BEST COMING OF AGE SERIES EVER
beautiful story. it could've been pretty generic IF it was written poorly. but NO, the crews literally did an extraordinary job on the storywriting. you can really see their character development each episode.cinematography. no comment. literally movie-worthy. the best one in thai LGBTQ+ SERIES i've ever seen so far. lingers in my mind rent free. i love how they adjust the color scheme too.
OST are all SO GOOD. it's been months and i still listen to every single song from this drama. thai AND chinese version by Billkin AND PP. this is honest and i'm not biased.
acting. If you don't like a "too dramatic" scenes, you might wanna skip some parts like when the characters are crying bc it mostly took quite a long time. But i promise you, it's still great! BKPP's acting are so raw and you can really feel the emotions they bring and they really did a good job acting as a naïve teenager who is still confused about their own feelings. unstable and denial.
PLUS you don't even have to complain anything about the cast. main actors has been friends w/ eo for YEARS and their chemistry is SUPERB.
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ITSAY NEEDS SOMETHING!
This is not a lengthy review, as other users already mentioned tons of great things about the series.You can argue that other series' plots are way better than ITSAY's storyline. I mean, the story is somehow cliche - story of two man that are bestfriends who turn into enemies, back to bestfriends and being lovers at the end. So, what makes this series a topnotch for me? - IT'S THE OVERALL IMPACT. The plot is common, but the way they potray emotions, put hidden meanings, and execute the storyline make it stood out. This is a proof that a great storyline alone will not make sense if the execution isn't good.
I Told Sunset About You needs something, and that is an INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION. With this series who gave us splendid acting, outstanding cinematography, great OSTs and very relatable content, we can therefore say that THE WORLD NEEDS TO SEE THIS DRAMA.
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This review may contain spoilers
In an ocean of queer or coming of age films ITSAY stood like a lighthouse waiting ashore
ITSAY was one glorious piece of work, the best coming of age series filled with gentleness and nuances but we get one hell of a roller coaster ride.In an ocean of queer or coming of age films ITSAY stood like a lighthouse waiting ashore, a beacon of hope, steering away from typical story development of queer or BL love story. Teh and Oh’s sexual attraction was not less important than the need to be there for each other. It wasn't a sudden love confession, but a gradual subtle layered string of emotions from guilt, regret of words unsaid, the making up of lost time and the falling in love with each other that unfolds so beautifully in-front of our screens. This was beautifully captured in episode 3 with both of them chasing each other on the beach before running to the cape. That wanting and longing for each other was no lesser than Teh accompanying Oh to run to the cape by sunset to fulfil his promise, that heighten need for each other beyond the physical was such an important aspect of ITSAY was what captivated and moved me so much and will be why ITSAY will be on a league of its own.
From burgeoning friendship, threading the fine invisible line, the play on Chinese idioms that acts like secret (秘密) love letters between Teh and Oh, those lingering coconut scent. Societal judgement, one’s eternal quest of finding of oneself.
Familial love that never falters was what made ITSAY a clear stand out, Hoon was such a pillar of support, in episode 5 of Teh conversation with Hoon was so heart breaking calming and sweet, it was everything one could ask for, truthful non idealistic words of comfort for someone coming out and enduring a such a heartbreak.
The normalisation of same sex relationship in this series was a refreshing eye opener. there were many instances of openness and acceptance, of course the best one being Hoon’s conversation with teh mentioned above, teh hitting on oh seems like another day in the lives of their friends (no questioning of two boys hitting on each other) and teacher (Laoshi) being supportive after the confession. As an Asian watching this I feel hearten to see same sex relationships depicted with such ease, perhaps in context of Thai society which I’m not familiar with, but watching how normal it was reflected in the lives of everyone was just beautiful in a sea of suffering LGBTQ characters and films. In fact teh is his own only obstacle as we see nothing but support love acceptance from his brother and friends.
Stunning heart tugging performance - we get two utterly flawed loveable characters that are portrayed AMAZINGLY by Billkin and PP who shined so far through the small screen with their explosive chemistry adding that special something to ITSAY that one cant quite explain.
