From the first scene, 'Wandee Goodday' makes viewers fall in love with it. In a beautiful, dimly lit room, a young orthopedic surgeon seeks to ease the pain of having been rejected by his platonic love... by having sex with a virtual stranger.
Wandee, the name of the risky and irreverent protagonist of the Thai series of the romantic comedy genre with an LGBT+ theme, after being rejected decides to go crazy and drink away his sorrow. Drunk, on his way home, he meets Yoryak (Gigante), a Muay Thai fighter, and decides to propose to him to have revenge sex. Wandee and Yoryak spend a passionate night together, after which they agree to become friends with benefits.
However, things change when Wandee lies to her colleagues and tells them that she is dating someone. As the official synopsis points out, Wandee then asks Yoryak to pretend to have a romantic relationship with him for four months. The couple goes from being friends with benefits to being fake boyfriends, but little by little, their relationship transforms into something much more meaningful and substantial. Moments of emotional connection, in addition to the physical connection that already exists between the two, will allow you to develop deep feelings.
The fuse of the series lights at a good speed through a give and take of more or less witty replies and counterreplies. The quick transition from scene to scene makes BL lovers jump for joy.
Inn Sarin Ronnakiat ('Miracle of Teddy Bear') and Great Sapol Assawamunkong ('Manner of Death'), in the roles of Wandee and Yoryak, respectively, star in this series in which the limits of love and friendship are not at all clear. The audiovisual promises that between sexual appointments, the doctor and the fighter will experience a rollercoaster of emotions, dramas and personal crises. And this is exactly what viewers expect.
Seeing both actors in action is super hot, and yes, the story tells us that love comes even if you are not looking for it, even better! They are both single and meet after one of them gets drunk, have sex and decide to repeat it several more times without any commitment. But who wouldn't fall in love with them?
Not being emotionally available is the excuse that many people use to start a strictly sexual relationship, but what if your heart really wants something else? That is not the worst scenario for Wandee, but the fact of having run into Yoyak, a boy who will soon be open to taking the relationship to another level.
The always necessary figure of the "killjoy" does not take long to appear, this time assumed by Ter Kawin, played by Pod Suphakorn Sriphothong ('Dark Blue Kiss'), the attractive, serious and responsible doctor, who after rejecting Wandee for considering that he is "too vanilla" for his taste, he has come to the conclusion that Yoryak is a bad influence on Wandee, and that he does not deserve to be with someone as good as him, so he will try to separate them, causing problems and discord between the three.
Golf Tanwarin Sukkhapisit, the non-binary actress, filmmaker, writer and politician, directs this tongue-in-cheek comedy adapted from Nottakorn's novel Y 'Wandee Witthaya', with a slight title change by GMMTV.
Characterized by an attractive visuality in its artistic conception, the series surprises us with something more than just a new ship. Because, I can't hold back: what chemistry between Inn and Great. Because if the series manages to surpass others in the romantic comedy genre, part of the blame lies with these two actors in an absolute state of grace. The romantic and sexual vibrations between its characters immediately infect the most cautious viewer, creating a strong empathy with protagonists infinitely better written than the secondary ones.
The verbal humor and the witty retorts and counter-replies that they throw at each other are fabulous. Added to this is the restless and aggressive air of Bangkok, which seduces the viewer, with the background music, the crowds, the monks walking the streets, the historical monuments, the social and cultural landscape of the days and nights of the capital thai, and the boxing matches that promise action and scenes of pure adrenaline.
But to the magic of addressing another historical, social and cultural context, is added the literary basis that inspired Yokee Apirak Chaipanha, who has been an ally of Golf on multiple occasions, to once again put a text with his name in his hands to be brought to the screen.
In addition, other series by the renowned director are also represented in one way or another, including 'Our Skyy 2', 'Moments of Love', 'The Eclipse', 'The Bedtime Story'. Golf's narrative fiction and its recurring themes, such as sexual diversity, the complexity of homosexual characters, family relationships, sex, and others, are mixed with Thai authenticity, both in the boxing ring and in consultations and rooms. surgical rooms of the hospital where Wandee works, as well as in her cozy home, all main settings of the series.
At the same time, other attractive stories take place, such as that of Plakao (Drake Sattabut Laedeke), known for his participation in other BL, such as 'Bad Buddy', an interesting character who, in addition to being Wandee's friend, is a person who does not want experience sexual contact with other boys.
Likewise, the story of O-ye and Cherry, Yoyak's brother and coach, and her boyfriend will be interesting, an always-awaited second couple that increases tensions and conflicts, roles assumed by Thor Thinnaphan Tantui ('The Warp Effect') and Fluke Nattanon Tongsaeng ('Ai Long Nhai'), respectively.
The cast includes AJ Chayapol Jutamas as Ohm, Ployphach Phatchatorn Thanawat as Taemrak and Emi Thasorn Klinnium as Khwan.
The nuances of these and other secondary characters, all good actors and actresses in their respective roles, will be discovered as the episodes progress. Her performances, along with those of the main protagonists, the locations, and that tone that the director knows how to give to the story, is what makes 'Wandee Goodday' a series that could have been excessive and routine, becomes a pleasant, fun, entertaining and very addictive product.
It's true, 'Wandee Goodday is not the height of originality. Nor does it intend to provide a definitive anthropological approach to friendship and love relationships. I highly doubt that he intends to change television. It's not in their plans. But from the little that I have been able to appreciate up to this moment, it seeks to contribute something to the romantic comedy genre, and I mean to be natural and realistic, without completely renouncing romanticism, but without falling completely into the ordinary and vulgar.
I liked how the series set out to achieve what many others of the same genre do not achieve, which is to talk like people today, do the things that people today do and relate like people today do. It is this naturalness that gives Thai drama the freshness it needs to be credible, the freshness that any comedy would need. Its script and editing become true weapons in favor of the story and its tone, something that is appreciated.
And as I have already said in some way, the great success of 'Wandee Goodday' is its leading couple. In the same way we expect special effects to work in a science fiction series; or that true emotions are what drive a drama, for a romantic comedy to be crowned with applause from the public and critics, its couple has to be credible, compelling, with chemistry. And Great and Inn deliver here exceptionally. The weight of the series falls entirely on their complicity and the nuances of their relationship, something that these two actors do with indisputable charm and charisma.
The series is just beginning. We will have to closely follow Wandee and Great, who promise to make us laugh and cry with their love dilemmas, but above all make us reflect on whether there is that person who stays with you through thick and thin, even if at first it seems like just a game .
Because, in addition to entertaining, the series confirms that even when there is no commitment in a relationship, there are attitudes and actions that generate intimacy and emotional ties between two people despite not wanting it, resulting in uncontrollable love. Open relationships can be chaotic, but some have happy endings, so don't stop believing.
We are faced with an unbeatable example that two people can have an open relationship and later fall in love. So don't lose hope if you have a friend with benefits. Whoever said that starting a relationship with sex is wrong is wrong.
But now that I think about it, 'Wandee Goodday' is not exactly a story about friends with benefits. Although it all begins with a sexual encounter, the relationship between Wandee and Yoyak is about the power of destiny and the way it manages to bring two people together.