I Feel You Linger in the Air (2023)

BL To Beat

Gorgeous scenery and cinematography. Excellent scriptwriting. Acting is outstanding! Nonkul being a season actor is the perfect actor for Jom. Bright is great revelation here! He acts really well too. All the characters get their proper time to develop their story. No one was left behind. The characters are even fleshed out in all it's splendor as if I'm watching real people. My only concern is that I hope we got to see the backstory of the two troublemakers, the foreign master and Dech. It would be nice to see where they came from and the reason of their motive aside from just being greedy. Nonetheless, the series is amazing.

I enjoyed how they show the truth about politics, society, and prejudice during that time. The blunt and unfiltered portrayals gave this piece of art a disturbing feeling but in a good way that will make you question your beliefs and morals.

Every detail and every scene was carefully shot as if I'm watching a high-quality movie every single episode. I'm not sure why some people are salty and tries looking for faults in this show. Frankly speaking, with the caliber of this series, I keep on questioning myself if I'm really watching a BL drama. This is a freakin' masterpiece people!

Without any bias I can say that "I Feel You Linger In The Air" is the BL to beat. THIS IS A MUST WATCH!

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If you are into BL this is a must wast watch

I started watching it because of my friend going on about the aesthetics. I should thank the Bl angels for leading me to it. A beautiful drama with an unique and amazing storyline although there were some loopholes it can be ignored as it has been covered up by the aesthetics, music and acting. I loved everything starring from the time travel troupe to the Soulmate concept. The only complain I have is the lack of explanation in the last episode of how Yai is there in the current timeline, he just shows up . There’s no explanation how he comes here or is it the Yai of this timeline or Yai from the 90s

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A beautiful story

I've waited this drama to finish in order to binge watch it and thank god I did it because this drama is so good that I couldn't wait to watch another episode every time I finished one.

The story is not really original but it is so well-done that it feels unique on its own. The cinematography is absolutely wonderful and the pacing of the story is absolutely right, I think: not too slow but not too fast either (which is a problem in some series nowadays).

All of the actors are fantastic in their role (even the bad guys). I already knew Nonkul was a great actor but I discovered Bright in this series and he's wonderfully talented. The emotional scenes went straight into my heart and he got me teary several times along the drama, which is almost a miracle as it is difficult for me to cry watching fictional stories. I specially remember the scene in which Jom and Yai sleep together for the last time and Yai is crying as he's doing it. That was so beautifully filmed and acted by both Nonkul and Bright, it was amazing. Another scene that I found really beautiful for its rawness is when Jom is applying oil on himself. I didn't know how to feel watching this. I was embarassed at first, feeling that I was watching something that I shouldn't, but at the end, I felt that the scene was very magnificent, and I couldn't help but praising the work behind those kind of scenes. Because some may think that those scenes are just NC scenes to please the audience but I felt that they were something more than just s*x. In the first example, we can see Yai longing for Jom as he knows that the time with him will be over soon. And in the second example, we can see Jom just burning with desire and we understand later why he didn't ask Yai some help. Those scenes really made an impact on me.

Other actors that I want to talk about is Kimmy and his lovely British accent (I knew he was familiar and I've checked his filmography to see that he played one of the rugbyman in Bad Buddy - what a great upgrade!) and Attila. Robert's character was a real j*rk but I love that he was more than that and that we can see that he was really in love with Jeed as the look he gave her at the end before being taken by the police showed.

Of course, I liked the show as a whole and I really liked that they took the time to build the relationship between Yai and Jom instead of making them in love right from the start (even though, it's a bit what's happening but at least, they spend time together, learning about each other before being official). It was still a bit irritating to see Jom so dense when he was facing Yai's feelings (the guy told him right in his face that he had feelings for him and the next day, when he properly confesses, Jom is still acting surprised...) and to see them being all lovey-dovey in places they could easily be seen (don't they know where they are?).

I'm a bit confused about the ending, though, as it is not specifically explained who exactly is the guy at the end. Is he the real Yai from the 1920s (impossible because he should be dead unless he also travelled in time) or is it his reincarnation (possible, but why does he have the exact same name and the same memories as Yai?). I would have loved to see a bit more of them in 2023 and that they explained a bit more of what I'm wondering...

I highly recommend this series (watch the uncut version, it is probably better) and I hope that they will do a second season as I've heard a lot of people talking about it on social media (is it for real?).

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Best Thai BL of 2023

I'm late to this show because I'm not a fan of historical dramas.... but let me tell you this... I was bored during the holidays so I decided to finally give it a go after seeing so many people talking about it.. Nonkul and Bright delivers masterful performances and the supporting cast really impressed me.. I am engulfed by how good this show is and I hope more quality content like this comes out of Thailand.. I do think this was a weak year in BL for Thailand... but this show has given me hope and it is now easily in my top 10 all time BLs.. I love shows that deal with social issues head on and the premise of this show felt so fresh and exciting for the genre.