The director and writers of the team deserves a standing ovation for this coming of age story that was made to shake all our hearts and souls, their direction was crystal clear and ITSAY never lost its way throughout the episodes. My only qualm was that the sound design are slightly jarring and distracting at times which over powers the emotions one is already feeling. On a side note watching the ITSAY documentary on youtube will help you appreciate all the intricacies, details, hard work, time and effort all cast and crew have worked so hard to achieve for this piece of work.
Just like the love story before you know it, pangs of heartbreak hits you, followed by lot of angst, then sweetness and that lovely tension blossoming between them will keep your heart and your eyes glued to the screen. ITSAY ripped my heart apart and mended it back many times over its 5 episodes.
All I know now is that I root for them every step of the way, their love, their despair and their growth and most importantly i wish there will be no more heart breaks next season 可以吗？
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Masterpiece.
There should be a rating higher then 10, because this drama definitely deserves it! It’s an absolute masterpiece.I started it and finished it in one night: I couldn’t stop watching, it’s so well filmed and the actors and music are magnetic.
It was my first Thai drama and I was totally unaware of what I could find... well, turns out this has become my favorite drama ever up to now.
(I also loved the sound of Thai language by the way, so musical and sweet!)
The plot in itself doesn’t look that original, and yet... the pace of the events is so smooth, natural, things happen (bad and good) and you feel like you’re there with them and you just want to laugh/cry/shiver/help/hug or whatever. This drama is breathtaking, it made my heart pound in a way that I really hadn’t felt in a long time.
Amazing actors: I loved the way in which everything they did felt natural - from smiles to tears, everything was as rough and deep as in real life. The two male leads have an incredible chemistry and their body language was so vibrant, growing from episode to episode and helping create tridimensional characters.
The supporting actors were great too, I was so surprised by each and every one of them!
The music, oh my goodness: my iphone keeps playing the same songs endlessly and I keep crying while listening! Each and every song, in all the different versions, was so perfectly engraved in the scenes!
Photography and cinematography looked stunning: I loved how they played with the lights and shadows in many scenes, how they showed many little details that kept adding and creating a mosaic of real life. Some scenes are unforgettable: just to name one, Oh’s bra’s scene is a piece of art!
I will definitely rewatch this drama as soon as possible because I feel like at every time I watch it, I might discover new hidden treasures!
Looking forward for season 2, probably the most awaited drama on my list!
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May have loved it more if I didn’t speak Chinese
To me this one was definitely worth the watch, it was vastly different from most other BL series I’ve seen.The only thing that really bothered me I guess was the “we want to become Chinese actors in Thailand” storyline. I don’t know if this is actually or thing or not. However both the character that was supposedly good at Chinese as well as the one who supposedly wasn’t, had pretty much the same level of Chinese. Definitely not HSK4.
This is a personal preference thing though, if they had been talking Russian and their Russian would have been terrible I would not have cared, cause I don’t speak Russian. But if languages play a big part in a series I can’t really take it seriously if the language is not spoken as well as it’s supposed to be, and I know about it.
I mean imagine watching a Series about people who want to play professional basketball, but none of them know the rules, or they kind of know the rules but have terrible technique.
If you can easily look over that fact, or are not capable of the Chinese language, then definitely watch this one.
It’s definitely not on the light hearted side though. More the constant weight on your chest type. In a good way though.
I loved the main couples chemistry and how their relationship formed. It truly felt like two people naturally falling in love, and struggling/coping with it in their own way. I liked it.
If I had to critique one more thing apart from the Chinese thing, it would just be the overall feeling that just didn’t sit like a 10 for me, can’t really pin point what it is though.
For one watch this was a nice series that definitely cut deeply into my feelings. And I loved watching it, I am just not sure if I’d watch it again, I can imagine this one might become a little draggy or annoying with a second watch.
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Where have you been all my life
I was skeptical about watching this for soo long, OMG, this gives me soo much feel I can’t put into words . Omg the cinematography was absolutely beautiful, storytelling was amazing, I had to check the actors out because they did a wonderful job. Such an amazing series. It’s really beautiful...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
I love it
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I can't. I just can't. This might be a mess, but who cares?
