Enemies-to-friends-to-lovers - Comfort Crowd

Ever tried to break your own rules only to get walked in on by someone that you're keeping from their own happiness with your rules?

Oh no, it's natural consequences!

*cries in bad buddy

Still2gether Ep3 + text posts

Ep5 Ep4 Ep2 Ep1 Pt6 Pt7 Pt8 Pt9 Pt10 P11 P12

If you’re not already, here’s why you all should watch Sotus the Series:

QUALITY PLOT: It’s actually very close and true to the novel’s storyline, probably because the author herself was heavily involved in the making of the show as a member of the writing team and being involved of the casting process.

TALENT: All the actors are incredibly talented and truly bring life to the characters, maybe because they were handpicked by the novel’s author herself, maybe because they actually went through the Sotus system themselves in real life or maybe because the two protagonists actually have been friends and went to university together. There are many scenes were very little is said and very much is conveyed by subtle yet strong gestures or facial expressions. There is also a lot of chemistry between all the actors in all scenes.

CULTURAL VALUE: The way the Thai university’s SOTUS system is shown, explained and talked about in the show actually presents the audience with various points of view on the matter. It also gives a well rounded insight into traditional Thai college life as well as the problems and benefits that come with it. So, there’s actual educational and cultural value in it, without forcing any specific point of view onto the audience.

FEMALE REPRESENTATION: Even though it’s a boylove genre storyline, there are many female characters and every single one of them is well developed, positive, relatable and important to the story. There is no antagonism, no emotional limitation, no stereotyping, and no being used merely as a plot device. Every female character is respected and treated as an equal by all other characters. Of all the Thai TV shows that I’ve watched, this is the only show that did that. And, even though industrial engineering statistically is a male dominated profession and course of studies, this show presents the audience with a 50% female student body and university staff.

LGBT REPRESENTATION: Even though Thai media and culture commonly uses effeminate gay male characters for comic relief by ridiculing their manners and ways of speaking, this show never went there. Here, such a character is not only never made fun of, but also fully accepted to be an integral part of the main group of friends. By everybody. There is also a lesbian character, who (in contrast to the stereotypical Thai media representation) has an individual look and characterization and - most importantly - is never ostracized for her orientation by anybody. In addition, she’s actually made the “star” of the year, which would be similar to “prom queen” in Western terms.

REALISM AND RESPECT: While Thai TV commonly portrays love stories by heavily focusing on sexuality instead of emotional intimacy, and by either having the characters touch a lot but never kiss, or only fake kiss (lips not actually touching, actors freezing for several seconds in weird angles) as well as characters crossing personal and physical boundaries without consent, this show did the opposite. There is barely any intimate touching on this show and sexuality isn’t even discussed. There are two real kisses (as both actors decided the characters would benefit from realistic representation). Both kisses are essential to the storyline and they look much more genuine than anything I have ever seen on any other Thai TV show. Also, every single character’s boundaries and emotions are fully respected and considered valid throughout the whole story. By every other character.

Go watch it on the GMMTV YouTube channel, with the official English subtitles:

Here’s a link to the full playlist (so far there’s 12 episodes with official subs, further episodes will be added weekly - there will be 16 in total).

i haven’t seen anyone talk about it so i will: i adore how insignificant they made who played kwan in the play. they didn’t use it as some dumb jealously arc which we all know would’ve been dragged out if this was any other bl. and for patpran it was insignificant bc they trust and care and love each other enough to know that pat was only doing the play FOR PRAN and that there was absolutely no reason to be jealous over his acting partner. like, the guy who played kwan didn’t even have any lines. instead they focused on the patpran moments like trying to write to what riam was feeling and running the lines together while kwan was gone. it’s just so refreshing

Thank you. For what? For trying to make a silly guy like me happy.

#just hypothetically married friends

(1), (2), (3), (4)

“Aoki, lend me your hand.” KIETA HATSUKOI (2021) - EPISODE 8.

I really really really want to know why there's such a huge industry in many Asian countries(Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, etc.) for gay romance shows, and none at all in the US, Canada, or Great Britain, despite the fact that, if I understand correctly, it's far more socially acceptable to be gay in the latter countries. It's not like there's a lack of women in them who love gay romance. Are there academic papers on this phenomenon? I find it utterly fascinating.