Love Sea (2024)

Mixed feelings about this BL

I have never seen the two leads before, so I cannot compare it to their previous roles. I dont even know who they are. I saw many reviewers giving a 10 to this series, which I find interestingly funny. What? 10 for a drama which is quite flat, no suspense, no romantic sparks? I find both guys irritating. The synopsis above only mentions the "irritating Southern guy" when in fact the writer is much more irritating to me. I just couldn't stand his spoiled, arrogant city boy attitude, and yet I kept on watching this series. Ha ha.

I'm already watching episode 3 now. Yes, you get a glimpse of the family and past lives of both leads, but it all seems like being 'cut and paste" for the audience to hear. Not sure how they will fit into the story. I also don't get the connection with the side couple, an actress and a secretary, and dont see how their role fits into the story . This is not a BL which makes me anxiously wait for each week. Ther is no excitement. It does not make me feel emotionally involved with the story. But oh well, Im patient enough to see what will eventually happen with the two guys. So maybe I'll just binge-watch it when it comes to the end or near the end.

I may change my mind later, but so far the only things I like are the scenery: the sea and the beach and the two leads' cute faces.

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"To your uncle, 8 isn't a number. it's infinity."

I've watched this series every week since the day episode one came out. I originally started it because I enjoyed the actors, but I quickly fell in love with the plot. Throughout the story, you get to see how generational trauma can have a strong hold on people. Even down to the last episode, Tongrak suffered due to his past. I found this feature incredibly realistic. many shows like this show characters "coping" with trauma and getting over it in just a few episodes, and it can often feel like a mockery to real trauma. this story did a wonderful job. 10/10. (8/10 for Tongrak)

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It’s an entertaining show

As expected from Thai series , especially from MAME, the first episode so far is just about the chemistry of Lead actors and their acting skills… After reading the book, the story has solid plot. But just waiting to see how it transpires in the series.
The lead characters are Tongrak and Mahasamut. Mahasamut is playful, happy go lucky but playfully annoying to Tongrak. While Tongrak is fragile but arrogant kitten type. They both had their own traumas from past.
From 1st episode I can say, their chemistry on screen is so good. Tongrak/Peat is so beautiful while Mut is handsome. They carried the emotional scene so well.
It’s a good entertainer so far.

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MAME's Bed Friend

Those who had seen Bed Friend, will have a terrible feeling of déjà vu while watching this one since the plot set up seems to be practically the same.: a no nonsense guy gets into a contract binding sex relationship with a fairy like writer saddled with some serious family trauma. I know that in fiction the topics (tropes: enemies to lovers "Pride & Prejudice", revenge "Monte Cristo" etc...) have been invented a long time ago and that it is just the writer's role to make it stand out with the way they deal with it. So MAME going with the plot similar to Bed Friend did not bother me very much. So much so, that this became the first Mame's drama I actually finished since Tharn Type. I really enjoyed the spin on the friends with benefits trope! Moreover, the actors reminded me very much of James and Net, same type of actor for the same type of roles!

Rak suffering from writer's block goes to an island to rest where he is taken care of by Mut, the local man of all trades. While Rak piles on injuries on Mut, he just laughs them off, playing along. Until, a few days into the stay, they find that they cannot keep their hands off each other. After the two week honeymoon period, Rak offers Mut to pay him if he accompanies him back to Bangkok.

I loved the character of Mut: he is honest to the core, does not gossip and respect other people's privacy, he has a solid moral backbone, a very unusual trait in dramas! He is of course a cliché seme: strong, masculine, often wearing dark colours and definitely a domineering presence in spite of being a younger character. He does not change much throughout the drama.
On the other hand, Rak is on the surface smooth, elegant, strong and rich man. But lightly scratch that surface and out come all the traumas and insecurities from his childhood. His character develops backwards somehow: when we first see him he is a mature, strong, smart, confident and cocky adult all dressed in black but as the drama progresses he changes for the worse becoming, insecure, weak borderline child, pouting and hiding. The ending sees him all dressed in white and talking in baby voice! How about that for development? From the onset of their relationship it was perfectly obvious that Mut is the more mature person there. The relationship dynamic is very much a classical BL trope.

I did not mind the pay to love theme of the drama because it was not the important part. Mut has seen that Ruk has many insecurities hidden and that he tries to hide behind the money so he accepts to be bought in order to try to break down Ruk's walls behind which he has been hiding. The payment he accepts is just means to an end!

