BLISS RATING: ★★★+
“Sometimes the hardest part isn’t letting go but rather learning to start over.” – Nicole Sobon
The story is centered around a family with three brothers who are all adopted. Yet, they are so attached to one another that it is hard to fathom that they are not blood-related siblings. They are that close. Yet, each is unique in temperament and personality. Bikes and bike-riding become the centerpiece for each of the brothers as their quintessential love adventures intertwine within their blended family dynamics.
The major focus seems to be on the connection between Sailom (Tee Thanapon) and Nabneung (Masu Junyangdikul), the oldest of the three brothers. Sailom has returned to Thailand from studying in the United States and by chance someone accidentally touches him and Sailom completely melts down. Nabneung, who is a psychiatrist, happens to be there, and helps Sailom to calm down. Surprisingly, Sailom seems to be able to handle Nabnueng’s light touches to him. Sailom suffers from Ahenphosmphobia, which is an intense and irrational fear of being touched.
Although Sailom is at ease with Nabneung, he sensibly refers Sailom to a colleague for therapy. From the outset, Nabneung began developing feelings for Sailom, which would clearly breach his ethical standards for patient treatment. Although their story had its intriguing moments, I just could not get too fervent in their relationship. For me, it came across too much like a pseudo doctor-patient connection and many times, Nabneung had to play doctor more often than a friend or lover. And Sailom could not help but see him as a doctor first. So, for me their connection was my least favorite.
Sure, it is well acted and their link as characters is good but honestly, knowing what I know about the cause behind Sailom’s fear of being touched, I found his ‘therapy’ progress a bit too rapid and utopian. And certainly, what apparently happened to Sailom, while really ONLY implied, is self-evident and is an unforgivable sin and should have been dealt with more openly and honestly. I believe the trauma he experienced will likely leave lasting effects. I also would have expected Sailom to struggle far more with intimacy than what actually occurred. It all felt just too neatly resolved. Again, because of my background of working in mental health, my perspective is skewed. I have strong concerns that the Pollyanna resolution that is presented is just too premature and felt too rushed.
The second relationship I loved immensely but is one of complete toxicity. Tawan (Us Nittikorn), the second son, is a former pilot now turned restauranter and boozer, hooks up with a drifter named Dindin (Ta Nannakun), who then turns out to be the baker Tawan’s mother hires for their coffee shop. During his tenure as a pilot, Tawan was involved in an accident—through no fault of his own—that resulted in a fatality. He continues to struggle with self-forgiveness regarding this incident. Dindin is evading individuals associated with predatory lending due to his inability to repay the high-interest debt incurred from borrowing funds. So, each of these protagonists is carrying personal baggage. While their initial meeting is less than romantic and is downright toxic, it certainly is lustful and wanton and is borne out of a cumulation of frustration, fear, and hopelessness. Yet, both have significant talents that make them stand out in unique ways. Their relationship has high-highs and low-lows and is marked by constant intense sexual tensions, lustful encounters, and is physically maladroit. At the same time, both want to deny what is truly happening to them. While they express their bonding in odd and maybe a toxic fashion, it does not mean it is not sincere. I found their relationship erotic, neurotic, and brutally honest. Sure, it was physical, but it was their form of foreplay. Maybe not the standard for us, but it was for them. For me, their relationship is unpretentious. Theirs will always be one in which a certain level of toxicity is needed for it to work for them – a playful level not meant to be taken seriously. Each of them would give up their life for the other. That is how strong their bond is. Do not be fooled by the superficial toxicity of it.
The third relationship is certainly the oddest of all. Sky (Danny Luciano), the third son, is a bar host at a club, where he is paid to make individuals feel good. But that feeling does not extend to matters of the heart, however. Until he meets a bar patron that turns his head and heart upside down and inside out. Nava (Win Thanat) intrigues Sky and the two of them form this intense connection that should never be. Suddenly, Nava attempts to break the relationship off, as he is hiding a secret that he does not want to burden Sky with. However, as soon as Sky discovers what that is, he promises Nava that he is never going to leave him. Never. It is his commitment to love. Of the three, this relationship is perhaps the deepest and most heartfelt because there is an immediacy to it. It requires a consequential decision to be in a long-term commitment immediately – for survival. This relationship is the most emotionally uplifting of the three.
