From 'The Hidden Moon', Thailand and its BL dramatic universe
From 'The Hidden Moon', Thailand and its BL dramatic universeEverything seems to indicate that the Thai series 'The Hidden Moon' does unequivocal justice to its name. In its frames there are many mysteries and secrets hidden in the light of the moon and the viewer must unravel them as the episodes go by.
Many like the exciting journey full of visual elegance provided by this series directed by Intorn Lokaew, director of 'Low Frequency' (2023) and producer of the romantic comedy and musical 'Hug Jao E Lee', from 2022. The first episode, the only one broadcast so far, shows a drama that is carefully detailed and has all the shots and frames perfected for an elegant audiovisual presentation.
It is no secret that the BL (Boys' Love) genre productions of the Southeast Asian nation have, for more than a decade, stolen popularity in the market, and have become an international cultural phenomenon thanks to their plots that show attractive couples, in bucolic landscapes and with a message about being true to oneself.
When and how did it all start? Why so many followers? One might also wonder about the "magic" exerted by production companies like GMM25 or Dee Hup House. However, in the face of so many doubts, a great certainty delivers a blow of reality: with lovers or detractors, the world does not remain indifferent to the consumption of a solid and intelligent industry.
For example, the number of BL produced in Thailand increased from 19 between 2014 and 2018 to 75 in 2022. And it continues to grow at present. These television series are popular even in more conservative countries, such as India, Indonesia and Malaysia, although their followers must hide it, because if they say so publicly they may suffer sociocultural and religious pressures.
Thanks to these series, in Thailand the LGBT community enjoys more visibility and tolerance than in previous times, and it is expected that before the end of 2024, equal marriage will be legalized after being approved by the Senate of that country on June 18 of this year, with 130 votes in favor, 4 against and 18 abstentions, in its third and final reading.
Despite their popularity, these series do not realistically reflect the lives of people in this community in Thailand, where activists believe there is still work to be done to change mentalities. The life of gay men in Thailand can be quite tragic, as they still face discrimination and harassment.
Returning to the series: 'The Hidden Moon' demonstrates the television charms attributed to the Southeast Asian nation. As for the form, it is useless to deny the hypnotic effect of its image. The colors speak for themselves of a seductive Thailand, although sometimes greyish, always beautiful. The instrumental music penetrates the memory with an indescribable power, while the luxurious, but terrifying and mysterious old two-story house in the middle of the forest, at the foot of a mountain, welcomes the conflicts of its protagonists: Mas, the son of the owner of the place, and Khen, a writer who arrives in Chiang-Mai with the aim of writing about an old mansion.
However, his journey becomes a supernatural experience when, after suffering a car accident, he begins to experience inexplicable events. It is in this context that Khen meets Mas to tell us an exciting story, full of emotions and twists.
Said like that, it seems like the making of any Thai series of the BL genre. Precisely, these attractions that serve as eye drops are part of that group of characteristics that support the formula for success, but are only the visual and artistic components repeated? Although the exoticism of a distant country, populated by people with apparently perfect physiques, manages to connect with a vast audience, the classic plot lines of a romantic drama, in this case fantastic and supernatural period drama, are not left behind; that is, its content.
A production team featuring an energetic new copywriter travels to Chiang Mai to compose stories about two-story Thai houses in the country's northern region; a mysterious woman in a room at the end of the hall; an atmosphere that makes your hair stand on end; ghostly encounters on rainy days; terrifying events that surround those present in the mansion; the story of the two Moons at a different time orbiting together in the darkness of the night sky; the supernatural ability to see and hear things that should not be seen or heard, including the son of the owner of the house in the past, the person whose name means moon is just like him; bittersweet love, heartbreak, beautiful historical setting, a deep relationship wrapped between supernatural events and cruel secrets; A couple made up of a modern-day boy who, after a car accident, travels to the past, precisely to a time during the First World War, to have a romance with a ghost, come together in this period series "Duean Prang".
These are topics that scare us in our lives but that we love to see on the big screen or television. Supernatural mystery series, suspense, ghostly apparitions and disappearances without answers are engaging like no other, and if you add romance to this, the delicious dish is served.
