oaktree56

A Work of Art

TLDR: This is a nuanced show that can only be enjoyed by a psychologically mature audience. If you see things as strictly black or white, if you cannot empathize with characters who don't think like you, or if you're expecting this to be like GMMTV's other BL shows, then this show will frustrate the living poo out of you. This is a sophisticated piece of work. Each cast member delivered on point.

It's been a year since I first watched this show and have watched it multiple times since in order to understand each character's unique perspective - trying to judge the show as objectively as possible. Considering the cinematography, the soundtrack, color grading, the screenplay - and how all of it comes together cohesively & paints an incredibly vibrant picture of the multifaceted "queer-college-student" life - this was one of the BEST shows that was produced by Thailand in 2023, not just one of the best shows to come out of GMMTV or just one of the best in the BL genre. Each and every aspect of it was meticulously choreographed, and this attention to detail is what I liked the most about this show. It was a VERY high quality production.

Here's my more subjective take.

Story:

This is a dramatic story, which might not be for everyone. Each of the characters behaves in immature ways and they're all toxic in one way or another (some more problematic than others). Each character has very unique flaws but each individual represents a different version of the messy, confounding and spontaneous college student life. The story begins with & stays driven by the character's infatuations, lust, and obsessions with one another, so the focus is entirely on the nature of their evolving relationships. There is no other overarching theme or 'takeaway' from it (and that's fine). At first glance upon this group of friends, Mew (Book) appears to be the bespectacled, dependable, studious & prudent kid, Ray(Khao) is the recklessly alcoholic, money-to-burn rich kid, Boston (Neo) probably has the highest body count in Bangkok, and Cheum (Lookjun) is just a chill girl. Top (Force) is introduced into the mix by Boston and has a reputation of being one of the most desirable men in the country (well, Force *IS* absurdly attractive, so this was an excellent casting choice) and Nick(Mark) as well as Sand(First) go to the same college, eventually encountering a member from this group, which then enters them into their drama. The story is shaped by the character's drinking habits (lol), their love lives, their social relationships and the resulting personal agendas.

Is the story interesting? Yes, very much so, if you can watch it without getting attached to the actions of the characters. If you're easily triggered by fictional characters doing fictional nonsense, then you're not mature enough to watch this. The key word here is MATURE. The series can only be enjoyed if you're open-minded and mature enough watch it as merely a bystander. This is not teenage drama - it's much more complicated. If you're used to seeing everything as black and white then this is NOT the show for you.

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