I went through a whole emotional rollercoaster because of this. I love how the music was arranged. I also loved how it was shot. Most of all the acting was *chef's kiss* superb! I found myself crying every single time I see Teh's eyes tinged red, but I also hated how he manages his anger and all that shiz. It's frustrating, yeh, but when I really thought about it, I would've done two or three things he did in high school. It was messy, but 16(I gradated at 16 'coz we had still had K-10 back then) is the age for mess, and I wish I was as messy as they were. Should I add more to this? just watch it. Anyways, some of the characters deserved more, but hey that's life, and maybe season 2 would do them right.Was this review helpful to you?
Worth it
Yes I watched it overnight, I keep seeing this show everywhere and how everyone keep comparing it with other shows, soo I said I had to watch it. It was worth my sleepless night. Whoever casted this two boys did an amazing job, this show reminds me of my young gay self, I love the music, the cinematography, the tension between those two beautiful boys, this show only has one kiss but it’s soo beautiful done. The actors are superb, pacing and storytelling is just soo well done. I will watch this again with my partner, I absolutely adore this.Was this review helpful to you?
3 words: pretty, genuine and heartbreaking
It's a very natural and real story, that's been brought to life by an amazing cast and crew. No unneeded drama or over-the-top B-plots in this, which I really appreciate. The whole story feels so real and progresses so normally, and that really elevates its quality.This series has such. Amazing. Cinematography. The location, Phuket, is very well chosen to portray this slow and quiet story, with its just-busy-enough vibes and beautiful scenery. Not only the the scenery, but also the crew's camerawork is phenomenal. Just on aesthetics alone this has to be the most beautiful series I've seen so far. The angles, the colors and the way they portray emotions purely through the scene-placement is amazing. BIG props to the crew on that one.
Another really good thing about this series that doesn't really apply to the story/cast/etc. is the OST. Wow wow wow. The way the background music is used is so pretty. It's very interesting if you pay attention to it. Since a lot of series have one or two really good intro songs they use throughout, the usage of pretty instrumentals makes this series feel very unique. None of those goofy sound effects either, which would really take from the way this series makes you feel. Good call!
Of course, the cast was also really good. I didn't know the two leads had acted together before, before I watched this, but I did notice their genuine chemistry. The leads work really well together and make everything feel so much more natural. From friendship to their liking of each other, it really feels like watching two real people real feelings interact with one another.
Which of course makes this series stand out in the emotional side of things. I've seen series with wayyy more and/or bigger drama that yes, may have made me sad, but before this one I had never cried at them. It's the way these feelings feel so genuine and are placed in such a simple, but believable and natural, storyline that will really make you feel for and with the characters.
All in all, this is a series I would recommend to everyone who just wants to chill out and watch some friends fall in love (and maybe cry a little).
(P.S. don't mind my rewatch value score. I'm just not a big rewatcher)
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A DRAMA YOU MUST WATCH BEFORE YOU DIE.
“Why are people born to experience pain?”I really don't know how to start or when to start but here I am, trying my best. This series is definitely one of the best things happened to me ever. I kept postponing to watch for the last 3 months but was so curious about it especially seeing some parallels between this series and Your Name Engreved Herein, which makes me so excited while watching as well, to start my review; from cinematography to the OST, to the acting and the plot.. it's done splendidly well.
I'll neither tire of praising this nor talking about this from now on. The CHEMISTRY between them explains everything. This definitely is a next level BL. It deserves everything and should be seen as 'one of the best movie examples; for LGBTQ community. It is a true story; it is me, you and them? It portrays the issues that lgbtq+ teenagers have faced so flawlessly. The support the characters get, for instance Hoon or Tarn, it was so necessary for us to see; that comfort, support. I even felt like he was talking to me through Teh which is something i have never seen in any other dramas or even movies. Normally third person in a relationship is showed as annoying and bad rather than being supporting. Even this fact shows how ITSAY is absolutely outstanding. This series is definitely a masterpiece. I loved every scene, detail and the intimate moment between them. I truly felt the sexual tension even through the screen??? so much that I even hold my breath most of the time.
