Love Poison (2019)

I liked this series a lot. It was a nice change of pace from many of the recent Thai BL. It isn't high budget, or filled with sound effects or fancy production, which again was nice for a change. If you just watch it for simple entertainment, and not put too much thought into it, this is a fun short series. The opening credits are a bit weird, I assume something was literally lost in translation, but it was nothing to stop watching the show over.

The couples were all cute, and I liked the secondary character friends, especially the guys who talk in unison. They are definitely beginning actors, just a tad stiff, but far from the worst I have seen. There did seem to be some chemistry between the couples though. It was also nice to see a different part of Thailand, and something more rural.

There are parts of the story that could have been explored deeper, and some parts are rushed or glossed over a little bit. That being said, the pace of the story, and story itself was fairly good overall. And for those of us that have watched lots of Thai BL, nobody gets hit by a car, no sad breakup ending, or any of that type stuff you see in many series. A happy ending is nice sometimes.

The only reason I marked it down was the short length, and maybe a half star of mark down for the stiff or uneven acting (maybe that is the directors fault?). These couple of improvements would have made this one of the higher rated series I have seen this year so far.

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The concept for this series was very different compared to the normal BL series that I usually watch- that's why I decided to give this a chance. It was a slow journey as it was not officially subbed but a kind soul eventually subbed the whole series. There were some questionable parts in this series, especially in episode six and seven, like why do we always gotta resort to alcohol to progress not one, but both main couples relationships? Like why? Why couldn't it be done another way? Also, did Teng love Ko for Ko or because he drank the Love Posion?

Story-6
I am giving this story a 6 for some originality, cause although I may have seen this storyline in the Western world, I have not watched one in Thai BL concerning with using 'Love Posion' to make one of the main characters fall for the next one. For me, some parts just wasn't brought across good and some stuff that they used for humor was not that funny for me. Also, due to the usual plots to further a storyline (having sex while drunk or someone having a girlfriend), I feel that I need to give this story that grade.

Acting-7
I don't really care about people's acting, once it is a good storyline. Honestly, I only gave this high amonut due to Tak and his friends. Some people may find their characters annoying. but I truly enjoyed them. Everyone else either overwhelmed or underwhelmed me.

Music-5
The music was neither here nor there for me. Some I like. Some I didnt.

Rewatch Value-5
There is a fifty-fifty chance that I can watch this again. I won't anytime soon. But I can, like really further down.

Overall-6/10
It kept my interest till the end. And I actually wanted to know the outcome- which was a happy ending for both male couples.

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Entertaining and fun

You can't come into this expecting too much - it's silly and madcap. The humor is... Thai, so it's not for everyone (a bit too slapstick for my tastes).

Anyway, the boys in this are really good-looking (Ko is a 10/10 for me and Teng is pretty close behind), the rural setting is a refreshing change from wealthy urban engineering students, and the plot starts off strangely with shamans, potions, and ghosts, but then becomes a normal BL.

Some people seemed confused by the potion - the shaman is obviously a fraud, as he charges 10 baht which is $0.30 for a love potion, then hands them a small plastic bottle of water. You're never meant to think that there's any chance that it's real. If someone had the power to make people fall in love, he'd charge a lot more than that, right? He's be a billionaire. If you're not convinced, the boy the potion was for was already obviously smitten with the main character, and after he drinks it, he doesn't magically change - their relationship evolves the normal way, and Ko doesn't seem to give it much thought soon after it fails to work..

It's also kind of nice that nobody makes a big deal out of sex on a moral level, although they do treat it as sealing a commitment. The character Tak is apparently seriously hung - he's able to make a ghost moan like a banshee and a guy he schtups later on asks him if he's even human given how painful it was - I thought that was kind of funny - no "how could I have gotten drunk and slept with that guy I hate?" but "Damn that thing is big - I'm going to be sore for a week."

If casual sex after drinking bothers you a lot, maybe skip this. Or if cheating on your gf with a guy bothers you, also maybe skip this. Otherwise, just go into it expecting light entertainment and you'll enjoy it. It's not that long, so it's not like you have to spend 10 hours on it.

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A Secret Pleasure!

