And this is how China takes over the BL industry with RL (literally breaks GagaOOLala every time an episode releases)…
Yesss the Chinese BL renaissance is real! Love that you’re still loyal to your Thai BL roots though - LITA and Not Me were iconic gateway drugs! And honestly you’re so right about keeping an open mind because you never know when they’ll drop another gem like Reset or TharnePo that just hits different ✨
You got it perfectly. Because watching the first episode and trailer itself made me think I would've eaten this…
Aw that’s actually so wholesome though! Like you’ve come full circle - from “baby’s first BL” energy to seasoned veteran back to appreciating the gateway shows for what they are 🥺
It’s giving elder millennial wisdom vibes and I’m here for it. Sometimes we need that reminder that the “basic” stuff still has its place and deserves respect for bringing new people into the fold! Plus lowkey those comfort tropes hit different when you’re feeling nostalgic ✨
you know, I wish there was the basic BLs for the newbies and then BLs that are just for us seasoned BLs fans out…
Yes! The two-tier system would be perfect - like having your cozy comfort shows AND the stuff that actually makes you kick your feet and giggle like you’re 16 again 😭
You nailed it with the “beautiful sweet caring moments” - that’s literally what we’re all here for! When the chemistry and tenderness actually hit different and you’re just sitting there like “why am I single” lmaooo. We need more of that magic ✨
Ditching the usual amusement park or aquarium for a botanical garden was such a glow-up! Honestly, it felt like a breath of fresh air.
I'm pretty sure Natsuo still hasn't caught onto Hiro's last name. If he had, he'd definitely be like, "Wait, that Suzuki?" Talk about an "oops" moment waiting to happen.
And Natsuo just beaming, watching Hiro charmingly handle that little mischievous kid? Yeah, my face split into a grin too.
You're so kind, oddsare, seeing the best in everything. The complete opposite of me: the cynic's cynic.
Not the pink lipstick shade matching across the entire cast 😭 They really said “here’s your starter pack: same plot, same props, same makeup palette” 💀
You're so kind, oddsare, seeing the best in everything. The complete opposite of me: the cynic's cynic.
LMAO “the cynic’s cynic” - I’m stealing that title 😂
But hey, we need both! You keep us grounded while I’m out here finding profound meaning in the 47th engineering student love story. It’s the perfect balance - yin and yang of BL commentary. Someone’s gotta call out the nonsense while someone else is getting emotionally invested in which brand of snacks they’re product placing this time 💀
Excellent comment!👏 Weirdly I feel better now because let me tell ya..I rolled my eyes so hard they almost…
LMAOOO “rinse and repeat it’s their motto” - you really just summed up the entire Thai BL industry in five words 😂
The way they’ve mastered the art of making us complain about the same tropes while simultaneously queuing up the next identical show. It’s like being mad at McDonald’s for serving the same menu but still pulling up to the drive-thru every time 💀
At least we’re all suffering together in this endless cycle of beautiful boys and predictable plot lines!
Thai BL really said “we’re gonna keep serving the same tropes until everyone on earth has been converted” and honestly? Respect the hustle.
Like yeah, us veterans are out here rolling our eyes at another engineering student falling for a medical student, but somewhere my friend’s little sister is discovering what a ship is for the first time and having a full spiritual awakening. The industry isn’t making content for people who can spot a forced separation arc from episode one - they’re running the world’s most effective gateway drug operation and I can’t even be mad about it.
Every “basic” Thai BL is someone’s first emotional breakdown over fictional boys, and that’s actually kind of beautiful? We all started somewhere. Let the newbies have their umbrella sharing scenes and product placement moments. They’ll get bitter and demanding like the rest of us eventually 😂
Hey! I watch it on the TVer app, which I originally downloaded when I was in Japan. You’ll need a Japanese Apple ID and access to the Japanese App Store to get it. Since I’m back in the US now, I use a VPN to watch it on my phone - though there are no subtitles.
For you, it might be easier to try the web version at tver.jp with a VPN set to Japan. That way you can skip the whole app download process. The interface will be in Japanese, but it’s pretty straightforward to navigate once you get the hang of it.
It’s such a shame this BL isn’t available on any official streaming platforms! International fans who don’t speak Japanese are left depending on volunteer fan translators to enjoy the series.