I really understand them and do not blame them for anything. I can get the fact Teh has not been ready to take risks from the beginning but on the other hand, Oh-Aew was so enthusiastic to give a try and to think at that age -they're both kids- that you are afraid so much if you are even going to be accepted by the people around you,, i mean we are all afraid aren't we? And in my opinion, this was represented so beautifully in the drama. The performances of them left me speechles- I was struck by even little details like the fear, the tension and the thrill.. those all felt so real.
The scene they touch each other was even enough for me to love this series. That scene was better than any kiss or bed scene. I think i've never seen anything more touching than that scene. I swear i hold my breath and i really felt that touching, it was- like i melted in THAT scene like i melted in other scenes as well. But the scene they fulfill their promise together and Teh confessed his feelings to Oh-Aew finally is my favorite scene.
Another things i loved about this series is that they even get each other without talking just looking at each other??? We really need more drama series like this. While i was thinking i was tired of all those series including toxicity and tired of all those bl drama cliches, especially for Thai dramas, i met/watched this series and completely impressed! It's the best BL made in worldwide ever. I want to congratulate not only Billkin and Krit but also everyone who put their effort into this. I want them to know, it's all worth it.
In short; ITSAY is THAT SERIES for me, it is definitely relatable and there is nothing at all i haven't liked about which makes me feel inspired and more excited. Hopefully we will see more series like this. By the way, cannot wait for part 2!
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This is a little gem that shines so much
When I first saw this come out I was stressed and watched the first 10 minutes and kind of blew it off. I wish I had watched it sooner!The story between Teh and Oh-aew is just so raw it’s amazing. The story that this tells in only 5 episodes is beautiful. Yes, it’s messy and they do hurt each other, but it’s Teh’s confusion for me. Or lack of confusion. When Tarn tells Ten that he is only hurting himself was really the kick in the balls that he needed. (And we all knew when Oh-aew said he liked Bas, it was a lie. Well not a lie, but it wasn’t the truth anymore.) I’m gonna go cry now. Can’t wait for part 2.
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This drama truly is God-Tier
Like my headline says, this drama truly is God-tier. I never thought i'd be so invested emotionally in a Thai BL drama, but, here we are.I was one of the lucky ones, I discovered this drama 4 episodes in but that didn't make the wait for episode 5 any less painful or torturous and, like so many others, I was ready to travel to Thailand (even during covid!) to 'speak' to the director if we didn't get a happy ending, which (spoiler alert) We did!!!
I discovered ITSAY while watching a Youtube video rating the best underrated BL dramas of 2020 and ITSAY was on the list. I have to admit, I wasn't really interested at first but thought i'd check out the trailer. 1 min in, I knew! i knew I had to find a way to watch this. There are several places you could watch this drama but legally? You'd have to pay through vimeo and it ain't cheap. I believe they're charging 14$ per episode? but totally, totally worth it in my opinion. They could be charging a lot more and i'd be willing to pay it. I believe that's why it doesn't have a lot of 'views' or 'publicity' It's not that it's underrated, it's just not widely available. It's not on Youtube or any other 'free' streaming service.
I found a place (illegally i'll admit) where i was able to watch all 4 episodes immediately and I was hooked. From the first episode, I was already so invested in the characters and the story. I kept rewinding certain scenes because I couldn't believe how beautiful it was. I really love the best friends to enemies to best friends to lovers trope, when it's well done, it's absolutely beautiful and ITSAY was very well done. The progression of the story and the development of the characters was so smooth.
I could go on and on about how much I love this drama but, my review really doesn't do this show justice. I've actually gone so far as to reveal myself and my love of BL drama's to my co-workers just so that I could talk about ITSAY, that's seriously how much i love it. Just trust me and watch the show, you'll be blown away. I only have a handful of BL drama's I re-watch and ITSAY is definitely on the top of my list.
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