Formulaic, superficial, and unfocused (well, sort of). But sshh, I liked it - a lot! This BL series is an obvious low-budget, cookie-cutter story with stereotypical characters, and so-so acting. But what was great about this story is that it is NOT in a university, or filled with rich people or fancy cars, and everybody seemed to be cut from the same human cloth. It is in a rural area with a dialect I am not familiar with (or did not sound like your typical series from Thailand). Look, this is not a deep series. The acting is not first rate, but it is not bad. They seem wooden and stilted at times, but they are playing their parts with purpose and comfort. They are all so incredibly good looking, handsome, and beautiful. There is no lack of good looks here. This was quite a relatable story to everyday people who live down here rather than in sheltered environments like universities or surrounded by wealth. Kudos. If you want to review my full review of this rather interesting and likeable BL series, please read it at ppbongi.medium.com and leave me any comment. I would appreciate hearing from you.

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This series has set a new pace of environment, which is really good and wise though bold and risky. It was new for my likong since I am not used to the kind of environment they set. What I like about this series is the characters because I really enjoyed their playfulness in series. They managed to pull off each other’s roles.

I do like the concept of the story though I kinda predicted the turn of events, meaning it was predictable but it alright since it was fun to comprehend. I like how the people behind the camera set this type of series. The storyline might not be that well organized nor well visualized, still I liked how the story progressed. I was just a little bit off thinking that the pacing of the story was slow and rushing (I was just kind of hoping that the storyline is well elaborated especially tackling issues within families, I guess there is lack of clarification to some points in the series).

The acting was well done even though there are still space for improvements. I love how the acting went, especially with Ohm’s. I really felt how well he did on his character. The casting was also fine with me because it was diverse and fun. The music was fun to hear, I enjoyed listening to it. This series was somewhat a mellow-dramatic musical series. I enjoyed the music and it was soothing since it is new to my hearing and it makes me feel that I am able to know more about Thai’s culture through music.

I enjoyed it, it was fun to watch. I was just a little bit disappointed because it was short and not that well organized. The concept of their story was not properly executed or rather it was not given that much attention/justification but moreover it was good.

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Teens in love do silly stuff!

Well, this was a surprisingly original experience I ended up enjoying immensely! The ratings for this series are very low and I am reluctant to watch anything rated below 7.5. But some of my favourite reviewers recommended it so I decided to take a plunge and watch it! Luckily it is short and really good!
Love Poison is a story of two brothers finishing high school, Ko and Sek and their love lives! It takes place in the countryside in the north of Thailand and it is pretty to look at and has a local colourfulness that is charming.
Actually this countryside setting is reminiscent of a many vietnamese BLs I'd seen. This one could have easily been one of them, because Thai bls for the most part are in urban setting. Here we get to see village, rice fields, dusty roads and the beauty of that region. The actors are very much at ease with each other so the skinship is natural and not forced.
The story is fun to watch. And even though the first episode is messy (just like viet bls!) and then there is that completely unnecessary weird ghost scene in the second episode but once you figure out who is who, it is a joyful ride!
The actors were excellent! Each of them fitted their roles perfectly: handsome net idol Ko, serious broken voiced (so sexy!) Sek, tall, handsome and dense Teng and pretty hot Tak. And then there were the support roles: the three single girls gang and Ko's best friends, were hilarious. Tak's two sidekicks, following him around, talking suddenly in stereo and sounding like a greek comedy chorus. Not to mention the boys' father, who was very quickly aware of his sons' preference and accepted it without a doubt "They are my sons and I love them!". This father was so cool!
I was expecting that, this being a low budget production, they would take the easy way out using cheap tricks, cringe, tropes and humour! No way! This was well written and filmed. It flowed smoothly. The fansubbed version I saw was of a bad quality (definitely not HD) which could have ruined my fun, but once you get used to it, it's ok. Takes you back in time when all dramas were like this (blurry and pale!)!!!
The music is something I have never heard of before: it sounded like a mix of pop and local folk music! Interesting but it fit well with the local setting.
Watching this, you see how the BLs have changed in a few short years: Love Poison is full of teens getting drunk and having sex! And hurting afterwards, and complaining about it and suffering in silence, for a long time! It can't get more realistic than that! Brilliant! Well, teens in real life like to live dangerously and experiment with limits. The teens here fels real and true. Diamonds in the rough! They are not polished, boring, rich kids from recent BL (MSP, I'm looking at you!).
That's why, this has been such a revelation! Shall I watch the second season too?

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There is flaws, but it's still fun to watch. Quite an entertainment, in fact.

Cons:
The acting is... awkward. The dialogues weren't delivered smoothly, sounded as if they were answer their teacher's questions.
Plot is nothing new, and quite rushed. I guess it's due to the fact that they only have 8 episodes with 30- minutes per episode. The main characters fell for each other too fast, it's surreal.

