This review may contain spoilers
The Boy Next W....wait What Now?
When The Boy Next World was announced, I was beyond excited—how could I not be? Boss and Noeul, fresh from their performances in Love in the Air and Wedding Plan, were finally reuniting for another BL project. And with a mind-bending, multi-world premise, this had all the makings of a must-watch. But after finishing all 10 episodes, I was left with one burning question: What exactly did I just watch?
The story promised something unconventional—something that would set it apart from the usual university-setting Thai BLs of recent years. And to be fair, it did try to be different. The whole boy from another world concept? Intriguing. A potential sci-fi-meets-romance story? Yes, please! But the actual execution? Confusing. Messy. Riddled with plot holes.
With only 10 episodes (when most 2024 Thai BLs ran for 12), the drama felt rushed and underdeveloped. The "next world" theme—what should have been the heart of the story—ended up feeling more like a decorative gimmick rather than a fully realized narrative element.
From the start, the drama throws us into a whirlwind of contradictions and unexplained twists:
— Cir introduces himself as Phu’s boyfriend from another world—only for this to later be brushed off as a dream.
— The "next world" concept only seems to activate when Cir is near death (seriously, why is he getting hit by cars twice?!). But then, when Cir is hit the second time, he becomes a totally different person?
— The white room scene tells us Cir can’t return until "it’s time." But what exactly does that mean? When Phu confesses his love, suddenly he can come back?
— Jin can hear people’s thoughts… but why? Is he from another world too?
— don’t even get me started on the "you're my property" trope—seriously, we do not need obsessive parent dynamics in 2025. Also, the fiancé subplot? Completely unnecessary.
Despite all this, I still had a good time watching. The confusion didn’t stop me from enjoying the performances, and there were plenty of engaging, emotional moments that made the show fun.
Boss and Noeul’s chemistry? Still strong. They’ve clearly become more comfortable acting together, and their sensual scenes felt natural rather than forced.
Noeul’s acting? Improving! He’s come a long way since Love in the Air.
Boss? Still effortlessly charismatic, and it was refreshing to see him play a more emotionally vulnerable role.
The side characters? Absolute scene-stealers. Phu and Cir’s friends were fantastic, and Mick (from Every You, Every Me) was a welcome surprise—someone give him another lead role already!
At its core, The Boy Next World had a great idea—but somewhere along the way, the execution lost itself in its own confusion. The messy writing and underwhelming explanations left more questions than answers. But despite its flaws, it was still an entertaining ride, thanks to BossNoeul’s chemistry and the strong supporting cast.
Would I watch it again? Probably.
Would I watch another BossNoeul BL in the future? Absolutely.
The story promised something unconventional—something that would set it apart from the usual university-setting Thai BLs of recent years. And to be fair, it did try to be different. The whole boy from another world concept? Intriguing. A potential sci-fi-meets-romance story? Yes, please! But the actual execution? Confusing. Messy. Riddled with plot holes.
With only 10 episodes (when most 2024 Thai BLs ran for 12), the drama felt rushed and underdeveloped. The "next world" theme—what should have been the heart of the story—ended up feeling more like a decorative gimmick rather than a fully realized narrative element.
From the start, the drama throws us into a whirlwind of contradictions and unexplained twists:
— Cir introduces himself as Phu’s boyfriend from another world—only for this to later be brushed off as a dream.
— The "next world" concept only seems to activate when Cir is near death (seriously, why is he getting hit by cars twice?!). But then, when Cir is hit the second time, he becomes a totally different person?
— The white room scene tells us Cir can’t return until "it’s time." But what exactly does that mean? When Phu confesses his love, suddenly he can come back?
— Jin can hear people’s thoughts… but why? Is he from another world too?
— don’t even get me started on the "you're my property" trope—seriously, we do not need obsessive parent dynamics in 2025. Also, the fiancé subplot? Completely unnecessary.
Despite all this, I still had a good time watching. The confusion didn’t stop me from enjoying the performances, and there were plenty of engaging, emotional moments that made the show fun.
Boss and Noeul’s chemistry? Still strong. They’ve clearly become more comfortable acting together, and their sensual scenes felt natural rather than forced.
Noeul’s acting? Improving! He’s come a long way since Love in the Air.
Boss? Still effortlessly charismatic, and it was refreshing to see him play a more emotionally vulnerable role.
The side characters? Absolute scene-stealers. Phu and Cir’s friends were fantastic, and Mick (from Every You, Every Me) was a welcome surprise—someone give him another lead role already!
At its core, The Boy Next World had a great idea—but somewhere along the way, the execution lost itself in its own confusion. The messy writing and underwhelming explanations left more questions than answers. But despite its flaws, it was still an entertaining ride, thanks to BossNoeul’s chemistry and the strong supporting cast.
Would I watch it again? Probably.
Would I watch another BossNoeul BL in the future? Absolutely.
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