The first episode was really well done. Washizawa has had feelings for Hiroshi since their high school days, and while Hiroshi is seeking revenge, it’s completely different from “Revenge of Love” (the Chinese BL). There’s much less dramatic plotting and more of that understated, gentle approach that Japanese productions handle so beautifully.
I really hope more international viewers get access to quality subtitles for the official release.
So Phi and Tam finally get to the other side of the island, right? And then - oh shit - that yacht shows up. The same one they snuck onto before.
This little boat comes down and these people get out, and you can just tell they’re gamblers. Rich ones. And that’s when Phi and Tam realize they’re not on some random deserted island. This place is running an illegal casino. Like, a whole operation.
Which is actually kind of crazy timing because Thailand has been… God, what a mess. They’ve been trying to legalize casinos for months now. The government had this whole Entertainment Complex Bill thing - basically they wanted to build these huge resort complexes with casinos inside to bring in tourists and foreign money. Paetongtarn Shinawatra was pushing it hard, saying it would create jobs and get tax revenue and all that.
But people hated it. Like really hated it. There were protests, people holding signs saying “No Casino” outside parliament. And then everything just fell apart. Paetongtarn got suspended - something about a phone call with some Cambodian leader where she said stuff about the Thai military? I don’t know, it was messy. Her coalition basically collapsed when one of the parties left.
So by July they just… gave up. Withdrew the whole bill. Not because it got voted down or anything, just because the government was falling apart and they couldn’t get anything done. They said they needed more time to “explain it to the public” but come on, it was damage control.
And here’s Phi and Tam discovering that while politicians were busy having meltdowns over casino bills, someone was already running a perfectly functional casino on a random island. Classic.
The moment Yo hears Jom’s answer - pure euphoria captured in one frame. His eyes are closed in blissful disbelief, head tilted back like he’s floating on air, with the most radiant smile spreading across his face. You can literally see him ascending to cloud nine - it’s that perfect “I can’t believe this is real” expression of someone whose deepest wish just came true. The way his whole face just lights up with joy… this shot perfectly captures that weightless feeling of falling in love. Absolutely unforgettable! 💙
Religion & Rituals (aka the monk boat scene that had me googling everything)
Alms by Boat - Okay, this blew my mind! So monks literally row up to people’s houses for alms? Like some kind of spiritual food delivery service, except you’re the one giving them food. I had no idea this was still a thing, but apparently in places like Ayutthaya they’re still doing this because, duh, rivers were basically the roads back then.
Watching Rati and Thee do the actual offering… there’s something really sweet about that dynamic. And the blessing afterward? Chef’s kiss - perfect karma points right there.
Lotus folding- Not gonna lie, I once tried folding lotus petals and failed miserably. Thee makes it look so easy! But seriously, there’s something meditative about it. The whole “presenting your best work to Buddha” thing hits different when you see how carefully they fold each petal.
That sacred tree scene though… The way they translated “ไม้แม่น” (Mai Maan) was interesting - it’s giving very “this tree has POWERS” energy. Usually you’d hear more generic terms for sacred trees, but whatever, it works for the drama.
And can we talk about how these spirit trees are basically everywhere in Thailand? You’ll spot them by all the colorful fabric wrapped around the trunk and the incense. People legit treat them like local celebrities - asking for luck, love, lottery numbers, you name it. The fact that Rati and Thee pray there together? That’s not casual. That’s “we’re telling the universe we’re serious about this” level commitment.
Food & Drink (warning: will make you hungry)
Som Chun - When Thee whipped this out I literally paused to look up recipes. This isn’t just any dessert, this is royal Thai summer fancy-pants food. Picture this: cold jasmine syrup with tropical fruits, but then they throw in toasted peanuts and crispy shallots?? It sounds weird but apparently it’s amazing.
The whole overnight soaking thing seemed a bit much for the show’s timeline, but whatever, it’s drama. Still looked incredible.
Pandan syrup - If you’ve never smelled pandan, you’re missing out. It’s like… vanilla’s cooler, more exotic cousin? Thee using it just shows he’s not messing around with store-bought anything. This man is COMMITTED to impressing Rati.
Festivals & Timeline Stuff
Khao Phansa got a quick mention - that’s when monks basically go into meditation boot camp for three months during rainy season. Helps place us in the timeline (definitely summer vibes).
