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ariel alba
From Chinese BL fiction to the colors of Southeast Asia
The plot begins when An's world is shaken after Jin, his adoptive brother and platonic love, returns to Thailand from the United States, after several years geographically and sentimentally distanced.
In this way, those who, between laughter and games, and without having any blood relationship, had grown up within the same family, meet again. But they are not children anymore. They are two university students. The reunion gives rise to the fact that, while both discover that some powerful and intense feelings unite them beyond being "brothers", An immerses himself in a journey in which he realizes a shocking truth from his past.
We are talking about 'Secret Love', a BL genre miniseries, directed by Content, the Chinese-Thai adaptation of the Asian giant's novel danmei, by J.W. "Secret Planet Series".
Produced by Bebravehud, 'Secret Love' leaves the viewer with a carnival of events, secrets, betrayals, revelations, adoptions, childhood traumas, reconciliations and love affairs.
It is a short miniseries of the BL genre presented by QuStory, with 81 episodes of 2 minutes each.
Among the points to highlight, it is necessary to keep in mind the schedule for which it was conceived in Thailand, its country of origin. 'Secret Love' was not created for primetime requirements, but to be shown on Saturday and Sunday evenings in that Southeast Asian nation.
The fact that it is a short drama does not represent a serious problem for me: I watch the 20 weekly episodes, in a subtitled edition, one following the previous one, and between one and the other I have previews of the next one. The transition is much more enjoyable than the boring and unproductive promotions of Thai products that usually appear after the Next Break in any BL series from that country.
On the other hand, the sum of all the episodes broadcast between Saturday and Sunday add up, in their entirety, to the approximate 40 minutes that the BL series that we frequently enjoy usually have. In total, the 81 episodes would represent four episodes in a series of this format.
That a poor boy is adopted by a rich family after surviving an accident, at age eleven, in which his parents died; That the cause of his orphanhood is the same person who welcomed him into his home, and he ends up in love with his adoptive brother, may seem unlikely; but in the vision of its creators it is nothing more than a functional resource that is inserted into an imaginative and traditionally light dramaturgical conception. This is not the case with the allied and almost fraternized villainy, whose plans to do as much damage as possible to innocent people, often helpless, have sometimes bordered on the absurd in so many similar productions, especially in the final stretch of the series.
Although Gu Hao Wei, the CEO and friend of An's parents, and his wife, have upset more than one, a point in their favor is the overthrow of their negative attitudes by the growing love between the young orphan and Jin, the son of this marriage.
The fact that it is a short drama does not represent a serious problem for me: I watch the 10 weekly episodes, in a subtitled edition, one following the previous one, and between them previews of the next one. The transition is much more enjoyable than the boring and unproductive commercial promotions of Thai products that usually appear in the Next Break in any BL series from that country.
On the other hand, the sum of all the episodes broadcast between Saturday and Sunday add up, in their entirety, to the approximately 40 minutes that the BL series that we frequently enjoy have. In total, the 81 episodes would represent four episodes in a series of this format.
We also have Turbo Chanokchon Boonmanawong among the cast, an actor known for playing Camp in the story 'Friends Forever', from the BL series 'My Universe', and Anda in 'Love Stage!!', who plays in this one. occasion to Lan; and Tee Vitsarut Suwinijjit, popular among genre lovers after starring in 'Restart(ed)', now adding the role of Tong to his resume.
The flashbacks that lead the viewer to understand An's past, the gloomy settings and, at times, the soundtrack of 'Secret Love', underline the dark elements of the story.
Despite some timorous performances (to be developed in the immediate future by the two protagonists), and the lack of depth in the story, the latter being a typical feature of short plots and low-budget productions, both in music and in dialogues, the viewer will also find a beautiful story of love and reconciliation, especially with oneself for hiding an atrocious family secret for years. All of these elements immerse us in engaging entertainment, and debuting stars Tle Matimun Sreeboonrueang, as Jin, and FirstOne Wannakorn Reungrat, as An, are especially charming.
Casting directors take note: Tle and FirstOne, in their respective first roles in their young careers, are two actors to be reckoned with, capable of conveying subtle shades of inner turmoil, of discomfort at finding themselves in love with someone of the same gender, then of his time on the 'TV Show DMD Friendship the Reality', Domundi's artist training program.
They both need a little more acting skills, confidence in front of the cameras. I have no doubt they will win in this regard.
The protagonists of 'Secret Love' had already participated in the 'TV Show SosatSeoulsay', precisely in episode 237, a television program that follows the protagonists and actors of Thai dramas.
In the script, which adapts the Chinese BL novel of the same name, the ingenuity of Wang Tinglian and Ding Wuen must be highlighted, by taking the original work and transferring its setting to Thailand, where the centers move between lavish mansions, companies and the university, with its pertinent allusions to studies, to obtaining the family company as an inheritance and to the search for success at any price, no matter if through crime.
And, if we talk about society, the series explores in a sensible way (and with high doses of sensitivity) certain topics such as male homosexuality, the emancipation of children from their parents, the breaking of taboos, self-acceptance and friendship.
