Meme

The jungle and homeschool are rumoured to be releasing trailers soon. Since ds and umg end next week and our skyy ends the week after, there will be slots on mon/tues/wed/thurs/sun to fill

I know this is a silly little comedy and, judging by the comments here, isn’t that well received, but I’m am really enjoying it. I feel like comedy as a genre is usually very culturally specific and doesn’t always translate well, but its absurdity and bizarreness is really working for me!

Film and Nanon’s chemistry especially is a revelation and they work so well together! I appreciate that neither of them have any qualms about making a fool of themselves and they balance the over the top comedic beats with really genuine sincere moments

Different strokes I guess.
If he’s considered average looking though I need to move - I wish the average looking guy where I lived looked like him!

Definitely they developed Tess and Tun’s backgrounds in an episode and I was hooked. And honestly it could’ve been two other actors playing them and I would’ve still found it more interesting that the lead characters. I suppose they now have 10 episode to develop Puen and Talay and I’m sure they will, but developing the leads in episode one should’ve been the main priority. So maybe my main issue is the pacing? If they’d spent 3/4 of episode 1 developing Talay and Puen and then had Talay drown and part 4/4 being him realising his in another universe I think I’d be so much more attached? Even more so with Puen - I feel like I barely know him. And although I think Jimmy’s acting has really improved since bad buddy, it’s difficult to connect with him because his acting cannot save a lack of development.

I’m definitely going to continue watching though because I love the concept.

It’s funny I’ve never really got the appeal of Ohm - I always thought he looked like your standard hot Thai actor and pretty similar face wise to the likes of Gulf and Max. He also styles himself really well on a regular basis and works out which gives him an advantage.

I would agree that he’s more conventionally attractive than Nanon, but the older Nanon gets the more I’m drawn to him. He’s got such a beautiful face. I was never into him before but I kinda get what people are saying now. I’ve also noticed that when Nanon is styled well at events (the recent Kazz awards for instance) he gives Ohm a run for his money. I always forget how tall he is because whoever styles him for events with Ohm most of the time deliberately make him look a lot shorter and cuter.
I think their personalities play a big role in their attractiveness for me though aswell tbh

I agree. I’m actually really liking Jimmy and Sea’s chemistry. But it really doesn’t compare to Ohm and Nanon’s. I’d say it’s because they’re a new couple, but so were Ohm and Nanon last year and they worked well instantly. I agree with you in saying they have some of the best chemistry out of the GMM pairings and so anyone would pale in comparison. I think they probably cast them to draw in the viewers.

I also think the dynamic between Tess and Tun is much more compelling? I think the idea of two men with a complicated past and some weird tension being forced to work together to get home is a much more interesting story than two guys who are strangers. I also thought their personalities were more interesting - the spoilt brat and the chaotic screenwriter. I get that it’s a sweet love story, but I think that’s where my issue with show keeping my attention lies

I've also just realised that's the awards Nanon has been nominated for before

A friend of mine who works in the industry told me that the Asian Television Awards are pretty prestigious as they celebrate television across Asia. I'd say they're most similar to the Emmys

I think they're both as sweet and both as assertive as each other. It's a push and pull. Pran might've gained confidence over the years, especially when it comes to intimacy with Pat, but he's still the same soft boy who wrote love songs and wanted to please his mum that we met at the start. Pat might've become soft and mushy, but he's still the dumb boy who is possessive and competitive and who got drunk and fought Wai out of jealousy.

They're complicated, human characters but they're also equals in everything. And P'Aof is extending that to their sex life. But I still don't get why everyone is so hung up on it - why do people actually care?

This! I did theatre acting for some time and had to 'learn' how to kiss (which sounded silly when I was an 18 year old and regularly kissing people in real life). It's a little intimidating and quite hard! You're taught how to make it look aesthetically pleasing whilst conveying the correct mood and pretending you're attracted to/in love with the person you're kissing. With tv/movies etc you also have to take censorship and intimacy guidelines into account. The fact that this little pg-13 thai bl not only had like 30 odd little intimate pecks and closed mouth kisses, but also had 2 proper open mouth kisses that felt and looked really passionate was a pleasant surprise.

I don't think it needed 12 episodes - they could've told the story in 10 - 1-4 enemies/friends/unrequited love, 5-7 declaration/pursuit/relationship, 8-10 discovery/getaway/resolution. The pacing of the first 7 episodes were perfect, but I felt it kinda lost momentum after that for a bit. Episodes 8 and 9 were both sweet, but really sluggish.

