reefpicker

Lakorn means drama so technically BLs are lakorne just likebhormones is considered a teenage lakorn.

This is why I think the OP is incorrect about the way she treats lakorns and series (or BLs) as separate from Lakorns.

I have heard (and from what I can tell this is true), that a BL show with the word "Series" in it means that the show is going to have a second (or third) season. Series means that it is serialized. BLs are a type of drama and not a type of series. In fact, this is the first time I hear anyone referring to BLs as series. Most refer to BLs as "dramas" or "shows".

Frankly, I find a lot of the stuff in this article contradicts what I have learned from reading about the history of Thai BL (my true obsession).

Clearly, a lakorn is a type of drama and Thai BL shows inherit many of the "lakorn" characteristics. In fact, the word lakorn means play or drama. Also, not all lakorns are long, some are short.

Lakorns can be further subdivided into slap/kiss, period (historical) lakorns etc.

I was really thinking this article would gave us details about the different types of Thai lakorns....

As far as I know, Hormones: The Series, was the first Thai lakorn targeted to a teenage audience. After that, the teen dramas exploded in Thai TV and Lovesick: The series, the first Thai BL, was a direct result of the success of Hormones. This then spawned a whole industry in Thailand, especially after the subsequent success of Make it right and SOTUS. Nowadays, BL dramas are a mainstay of Thai TV.

Just my 2 cents....

I agree that the ending was very much a giant piece of .... well, you know what I am going to say.

However, I do think that in the end, Christian embraced both his religion and his new found sexual identity. Maybe that was the point of the whole thing.

On final verdict, I wouldn't classify this as a BL. The focus of this series was entirely on the queer identity and not on the romantic relationship between Zach and Christian.

keep watching.... it gets better.

Do have kleenex in hand for episode 7 for sure. You may also cry in other eps but 7 is the one that got me bad

Just came here to say... THIS SHOW IS AMAZINGLY GOOD.

Thank you IdeaFirst, for giving us a memorable BL. Episode 8 was BRILLIANT. The script is so smart and pays attention to all the details in the story, it really weaves everything well.

Elijah Canlas: I had my doubts but you sir, are an actor, a thespian of great skill.

Kokoy: I still love you, don't get jealous. :) You are a good actor too!

I cried in Episode 7 and thought I was done but oh no... here comes Episode 8. I needed extra kleenex. The brother scene... OMG... I cried.

Ok, I didn't cry as much in Episode 8 as I did in 7 but that's because that last scene in Episode 7 just hits you like a truck. I was so emotional after it... But this episode overall was even better than Episode 7. As I said above, it was brilliant.

Its funny, I came here thinking I could give it a higher rating now but the problem is that I gave it a 10/10 after one of the earliest episodes.

This show is just setting the bar very high now for any of the shows coming after it.

I agree. This episode was so balanced, so well written and paced that I would argue that this is the best episode of a BL so far this year. It was brilliant.

Weird to think this is the same director as Love sick and TGIF.

On the other hand, it makes sense because I think this show is about the expression of masculinity, as well as male-male relationships (both friendship and father-son). I wonder if we will see any bromance.

When is he not? LOL :)

So at #6 would be MIR with the scene in which Fuse confesses to Tee his love. Oh, that was so good. It was a good cry, like a happy cry.

So, I agree that line tore a hole in my heart but at the same time we can't forget that he did say he loved him "...doesn't mean I DON'T LOVE YOU". The ending of LS is both sad and happy. Bittersweet is the best way to describe it.

But Lovesick made me believe that even in Thailand two boys can be together, even if they have to "forget who they are" and what is expected of them. That's why that scene in LS is so special.

Reminders was cool because it had a lot of references to LS. Did you notice? Some people didn't....

Dude, Ohm knows my cry button. I don't know any other actor in BL who can make me cry like Ohm does. The only one that comes close is Captain and now tbh, Elijah.