A maxim of series is that they engage, and for that to happen there is nothing better than suspense, intrigue and a good mystery to solve. If there is a genre that we love, it is these that combine all of the above. What's more pleasurable than the feeling of that edge-of-your-couch tension interspersed with sequences of high-stakes action and romance?
Now we have so much to choose from that many go unnoticed without us knowing their existence.
Thailand resorts to these ingredients again and again, because ultimately they capture the taste and attention of a viewer rooted in the typical plots that, despite reinventions of the genre, will always be there.
It is worth remembering the different socio-historical context, conservative and inclined to patriarchal laws, as well as the role of women in society and the controversial emotional and family relationships. These situations can accompany an afternoon coffee, but we should not "enjoy" them uncritically.
Starring David Matthew Roberts (in his acting debut) and Kin Thanachai Sakchaicharoenkul ('Love Hurts', 2023), in the roles of Mas and Khen, respectively, the romantic, dramatic and fantasy genre series is an adaptation of the novel " The Hidden Moon" (เดือนพราง), by Violet Rain.
The series is produced by the renowned Dee Hup House, known for its success in series such as 'Step By Step' (2023), 'Something In My Room' (2022) and 'Lovely Writer' (2021).
In the series, Khen does not travel alone with Mas. The production team of which he is a part and who travels to Chiang Mai is made up of Bing (Santa Napakawat Kettreekorn), Toh (Tonkla Patittada Photajareon), Thaen (Jimmy Nuttapong Phaojinda) and Nanwha (Bam Panichada Kongsawanya), while Sompho Meme Kansuda Chanakeeree, Aisaeng (Pom Kamonpop Kaewdiao), all newcomers, and Khampuan (Tian Atcharee Buakhiao), an actress remembered for giving life to Mei in 'I Feel You Linger in the Air', join the journey in the mysterious house. They all defend their roles with conviction.
The script for this series is written by Kak Supicha Anantachat ('In Time with You').
Beyond the depth or intentions, the nuances of society or particular thematic moments are not completely ignored. Such is the case of 'I Feel You Linger in the Air', a series released in 2023 based on the novel of the same name by the same author of 'The Hidden Moon', and 'Dead Friend Forever - DFF' (2023 – 2024), two series coming from the powerful Thai BL industry. If you view them, you will find entertainment close to the novel dilemmas enjoyed in 'The Hidden Moon'.
I'll come back later to update the review.
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The Hidden/Slow Plot (uncut version)
Overall: the first episode made me intrigued but slow pacing is ruining the thriller/mystery aspect. Airing 10 episodes about 1 hour each on WeTV https://wetv.vip/en/play/t18faj0t8naijs5-The%20Hidden%20Moon/s4100gfzhl8-EP1%3A%20The%20Hidden%20Moon%20(Uncut%20Ver.) (the cut episodes are about 45 minutes each)Content Warnings: death, sexual assault/rape?, scary images, violence, blood, mental health struggles, choking
Watch Suggestions (suggest watching the cut version, this focuses on sweet moments between the leads)
- watch episode 1
- episode 3 watch part 2 beginning-3; part 3 beginning-1:15, all of part 4
- episode 4 watch all of part 1; part 2 start at 7:12; part 3 beginning-4 and all of part 4
- watch episode 5 part 1 4:30-end
- watch all of episode 6 uncut, they cut out kissing/implied sex
- episode 7 watch part 1 16-end, part 3 3:40-end and can watch all of part 4
- episode 8 watch part 1 before the credits for a quick kiss (uncut version has a longer kiss but it's more of a dead fish lip press) and 12:20-13:15
What I Liked
- intriguing premise with mystery/horror/supernatural elements
- at least they asked why the ghost sensitive one wasn't seeing them
- sweet moments especially in episode 6
- production value (the off key music at the end and then the music at the end was especially fitting)
Room For Improvement
- choppy at times (even in the uncut version it felt a little choppy)
- confusing and slow plot
- Khen and a friend had several moments that made me ship them which was especially bad because the other ML wasn't introduced until the very end of ep 1 (this was less an issue in the cut version)
- odd that a character went from trying to kill another character to suddenly liking him and then back to hating him
- did not care at all about the drama in the past and it was confusing because a character made it sound like she didn't want something but then she seemed to want that when she talked to her friend later
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