Who really S.T.O.L.E. this series? Perhaps a bit unorthodox here, but I relished the role of Sailom’s friend named James played by MJ Teachin. He is the kind of friend that you can both love and hate at the same time. Fiercely loyal to Sailom, yet also so realistic. He pulls no punches. James is not a person who ‘sugar-coats’ how he sees something. He just comes right out and says it. Sometimes he is inept with his words and causing unnecessary anxiety but does so always for the right reasons. While he may not be ‘right’ consistently, his logic behind what he is saying always is. More importantly, he remains a true friend – one I would without exception want by my side for I know he will be brutally honest in his assessments of how he sees things. His role was so astonishingly refreshing for a change that I just enjoyed his presence. Sure, he is a minor character, but he kept Sailom on track and got him to ask the hard questions to Nabneung that he perhaps thought about but might not have asked if it were not for James’ planting the seed in Sailom’s head to do so. It was simply a nice change of pace for both a role and a character.
This is a complex series to navigate with a lot of characters to sift through. And with three separate love relationships, each with their own mechanics, it was difficult to actually focus on any one of them with full attention. Admittedly, when a story gets into challenging ethical/moral quandary scenarios, unless one is fully committed to exploring it to fruition, one should not do so. I am glad to see that they did have enough where-with-all to draw the separation between doctor and patient. Regardless, Nabneung was forced, because of who he is professionally, to be ‘doctor’ when in essence he should not have been. I also know how painful and damaging Sailom’s experiences must have been. Having worked for many years in the mental health field, I know the trauma of sexual abuse can be lifelong on children and Sailom’s was particularly horrifying and deep. Personally, I have a difficult time finding these types of damaging stories ‘entertaining’, as there is so much more that is not said than said.
I loved the relationship between Tawan and Dindin because they represent us. These individuals exemplify experiences that many people have encountered to some extent. While our situations may not always be as dramatic, the underlying themes remain relevant and applicable. These guys ended up feeling like ’losers’ and effectively were so. And they acted the part. Life is and was turning uglier for them. But they found each other and somehow, something clicked within them that was irresistible. It almost felt like it was meant to be. In essence, they became each’s guiding light because each understood the other on many different levels. Indeed, that is what I liked about their relationship. And they took their emotions out with sex. And in so doing, they found that they loved each other. I could watch several series of these two together as I know it would not only be entertaining, they would also be electric.
The relationship between Sky and Nava is one of quiet intensity. Among the three, their commitment to one another is the strongest, since confronting an almost inevitable end made them appreciate how little time they may have had left to share their love. These two will no doubt be the most passionate because they understand the meaning of love intrinsically.
Summarily, this series intrigued me for its content and subject matter. There were several dynamic and powerful relevances going on all at once. Thus, this series tackled way too much with way too many for it to be efficacious. Its major significancy was deeply scarring and wounding. My issue with series that tackle such emotionally charged and psychologically damaging or traumatizing issues is that they never go far enough. Simply ‘glossing’ over the issues or only gingerly handling the sensitivity of the subject matter is really not doing it justice. And it tried too hard to take a cavalier and too lighthearted approach to three themes that are quite serious and daunting. So, I was not sure what it was trying to actually be. Each of these love sonnets could be a series and was a premise for a stand-alone story. For me as well, it was the secondary couple, in this case two others, that outshined the primary couple, yet again.
Should you watch this series? Unequivocally yes but know you may not feel as satisfied as you think you should. If you ‘see’ one or more of the subplots as just a little too real and subsequently painful, then you might not find this series all that entertaining. You could be left feeling that something important has been left out.
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