The scenes that impacted me and made me cry the most in BL thus far:

1) Ending of Love of Siam. I was a freaking MESS for days after I watched that movie. I mean, even rewatched the next day. I couldn't get enough of it and I have watched it several times since then. I went so far as using it in one of my classes. My students had to watch it LOL

2) Lovesick when Noh breaks up with Yuri, season 2, next to last episode I think. I cried and was a mess for at least a good 5 minutes after I watched it.

3) He is coming to me: Both the coming out scene and the rooftop scene made me cry but the coming out scene just omg... I cried so much...

4) Gameboys ep 7. I cried an ugly cry LOL. Like I wouldn't want anyone to see me. I held back and told myself, these was obviously coming. This is just a show. They are acting but oh.... It broke my heart. I was a mess for a good 15 minutes or more.

5) Lovesick season 1, when Noh tells Phun that they should "forget who they are". I cried because this was the first BL I watched after Love of Siam. To think that if Mew and Tong had been able to "forget who they are" and they would have been able to be together... Oh, my heart broke into pieces just thinking about LoS. This is a tribute to both LoS and Lovesick and to Andy as a director. White is not the best actor, though I think he is severely underestimated, but they pull of a great and highly believable scene in what became the most iconic and most important moment in Thai BL and perhaps BL history. That kiss scene spawned an entire industry in Thailand.

So those are my top 5 BL moments I guess LOL at least crying-wise...

There is a video of Ohm and the actress who played his mom. Its like a behind the scenes... is that what you watched? I watched it on youtube and I started crying when they showed the coming out scene. It was interesting because the actress had real tears on that scene. She said she was not supposed to cry because as the mom, she is the anchor and source of strength for her son, but she couldn't help it because Ohm was so emotional, she started crying too and had to literally hold back tears. I just started crying all over again, damn Ohm. Oh and in the awards ceremony, did you see Ohm breaking down a little? He started crying when he said he was humbled by the award and the fact that he didn't expect ppl to remember the show as it was early 2019... I effing broke down in tears. I watched 2x and I cried each time! I tell you Ohm has my cry button on rapid dial LMAO.

Ohm is the best BL actor currently still doing BLs IMO. I like him a bit better than Gun.

I think at this moment both Kokoy and Elijah are on my list of best BL actors right below Pchy (the best of the best), Gun, Singto and Ohm. (I have heard Fluke is great but I still have to see him act, as I have not watched any of his shows yet). Below or at the same level as Kokoy and Elijah, I would probably put Tay Tawan and Captain Chonlathorn, two highly underestimated BL actors. Captain also knows my cry buttons LOL.

But the bottom line is I think these two can compete with the best of the best. They are quiet amazing and quiet versatile, especially Kokoy. He can do comedy and drama equally well. Kokoy is also gorgeous. Just beautiful.

So yeah, I am super excited to see what happens to these two after Gameboys!!!!! Maybe they could even get involved in some Thai BLs, can you imagine a Kokoy and Ohm series hahaa Kokoy could be an exchange student in Thailand! LOL

If you also watch Hello Stranger, you will understand where Elijah is coming from with his portrayal of Cai.

Cai is a tsundere, just like Mico. Mico too is cold and icy overall and always in denial.

If you watch Episode 7 (and 6), you would probably not think that Elijah can't "show Cairo's emotions". Elijah made me cry and I was teary eye for a good 15 minutes after watching the end of episode 7.

Anyway, its your choice. Do as you please. I think you are missing out on a good show but whatever.

I think The Wall shows all the reasons why this show can't reach its full potential. Acting was subpar but I wouldn't blame the actors at all. The first scene with Wolf and Christian sitting side by side felt distant. When the camera switch to their backs it was awkward, why does the director have an obsession with filming the back of the actors? Wolf and Christian sat apart, perhaps this was done on purpose to represent an invisible wall between them but I felt disconnected from the emotion in the scene.