The miniseries, with Chinese narrative inspiration and a warm mix of Thai essences, manages to satisfy the public thanks to the combination of melodramatic elements in an agile, light and attractive story.
In this way, those who, between laughter and games, and without having any blood relationship, had grown up within the same family, meet again. But they are not children anymore. They are two university students. The reunion gives rise to the fact that, while both discover that some powerful and intense feelings unite them beyond being "brothers", An immerses himself in a journey in which he realizes a shocking truth from his past.
We are talking about 'Secret Love', a BL genre miniseries, directed by Content, the Chinese-Thai adaptation of the Asian giant's novel danmei, by J.W. "Secret Planet Series".
Produced by Bebravehud, 'Secret Love' leaves the viewer with a carnival of events, secrets, betrayals, revelations, adoptions, childhood traumas, reconciliations and love affairs.
It is a short miniseries of the BL genre presented by QuStory, with 81 episodes of 2 minutes each.
Among the points to highlight, it is necessary to keep in mind the schedule for which it was conceived in Thailand, its country of origin. 'Secret Love' was not created for primetime requirements, but to be shown on Saturday and Sunday evenings in that Southeast Asian nation.
The fact that it is a short drama does not represent a serious problem for me: I watch the 20 weekly episodes, in a subtitled edition, one following the previous one, and between one and the other I have previews of the next one. The transition is much more enjoyable than the boring and unproductive promotions of Thai products that usually appear after the Next Break in any BL series from that country.
On the other hand, the sum of all the episodes broadcast between Saturday and Sunday add up, in their entirety, to the approximate 40 minutes that the BL series that we frequently enjoy usually have. In total, the 81 episodes would represent four episodes in a series of this format.
That a poor boy is adopted by a rich family after surviving an accident, at age eleven, in which his parents died; That the cause of his orphanhood is the same person who welcomed him into his home, and he ends up in love with his adoptive brother, may seem unlikely; but in the vision of its creators it is nothing more than a functional resource that is inserted into an imaginative and traditionally light dramaturgical conception. This is not the case with the allied and almost fraternized villainy, whose plans to do as much damage as possible to innocent people, often helpless, have sometimes bordered on the absurd in so many similar productions, especially in the final stretch of the series.
Although Gu Hao Wei, the CEO and friend of An's parents, and his wife, have upset more than one, a point in their favor is the overthrow of their negative attitudes by the growing love between the young orphan and Jin, the son of this marriage.
The fact that it is a short drama does not represent a serious problem for me: I watch the 10 weekly episodes, in a subtitled edition, one following the previous one, and between them previews of the next one. The transition is much more enjoyable than the boring and unproductive commercial promotions of Thai products that usually appear in the Next Break in any BL series from that country.
On the other hand, the sum of all the episodes broadcast between Saturday and Sunday add up, in their entirety, to the approximately 40 minutes that the BL series that we frequently enjoy have. In total, the 81 episodes would represent four episodes in a series of this format.
We also have Turbo Chanokchon Boonmanawong among the cast, an actor known for playing Camp in the story 'Friends Forever', from the BL series 'My Universe', and Anda in 'Love Stage!!', who plays in this one. occasion to Lan; and Tee Vitsarut Suwinijjit, popular among genre lovers after starring in 'Restart(ed)', now adding the role of Tong to his resume.
The flashbacks that lead the viewer to understand An's past, the gloomy settings and, at times, the soundtrack of 'Secret Love', underline the dark elements of the story.
Despite some timorous performances (to be developed in the immediate future by the two protagonists), and the lack of depth in the story, the latter being a typical feature of short plots and low-budget productions, both in music and in dialogues, the viewer will also find a beautiful story of love and reconciliation, especially with oneself for hiding an atrocious family secret for years. All of these elements immerse us in engaging entertainment, and debuting stars Tle Matimun Sreeboonrueang, as Jin, and FirstOne Wannakorn Reungrat, as An, are especially charming.
Casting directors take note: Tle and FirstOne, in their respective first roles in their young careers, are two actors to be reckoned with, capable of conveying subtle shades of inner turmoil, of discomfort at finding themselves in love with someone of the same gender, then of his time on the 'TV Show DMD Friendship the Reality', Domundi's artist training program.
They both need a little more acting skills, confidence in front of the cameras. I have no doubt they will win in this regard.
The protagonists of 'Secret Love' had already participated in the 'TV Show SosatSeoulsay', precisely in episode 237, a television program that follows the protagonists and actors of Thai dramas.
In the script, which adapts the Chinese BL novel of the same name, the ingenuity of Wang Tinglian and Ding Wuen must be highlighted, by taking the original work and transferring its setting to Thailand, where the centers move between lavish mansions, companies and the university, with its pertinent allusions to studies, to obtaining the family company as an inheritance and to the search for success at any price, no matter if through crime.
And, if we talk about society, the series explores in a sensible way (and with high doses of sensitivity) certain topics such as male homosexuality, the emancipation of children from their parents, the breaking of taboos, self-acceptance and friendship.
The miniseries, with Chinese narrative inspiration and a warm mix of Thai essences, manages to satisfy the public thanks to the combination of melodramatic elements in an agile, light and attractive story.
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