BLISS RATING: ★★★★
“Love is a poison. A sweet poison, yes, but it will kill you all the same.” – George R.R. Martin
While this was not as endearing as the first season, it is still charming and unique. In some sense it is just a bit too polished. What made the first season work was its rawness and organic approach to what it was doing. Some of the charm of the first one is missing, and it really does not pick up steam until the second half of the series. The first half almost seems forced as now more time has passed and both couples have been together for a while. So, it acted as if it was necessary to have some artificially contrived misunderstandings and breakups because of unrequited love from females – only in the end for all parties to realize that these guys really are together.
Teng (Virgo Nakharin) is still with Ko Pitchy Tao Phichairak). Both guys are phenomenally handsome, and it is obvious that they feel more comfortable with each other. They do not have as many intense scenes as in the first one, but they have still great screen chemistry together.
Tak (Ohm Pracha) while Sek (Jack Day). These two characters also have been together for a while. I actually found the chemistry between these two even more palpable that between Virgo and Pitchy Tao. Perhaps it was due to a different individual playing Sek. Their screen chemistry together was quite believable, and I really liked their characters.
The story goes off track when, as the singing group becomes popular, females are flocking to them. Two specifically seem interested in two of the guys. They younger one is interested in Tak and does some manipulation to try and win him but to no avail. The other is her mother who is interested in Teng. While this is contrived to make it look perverted, it is nothing more than a mother substituting her feelings for her deceased son onto Teng. (These two are in the ‘rich family’ in the village and are thought of as privileged).
When all of this silliness is resolved, the series reverts back to what made it so good in the first place. Its earthiness. Its organic connections. Its simple message of being couples in love and sharing the passion that each couple has for one another. If they had stuck to this message, this could have been a great series. Instead, it just lacked the simple country connection that the first series had. The ‘side-kicks’ are way less interesting than in the first series which also takes away from its quirky feel. (The two guys who said everything together should have been in this one as well. That made the first one fun and unique).
The kissing scenes in this are not as heavy or intense as in the first one but are still more believable than most Thai BL series. There is a certain ‘country chemistry’ that they displayed that makes this series flow so well. It is outside of Bangkok and in the county where the country living, charm, and culture are an integral part of this story. The pretentiousness is gone and the artificial ‘we-they’ attitudes between the haves and have nots is also gone as everybody knows everybody. There at the end is a charming hint that perhaps their father and the rich woman who was protective of Teng would develop a relationship. This is what made it work so well.
Who really S.T.O.L.E. the series? I named the father in the first series but in this one he is played too much like a caricature. Unfortunately. But he in many scenes does ‘steal’ the scenes but this honor overall has to go to Ohm as Tek. He plays his part with exceptional depth and fortitude and has a tremendous emotional range to cover without being too sentimental about any of it. He is the most ‘macho’ in the group and maintains that persona with dignity but is able to express loss when he loses Sek. He is an incredibly handsome individual who does play to that but not in an arrogant or pompous way. He knows he is good-looking but treats it as simply part of who he is. Perhaps that is due to his simple life in a village or is that too idealistic? He honestly displays such a range of emotions that seems natural and not contrived or forced. When he says he loves Sek, I believe him.
A word must be said about the music. While I normally pay little attention to the music in these series and usually in these series where the actors sing, most are dreadful singers and are there only for eye candy. While these guys do a LOT of singing, there is something so charming about the musical numbers. Sure, they are not the greatest singers but their songs (at least what is translated into English) are nothing short of endearing and charming. They sing songs of every-day living in a village; of earthy things that happen to them. It is so unique and wonderful and frankly catchy. (They cannot dance, however). This is so in-your-face charming and provincial that I found myself wanting to live there and pretend I have a simple life as well.
This series somehow captures the longing of escaping the intensity of living in modern times and being with real people again. There is a sense of realness, genuineness, and simplicity in their story and lives. This series honestly could almost be called a Musical as there is so much singing and they break into song spontaneously. It is all over the map as to what it is and yet again it simply adds to its charm.
While I did not enjoy it as much as the first, the second half of this series had me singing along with them, wishing them success, and desiring what they were given and who they were with. Even though I know this is not a high production series, there is just something so incredibly infectious about it that I long to see more. I think they are teasing a Season 3 as they are getting a recording contract from a music production company in Bangkok.
While I would be excited about seeing another series with these incredibly charming, handsome, and adorable guys, I am fearful that it will de-evolve into another Thai BL series and lose its country charm. Please do not. That is why you are unique. I am still rooting for you.
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