I wish they had delved deeper into the trauma part, it was very superficial and the very person who could have and should have dealt with that trauma and its causes (Ruk's mother!) is nowhere to be seen. Why? She stays in the beckground and acepts not to see her children in years? There is so much story there that they should have explored more. Or really explained the reasons behind Prim's (Ruk's cousin) extreme jealousy: that whole subplot was badly developped!

The music is the usual thai bl music: funky and forgettable with the obligatory a cappella beginning of the song in emotionally charged scenes (kissing etc.). I wish they would at least try to be original and stop giving us a copy paste original soundtrack.

And yet, in spite of all these flaws, I enjoyed this drama very much: the chemistry was solid, the bickering relationship fun to watch, the best friend Vie and the part of the second couple GL was perfect (for once there was no second BL couple but only one GL) and the GL story was cute even though the actress playing Mook grimaced too much!

I liked this drama more than I thought I would!

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this may contain spoilers

This is a very good movie. the plot was okay and the actors were really good except peat. I think he needs to improve his crying scenes to be more realistic, personally I have a hard time watching him cry it doesn't feel that much real compared to when Fort cries. I really like the ending where Peat comes for Fort at the island to say sorry, however it feels as if the scenes were just added on top, like an added scene which was not originally there bcz personally for me, it was kinda rushed and all that.

however, the writer, the director, the actors and the crew team worked really hard. Nailed it.... looking forward to another series between Fort and Peat...

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Photography and actors got me...

First of it I'm biased, as I know the actors for previous series and I like them a lot. I was also drawn to the photography and the editing and wanted to see more work if that team.
As a photographer, the photography in this series doesn't dissapoint, we start in the island so we had beautiful landscapes really well captured. The editing is really good on the eyes, beautifully done. The music helps to create the mood and the effects for the comedy parts are funny.
The actors really did a great job getting ready for this series, they learned scuba diving and also free diving. They had a crew for the diving scenes for security and help.
One of the actors also learned the suthern dialec of the area.
The range of both of them portraying motions are really good.
We had another characters that are developing another story, and had their fun moments as well, I'm looking forward to see them more.
So far we are 4 episodes in:
1, Meet the characters. And little bit of their dinamic. episode
2, Know more deeply one of our main characters, we already know both had hard moments in life. episode
3 The relationship between the main couple starts to develope and we know more of both of them
[SPOILER ALERT]
4 A transition where they go to Bangkok and we see how Rak change in his environment.
[END OF SPOILER]

Can't wait to see more!!

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Great Chemistry; Weak Story

The show offers a predictable and clichéd plot that doesn’t stand out, relying heavily on the strong chemistry between the main couple, Fort and Peat, to keep viewers engaged. Their natural and genuine connection, especially in the NC scenes, is the highlight of the series, elevating it above its otherwise unremarkable narrative. While the secondary GL couple adds a sweet dynamic, the show’s dialogue and music are forgettable, contributing little to the overall experience. Rewatch value is limited to the NC scenes, making the show worth watching mainly for fans of the FortPeat pairing, despite its shortcomings in story and originality.

1. Story: The plot of the show is nothing to write home about—it's predictable, cliched, and doesn't offer any surprising twists or deep narrative developments. If it weren't for the actors' strong performances, particularly the main couple, the show would likely fall flat. The chemistry between the leads is the saving grace, transforming what could have been a dull experience into something enjoyable. Because the story is so basic, there's not much to dissect or discuss. The dialogue is serviceable—neither cringeworthy nor particularly memorable—and the characters are likable enough to keep viewers engaged, albeit with low expectations.

The highlight of the show, however, isn't the story but the NC (sexually explicit) scenes. This says a lot about the overall quality of the plot, as these scenes outshine the rest of the narrative. If you don't mind a story that's heavily reliant on tropes and predictability, you might find it perfectly watchable. Fans of similar shows, like Love in the Air (particularly the Prepai and Sky parts), might find some enjoyment here, as the tone and structure are quite similar. The story revolves around character A, who is emotionally scarred due to a past experience (in this case, related to his mother instead of a former lover) and has lost faith in love. Character B enters his life and slowly convinces him that love is real. The inevitable breakup occurs because A is scared of getting hurt again and pushes B away, claiming he no longer loves him. B leaves temporarily, only to return later, leading to a heartfelt reunion where A confesses his true feelings. The story sticks to a well-worn formula, lacking any substantial elements that could set it apart—such as a sexual assault subplot, which is notably absent here.

2. Acting/Cast: The chemistry between Fort and Peat is what truly elevates this show. Their on-screen connection is so natural and palpable that it becomes the focal point of the entire series. Without them, the show would likely crumble under the weight of its unoriginal plot. The affection and intimacy they share seem to leap off the screen, making their performances feel genuine and deeply engaging. There's nothing awkward or forced about their interactions, and their acting perfectly captures the essence of their characters.

