'Ossan's Love Thailand' is an excellent adaptation of the Japanese BL comedy series of the same name about an office love triangle.
Heng (Earth Pirapat Watthanasetsiri), the main character, is a single real estate agent in his thirties. With a silly and naive personality, who has never had a girlfriend, aspires to be the best salesman at the real estate company Okaeri, while his younger coworkers surpass him in monthly sales.
His personal life is also in chaos. His personal life is also in chaos. Tired of caring for her adult son, whom she calls "big boy", his mother moves out, leaving Heng alone at home, hoping to get him to become independent.
Everything could continue like this in Heng's life, but one day by chance he discovers that Kongdechi (Yamnarm Chakrit), his boss and branch manager, has romantic feelings for him.
Unlike the original work, in which the manager, a much older man, divorces his wife to pursue his lover, in this adaptation he is a widower, since his wife died 10 years ago.
Another change in the story is that this time, the manager, who is affectionately called "Boss" by everyone in the office, has a daughter named Cher-aim Charanda (Parn Nachcha Chuedang). When she finds out that the father could be in love with someone at the company, she asks Heng to help her discover who the lucky woman is, which will lead her to another discovery: it is Heng himself who stole her heart father. After accepting that her father is in love with another man, the daughter will support him in confessing his love for Heng and pursue him openly.
So far, after watching the first three episodes of the 12 episodes that the series has, my only complaint is that I will have to regret the absence of the story between the Boss and his wife, Choko Kuribayashi (Ohtsuka Nene in the Japanese series), Well, their relationship was full of very moving moments, exploring topics related to marriage, divorce, midlife crisis and how to deal with unrequited love.
What Kongdechi did not realize is that the departure from the company of a former employee who gets married would open the doors for Momo (Mix Sahaphap Wongratch), another sales agent, to confess his secret love to Heng. Kongdechi was also unable to know that Heng has proposed that Momo live in his condominium so that, in his innocence, he can replace her mother, who has just left home in protest of the very disorganized life her son leads, who at his age still needs maternal care.
It also changes in the story that while in the Japanese original Maki (Mix) falls in love with Haruta (Heng) after starting to work at the company and moving in with him as his roommate, in the Thai adaptation Momo has been there for 8 years keeping his love for Heng a secret, but due to a misunderstanding he assumed that he was his friend Chicha's (Kapook Phatchara Tubthong) boyfriend, so he decided to take a position at a branch in Chiang Mai, in an attempt to support herself away from him.
Heng is unaware of Mix's feelings and only sees him as a work friend.
Following the path of the iconic Japanese BL romantic comedy with a strong cultural impact and great popularity both in Japan and the rest of the world, even among viewers who do not usually watch this genre, it was to be expected that Thailand would decide to adapt the original story of the same name told for the first time in an episode directed by Ruto Toichiro and written by Tokuo Koji, premiered on December 31, 2016 on TV Asahi, in which we enjoy for the first time the performances of Tanaka Kei as Haruta Soichi and Yoshida Kotaro as Kurosawa Musashi.
Subsequently, this story has seen remakes and compilations, collected in 'Ossan's Love' (2018), 'Ossan zu Rabu: in the sky' (2019), and 'Ossan's Love Returns' (2024), the latter two with Hayashi Kento as Maki Ryota, Kurosawa's rival for Haruta's love; without forgetting 'Ossan's Love Hong Kong' (2021), a Hong Kong version of the popular Japanese series.
To film the Thai adaptation, Au Kornphom Niyomsilp, known for directing 'My School President' (2023) and 'My Love Mix-Up!' (2024) and many other BL series, called on screenwriters Bee Pongsate Lucksameepong ('Last Twilight', 2024), and Pratchaya Thavornthummarut ('Bad Buddy', 2022), to bring us back to the characters known to the public, to through a story that, like its predecessors, does not lack hilarious jokes in each episode, silly humor, eccentric characters and comically funny scenarios extravagant that will make everyone laugh.
Two confessions of love in a single night, with a kiss included, in the first episode, mark the path that the series will follow from now on. Heng, who admits to not liking men, is overwhelmed with two men fighting for her heart.
The characters, immersed in their roles and very well played by the actors, give us a story that, although exaggerated, with quirky humor and extravagant settings, explores surprisingly mature themes.
The first impression that the viewer takes away from the characters, especially Heng, is that they are extravagant caricatures, who fulfill their function of making people laugh.
Heng's clumsiness, lack of ambition and business intuition lead him to do his job poorly, which is why he constantly seems to receive criticism from his boss, who hides in his qualms his loving feelings for his subordinate.
I celebrate the casting that chose Earth for the role of Heng, because this actor, far from all the roles he has played so far, delivers a performance that borders on perfection due to his exaggerated reactions and his eccentric and clumsy behavior. The character is designed in the script in a cartoonish way, but the actor relies on his talent, ductility and professionalism to not only convey feelings and emotions, but also provide him with genuine charm.
Ossan's Love would not reach the solidity it has without the joy and contagious enthusiasm that Earth gives to its character.
On the other hand, the character played by Earth has qualities that humanize him in front of viewers, as he has a cheerful character and an optimistic attitude. Despite being clumsy and absent-minded, he cares about his other co-workers. He is not attracted to Kongdechi, however he is able to understand that his boss is in love with him, which leads him to experience sadness and discomfort, but never hatred or rejection.
Earth plays very well as an overwhelmed man who doesn't know how to navigate the work dynamic after his boss's confession, or how he suddenly finds himself faced with two romantic suitors.
Mix, for his part, plays another of the great roles of his artistic career as a friendly, affectionate and trustworthy person, who, fearful that his love will never be reciprocated, or that Kongdechi will take away the person he secretly loves, must face his boss for the love of Heng.
Mix's portrayal of Mo is a little stronger, and his chemistry with Earth is on par with this pair's performances in 'A Tale of a Thousand Stars', 'Moonlight Chicken' and 'Our Skyy 2'.
Against all logic if we take into account that he is an older person, who radiates respect and treats his staff well, in addition to being the leader of the company's employees, Kongdechi also acts as a singular and bizarre being in his plans to conquer the man he has fallen in love with. Although his behavior seems inappropriate and borders on workplace harassment, everything is aimed at provoking thoughtful laughter.
The theme songs "Stuckling", performed by Earth, Mix and Jennie Pahan; "Lucky Fan" and "Untill", sung by Earth; "False Awekening", vocalized by Mix, and "You Are my Best", voiced by Earth and Mix, are part of a soundtrack as hilarious and extravagant as the story itself.
I will surely update the review again later.