How intriguing that you haven't considered the possibility that when two men get together in "real life" it is very often a story of two male individuals "discovering something new, ... embark[ing] on the kind of courtship they have no preconceived notions about, treading new ground all the way..." For many men who fall in love with men (or women who fall in love with women), that's exactly what it feels like. They don't necessarily know they're "gay", or they may have heard about "gay" as a remote, impossible alternative reality they have no connection to - until they fall in love ...
It fascinates me that you can opine so authoritatively about the universal reality of male experience: there are gay men, they all know they're gay, they're "boring", the way they fall in love is likewise "boring", their minds are full of "preconceived notions" etc, all boring - and then there are exciting, interesting "straight boys" who are constantly treading new ground and are always "fun to watch". Maybe in fact what you're thinking about is the development of certain genres of Asian cinematic story-telling in recent years - but it sure sounds as though you're talking about the reality of all men's lives everywhere. Well, I am a man, I am not young, and I have lived in and known a variety of settings over the decades, and I would like to suggest that "in reality" many, many boys & men - everywhere, including Thailand - have never heard of "gay" or "straight", and they certainly don't have any preconceived notions about men falling in love with men. Nevertheless, it happens to them. In all sorts of situations and settings, some as conventionally [melo]dramatic as what we see in BL. And then - sometimes, maybe, these guys discover that they can, and like to, "make out" with the guy they love - and (now, in the world of 2021) sometimes, maybe, they somehow receive a message in life telling them that what they're doing, or even what they ARE, is"gay" or "homosexual"; however, right now, in 2021, plenty do not learn that, or the information means nothing to them, or they reject the message. And quite a few never get to the stage of physically making love, i.e. sex, "making out": circumstances (including, yes, explicitly anti-GAY laws and religious strictures) deny them access to this dimension of their love. Nevertheless, none of this makes them "straight", however interesting or fun being a straight guy is. (This is my own individual, personal view. Plenty of men who love men do indeed consider themselves to be completely "straight", - or they're unaware of sexual identity definitions altogether.)
Jimmy and Tommy return. I can't wait. Well, I can. Especially if that wait brings me a better chance of: really good writing and an absence of trite BL plot devices of yesteryear (e.g. malevolent ex-girlfriends). A witty, romantic script featuring strong, engaging out & proud male-loving male leads would be much appreciated.
Wow. What an impressive list of BL titles. YYY was both crazy, off the wall, full of satirical comment but also fun, and Why RU (utterly UNcrazy, "on the wall" and conventional by comparison) gave us a really nice combination of two different m/m couples; I was more of a Zon & Saifah fan. Plus ... I like the hat. (For one thing, it's the right size. Most men choose hats that are too small.)
Hmmmmmmm.... Hmmmmmmm.... And again hmmmmmmm.... OK, I think I'll give this a go, as we say here in England. The comments are rather at odds with each other. At any rate, there are some which are both negative and persuasive, a dangerous combination. But other opinions suggest that certain episodes are ... very good, highly watchable? Meanwhile, there are a couple of actors I am keen to see ... I admit it, doing just about anything.
After almost a month, Episode 2: Starry Night was finally released today. This episode started rather slow but…
Such a positive assessment! You're like J100. But it looks as though most of the rest of us are very turned off by uninteresting straight boys going on and on about uninteresting girlfriends. Whereas we could at least have interesting straight boys talking about interesting-sounding girlfriends. Or even better - some discernible possible gay/BL content. But right now that's missing, and what we're seeing is very unappealing, as others on this page have expressed very cogently already. However, you sound impressed - e.g. at least regarding pace and acting. I'm afraid I'm just feeling turned off. But hoping that you and J100 can convince me in the future that this is worth returning to.
Now after watching the trailer I miss them even, I like both of them a lot, they are talented and handsome, In…
Your assessment is so positive that I'm convinced that there may be some hidden BL or LGBT content here which is ... promising. However, like others here, I am so turned off by these uninteresting straight characters and their uninteresting chatter about their uninteresting girlfriends that for the moment, I cannot bring myself to follow this series. (I could easily imagine interesting straight guys, interesting chatter, and interesting-sounding ex-girlfriends, so none of these elements is of itself repellent - but the combination we get here is ... uninteresting and indeed repellent.) Anyway, maybe you will keep us supplied with inspiring updates on this page, charting notable improvements - please, I hope so! - which will persuade people like me to persist and/or return. As I say - please, I hope so!
I loved many of the comments on this page. Especially from those who love BL, love a beautiful Thai male face (torso, chest, pair of shoulders, profile, silhouette ... etc) and love incongruous plot devices (inconsistencies, wacky details, holes, repeated obsessions). Oh my, as George Takei says. You have really added to my viewing pleasure. And thanks to cute Peter, sexy Boss, handsome manly Net, mysterious Sun, and funny Joker for keeping me, er, glued to my screen. "Hidden Love" 2021, all 796 episodes - will anything like it ever be seen again?
the car swerved and hit aunty Idk why it was just so unexpected and a touch satisfying.
Thanks to all commentators above for amusing spoilers. Now I know whodoneit, though I knew that already, but also how Justice is Dispensed. Beware of white vans driven by ghosts! Now I can't wait to watch ep 14.