Pros:
The music is a plus. It's fun and catchy, helping in setting up the mood for the series.
And despite the awkward acting, I can feel there's something that seem innocent, pure and sincere on those main characters. It suits the setting of countryside in the series. Furthermore, the guys didn't seem to shy away from physical contact, so their intimate moments make their "love" words quite convincing. The scenery of the countryside with wheat fields, grass huts, dirt roads is a change from those university buildings, shopping malls and urban side of the majority of BL series nowadays. All those together with the happy theme song make watching this series an entertaining experience to me.

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The story takes many nuances of the Thai traditions, as well as the characteristic humor of the region where it was filmed, it is not what everyone is used to but it has a great and very professional cast, smiles, sighs, emotions surely you will They will transmit and enjoy each chapter, also they are adorable couples that reflect more the truth of the relationships today with a little magic and tradition.

a BL comedy like life itself and with a too sticky interest, those who do not know how to appreciate tradition and a little culture will dismiss it as bad but they will not see beyond the work and commitment that it was noted that was put in each chapter, if I They will tell me they do a second one with the same cast, I would surely enjoy it. We need more productions like this, see that they will surely enjoy it, my opinion may be different because I understand the culture and that makes it easier to understand certain things but I assure you they will not waste time. enjoying this production, I assure you that you will be happy to see it.. ??????‍♀️??☀️

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better than expected

Knowing this was made on the cheap, so to speak, I was a bit hesitant about watching it. Not because I have anything against low production values, in of themselves, but because low budget can oftentimes mean bad acting. Which i something I find harder and harder to watch as I get more educated as to what good acting is supposed to look like.

Ko, an online singing star, has been in love with Teng for years. He knows it's futile, but he can't help but hope. His friends tell him about a holy man in the woods who can make a 'love poison' to change Teng's heart. He goes off and gets it, with some shenanigans involving ghosts, and then joins the soccer team so he can get close enough to Teng to get him to drink it.

Teng, in the meantime, is interested in Nuan and when Ko asks for his help to get better at soccer, Teng asks for Ko's help with singing so he can woo Nuan. Nuan and Teng start dating.

Ko is devastated, and gets drunk with his friends. They call Teng to have him take Ko home and Teng and Ko have sex.

Drunk sex is a thing in this series, because the side couple, Tak and Ko's brother Sek, end up doing the same thing.

Ko tells Teng they should just forget it ever happened and then starts dating Tak.

The rest of the plot is pretty predictable and there's a happy ending all round.

This series has no awkward product placements, no over-the-top sound effects and no disapproving parents. Ko and Sek's father accepts both their relationships and is a sweet and caring man.

The scenery is beautiful, too, because this set in the country and there isn't a university or an engineering student for miles.

The soundtrack is great, the acting is pretty good, the writing is surprisingly sharp at times and this is overall a good series. It's only eight episodes, too, so you can watch it in less than a day.

Overall, I enjoyed this and I think it's worth a watch.

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hit and a miss

this had potential - ironically reading the description u think that there is only the main story - which wondered at the start of this drama, why is it called Love Poison and not (logically) Love Potion - considering the "sacred water" and the insinuation the word "poison" invokes - but watching this from start to finish, its freakin Fitting to say the least.

lets start with the good - Tak - this character stole the show, donno where this dude came from, but the sec he was on scene - he owned the drama and every character in it. the actor is really good-looking but it was his charisma that had u at the word go. he a player and he oozed sluttry looks, innuendos and flirtatious words - it came naturally to him like breathing air - so little wonder everyone around was ready to drop their panties for him XD literally and figuratively. this dudes go to method, to dealing with any situation was flirting with or just trying to vanquish it sexually.. even if it was a apparition (and that whole scene was redundant, as that ghost served no purpose other then to show us Tak could get it on with a ghost and satisfy it, from the sounds of things - that whole scene was just weird).
but Tak came of scene to be Sek (Ko's older brothers) counter part - he basically came to warn Sek of his new gf and how she was a user and bad news, considering she had dated and used him previously - but Tak was more interested in making moves on Sek - their courting was fun to watch. hell Tak was fun to watch and his two sidekicks really added to the entertaining atmosphere - distracting from the main boring story. and this was great until episode 7 where the main nuisance took over -

