BLISS RATING: ★★★★★
“Losing you was like losing half of my soul. Until we meet again, there will be no other.” – Quote from Until We Meet Again
PERFECTION! I do not know how to describe this series without using superlatives that might not adequately describe this series. It is one of the best BL series and frankly one of the finest TV dramas I have seen in my lifetime. This as the saying goes is the total package as it is a series that comes together nearly flawlessly. From screenplay, to acting, to storytelling this is the closest thing to perfection you will ever see.
While I could hardly stop watching, I could only watch two episodes in a row. Why? Because I became so vested in these characters and so empathetic towards them that it emotionally draining for me. I wept for what was never going to be. Yet, became hopeful for what will be. I lamented openly and at times buried my face in my hands and wept silently and occasionally uncontrollable. In order to appreciate and understand the depth on how this series touched me, you MUST watch it to feel/sense its strength, its commitment, and its overriding message.
Perhaps you may not feel it as deeply as I did, but it is nonetheless there. The first scene will leave you drained, confused, profoundly saddened, and maybe angry. It will leave you asking why?
It is a story beginning some 30 plus years ago with Korn (Kao Noppakao) and Intouch (Earth Katsamonnat) who, against all odds, fall in love. They face enormous challenges but the love they share for each other is so deep that it touches not only their bodies but their souls. Their love is fused together and is inseparable from one another. They are intertwined at a level I have not seen in any BL series before. As it is in life, so it is in death. You sense while watching them together that their love story is tragic. Every fiber in your being wants it not to be so but you know it will be. Almost every scene with them is so memorable and touching that I literally needed a box of tissues to get through them. I have never seen a love so deep as theirs and it is portrayed and acted to such a believable sagacity. In some sense, it is almost too deep. They touched my own soul with the depth of their love, and I felt everything. Tragically, this kind of love comes too early for them (in the 1980s).
Fast forward to the current times when two guys lock eyes together and something happens. It is not magical. It is something that is supposed to be. Destined to be. You sense it and feel it. The chemistry between Pharm (Fluke Natouch) and Dean (Ohm Thitiwat) is instantaneous. It is something that is just ‘there’. Both are inextricably connected to Intouch and Korn. At first, not knowing how or why. But as the story develops, we see that it is a love story that transcends death and time/space dimensions. It twists in ways that is almost unimaginable. But as their love develops, it begs the question, “Is it real”? And real for whom? This is a story that you must journey through on your own, no matter how painful it is.
There is a supporting cast that is also exemplary. They not only add connection to these characters, but they also allows us to breathe again and ground ourselves in the here and now. Without them, this story would have been too maudlin. They make the main characters real. There are so many of them but the ones that affect the story the most are Manow (Sammy Samantha). She is best friends with Pharm and of course becomes integral to everyone around her. She provides more than comic relief. She is the rock of support for all the characters and does a brilliant job at it. She is self-deprecating and bubbly and is a joy to be around. Dean’s best friend, Win (Boun Noppanut) slowly develops a romantic relationship with Pharm’s best friend, Team (Prem Warut). There are so many superb other supporting actors and actresses too numerous to mention but honestly, they are all so good and add so much to this series that without them this series would have been devoid of character development.
To say that the acting in this series by the main protagonists is superb would be an understatement. They bring everything to their roles, and I can only imagine how draining it was to play these parts. Pharm and Dean had to be another while still being themselves. The depth of these roles and the emotions that had to be displayed were exemplary. And they did it. I have never seen such an immersion into the characters’ roles as in this series. All the love scenes are done with tenderness and sweetness and intensity like never before. I truly, truly believed they were deeply in love even as Pharm and Dean were developing their own love for each other. The connection between In and Korn that was initiated by In, develops to such a deep connection that you can sense it immediately.
But no matter how hard one tries not to go there, the sadness is in their eyes is predestined, as if they already knew what their fate would be. The brilliance of Kao and Earth in showing us this is worthy of volumes of praises. It is that good. I never tired of seeing them together even though I knew it would be tragic. The promise to maintain their love for eternity could have been mere empty words but they brought commitment to a whole new level of intensity and is so sincere and real that it is irreproachable.
Who really S.T.O.L.E. the series? There is no lack of candidates for this distinction. The runner-up for me was Sammy Samantha as Manow. Usually these roles are ‘fillers’, give comic relief, or just throw-away characters. But she was not. She is integrative to this story. Yes, she is funny but not for comic relief but for enhancement of this story. She keeps the story moving. She draws out the characters and their personalities in sometime self-depreciating ways that was so adorable. What I liked is that she is not subservient to the main characters but holds her own here and without her role, this story would not have been as impactful. However, I have to give this distinction to Earth Katsamonnat as In (Intouch). Honestly, from the beginning he had me hooked. He conveyed such a range of emotions in his character to such a depth that it became real. I could see him draw out his emotions and show them with such an intensity that at times I marveled at its depth. Yet, he also had such a sadness in his eyes that spoke volumes without saying a work. His timing was flawless. If anyone is familiar with the movie “The Snake Pit” (starring Olivia de Havilland), that is depth of character displayed, then you know the depth an actor has to get to, to really convey the part with believability, sincerity, and realness. That is what I felt with Earth’s performance in this series. I felt all of his emotions as well.
The symbolism in this series is profound. The promises made and promised kept but at a tremendous cost. The ‘red string’ of connection and commitment. (Honestly, I simply had to stop at this scene. I cried to the point my husband had to literally console me). The opposites and similarities in the characters is overwhelming at times. This series is based upon the REALITY to Pharm and Dean that they are living someone else’s life. They see life through their own eyes, but the intensity of their feelings, emotions, and connections are of persons from the past. These become overwhelming and take over their own reality and identity. Realities blur. Love blurs. It is so breathtaking and emotional that it almost overwhelms you. Yet, they still love each other as well.
Without exception, all these actors are also breathtakingly handsome and beautiful. This is part of the story too. Even if they were not, as the series continued, they become even more handsome because we now see them in a different light, and their beauty grows with our familiarity of them. The musical score for this series is spectacular and enhances the emotions. It has some production issues that would have enhanced the imagery better. For example, the dark scenes were too dark and hard to make out. You needed to give us more light so we could see better. Some of the cooking scenes were a bit too long. It is a very long series that in some places could have been shortened to speed the series along. But none of this distracts from its overall flawlessness.
Sometimes, situations affect you in ways you were not expecting, and this is one of those times. I am sure there may be others BL series that will also impact me like this again, but this one will remain memorable.
It has been my honor and privilege to watch this series.
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