The whole shooting plotline made absolutely no sense to me and felt like it was supposed to be some sort of redemption arc for Wai. In fact everything they did with Wai at that point perplexed me; they could've still had him be protective and complicated and initially dissaproving without making him the one to out Pat and Pran's relationship. And the fact that Pran of all people had to apologize (for being very much entitled to withholding information to protect himself and Pat) but we never saw Wai really being pulled up for his actions frustrated me.

But, other than my nitpicky gripes and the usual low production values you usually see in a bl, I thought it was fantastic. It's been a long time since i've seen chemistry that felt as natural as Ohm and Nanon's not just in a bl but in any television series. Pat and Pran had that 'besties who unconditionally love each other but are also insanely physically attracted to each other and have a fun sex life' vibe down and I love that cos it's so reflective of many healthy romantic relationships in real life. Acting was really impressive, some of the cinematography was gorgeous and the characters felt so relatable and real which is a credit to the writing.

This is so insightful and it's great to hear from the perspective of someone in the community who is older. Both myself (female) and my male friend have been watching this show and had a great discussion after watching 11 about their roles. We are both bisexual and in our mid 20s and so have had varying experiences, and he told me that there's an assumption that because he sleeps with women he would automatically be the 'top' when he's been in relationships/had sex with men. Which isn't the case. He goes with the flow and does whatever feels right/enjoyable at that time. Like in most sexual relationships (whether they be hetero or other), there has to be communication for it to be the best experience possible.

I agree with the majority of fans that Pat and Pran's sexual relationship started long before episode 11, but my friend and I both think they were switching roles from the beginning of it. The question Pran posits to Pat regarding his performance the morning after was purely a piece of dialogue added into the scene to confirm to the audience that they were having sex and not necessarily implying that it was the first time the roles were reversed or that it was their first time ever. It makes total sense with Pran's character that he would want to constantly improve and boldly ask for feedback on the regular, not just this one time.

People seem to feel entitled to know what goes on in other peoples' sex lives (particularly non cis, hetero ones) all the time and I find it straight up weird. The fact that there were fans after episode 11 angry about the implication that a fictional character wasn't the 'top' they wanted him to be and going as far as saying it was out of character, makes me laugh.

There's a really good post on tumblr that goes into depth about why Nanon is such an impressive actor for his age. There's a great section on why Nanon and Ohm's acting style and method compliment each other - Ohm is very theatrical and makes good use of space which makes him appear larger than life, Nanon is much more restrained and will say everything whilst doing very little and making particular use of microexpressions. They both make space for each other on screen and so work well together. I personally think Nanon is a technically better film/television actor and outshines everyone on screen with him in bbs, but I can't knock Ohm. He's so charismatic and endearing to watch.
I think maybe the fact that their chemistry never slowly built the way the other pairings onscreen do (Pat was touchy and flirty with Pran almost from the get go) is possibly why people aren't connecting? But I have to chalk that up to the actors being really comfortable with each other to begin with. They kinda skipped everything and jumped straight into old married couple chemistry. Personally, I think there was some great moments of romantic and sexual tension (the majority of that did come from Pran's side) so I overall I did find their chemistry and romance believable.

Yeah I get where you are coming from.
I actually really liked how the break up was done tbh, it was really interesting from a directing standpoint. When you look back on it, the break up was on the cards the moment their parents found out about them. And I think they knew that too to an extent. Pran especially knew that running away was a bandaid over a bullet wound. So their whole trip was one long farewell to what was and to what might’ve been. They talked about their love for each other, they consummated their relationship and Pran finally finished his love song and performed it as a goodbye to Pat. Everything was implied and inferred and a lovely look into how well they communicate - they both knew returning home was a euphemism for breaking up, so when Pat said they should go Pran got emotional.
But I agree with you regarding their slight lack of emotional reaction - we all know Nanon and Ohm have it in them. Maybe it was to show, even at their most vulnerable, they don’t want upset the other? I dunno.

As far as fighting for their love, I think they proved that just being in love and making their relationship work for a spell. I think whilst their relationship was healthy, they’re both very self sacrificial and we’re losing themselves in the process. I think if they’d stayed they way they were, communication would’ve gone out the window and they might’ve grown to resent everything a little. That would’ve been awful but something that maturity and self love would fix.

