BLISS RATING: ★★★★+
“Little by little, we let go of loss…but never of love.” – Hallmark
Magically beautiful! I surprised myself on how much I loved this story. (This series is also known as COME TO ME). It is way more complex than it first appears. It starts out as perhaps just another ‘ghost’ story, but it twists and turns into this beautiful and magical tale of friendship, love, trust, but ultimate corruption and death. At the very beginning, we see Mes (Singto Prachaya) dying and is waiting for reincarnation at his gravesite. He plays his part with such stunning calmness, humility, and a sense of resignation but never depressing. It is an outstanding performance. The other player in this is an individual who can see the dead. It is a gift that he has from early childhood. His name is Thun (Ohm Pawat). He also plays his part with such conviction and humility. His personality changes with every passing day spent with Mes.
How he manages to get Mes to accompany him to his world is the magical part and so endearing. You can see Thun’s growth both in terms of personal goals achieved, relationships, and commitments. There was a softness and gentleness to Ohm’s characterization of Thun that it was impossible not to feel what Thun was feeling. His portrayal of raw emotions in such a gentle tone was so refreshing to watch that it simply added more emotions to this whole series. Both actors did such an outstanding job of playing their characters consistently with conviction, subtlety, strength of character, and quiet passion. You want to watch this series for the beauty of its actors. The chemistry between themselves is palpable and you can see how it grows from simple infatuation to love.
There are so many twists and turns to this series that I simply did not know how it was going to end. It is a story of friendships, of beautiful commitments to each other, to the realization of love, and to growing up and facing death. The supporting roles in this series are all deserving of accolades. Khiew (Sing Harit) is more-or-less the comedic relief but it is not a caricature. He is genuinely concerned about Than because he thinks he is on drugs (after all, he is talking to invisible entities). Eak (JJ Chayakorn) is also a part of this intense friendship with Thun. He is a bit more complex and introspective, and it is obvious that he has feelings for the female member of this friendship. Her name is Praifah (Sarocha Burintr).
She is infatuated with Thun, and they try to have a budding romance, but it is obvious to Thun that this is not the person for him. The mother of Thun, Kwan, (Sine Intra Jaroenpura) is absolutely pivotal to this story. She gives the plot the direction it needs with a lot of surprises. Not only supportive of her son in his quest to be who he needs and want to be, she has some of the same abilities he does. I loved this side of the story.
Jeng (Chanagun Aspornsutinan), and Nagoon (Ampere Wutchaipradit) are fellow ‘ghosts’ at the gravesites. They provide some comic relief and insight into helping Thun, but I found their parts to be more annoying then funny. They were almost superfluous, and I do wish they were given more integral roles than simply being a sidebar. They could have added way more than what they did or simply not have them in at all. That would have made the story way more interesting.
Who really S.T.O.L.E. the series? Singto Ruangroj as Mes is simply remarkable. He provides just enough both joy and a sense of emptiness to the role that is required for this rather complex character. He provides a real depth to the role and makes such a situation feel normal. None of this takes away from the superb acting by the other performers in this series. His role is simply more prominent.
While this is a BL series, it is so much more than that. It is a beautiful tale of friendships, companionship, unrequited love, and real love. There is not a lot of overt romance but the subtleties of it are throughout this series. This is evident and beautifully told when they first meet. Thun meets Mes when he is still a child, but he tells Thun when he is older, that he always knew he would be the one for him. You do not need over-the-top reminders of what romance is; sometimes it is just there in the simple gestures, the playful bantering, and the small gifts (candy, chocolates, paper hearts) that are given. There are only a few kisses that are given but they represent the best of this series as they are a culmination of their feelings and not necessarily the product of their relationship. Understand that their relationship can never be normal. It is between a human and a spirit. Therefore, it is the commitment and bond that they share that makes this story so great.
There are several tear-jerking moments in this series. I cried, well to be honest, I sobbed too! The scene between Thun and Mes on the roof just sitting talking is so profound and so intense that it is one of the most beautiful and romantic scenes I have seen in any BL series. Again, it is NOT over the top but just an exchange between two people in love in a reality that is so complex and out of either of their controls. The dialogue (screenplay) is top-notch and so beautiful especially when Mes says to Thun to “make a wish in front of stars and it will come true’. This was so powerful and simply deepened their commitment to one another because you just knew what Thun was wishing for. But knowing all too well that it is unlikely they will have any type of long-term relationship. One can wish and hope but is that enough to make it so?
The ending (which I shall not give too much away) is worthy of at least a box of tissues to have next to you. I dreaded it yet wanted to know what would happen. It made me cry deeply as I could feel what they were losing. (Just remember back on the lost loves you might have had). But here is where I am torn, feeling perplexed, and yet not satisfied. No one likes sad endings but this one left me empty. It does not have a sad ending (yet). However, the sadness has been postponed. (You will know what I mean when you see the conclusion). I hated it.
Perhaps that is too strong of a word. In this case, there is no happy ending, no matter how much we want it to be. The reality is that not everything in life has happy endings. Maybe that is harsh, but the whole story lent itself to NOT having a happy ending. This sounds incongruous. I know but it honestly did not make sense. I wanted and needed to mourn but did not get the chance to. I would have mourned with them soulfully and deeply. Of course, this is just my interpretation of this series.
Overall, I think it was brilliant, thought-provoking and offers a refreshingly different approach to BL series. I would have ranked this series up there with my two all-time favorites, but the end spoiled it for me. In this case, closure was necessary but not provided. But it is still an exceptionally affective BL that will you leave you in emotional tangles.
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