viewer must unravel them as the episodes go by.
Many like the exciting journey full of visual elegance provided by this series directed by Intorn Lokaew, director of 'Low Frequency' (2023) and producer of the romantic comedy and musical 'Hug Jao ​​E Lee', from 2022. The series shows a drama that is carefully detailed and has all the shots and frames perfected for an elegant audiovisual presentation.
It is no secret that the BL (Boys' Love) genre productions of the Southeast Asian nation have, for more than a decade, stolen popularity in the market, and have become an international cultural phenomenon thanks to their plots that show attractive couples, in bucolic landscapes and with a message about being true to oneself.
It is no secret that the BL (Boys' Love) genre productions of the Southeast Asian nation have, for more than a decade, stolen popularity in the market, and have become an international cultural phenomenon thanks to their plots that show attractive couples, in bucolic landscapes and with a message about being true to oneself.
When and how did it all start? Why so many followers? One might also wonder about the "magic" exerted by production companies like GMM25 or Dee Hup House. However, in the face of so many doubts, a great certainty delivers a blow of reality: with lovers or detractors, the world does not remain indifferent to the consumption of a solid and intelligent industry.
For example, the number of BL produced in Thailand increased from 19 between 2014 and 2018 to 75 in 2022. And it continues to grow at present. These television series are popular even in more conservative countries, such as India, Indonesia and Malaysia, although their followers must hide it, because if they say so publicly they may suffer sociocultural and religious pressures.
Thanks to these series, in Thailand the LGBT community enjoys more visibility and tolerance than in previous times, and it is expected that before the end of 2024, equal marriage will be legalized after being approved by the Senate of that country on June 18 of this year, with 130 votes in favor, 4 against and 18 abstentions, in its third and final reading.
Despite their popularity, these series do not realistically reflect the lives of people in this community in Thailand, where activists believe there is still work to be done to change mentalities. The life of gay men in Thailand can be quite tragic, as they still face discrimination and harassment.
Returning to the series: 'The Hidden Moon' demonstrates the television charms attributed to the Southeast Asian nation. As for the form, it is useless to deny the hypnotic effect of its image. The colors speak for themselves of a seductive Thailand, although sometimes greyish, always beautiful. The instrumental music penetrates the memory with an indescribable power, while the luxurious, but terrifying and mysterious old two-story house in the middle of the forest, at the foot of a mountain, welcomes the conflicts of its protagonists: Mas, the son of the owner of the place, and Khen, a writer who arrives in Chiang-Mai with the aim of writing about an old mansion.
However, his journey becomes a supernatural experience when, after suffering a car accident, he begins to experience inexplicable events. It is in this context that Khen meets Mas to tell us an exciting story, full of emotions and twists.
Said like that, it seems like the making of any Thai series of the BL genre. Precisely, these attractions that serve as eye drops are part of that group of characteristics that support the formula for success, but are only the visual and artistic components repeated? Although the exoticism of a distant country, populated by people with apparently perfect physiques, manages to connect with a vast audience, the classic plot lines of a romantic drama, in this case fantastic and supernatural period drama, are not left behind; that is, its content.
A production team featuring an energetic new copywriter travels to Chiang Mai to compose stories about two-story Thai houses in the country's northern region; a mysterious woman in a room at the end of the hall; an atmosphere that makes your hair stand on end; ghostly encounters on rainy days; terrifying events that surround those present in the mansion; the story of the two Moons at a different time orbiting together in the darkness of the night sky; a young man who must protect the house in the absence of his father who went to war, trapped people who cannot get away from the place where they are somehow imprisoned, the supernatural ability to see and hear things that should not be seen or heard, including to the son of the owner of the house in the past, the person whose name means "Luna is just like him"; bittersweet love, heartbreak, beautiful historical setting; a deep relationship wrapped between supernatural events and cruel secrets; a group of young people in alleged danger; couple made up of a modern-day boy who, after a car accident, travels to the past, precisely to a moment located during the First World War, to have a romance with a ghost with whom they are separated by a hundred years of difference, come together in this series vintage "Duean Prang".
These are topics that scare us in our lives but that we love to see on the big screen or television. Supernatural mystery series, suspense, ghostly apparitions and disappearances without answers are engaging like no other, and if you add romance to this, the delicious dish is served.
A maxim of series is that they engage, and for that to happen there is nothing better than suspense, intrigue and a good mystery to solve. If there is a genre that we love, it is these that combine all of the above. What's more pleasurable than the feeling of that edge-of-your-couch tension interspersed with sequences of high-stakes action and romance?
Now we have so much to choose from that many go unnoticed without us knowing their existence.
Thailand resorts to these ingredients again and again, because ultimately they capture the taste and attention of a viewer rooted in the typical plots that, despite reinventions of the genre, will always be there.
It is worth remembering the different socio-historical context, conservative and inclined to patriarchal laws, as well as the role of women in society and the controversial emotional and family relationships. These situations can accompany an afternoon coffee, but we should not "enjoy" them uncritically.
Starring David Matthew Roberts (in his acting debut) and Kin Thanachai Sakchaicharoenkul ('Love Hurts', 2023), in the roles of Mas and Khen, respectively, the romantic, dramatic and fantasy genre series is an adaptation of the novel " The Hidden Moon" (เดือนพราง), by Violet Rain.
The series is produced by the renowned Dee Hup House, known for its success in series such as 'Step By Step' (2023), 'Something In My Room' (2022) and 'Lovely Writer' (2021).
In the series, Khen does not travel alone with Mas. The production team that he is part of and that travels to Chiang Mai is made up of Bing (Santa Napakawat Kettreekorn), Toh (Tonkla Patittada Photajareon), Thaen (Jimmy Nuttapong Phaojinda) and Nanwha (Bam Panichada Kongsawanya), while Sompho (Meme Kansuda Chanakeeree), Aisaeng (Pom Kamonpop Kaewdiao), all newcomers, and Khampuan (Tian Atcharee Buakhiao), an actress remembered for giving life to Mei in 'I Feel You Linger in the Air', join the journey in the mysterious house. They all defend their roles with conviction.
The script for this series is written by Kak Supicha Anantachat ('In Time with You').
Beyond the depth or intentions, the nuances of society or particular thematic moments are not completely ignored. Such is the case of 'I Feel You Linger in the Air', a series released in 2023 based on the novel of the same name by the same author of 'The Hidden Moon', and 'Dead Friend Forever - DFF' (2023 – 2024), two series coming from the powerful Thai BL industry. If you view them, you will find entertainment close to the novel dilemmas enjoyed in 'The Hidden Moon'.
I'll come back later to update the review.

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