Reviews

This should be your next watch.. actually…

This should be your next watch.. actually your current watch 😉...The relationships shown are so real and realistic. Both DeanMoth are red flags and actually deserve each other.They lack good communication skills and I think Dean needs to change his friend group. Moth practicing safe intimacy and being vulnerable with Dean was such a cute thing to see too. I love how the show portrays real queer intimacy ❤️👌. In this episode we learn that there is more to Dean 🥹...so many layers to peel and I'm so curious as to why he acts the way he does...Everything down to the arguments shows real representation of red flags and behavior you wouldn't want in real life 🧬 trust me the show portrays that really wellOne of the best bl shows I've watched in a while 10/10 recommend 🤍

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It All Started with an Orchid Pot

The elegant young woman—the long-awaited young duchess—arrived. Lady Lin and the girl's mother exchanged compliments about their children, who were, according to them, on the verge of marriage. Yet, when Lin Jin Qi appeared, he was elegant and polite, but distant. While walking by the lake with his prospective bride, he quoted a saying about a man who must inform a woman he cannot marry her because he is already wed. It was a veiled verse, but she fully grasped the riddle behind it (and her father—the villainous imperial court minister who had opposed Lin Jin Qi—realized it too). However, the most perilous moment by the lake occurred when Lin Jin Qi’s servant brought out the orchid pot he had so carefully tended; Lin Jin Qi emphatically ordered, "Take that pot away." The young woman understood that the orchid pot signified the presence of another woman in his life. She then took the matter to Jia Lam’s father’s shop, buying the pot from Jia Lam herself for 100 taels—an exorbitant sum. She had expected Jia Lam to refuse the offer, but Jia Lam accepted it (after all, believing her friends had given her the plant, she intended to share the proceeds with them). Manny—the duchess pursuing LJQ—was testing her. She took a dislike to a certain vase, deeming it—simple, plain, and made of cheap materials—unworthy of LJQ, much like she considered Jia Lam unworthy of him. She ruthlessly smashed the 100-tael vase on the ground, a symbolic act implying that the same fate awaited Jia Lam. Subsequently, Jia Lam was kidnapped twice. The first time, her quick wits saved the day; trapped inside a clothing chest before an audience, she thwarted the villains' scheme by rising up in a ghost disguise, thereby alerting the proprietress to the trouble—especially since Scholar Han lay unconscious nearby (the villains had intended to ruin both their reputations). However, Jia Lam’s own kindness led to her being abducted again hours later and sold to a brothel; there, at the episode's end, she encountered a maid who had been taken away after a beating in an earlier episode. Meanwhile, Lin Jin Qi discussed a fugitive deposed ruler with the Marquis—a man notoriously hard to track down—noting the Marquis's mention of the fugitive's missing finger (an unmistakable identifying mark). LJQ interrogated a man who had fled the King's officers as they searched the premises for the fugitive; Jia Lam had previously sketched a partial likeness of this man. They struck a deal: the man would lead LJQ to Jia Lam. At that moment, LJQ’s gaze turned fierce and resolute; he was determined to find the woman he loved in time to save her. (We will see if he succeeds in finding her in the next episode—Episode 23.)

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All the beautiful feels...

✨ KHOM KHLANG — Episode 3 Review ✨ Okay, can we officially call this The Episode of Pure Giddy Joy? 🥹🦋 For the first time ever? I smiled from start to finish. Not the nervous, clutching-my-pillow kind of smile — the warm, goofy, cheeks-hurt kind. And get this: zero black magic required. 🪄🚫 It turns out the most powerful force in the universe isn’t ancient spells or sacred charms — it’s two people slowly realizing just how down bad they actually are for each other 😌💘 Those little glances? The awkward pauses that lasted just a beat too long? The quiet moments where it dawned on both of them — oh. Oh this is real. Butterflies, people. Actual happy little butterflies doing synchronized gymnastics in my tummy 🦋✨ It’s deliciously human — no spirits needed, just two hearts going, “Wait… them? Oh my goodness. Them.” 😭 And yet — let’s not get too cozy just yet 😏 That sharp gangster edge and the lingering police cover-up business? Still very much there, looming in the background like a well-dressed storm cloud ⛈️💼 So yes — we get our soft moments now, but rest assured: future episodes promise action, stakes, and drama that might just steal our breath right back. Enjoy the warmth while it lasts, friends — because something tells me the calm is only temporary 🌙💖

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Who plays matchmaker for whom?