In another scene, we see a sad and brokenhearted Zach. I don't think this scene needed him to be crying all the time. We get it, he is sorry for what he did but do we need to see him fake cry? Look, it is your job as director to know the limits of your actors. Don't let them too far from their comfort zone. If Zach can't do crying well, then don't have him do it, at least not that much that it becomes a distraction.

Director Yap likes to play with the cinematography and sometimes it is great but sometimes it is awkward. I didn't like the mural painting scene because it felt so disconnected from the rest of the episode.

The scene with the girl talking while eating was just strange. At one point she spits food out while talking. So distracting. The food became a distraction.

Yap needs to think less indie film maker and more TV series. This keeps feeling like a movie that was just split into many different scenes. Something about the way it flows is just not TV-like.

On top of that, the episode was preachy, with long dialogues that we are supposed to learn something from. This is even worst when we are international fans and have to read the subtitles which btw flash in and out so quickly that is hard to read the sentences. IDK how they do it in other shows but I find them easier to read on Gameboys and Hello Stranger.

The episode had some funny moments but they were few, the tone was serious and the episode had the feel of an independent movie. I wish that Yap stuck to cinematography and directing and maybe gave the script to someone else to work on. He is a unique story teller, no doubt about it, but I don't think he is as good as he thinks he is when it comes to actually writing the script. It was bad. Sorry.

I hope the last episode leaves us on a higher note.

The Goddess was a much better episode. I actually cried on The Goddess (the scene with the dad was just perfect).

This was a mess just like Barong.

So far this year, yes. This is the best BL. Episode 7 made that clear. I had it on my list of "Best BLs of 2020"but now it goes up as "Best BL of 2020" and everyone else will have to compete to dethrone it ;)

Episode 7 is a solid 11/10.

Episode 7 goes in my list of best, most heartbreaking, tissue-in-hand moments in BL.

This show is a gem. If you haven't watched it. Please do! But be forewarned: Gav and Cai will steal your heart.

The acting in this show is top notch. GMM got nothing on Idea First ;) Even Studio Wabisabi should take notice!

Kokoy is so young but so darn good at his craft. Until this episode I totally underestimated Elijah Canlas but OMG In episode 7 he threw the whole house out the window. What a fantastic actor. Now I know why he has won awards and been praised so much in the Philippines.

Can we also praise the directing? OMG How can you direct over the internet, over webcams...? I am always in awe of how well they are able to direct and then how well the show is edited. The pacing is totally amazing: quick, high energy and so clear. I don't get lost like in other shows....

Is like this show left Hello Stranger and Sakristan so far behind that when I watch those other two shows I have to set down my expectations. LOL. :)

Good points. Is interesting how this show came on the heels of 2gether, which was by all measures a romantic comedy with more fluff than umph.

I think most Filipinos expected this to be a comedy. Many of us international fans expected the same. And boom, now we get a real, heartbreaking drama.

If you, like me, cried on that last scene in Episode 7, then one thing this show has done way better than many Thai shows is making us care about the characters.

20 minutes per episode x 7 is 140 minutes, that is about 3 episodes of a regular Thai show. In that short amount of time we have gotten to care so much about this characters that I was such a huge mess after the end of episode 7, I had to take a 15 minute break because everytime I texted someone or typed on my computer, I started crying.

I think this is a phenomenal accomplishment and I can't emphasize how much pride the folks over at Idea First should take over their product. It is amazing.

It gets me emotional just to recall it but yes... It was good and Gav's reaction was priceless....

I was a mess for a good 15 minutes after I watched. I mean, seriously. I don't think this has happened to me since I watched Love of Siam or He's Coming to Me.

And those are the two best BLs I have watched.

I love her acting too. She is the only girl in lovesick that made me cry. She and Captain were just super cute together. Was her character annoying? Yes, but she played her part so well... Don't fault an actor for his character's faults!!!

lol