My theory? One of two possibilities:1. Since it's Boss, and he loves torturing his gays, no one will end up together.…
I completely agree. Even if they weren't teens, I'd argue against judging fictional characters this way, but when they *are* teens, you have even less reasons to judge them. Let he who cast the first stone and all that, you know? These kids, I love them all!
I'm not sure if I understand correctly, but I think they're trying to say that Bua just wants attention, which…
A bit of both, I think. The show is quite demanding on the audience, especially on people who haven't grown up with social media. And I think you mentioned elsewhere that it is almost unrealistic in how it portrays Thai teenagers and their obsession with phones. It also wants the viewer to go back to a time when they were teenagers, and sympathise with its langour and exhilarations and frustrations.
On the other, Boss seems to be consciously doing something different from the standard GMMTV Thai BL fare -- and this self-conscious attempt to do something new sometimes just seems pretentious -- but then, if it induces Thai BLs to move in a new direction, I'm all for it!
I'm not sure if I understand correctly, but I think they're trying to say that Bua just wants attention, which…
Yeah, I'm not entirely clear on that either. The suggestion seems to be that he has no one at home, that his mother (or mothers?) give him no love or attention, and he found something akin to it with Chian, and does not want to let him go. However, Chian falling in love with him complicates matters, and both of them come to see that neither of them can get what they want: because Bua doesn't love him that way, and Chian cannot see Bua as just a friend. But by the time they realise this, Fou4Mod seems to have moved on, and, I guess, by the time he comes to see Baabin's worth, he will have moved on too.
I do feel that the show is harsher on Chian than others, because it puts the onus on him to "choose" or be alone. But, then, things aren't so simple, and this particular dynamic is common enough in real life that I can't bring myself to condemn Chian. Poor soul.
You are right in feeling that something's missing. I felt it too, as I say above.
Well, this episode was a welcome return to form. There were some tonal shifts and abrupt transitions that still didn't make sense to me, and Baabin's character -- despite being central to the show -- is sketched too thinly. I also didn't buy the pop-psychological explanation, i.e., bad parenting, for Bua's behaviour.
That said, I felt that the culmination of the dynamic between Fou4Mod, Bua, and Chian was written and executed brilliantly. The actors did a great job, and convey much with their facial expressions alone. The silences were pregnant and poignant. You know what fate had in store for Chian, yet, the inevitability of it did not detract from how moving and painful it was. Yes, it's all a bit of a mess. But so is life. In the end, I don't praise or condemn any of the characters, nor do I approve or disapprove any of their actions. No one can help who they are, nor their circumstances.
Also, as a counterpoint to what some of the ragebait comments might suggest, I, as a gay man, thoroughly approve of how *some parts* of my community -- which, after all, is not a homogeneous entity -- are represented here. Some of us are indeed deranged, depraved, weird, outrageous, silly, shallow, vain, self-centred, and ultimately, human. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Didn't even know the existence of this commandment compliant gem before your review. My life's blessed now 🙏Btw,…
Lol. You’re welcome!
The show is a Japanese anthology series called Kiss x Kiss x Kiss, where a story is told entirely through a kiss. This is from a segment called “Atelier Kiss” — one of my favourites!
That's entirely fair. I mean, IKEA might be cheap, but it is popular for a reason. And it's not for nothing that…
"We cannot please everyone. As I am no politician, I have no inclination to please everyone. I am no mediator, so I have no need to speak both sides as if a consensus was necessary." -- Brilliantly put!
As you will see, I posted something along similar lines just below your comment. (We must have been writing at the same time.) Though I far prefer your attitudes to the matter than mine.
On the aside: oh my god, this site drives me insane, especially on a mobile phone. They really need to invest in a better editing platform for the comments and reviews.
That's entirely fair. I mean, IKEA might be cheap, but it is popular for a reason. And it's not for nothing that…
But there is no "constant" mockery. I'm the only one who's making fun of the show. Most people are on your side. Including JK, who is entirely on your side. Her opening statement, in fact, reads: "I really enjoy KBLs and their assembly-line predictability."
While, on the one hand, I don't dare presume that my words -- unlike my wallet -- would make any difference in how future BLs are made, if the creators of the show were to indeed trawl through these pages, they will find no reason to shed tears, and every reason to pat themselves on their backs. Whatever they're selling, tropes and all, people still eat it up. On the other, if our discussions do shape the industry, I see very few signs of it. When was the last time a male lead in a KBL proudly self-identified as "gay" or "bi"?
You say humour is subjective. True. But all human emotions, almost by definition, are. It can't be helped. A lot of people are homophobic, but that's no reason to avoid producing BL content now, is it? The fact that some people don't take humour well is no argument for self-censorship. If the producers are so fragile that they cannot take good-natured satire aimed at them, then they are in the wrong business. The proper response to satire is self-reflection. Is there truth in the joke? (There usually is.) If so, it can be remedied, or responded to. The producers are free to choose either. But if their response is to stay mute or shut down, then, what they were selling is not very good to begin with, is it?
Lastly, true satire never hurts the individual for who they are. It is aimed at society, its institutions, and its practices. This is also what I'm making fun of. Not individual people.
