beautifully shot and well acted - raw and real and fun - but still a victim of theatrics

i was really impressed from the beginning with this unique look into LGBTQ+ life in Thailand, because i don't think any other drama has been as realistic as this one. they didn't hold back in exploring character flaws as well as relationships and all the good and bad that can come with them, and for that i have to applaud it. the premise was interesting - a messy group stumbling their way through romantic entanglements while still trying to maintain their friendship, not realizing how delicate of a balance must be struck in order for both types of love to thrive.

spoilers below:
top and mew were never that interesting to me, despite their sweet start. mew's quest for revenge, while initially a fascinating twist in character, soon turned into a drawn out ordeal that i could no longer stomach. in the end they just didn't have enough substance. i wish we learned more about top's issues, and saw mew coming back to himself, but it all just fell flat.

boston and nick were doomed from the start. i liked them together, but i always knew it would have to fall apart. i could see boston being in an open relationship easily, but nick was always too invested for that. in the end i think that this was a nice example of two people coming together to learn more about themselves and then move forward. but i am upset that boston's character regressed a bit in the final moments, and he was sent off with essentially no resolution, while being continuously punished. i think his friendship with the group would have been a better focus for his story.

now, my loves, sand and ray. their storyline gripped me the most. an ill-advised friends with benefits situation that turned into something more, while one of them was clinging onto somebody else. they ran into every obstacle, faced heartbreak at every turn, but among that rubble, they did love each other. ray was a character that was painful to watch, whether i was sad or angry at him, but i think it really was an exercise in understanding. a beautifully told story from start to near finish, until boeing came into the picture. i would have much rather spent the time focusing on ray's recovery and the repairing of their relationship, but instead, we had an oddly placed will they-won't they that served no purpose.

there's no way around it, the ending was unsatisfying for me. i didn't feel that things closed in a well-rounded and logical way. it was stilted and awkward, strangely paced. this was a pretty good rollercoaster for the most part... but it doesn't stick the landing. i think it's because of the changes made to the story based on fan opinions, but no one can say for sure.

solid acting from the whole cast, but first, khaotung, and mark were standouts, and i hope to see them leading future series!

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absolutely breathtaking

oh. my. god.
i don't think i can even put into words how much i adored this.
despite its flaws, this show is going down as one of the best i've ever gotten to see, just because of everything that it made me feel. i can't get over how wonderfully, beautifully human it is. this community felt real. the characters were everyday people who make mistakes and love each other and struggle with grief and cherish life together. the attention to detail, the finding of joy in the little things, the kindness and support between characters despite facing difficulties - it made my heart feel as if it were GLOWING nearly every minute. this is what it's all about. this is all it will ever be about. I AM CRYING OVER A BOWL OF CHICKEN RICE. AND I NEVER CRY ABOUT ANYTHING
what's the plot? well - it's hard to say. it's a slice of life, and what a well-rounded, balanced, and delightful slice it was. i will agree with other reviewers that the main couple didn't catch my attention as much as everyone else did, and i think they could have shown more growth. i didn't really feel like i fully learned why they liked each other. but i still ended up caring about them than i expected, and the show is not really about them, anyway. there are intricate relationships between all the characters and i think many complex topics were handled well here. at the core, it's about understanding each other. my main complaint would be that there were a few occasions where it felt like the same conversations were being rehashed and characters weren't moving forward as i would expect, but that was far from fully ruining anything. except jim never saying "i love you" back to li ming. a daylight robbery. (and earth is a bit young for his role - but he still did a great job.)
the characters were of course at the heart of it all, and what amazing characters they were. i don't think a single one felt flat (except maybe beam...) and that in itself is a triumph. i enjoyed them all in different ways, but li ming and gaipa stole it for me. fourth and khaotung were absolutely phenomenal and didn't miss a single beat. li ming was the perfect moody teenager with a soft side and gaipa was such a truly sweet soul who has endured so much and i need all the good things in the world for both of them. where's my alangaipa spinoff?
lastly, this show, despite taking place in a chinatown, is so incredibly grounded in being thai. what a gorgeous showcase of the environment, food, culture, community life - i was genuinely entranced. i wish more dramas would do this. everywhere i looked there was something to appreciate. not to mention, whoever did the cinematography for this show did a fantastic job of highlighting the beauty of the environment and the actors. the composition, coloring, and framing were all on point.
skillfully directed, well acted, artistically shot, a story both poignant and charming, this drama really has it all. whew!

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