Loy Krathong preview - If you know Thai dramas, you KNOW this festival is coming up for maximum romantic impact. Floating flower baskets, full moon, letting go of bad energy… it’s like the writers handed themselves the perfect setup on a silver platter.
Fashion & “Oops” Moments
The Pha Nung incident - Listen, we all saw this wardrobe malfunction coming the second Rati tied that wraparound cloth. Traditional doesn’t always mean practical, especially for spontaneous river jumping! Though honestly, props to the costume team for historical accuracy even when it leads to… strategic clothing failures.
Thee’s military uniform at the tree scene was a nice touch. Very “I’m important and official but also soft for you” energy.
The Real Talk: Society vs Spirituality
Here’s what really gets me about this episode - you’ve got these beautiful, open spiritual traditions where anyone can participate, make offerings, pray to trees, whatever. But then the social stuff? The class differences, the arranged engagement, all of Jam’s warnings about Thee’s status?
That tension is what makes the whole thing work. Like, the spirits don’t care about your bank account when you’re praying at their tree, but society sure does care when you’re falling for someone “above your station.”
It’s frustrating and romantic and realistic all at once. No wonder Thai historical dramas hit so hard - they get that contradiction between spiritual equality and social hierarchy perfectly.
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It’s giving elder millennial wisdom vibes and I’m here for it. Sometimes we need that reminder that the “basic” stuff still has its place and deserves respect for bringing new people into the fold! Plus lowkey those comfort tropes hit different when you’re feeling nostalgic ✨
You nailed it with the “beautiful sweet caring moments” - that’s literally what we’re all here for! When the chemistry and tenderness actually hit different and you’re just sitting there like “why am I single” lmaooo. We need more of that magic ✨
Ditching the usual amusement park or aquarium for a botanical garden was such a glow-up! Honestly, it felt like a breath of fresh air.
I'm pretty sure Natsuo still hasn't caught onto Hiro's last name. If he had, he'd definitely be like, "Wait, that Suzuki?" Talk about an "oops" moment waiting to happen.
And Natsuo just beaming, watching Hiro charmingly handle that little mischievous kid? Yeah, my face split into a grin too.
But hey, we need both! You keep us grounded while I’m out here finding profound meaning in the 47th engineering student love story. It’s the perfect balance - yin and yang of BL commentary. Someone’s gotta call out the nonsense while someone else is getting emotionally invested in which brand of snacks they’re product placing this time 💀
The way they’ve mastered the art of making us complain about the same tropes while simultaneously queuing up the next identical show. It’s like being mad at McDonald’s for serving the same menu but still pulling up to the drive-thru every time 💀
At least we’re all suffering together in this endless cycle of beautiful boys and predictable plot lines!
Like yeah, us veterans are out here rolling our eyes at another engineering student falling for a medical student, but somewhere my friend’s little sister is discovering what a ship is for the first time and having a full spiritual awakening. The industry isn’t making content for people who can spot a forced separation arc from episode one - they’re running the world’s most effective gateway drug operation and I can’t even be mad about it.
Every “basic” Thai BL is someone’s first emotional breakdown over fictional boys, and that’s actually kind of beautiful? We all started somewhere. Let the newbies have their umbrella sharing scenes and product placement moments. They’ll get bitter and demanding like the rest of us eventually 😂
For you, it might be easier to try the web version at tver.jp with a VPN set to Japan. That way you can skip the whole app download process. The interface will be in Japanese, but it’s pretty straightforward to navigate once you get the hang of it.
The first episode was really well done. Washizawa has had feelings for Hiroshi since their high school days, and while Hiroshi is seeking revenge, it’s completely different from “Revenge of Love” (the Chinese BL). There’s much less dramatic plotting and more of that understated, gentle approach that Japanese productions handle so beautifully.
I really hope more international viewers get access to quality subtitles for the official release.
This little boat comes down and these people get out, and you can just tell they’re gamblers. Rich ones. And that’s when Phi and Tam realize they’re not on some random deserted island. This place is running an illegal casino. Like, a whole operation.
Which is actually kind of crazy timing because Thailand has been… God, what a mess. They’ve been trying to legalize casinos for months now. The government had this whole Entertainment Complex Bill thing - basically they wanted to build these huge resort complexes with casinos inside to bring in tourists and foreign money. Paetongtarn Shinawatra was pushing it hard, saying it would create jobs and get tax revenue and all that.