Oh dear. So many bad reviews and negative comments. The official review by Honglou Meng, cleverly written and…
I am very glad you liked the series so much and rated it so highly. And it’s wonderful that we disagree, because universal agreement would be rather dull.
However, I am sorry you found my review devastating. All my reviews are meant to be sardonic, tongue-in-cheek, and greatly exaggerated for the sake of humour — and I hope no reader will do me the dishonour of taking my words at face value. That said, I do hope you will put up your own review of the show, if you haven’t already, because I shall in all honesty look forward to reading more of your thoughts on the show.
It's nice that you care so much. I didn't know about the kiss, as I haven't yet seen the episode. But, if so,…
Watched, and updated! It's good that I don't care at all about spoilers in BL, because I was rather moved by your enthusiasm to go watch it immediately. And yes, it was a very good kiss.
Don't be upset: but I'm afraid the total didn't go up as high as you might want, because commandments 4 to 10 have all been obeyed, and I'm finding the whole plot rather predictable. That said, I have kept my promise! (Were it not for the kiss, the total rating would have been much lower!)
Let's see if the show surprises me again, and if I can bump up the rating higher. But then, why should anyone give that much importance to what I think? I'm just a jaded queen. :)
I'm very glad though that the show speaks so much to you.
10 
4 
3 
1 
On the other, Boss seems to be consciously doing something different from the standard GMMTV Thai BL fare -- and this self-conscious attempt to do something new sometimes just seems pretentious -- but then, if it induces Thai BLs to move in a new direction, I'm all for it!
I do feel that the show is harsher on Chian than others, because it puts the onus on him to "choose" or be alone. But, then, things aren't so simple, and this particular dynamic is common enough in real life that I can't bring myself to condemn Chian. Poor soul.
You are right in feeling that something's missing. I felt it too, as I say above.
That said, I felt that the culmination of the dynamic between Fou4Mod, Bua, and Chian was written and executed brilliantly. The actors did a great job, and convey much with their facial expressions alone. The silences were pregnant and poignant. You know what fate had in store for Chian, yet, the inevitability of it did not detract from how moving and painful it was. Yes, it's all a bit of a mess. But so is life. In the end, I don't praise or condemn any of the characters, nor do I approve or disapprove any of their actions. No one can help who they are, nor their circumstances.
Also, as a counterpoint to what some of the ragebait comments might suggest, I, as a gay man, thoroughly approve of how *some parts* of my community -- which, after all, is not a homogeneous entity -- are represented here. Some of us are indeed deranged, depraved, weird, outrageous, silly, shallow, vain, self-centred, and ultimately, human. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Glen Coco, you go Glen Coco! And, oh my god, BuaBaabin -- I mean Danny DeVito -- I love your work!
The show is a Japanese anthology series called Kiss x Kiss x Kiss, where a story is told entirely through a kiss. This is from a segment called “Atelier Kiss” — one of my favourites!
I hope I get to that stage in life very soon. Very, very soon.
As you will see, I posted something along similar lines just below your comment. (We must have been writing at the same time.) Though I far prefer your attitudes to the matter than mine.
On the aside: oh my god, this site drives me insane, especially on a mobile phone. They really need to invest in a better editing platform for the comments and reviews.
While, on the one hand, I don't dare presume that my words -- unlike my wallet -- would make any difference in how future BLs are made, if the creators of the show were to indeed trawl through these pages, they will find no reason to shed tears, and every reason to pat themselves on their backs. Whatever they're selling, tropes and all, people still eat it up. On the other, if our discussions do shape the industry, I see very few signs of it. When was the last time a male lead in a KBL proudly self-identified as "gay" or "bi"?
You say humour is subjective. True. But all human emotions, almost by definition, are. It can't be helped. A lot of people are homophobic, but that's no reason to avoid producing BL content now, is it? The fact that some people don't take humour well is no argument for self-censorship. If the producers are so fragile that they cannot take good-natured satire aimed at them, then they are in the wrong business. The proper response to satire is self-reflection. Is there truth in the joke? (There usually is.) If so, it can be remedied, or responded to. The producers are free to choose either. But if their response is to stay mute or shut down, then, what they were selling is not very good to begin with, is it?
Lastly, true satire never hurts the individual for who they are. It is aimed at society, its institutions, and its practices. This is also what I'm making fun of. Not individual people.
However, I am sorry you found my review devastating. All my reviews are meant to be sardonic, tongue-in-cheek, and greatly exaggerated for the sake of humour — and I hope no reader will do me the dishonour of taking my words at face value. That said, I do hope you will put up your own review of the show, if you haven’t already, because I shall in all honesty look forward to reading more of your thoughts on the show.
Don't be upset: but I'm afraid the total didn't go up as high as you might want, because commandments 4 to 10 have all been obeyed, and I'm finding the whole plot rather predictable. That said, I have kept my promise! (Were it not for the kiss, the total rating would have been much lower!)
Let's see if the show surprises me again, and if I can bump up the rating higher. But then, why should anyone give that much importance to what I think? I'm just a jaded queen. :)
I'm very glad though that the show speaks so much to you.