Scholar Han proved his worth by defending the older sister against selfish neighbors who wanted to drag her toward a cruel fate simply because she had become a widow. Her younger brother tried to dissuade the agitated mob using the law, his eloquent words, and his dignified bearing, but they lunged at him with kicks and clubs. However, Jia Lan—who had arrived with the wronged woman—used her wits; she poured a thick, sticky oil onto the ground, causing everyone to tumble over one another. At that moment, Jia Lan raised her voice to cite the punishments—specifically the number of lashes—mandated by the King’s statutes for home invasion; Scholar Han added the rest of the penalties to the list, noting the aggravating factor of assaulting a royal scholar. Terrified, the mob fled, spurred on by the threat from Jia Lan’s father to report them to the Imperial Guard.Lin Jin Qi, looking dashing and well-groomed, adjusted his hair and straightened his robes in front of Jia Lan’s door while his subordinates tried to assist him (in another humorous moment, Lin Jin Qi told one of them that he needed to study a certain book on courtship ten times over). Yet, upon arriving, he encountered Scholar Han alongside Jia Lan, who was finishing an opera song. Undeterred, Lin Jin Qi greeted the household’s elder scholar—a man who was somewhat tipsy but possessed refined knowledge. Upon receiving LJQ’s respectful bow, the old man grimaced and said, "Ah, so you are Old Man Lin’s grandson," before leaving the room with a look of disapproval. LJQ attempted to offer a respectful greeting to another elderly gentleman, who reacted the same way: he gave LJQ a reproachful look and walked away. Jia Lan accepted the gift LJQ had brought and offered a lame excuse for the two elders' behavior. A conversation then ensued between the rivals vying for Jia Lam's attention. At one point, LJQ thought he had succeeded in his plan to draw the scholar away from Jia Lam by getting him to accept an offer to study in another province under a renowned teacher. Scholar Han refused (much to LJQ's displeasure). LJQ gave Jia Lam an orchid pot as a gift, reminding her of her own words: "Orchids are more fragrant at night." That was why "some friends" had sent her this plant. Jia Lam regarded him with a knowing look (while feigning ignorance), as if she did not grasp the duel unfolding between the two men before her. Yet, she was well aware that her parents and Scholar Han’s mother had already arranged a marriage between her and the scholar. At one point, Scholar Han said to his mother, "I must act quickly regarding Jia Lam, or someone else will beat me to it." He had rejected Lin Jin Qi’s offer to study with the famous teacher, yet he accepted the letter of recommendation for that same teacher—the one Jia Lam had handed him over the garden wall. (He likely accepted it because he wished to go to that new place with her.) Meanwhile, at the Lin family estate, another marriage is being arranged—and I am not referring to Xiu Rui; she is quite happy being the subject of mature conversations between Xiu Wan and her mother, who is actually grateful for the situation. He holds onto Lin Jin Qi’s symbolic words—likening him to a ship "that will brave the open sea and triumph" (a conclusion we can logically draw from their conversation). So, which marriage am I talking about? The one being arranged for Lin Jin Qi by his mother: a match with a duchess. Madam Lin is overjoyed to have secured such an excellent match for her only son. Her personal maid even remarks, "A catch like that won't stay single for long." She believes Lin Jin Qi will be happy. (But will he? Or, beneath that mother's gaze, does she actually know what her son holds in his heart?) By the end of the episode, we are introduced to the duchess—Lin Jin Qi’s prospective new wife. She is a stunningly beautiful yet cunning young woman who, upon seeing an orchid, immediately senses Jia Lam’s presence in Lin Jin Qi’s life. The episode concludes with her staring down Jia Lam, who likewise instantly senses trouble coming from this elegant, beautiful woman. Let us move on, then, to the next episode: Episode 22.

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Justice lives in people's hearts

Yeah, just what I was afraid of... They didn't see each other. BUT at least she managed to escape anyway, though I am a bit sad that most of the credit went to Scholar Han. 😥I really hoped someone would recognise Jier. I get why Jinqi didn't, because why would he, if she was just a 3rd rank maid for a brief moment in their residence and served him personally just once? How many times did it take for him to finally notice Lanxiang? Definitely more. So, no wonder there. BUT, I did hope Nanke or Jiugao would... 😞 Now I can only pray that she doesn't get killed until someone gets there to free her. 🥺🙏But I applaud Lanxiang for exposing the Duke's daughter for what she did to her. 👏 Even if she's now in a dangerous situation because of the Duke's rebellion against the Crown Prince. (I won't be surprised if the Crown Prince dies, to be fair) 😔 And again we got a cliffhanger that makes me wish for tomorrow to come sooner!

