This review may contain spoilers
A possible sign of what's to come
One can certainly understand the wide praise given to Khemjira. Being lauded as one of the most important BLs of 2025, it is certainly a production worth seeing.
And yet, it possesses irritating flaws. Some writing choices leave much to be desired, bordering on the absurd: for instance, why is Khem so very often alone despite the seriousness of his situation. Jet and Chan are supposed to be watching over him, but is often left unattended. Aspects like this make the series poorer.
Green, who plays Ramphueng, gives a particularly powerful interpretation of her character. So does Pung as Yos. The series gains strenght from its supperb supporting cast. The four main actors try their best, and yet one could wonder what they'd do if they had more experience under their belts.
One is left scratching one's head over the introduction of Khachen. A missed opportunity, for this character is not in any way instrumental to the plot; contrary, for instance, to the monk introduced also later in the plot, who proves essential to the resolution. Khachen's introduction should have been 2 to 3 episodes earlier, allowing for further delving into Master's past.
The series could have gained more from going deeper into the backgrounds of the characters. As such, Khem is left bordering the dangerous territory of damsel in distress and Master the role of the emotionally distant, all-powerful knight in shining armor.
Khemjira as a series does try to stray away from the common tropes of Thai BLs. Certain innovations in storytelling, the architecture of its filming, certain acting choices, do provide the outlet for it. And yet, sometimes it tends to go back to known territory. Old habits tend to die hard.
As such, I tend to see Khemjira as a work signaling a wider transition in the Thai BL industry: from somewhat poor BLs to those who encompass complexity. It is a work worth seeing, perhaps mostly for providing the tone for richer productions in the future.
And yet, it possesses irritating flaws. Some writing choices leave much to be desired, bordering on the absurd: for instance, why is Khem so very often alone despite the seriousness of his situation. Jet and Chan are supposed to be watching over him, but is often left unattended. Aspects like this make the series poorer.
Green, who plays Ramphueng, gives a particularly powerful interpretation of her character. So does Pung as Yos. The series gains strenght from its supperb supporting cast. The four main actors try their best, and yet one could wonder what they'd do if they had more experience under their belts.
One is left scratching one's head over the introduction of Khachen. A missed opportunity, for this character is not in any way instrumental to the plot; contrary, for instance, to the monk introduced also later in the plot, who proves essential to the resolution. Khachen's introduction should have been 2 to 3 episodes earlier, allowing for further delving into Master's past.
The series could have gained more from going deeper into the backgrounds of the characters. As such, Khem is left bordering the dangerous territory of damsel in distress and Master the role of the emotionally distant, all-powerful knight in shining armor.
Khemjira as a series does try to stray away from the common tropes of Thai BLs. Certain innovations in storytelling, the architecture of its filming, certain acting choices, do provide the outlet for it. And yet, sometimes it tends to go back to known territory. Old habits tend to die hard.
As such, I tend to see Khemjira as a work signaling a wider transition in the Thai BL industry: from somewhat poor BLs to those who encompass complexity. It is a work worth seeing, perhaps mostly for providing the tone for richer productions in the future.
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