the bad - Ko, first off don't care who u r or who u love, but forcing their "hand" by using potion, drugs, hypnosis or any other means, that trick them into doing something they would never do lucidly is a B.S. trope - so yeah get, cause this is a comedy it was supposed to be whatever... and i could ignore the idiocy of the idea - but the sec Teng didn't fall in-line and he still retained his individuality and reason - choosing to woo Nuan (the girl he fell for)asking her to be his gf. he suddenly turned into the persona non grata / bad-guy, why?? cause he didn't fall inline with Ko's grand plan. who died and made Ko queen?!?
get falling in-love with someone and wondering how and what u can do to make that person love u back - even if they of the same sex. even to go to the ridiculous extant of going to some shaman for some "Potion can will change ur crushes sexual preference" - but when a person doesn't get brainwashed, he the bad-guy - what logic is this??
if anything Ko is the bad-guy who befriended Teng only cause he wanted to get close enough to "drug" him with that "sacred water", so Teng wouldn't suspect anything and drink it - he kept being friendly and close to Teng in the hopes that it would activate the "water" and when none of this worked and Teng still followed his heart and went for Nuan , he the bad-guy that gets ghosted and treated like he cheated or set-out to manipulate and hurt Ko from the start?!? plz

the ugly - is the conclusion, Ko ghosting Teng without any explanation - even when Teng finds out and cause he considers Ko a friend, he cares for - he apologizes (when he didn't need to - as he freaking didn't do anything wrong!!!) and gets rebuffed heartlessly - cause Ko butthurt... then add insult to injury Ko leaning on Tak who follows suit to act as Ko's bf - all to make Teng feel jealous and make him grovel to get back in Ko's good graces. add to this alcohol and weird sex and more selfish moronic tantrums thrown by Ko - ignoring his own brother that has developed feeling for Tak but is taking a backseat cause he "dating" Ko. and now u get why i started this review as i did - i donno what the writer was thinking and why anyone would think this was fun or funny - i fast-forwarded the last episode cause Ko didn't deserve a happy ending - given the 3 stars only to Tak and Sek who were the saving grace of this drama, but even their story imploded in the last episode, that was wrapped up very unsatisfyingly...

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Fun and Campy

I enjoyed some of the series, but I was a bit disappointed. The storyline was a nice play, but the execution was badly done. I am a fan of the actors as I have enjoyed them in other stuff but this was just overdone. The story felt rushed with little development and the I loved the brothers but you did not feel any family connection it all felt like they were just friends. Little character development. I found it horrible how everyone is getting with everyone, not real commitment or relationship until the end. I get it its suppose to be an overdone comedy, but there was a lot of stuff not funny at all, the sex rap with a supposed ghost was not needed and all the guys are with other people until the end. It was dumb to think that special water is needed to make someone like you, that storyline was dumb. The only one that was close to being smart was the older brother Sek, who was being manipulated throughout the series by his own brother KO and the supposed guy who likes him, Tak, who I wanted to like but was not a fan of him having sex with the ghost was a big turn off. This had a lot of opportunities to be good but sadly direction is bad. I hope season 2 is better. There was one funny part I did like when the friends pretend to fall on KO and Tang making them kiss. And the end was pretty much the best episode out of the whole series. The singing was enjoyable too.

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The title should have been Toxic Love instead

The title should have been Toxic Love instead

I thought I'd enjoy this drama since I really really enjoyed Siew Sum Noi since the universe, musical style, village, and actors from Siew Sum Noi were in this drama but nahh I didn't feel anything for this drama especially after being put off with what Tak did to that "fake ghost"

I don't understand how no one took it seriously when Tak literally raped a girl who pretended to be a ghost in the forest for "fun." How can I stomach Tak flirting with Sek and Ko at the same time after this?

Anyways still can't take this drama seriously. The songs and musical scenes don't bother me, in fact its the reason I started this drama, but the plot is weird and Tak is even weirder.

On another note, I find it funny that the actors of Teng and Ko were fighting over Ruk from Siew Sum Noi, but here they'e fighting over each other LMAO

This drama just keeps getting weird by the minute huh??

First Tak takes advantage of Sek while he's drunk and rapes him, the next morning after Tak wakes up next to Sek, Ko comes out of the house saying he and Tak started dating and Sek runs outside mad. LMAO what even is this. That same morning Ko runs into Teng and both set boundaries that they each are in a relationship and will have nothing to do with each other. Then that same day at night Ko is drunk then has sex with Teng who IS NOT DRUNK, then the next morning Ko wakes up and puts his clohtes on as if he was conscious of last night with Teng and acts like he "used" Teng for sex and that he wants nothing with him after this.

I'm losing track of the stupidity, ridiculous things happen every minute.

I'm so done with this toxic and ridiculous drama, won't watch the next season, disappointed.

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