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The twists and the cliffhanger... will they or won't they?

Ah, the guy WAS the deposed Crown Prince, just as I theorized in my mind! And Jinqi helped him to escape from the city to keep him safe. AND he must be kept safe, because I think if the political storm comes and all the corrupt and power-hungry schemers in high places fall, we might want a good Emperor to sit on the throne. And the deposed Crown Prince might just be the right one. 😌And, OMG, Jier... I never thought I would be so happy to see her again! 🥹 She helped our Lanxiang to escape the brothel. I really hope nothing bad happens to her and she stays safe until Lanxiang can free her from there. 🙏🥺And the cliffhanger... I hope they will see each other, but I worry they might not. 🫣This drama is so awesome, I can't even explain how much I love it so far!

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🥱 *skips to see whether there‘s a post credit scene*

We‘re starting with the nepotism-it’s all about birth(day)-party. First official public appearance of PxN. Nakhin, Naphit and Phatsa get new job titles. The family‘s doing well. The father is gone and has fightlessly backed out of all his family‘s lives. sure. And Amintra and Assistant are there, too. Finally, betas can be seen with alphas etc. Would be more significant if we had seen some of the discrimination and not just heard about it. — I don‘t like how things were left between Sangnuea and Naphit. They had an interesting talk. And I had an acting/directing ick again: that SN is just staring at the glass and not taking a sip once was annoying me. — The talk between Phatsa and Nakhun was a good summary of their plot in case we didn‘t pay attention at all. But all that did pay attention started to yawn in unison. — Normally, time skips are my worst nightmare in dramas but this „3 months later“ felt like a gift. — Ai getting a partner… okay, cute but hella random. — Nakhun having the pregnancy symptoms now was fun. — I thought we were done with the „Nakhun+hotels= sex with others which makes Phatsa jealous, mad and sad“ plotline. I am tired. Ye, he‘s pregnant here but instead of this it could‘ve been him introducing Nakhun to his dead mother and then a wave of sadness overcomes him (cue fainting). Hello, the woman died a horrible death. Honour her at least a little bit. More than your neglectful excuse of a father. — Overall they baited us with pregnancy about 2 times which was ugh. They also baited us a lot with those fart ahh endings. They didn‘t even try anymore with the last few. Those endings were so bad. Very randomly chosen moments. — A last talk about status, class, pregnancy and love and then that was it. Hm. A very underwhelming and unsatisfying ending. It reeks of „1-2 special episodes are coming“. I will wait with my overall review of the series until those are out (if they ever do) — For Ongsa & Nakhin there‘s only effort for a wedding left and then what else is there to tell about those two? nothing. — Sangnuea and Naphit… how will their arrangement look like? you‘d have a whole new series on hand here. But please don‘t.

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The swim against the current

This episode finally gives our little seal pup, Wan, a glimpse of the orca swimming beneath him. He arrived in this industry with no acting experience, bright eyes, and the survival instincts of a fish out of water. But innocence does not last long when everyone around you has an agenda. As he begins to understand the game, his naïveté becomes both his weakness and the reason we want to root for him. The writers clearly want us to watch this small fish swim against a very strong current…and swim he will.What I am enjoying most is the satire aimed at the Thai BL industry itself. Behind the fan service, polished smiles, and carefully managed pairings are young actors trying to catch their breath, only to be pushed underwater again by competition, expectations, and people with more power. In a brutally competitive BL world, there will be many Wans.And acting is no small thing. Try memorizing dialogue, remembering your marks, finding the emotion, and making it all look natural while a camera watches your every breath. I did plays in college, and trust me…once the nerves come, your brain can suddenly forget its own name. Wan is not simply learning how to act. He is learning how not to be eaten alive.Then there is Nine, who feels less like one person and more like a reflection of the many famous actors who have learned to survive by being beautiful, calculated, and impossible to read. Add the sharp-eyed transgender characters circling in the background…because this is a BL world after all, and they often see the sharks before everyone else does…and suddenly this series has far more teeth than I expected.

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