BLISS RATING: ★★★★
“Where there is love, there is life.” – Mahatma Gandhi
This is a very short but endearing series that gets to the point rather quickly and surprisingly well. There are no deep hidden meanings here nor are there any great dramas. It is just a slice of life that happens sometimes serendipitously. And these can be quite enjoyable, satisfying, and fulfilling. It is a story about a veterinarian named Mok (Bank Thanathip). He has just broken up with his girlfriend and wanted some alone time. So, he goes to a resort where a bartender named Bay (Pon Thanapon) is serving him. Mok has had too much to drink and becomes unruly and Bay helps him back to his room. Mok begs him to stay, and you can sense from this early beginning that there is indeed a connection developing.
They begin to spend more time with each other and as they do there is a feeling that this is meant to be. Their personalities mesh and they can ‘read’ each other well and the time together seems to become more meaningful. The scene where they are watching the stars and staring at each other in that beautiful locale is one of the purest forms of romance in an unromantic mode. As fate would have it, his former girlfriend is also at the resort which causes conflict and a misunderstanding. But Mok tries to have Bay understand that it is indeed finally over between his girlfriend and himself. As he leaves, he caresses Bay’s hand and smiles and thus is the beginning of a new romance. But Bay’s boss Boston (Jet Jetsadakorn) is obviously jealous of this budding romance as he has some very strong feelings for Bay as well.
This is a standard love story with nothing particularly dynamic about it except that these two do have a soft imperceptible chemistry and connection together. This time, however, it is not due to some silly teasing set-up but more of one of unsureness of what to do and how far to go. After all, Mok is ‘straight’ and, in this case is proceeding slowly with small steps, seems to make sense. This relationship has to develop in slow incremental steps for it not to fall off the cliff too fast. Since both are unsure and unsteady, the time is needed to massage the romance to make it work. Honestly, this is nothing deep about this series except that it is believable and likeable. The characters are all relatable and they are played with genuine emotion and commitment. In this case, the slow development works. So many of them do not because it seems so contrived to me, but this did not give me that. It felt more organic and was going to take time to develop. In fact, I was surprised how Mok who had a girlfriend was so easily able to transfer his predilection to a guy without too much emotional overlay.
The setting of this series is so nicely portrayed. It is in a resort and the characters are more interesting as they are not college students and seem secure in their careers. The area where the resort is located, is breathtakingly beautiful and very romantic. That simply magnifies this relationship. It brings a soft intense connection to each other because of the location of where they are. Relaxed, romantic, peaceful, and tranquil. And they played it softly with quiet undertones of romance. This is a very likeable mini-BL series.
THE MOMENT SINCE – 2020 -Thailand
This is essentially a part two to this series and picks up where the first one left off. It is Bay’s birthday and Mok has come to spend it with him. However, it seems that not only Mok is interested in Bay, so still is his boss Boston. This time he brings his friend Jimmy (AA Pattarabut) with him who also seems to be interested in Bay as well. Of course, Mok is jealous but, it appears as if Jimmy is trying to lure Bay away from Mok for Boston. However, it did not work and at the end both Jimmy and Boston realize that these two had a deeper connection and it was not going to be broken. Will there be an eventual connection between Boston and Jimmy? Don’t know but they would make a nice couple.
Look, this is also not some in depth analytical love story. It is a plain, ordinary, run-of-the mill story about two guys who by happenstance meet and a connection is made. That is all. This is one time where I appreciated that nothing more than intense stares and some nice kissing was the norm rather than some passionate lovemaking or some crazy painful twist to thwart the story. This relationship is extremely fragile, and it needed to be presented that way. Mok for all intent and purpose is in his first venture into a relationship with a guy and so he would be cautious, and Bay is astute enough to know that to push further might just scare him off or intimate him. Besides, Bay does not appear to be that much more experienced in dating guys and seems at time oblivious to other guys pursuing him. This is what makes it charming and fun to watch.
It is wholesome, sincere, and seems more in line with two people who are just getting to know each other in a rather artificial romantic setting. While there is certainly chemistry here, it is tempered and held back. Whether this was done out of an abundance of caution for each of their own mental health of not wanted to be hurt, or that they know this is just a fling and will all end soon enough, or one simply of taking their time to get to know each other. I err on the side of taking their time to build the relationship. Mok gives him a birthday gift that is personally intimate so he can remember this birthday for years to come. It is a video of their moments together. And he says to Bay, “Since we met, my heart calls for no one but you.” And Bay responds in the affirmative in the same way. This to me is the groundwork for a great foundation of a more lasting relationship not only for romance but also of commitment.
Who really S.T.O.L.E. the series? In both series, I think the one who stands out the most is Pon Thanapon as Bay. Bay plays the part with a consistency and is the least mercurial of any of the characters. He plays the part softly with a look as if he knows how this will all end. He can ‘read’ people and situations with pin-point accuracy and knows how to deal with it with softness and tenderness. It is exactly what these stories were about. He portrayed stability and that is exactly what Mok’s character needed. I loved his role and how he was able to carry himself without overwhelming scenes but directing the action to where it needed to go. His warmth and human connection in softer tones was so refreshing and was incredibly endearing. Great job!
Call me a sentimentalist, but I got into this story and liked it a lot. It is a quiet, soft, endearing story with the actors playing it with a muted approach that made it work.
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