But people hated it. Like really hated it. There were protests, people holding signs saying “No Casino” outside parliament. And then everything just fell apart. Paetongtarn got suspended - something about a phone call with some Cambodian leader where she said stuff about the Thai military? I don’t know, it was messy. Her coalition basically collapsed when one of the parties left.
So by July they just… gave up. Withdrew the whole bill. Not because it got voted down or anything, just because the government was falling apart and they couldn’t get anything done. They said they needed more time to “explain it to the public” but come on, it was damage control.
And here’s Phi and Tam discovering that while politicians were busy having meltdowns over casino bills, someone was already running a perfectly functional casino on a random island. Classic.
Religion & Rituals (aka the monk boat scene that had me googling everything)
Alms by Boat - Okay, this blew my mind! So monks literally row up to people’s houses for alms? Like some kind of spiritual food delivery service, except you’re the one giving them food. I had no idea this was still a thing, but apparently in places like Ayutthaya they’re still doing this because, duh, rivers were basically the roads back then.
Watching Rati and Thee do the actual offering… there’s something really sweet about that dynamic. And the blessing afterward? Chef’s kiss - perfect karma points right there.
Lotus folding- Not gonna lie, I once tried folding lotus petals and failed miserably. Thee makes it look so easy! But seriously, there’s something meditative about it. The whole “presenting your best work to Buddha” thing hits different when you see how carefully they fold each petal.
That sacred tree scene though…
The way they translated “ไม้แม่น” (Mai Maan) was interesting - it’s giving very “this tree has POWERS” energy. Usually you’d hear more generic terms for sacred trees, but whatever, it works for the drama.
And can we talk about how these spirit trees are basically everywhere in Thailand? You’ll spot them by all the colorful fabric wrapped around the trunk and the incense. People legit treat them like local celebrities - asking for luck, love, lottery numbers, you name it. The fact that Rati and Thee pray there together? That’s not casual. That’s “we’re telling the universe we’re serious about this” level commitment.
Food & Drink (warning: will make you hungry)
Som Chun - When Thee whipped this out I literally paused to look up recipes. This isn’t just any dessert, this is royal Thai summer fancy-pants food. Picture this: cold jasmine syrup with tropical fruits, but then they throw in toasted peanuts and crispy shallots?? It sounds weird but apparently it’s amazing.
The whole overnight soaking thing seemed a bit much for the show’s timeline, but whatever, it’s drama. Still looked incredible.
Pandan syrup - If you’ve never smelled pandan, you’re missing out. It’s like… vanilla’s cooler, more exotic cousin? Thee using it just shows he’s not messing around with store-bought anything. This man is COMMITTED to impressing Rati.
Festivals & Timeline Stuff
Khao Phansa got a quick mention - that’s when monks basically go into meditation boot camp for three months during rainy season. Helps place us in the timeline (definitely summer vibes).
Loy Krathong preview - If you know Thai dramas, you KNOW this festival is coming up for maximum romantic impact. Floating flower baskets, full moon, letting go of bad energy… it’s like the writers handed themselves the perfect setup on a silver platter.
Fashion & “Oops” Moments
The Pha Nung incident - Listen, we all saw this wardrobe malfunction coming the second Rati tied that wraparound cloth. Traditional doesn’t always mean practical, especially for spontaneous river jumping! Though honestly, props to the costume team for historical accuracy even when it leads to… strategic clothing failures.
Thee’s military uniform at the tree scene was a nice touch. Very “I’m important and official but also soft for you” energy.
The Real Talk: Society vs Spirituality
Here’s what really gets me about this episode - you’ve got these beautiful, open spiritual traditions where anyone can participate, make offerings, pray to trees, whatever. But then the social stuff? The class differences, the arranged engagement, all of Jam’s warnings about Thee’s status?
That tension is what makes the whole thing work. Like, the spirits don’t care about your bank account when you’re praying at their tree, but society sure does care when you’re falling for someone “above your station.”
It’s frustrating and romantic and realistic all at once. No wonder Thai historical dramas hit so hard - they get that contradiction between spiritual equality and social hierarchy perfectly.