This imaginative and original director obviously has a most incredibly warm and charmed view of life, the universe & everything. His BL creations have a uniquely natural, even wholesome appeal, radiating freshness, colour and humanity. His muse seems to be the similarly charming and original young actor Oak Puwanart Runapnain.
Quite a long time ago ... good heavens, pre-Covid ... I encountered the work of the director Nicchi Nitchapoom Chaianun, and was enchanted by the series NightTime and Key Love: fresh and engaging, full of wholesome natural charm. And here he is again, with Country Boy. Plus his muse throughout, the unique actor Oak Puwanart Runapnain. I see I gave the amazing Oak his first words of praise on his profile here on MDL, calling him the "embodiment of charm and sweetness". Some things don't change, fortunately. He's every bit as charming and sweet here in Country Boy, and Nicchi's work remains as fresh and engaging as ever,
Charming actors, an authentic rural setting, the sweetest characters (except Peed...), an atmospheric old house, ... I love it - and I want to support wayufilm, the imaginative production team making their own colourful, homespun, down-home country BL.
Thai people are really scared of ghosts, especially those who live in the countryside. P'Aof, the director of…
Very interesting discussion. Belief in ghosts is all over BL. Basically, in Buddhist cultures, life and death (and the soul) aren't defined by the same kind of parameters and boundaries that we know in the West according to either Christian or scientific world views. Ghosts of various kinds may not be encountered by people in everyday life, no, but ... they are nonetheless taken seriously as part of reality. And fear of ghosts, especially in manly guys, is indeed given its full comic value.
All of this is true through a range of Asian countries, not just Thailand. However, I would say that any real links to Buddhism have long since been erased by 500 years of Catholicism in the Philippines, whilst in South Korea the powerful Protestant churches have been waging an all-out war against Buddhism (and against "homosexuality") for some decades now.
What a STUNNINGLY ... sweet, charming man. Every second he's on the screen as Yan Zhao Gang - making espressos, chatting with customers, flirting with his boy - is pure enchantment.
It's a mystery to me but there is something about the concentration of Chinese male charm and beauty in this series that I find ... overwhelming. Like others who comment similarly below, I switch off my brain, give up trying to understand any trace of "plot", and give way to ... enchantment and delight.
You've got it! The secret to TOTALLY enjoying this show. I have no idea what's going on. I ... don't care. I likewise switch off my brain, give my full attention to the unbelievably beautiful men on the screen, and ... float off in a cloud of bliss,
I was so excited for this show, i hoped it would be a smash hit and be loved could become a new series - the cast…
I totally agree with your assessment. The plot is ... abstruse. Incomprehensible. Bizarre. Precious minerals and metals. A workshop. And who is the mysterious rich man giving them the assignment? Anyhow, I've long ago lost the thread. But I love every second. Four beautiful men, maybe five with the new character: somehow just by watching them on the screen I forget all concerns about "plot" and just ... admire the cast. Yes, admire ... admire ... admire.
I want to softly lick Zhen and Lei non stop, they are my right brand of candy 👀
Yes, yes, yes. I don't think so much of candy or sweets as ... intoxicating spirits. Plus Gang and Si Qi. Some divine sensual nectar. Anyhow, I'm drunk.
how is working on a romantic concept piece for work something that violates the singles rule? that's for actual…
I've given up even trying to understand this ... er, artistic concept - and whatever challenges it embodies. I just watch and listen ... and smile and love every second. Even when I (often) have no idea what's going on. There is something about these men that makes all my critical faculties melt away ...
It fascinates me that you can opine so authoritatively about the universal reality of male experience: there are gay men, they all know they're gay, they're "boring", the way they fall in love is likewise "boring", their minds are full of "preconceived notions" etc, all boring - and then there are exciting, interesting "straight boys" who are constantly treading new ground and are always "fun to watch". Maybe in fact what you're thinking about is the development of certain genres of Asian cinematic story-telling in recent years - but it sure sounds as though you're talking about the reality of all men's lives everywhere. Well, I am a man, I am not young, and I have lived in and known a variety of settings over the decades, and I would like to suggest that "in reality" many, many boys & men - everywhere, including Thailand - have never heard of "gay" or "straight", and they certainly don't have any preconceived notions about men falling in love with men. Nevertheless, it happens to them. In all sorts of situations and settings, some as conventionally [melo]dramatic as what we see in BL. And then - sometimes, maybe, these guys discover that they can, and like to, "make out" with the guy they love - and (now, in the world of 2021) sometimes, maybe, they somehow receive a message in life telling them that what they're doing, or even what they ARE, is"gay" or "homosexual"; however, right now, in 2021, plenty do not learn that, or the information means nothing to them, or they reject the message. And quite a few never get to the stage of physically making love, i.e. sex, "making out": circumstances (including, yes, explicitly anti-GAY laws and religious strictures) deny them access to this dimension of their love. Nevertheless, none of this makes them "straight", however interesting or fun being a straight guy is. (This is my own individual, personal view. Plenty of men who love men do indeed consider themselves to be completely "straight", - or they're unaware of sexual identity definitions altogether.)
All of this is true through a range of Asian countries, not just Thailand. However, I would say that any real links to Buddhism have long since been erased by 500 years of Catholicism in the Philippines, whilst in South Korea the powerful Protestant churches have been waging an all-out war against Buddhism (and against "homosexuality") for some decades now.