I love angst if doesn’t ruin the characters and if I’m confident it’ll be resolved swiftly. But I totally get being fed up with a break up storyline. I understand the frustration and disappointment.

I think the whole fake breakup theory is just that - a theory that is helping fans who are upset with the episode cope.

I don't really think Pat needs to work out or unpack his family issues - he has pretty much accepted that his dad is the worst and is finding it easier to cope with everything in regards to the family fued. As far as he's concerned he's done with his family (except Paa) and was happily about to leave them for good. Pran however has clearly placed his mother on a pedestal and I think feels a little guilty about how everything was left (which is not his problem at all). I think there might also be a commentary going on here about how difficult it is to break the cycle of abuse, especially if you have a personality like Pran. He wants to love everyone and for everyone to love him back. Whilst they stayed at the eco village he constantly worried about how his mother was doing without him even though she is pretty toxic. So I don't think it's outside the realm of possibility for him to want to give his mother a second chance. I think that's a very easy thing to sympathise with, whether you've been in a similar position yourself or not.

I also think we're all simplifying why they decided to break up. I don't think it's just the case of 'it'll make my parents unhappy to see me in this relationship'. These are teenage boys who both crave emotional support and were clearly very close to their immediate families. As much as we praise their healthy way of communicating or their mature way of handling certain situations, they're still going to make some decisions some of the audience might deem questionable. I adore Pat, but he's incredibly impulsive and had absolutely no plan on what to do outside their few days stay in the village. I also think his naivety has really shone through lately - from thinking everyone will happily reconcile because Pran helped him avoid jail to thinking he could just up and leave everything and start working at random bar on the beach. It's romantic and idealistic, but not very well thought through. I think Pran, always the pessimist, saw the breakup coming before they'd even began dating which is why I think he wasn't as emotional as Pat at the end. He just decided he had no other choice than to accept it but still gave in to Pat's wants and needs because he loves him.

The breakup was sad, but it hasn't deterred me or made me hate the show, there was no misunderstanding or cheating, no character assassination, it was mutual and i'm like 99% sure the story will have a happy or at least open ending.

This! I see a lot of hype around Ohm's performance on twitter and I completely agree with it all! But Nanon is ridiculously captivating to watch - those big expressive eyes gives me similar vibes to Tony Leung's acting style. I'm especially impressed with the maturity of his performance given how young he is. Go little rockstar.

I've already commented above, but I completely agree with this! I think there's also something to be said about how different a mother's betrayal/abuse would be as opposed to a father's. Our mothers are meant to be soft and compassionate and our emotional support when times are tough. Pran's is pretty cold and cared more about her own feelings of betrayal and heartbreak than her son's mental wellbeing. You can tell how much of a vulnerable, anxiety ridden mess Pran became because of that (not ignoring the fact that his natural sensitivity probably heightened all that).
It makes sense that Pran was more emotionally compromised than Pat as Pat had already started to separate himself from his father's ideals. He looked up to him, but recognised that he was sometimes unreasonable. Pran is a people pleaser and just wanted to keep his mother happy so it was more of a shock to the system when he realised how dirty she had done him and Pat. Slapping him was the last straw and he was broken. He had surpressed his emotions for a long time, not because he was able to maturely deal with them, but because he didn't know how to. He even says it at the end that he can't deal with it anymore. So it's no surprise that he fell apart.

Pran’s a more vulnerable, sensitive person - he was always going to react that way when everything came to a head. Whilst I feel for his mother, what she did to him was emotional abuse plain and simple. When you’re son is scared to even bring his guitar into the house for fear it would upset you, you know you’ve done a pretty poor job as a parent. Pran was the one that was sent away, the one that was isolated from his friends, the one who was pressured to quit the thing he was most passionate about because his mother associated it with her own anger and feeling of betrayal. He was raised to feel guilt and shame for who he wanted to be friends with/loved. Pat went through a tough time too, but he had sister and friends to fall back on. That’s not to say he isn’t feeling the pain of disappointment and betrayal, but it’s clear he is able to deal with it differently. You can’t really compare trauma and how people cope with it.
There’s no real getting over generational trauma - it’s ingrained in us as Pran said when confronting his mother. It’s something that’ll take him and Pat a long time to work on.