What really sets their performances apart are the NC scenes. Unlike other shows where such scenes can feel staged or uncomfortable, Fort and Peat bring a level of realism and intensity that makes these moments incredibly sensual and believable. It's not just about what the audience sees but how convincingly they portray their characters' desire and passion for one another. The fact that the show is over is disappointing, not because of the plot, but because it means we won't get to see more of Fort and Peat together. Thankfully, their other videos are still available online for fans to enjoy. Additionally, the secondary GL (Girl's Love) couple adds a charming dynamic to the show, with their sweet and adorable relationship providing a nice contrast to the main couple's more intense connection.

3. Music: The soundtrack is entirely forgettable. There's nothing in the musical score that stands out or adds any significant emotional depth to the scenes. It's serviceable at best but doesn't contribute anything noteworthy to the viewing experience.

4. Rewatch Value: The only scenes worth revisiting are the NC scenes, which stand out for their raw chemistry and intensity. The rest of the show, however, lacks the substance or excitement needed to make it worth a second viewing. For those who enjoyed Love in the Air more, it's likely that they'd prefer to rewatch that series instead. Despite the show's blandness, there's still an element of enjoyment, but that can largely be attributed to a bias towards the FortPeat pairing.

All in all, the series is relatively light and fluffy. Although there's a breakup, it's resolved quickly, within a single episode, so for viewers who aren't fans of dramatic tension, the last episode could easily be skipped. Overall, the show is worth a watch primarily for the incredible chemistry between the leads, making it a decent recommendation despite its shortcomings.

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A Rather Deep Series

This series is exceptional, surprisingly. I was not expecting it to affect me as deeply as it did, but one had to frankly get through a lot of cacophony to get to the story. But once you did, and evaluated that, it was much deeper than most viewers, I think, realized. It honestly left me emotionally drained. This series, I felt. What brought this series down and unfortunately way down was the awful peripheral (I guess) GL portion. I am not sure the reason to throw that into the mix as it added nothing to the story. If I were doing this story, I would have begun with the last episode as the first and then told the story of how they got there. Only them, with then the essential figures influencing the story. We could undoubtedly have understood what made both ‘tick’. These two are fascinating individuals and I wanted to know who they were. All we saw were glimpses and shadows of who they were. I did not want to find that out only in the end. The two of them fascinated me as a couple.
You can read my full review of this rather well done series (minus the GL portion) at BLBliss.com

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Depressing trend of Thai BL

I don't know if this is the right audience for this, but I feel like there's something colonial about the use of Thai BL to pretty much be almost porn. I wonder at how much agency/options the actors have. I wonder at how much agency/options the producers have. It's just that once Thai BL really started hitting the international markets, it became all about the explicit sex scenes at the expense of the plot and self-respect. I know Thailand can produce incredible BL and incredible television. Some of the best BL of all time come from Thailand, so I don't know why it's taken this trend. Maybe it's because of Thailand's history with sex tourism,that my mind is thinking about this, but sex sells, and exploitation of formerly colonized countries to satisfy the desires of western countries is a time-honored tradition. Please someone tell me I'm crazy. Please someone find me one Thai BL that doesn't have an explicit sex scene in it during the last year. I think I also just need a good cry.

Anyways, the show hypothetically has a plot, and I think the plot could be good if the actors could get it across, but I feel like the actors have to create these 2D characters, one that's prissy and annoying, and one's that so full of himself you want to punch him in the face... and annoying. There's no build-up, they don't establish chemistry (which we know the actors can thanks to love in the air), and then they just get down to it (cough), and my secondhand embarrassment just kills me. But the island is beautiful. I hope this spurs not-sex tourism.

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Started out rough but ended great

As much as I love Fort and Peat, this was not that great until about episode 7. The scenes on the island and diving were good but the script just didn’t start out that great.

I’m wondering if they will ever give Peat a role where he isn’t always mad and pouting. Let this guy show more sides of his acting skills! Fort was more of the same as well. He was cute, flirtatious, and tried hard to win Peat over despite being treated like crap.

BUT, when it comes to the steamy scenes, these two guys have the most amazing chemistry I have ever seen.

Tongrak’s assistant, Mook, was so hard to watch. She whined and cried about everything. Situations were ridiculous. She overreacted to the smallest things (like unzipping the dress). I really wanted to fast forward every time she was on screen.

Loved the family drama and how it was all resolved. Finally understood why Tongrak was the way he was. Loved little Meena. Next time, these guys deserve a great script that they can knock out of the park!

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