Instant Cult Classic - artful characters beautifully packaged in a Brat-Tamer sitcom

RakDiao is refreshing and creative for the genre being a BL-sitcom. I don't want to simply reiterate key details already covered by many other reviews, so here are some new thoughts accompanied with points I believe reviewers should continue to be emphasize:

Praise:

I see a lot of folks describing the show as following an enemies-to-lovers theme. This isn't wrong, but I believe the dynamic is better described as "Brat-Tamer". This dynamic is key in understanding Rak's uncanny interest in Diao as the slow burn builds into a more apparent game of cat and mouse. It is also the bread and butter of every episode as Rak and Diao square off in the most ludicrous ways. If you enjoy silly and witty banter lanced with flirtatious tones and teaching moments then you'll find the rewatch value to be very high.

At a surface level, Rak and Diao are respectively juxtaposed against each other as the wise and virtuous boss vs. the brash and mischievous employee. For a sitcom, I was incredibly impressed with the level of complexity built into these characters. Their nuanced qualities were slowly unraveled for viewers to see until the veils of their crude, one-dimensional introductions were completely removed. Diao is revealed as a passionate person driven by his care for those he considers closest to him and hurdled by his pride and fear of vulnerability. Rak turns out to be more human as his perfect stoicism and self-assurance are challenged by a lack of direction for the problems weighing on his heart.

Character development and touching moments are artfully woven into the show without disrupting the light-hearted fun and humor that comes with being a sitcom.

Challenges:

Others have mentioned this, but if you aren't fluent in Thai (and perhaps even if you are) then the abuse of the laugh track in the first episode might be a hurdle for you. I preemptively beg everyone I share this show with the at least watch through episode two before deciding whether or not to continue. Almost everyone who has done this claims that the laugh track quickly becomes less noticeable as the humor of the show starts to brand itself.

Some folks find Diao's character too aggressive and offputting in the first episode. Again, I challenge them to give the show another episode or two as many find he quickly grows on them--if not for his unique charm then certainly for the chaotic humor he generates for the show.

The coworkers in the show, funny as they may be, continue the less desirable tradition in sitcoms of framing sexual harassment as humorous. I enjoyed many of their moments on screen, but there isn't a single episode where they don't make a sexual remark or advance about their boss while at work.

SMALL SPOILER:
The show was initially rumored to have around 50 episodes, but ended up only being 15 for unknown reasons. The crew clearly had to make some adjustments towards the end. While I think they handled this masterfully, some folks may find that there were too many elements left open and that the show could have benefited from some epilogue-like content to color in its conclusion. Many of us are hoping that this show is eventually revisited for a second season or at least a special episode.

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I watched this in a single sitting and was incredibly impressed by what they were able to do with so little screentime.

STORY - 9.5/10:
One thing I appreciate about this story is the mature take it has in unpacking concepts of "love" and "authenticity", particularly for queer men. As many times as they had me chopping onions, I also walked away feeling empowered to be true to myself as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. It was a delicate balance but I think they found it. Forwarning, I found certain parts a bit intense. If bullying, violence, and suicide are triggers for you then please be cautious.

The ONLY reason there's a small ding in my rating for this category is I felt like the ending was very sudden. It felt like they slapped a bow on the story because they ran out of screentime. I tried not to fault them for it too hard because this is still easily one of the best BL series I've ever seen, and I whole-heartedly believe that with more screentime they would've been able to better pace the ending of the story.

ACTING - 10/10:
The moments shared between the two leads felt tender and genuine. They performed each stage of their relationship so well. From budding friendship to passionate paramours, the chemistry was present. The supporting cast also does an excellent job. Their roles felt natural and no one ever felt like a distraction from the story, nor did they break immersion.

MUSIC - 10/10:
SIS. THE MUSIC IS EVERYTHING. They made me want to learn Mandarin just so I could sing along. The opening for each episode brings the emotion right out of you, I honestly didn't stand a chance.

REWATCH VALUE - 9.5/10:
This one is tough to rate because I've personally only watched it once. However, I think what gives me confidence in the rewatch value for this series is that it is sophisticated, intense, cute, and short. I'd honestly treat it like a movie. The only deterrent is that, again, I'm a bit unsatisfied with the ending and I worry that the story will feel less and less complete every time I watch it.

OVERALL - 9.5/10:
It's absolutely worth the watch. I wish I could give them at least another hour or two of screentime! But what they gave us is beautiful. Prepare to have more than your average BL feels!

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