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Weaknesses Kept Pulling Me Out Of Immersion.

Slow yet mentally intriguing. I really wanted to like this but the frusterating and unbelievable aspects kept accumulating and pulling me out of being immersed in the story. Mentally I was really intrigued by the premise and curious about what would happen so I kept watching. At 7 episodes in, however, it was not really engaging my emotions.

Update: I completed the series on 11/19/23 and episodes 8-11 were the best to me. The story was more focused and things did start to get emotional, mainly due to Bright's acting as Yai. There's also a little less stupidity by characters overall. I did love the change in family dynamics with the mother, that was one thing that was written well. The intimate scenes were full of love and emotions and beautifully shot. I appreciated that the eroticism of undressing each other was frequently included.

Ep 12 was rushed, choppy, not explained well, and thus not very satisfying. The set up for a second season was interesting though and I will probably give it a try out of curiosity if it gets made.

The director and screenwriters have worked together before and their weaknesses are consistent throughout their work. This series is their strongest work to date though. Maybe it helped that they had a whole book as source material to work from.

There's a lot of telling vs showing. It's like we get the highlights but the stuff in-between is skipped over so sense of time is really muddled (and not in an intentional way). Characters will say things like 'we've been together a while now' or ''you've been avoiding me for a while' or 'since this time' and we see the most recent example of being avoided but not the multiple times leading up to the current conversation. Because of this, the emotions of the characters feel rather shallow and mercurial because we don't get to experience the building of their emotions in-step with them.

We see Yai's process of falling for Jom over multiple episodes, but not the other way around. Yes, Jom has to go through some things/emotions before he can fall for someone new, but Yai is obviously drawn to Jom like a magnet and that doesn't feel reciprocated.

At the same time, the way the story is directed and shot is super slow. I would have dropped this series if I didn't have the ability to watch at 1.5 to 2 x the speed. And even then I still skipped through some bits. So the script could have fit in more examples of the main characters interacting and growing their connection with each other.

There's also a huge lack of self-preservation instincts in an era that was even less accepting of queer relationships, which is unbelievable enough to pull me out of the fantasy they are spinning. Especially since they are depicting social sentiments in a serious manner and in-line with an older era. So to have a 20 year old young master (Yai), with a very strict and traditional father, and frequently in the spotlight, who is not at all paranoid about showing affection out in the open or in broad daylight (but will jump apart and act nervous when caught), is ridiculous to me.

GENERAL SPOILERS below.

Example, in a later episode Yai's dad confronts him about his relationship with Jom and tells him his man has been watching them. Yai is alarmed and nervous and says "we never do anything explicit in public". Yet, even knowing the above, the very next day he has his arms half around Jom & is holding his hands out in the porch on the river in broad daylight when, gasp, someone "unexpectedly" comes upon them. JUST like someone did before at that exact spot. It's so reckless it's just dumb and obviously contrived by the writers. It makes the characters seem way less believable AND of low IQ to boot! *Facepalm.

Other things that keep pulling me out of the story:
Jom is acted pretty woodenly and he comes across as a simpleton the way he's written, directed, and acted (seriously, the amount of times he's asked a question and takes 10 to 40 seconds to answer while there's not much going on in his face or behind his eyes is frustrating).

Yai is supposed to be 20 but isn't written or acted like he's that young until a much later episode when young naivete and determination bubble up.

Robert is reportedly able to be charming because he's won over Yai's father, but all we and everyone else sees is a very obviously bad man, which makes that important plot point unbelievable. (And it's a missed opportunity to make in interesting two-faced, charismatic but dangerous antagonist.)

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I Feel You Linger in the Air was almost a horror

I Feel You Linger in the Air is the first Thai BL I waited for all 12 episodes to air before binging it and I have to say it left me with mixed emotions. I enjoyed episodes 1-5, no problem, but 6-12 took me longer than expected to finish. I also skipped around in episodes 10-12.

What I enjoyed/liked about the series:
- The acting and cinematography were equally aesthetically pleasing. The whole cast is new to me but I thought Nonkul did an exceptional job as Jom and Bright delivered. Everyone is talented but I especially love Guide as Ming. His voice color and tone…who wouldn’t fall for it? Kimmy (James) oh my gawd, someone give this guy a lead role.
- The English script was spot on. I don’t know if they hired a professional or Kimmy simply put his own twist to it but it was so fluid and fluent, and James really came across as a competent character.
- I already praised Nonkul but I have to say his and Typhoon/Ohm’s scenes were so rewarding. I haven’t seen the behinds but from the series alone I would assume they’re close based on their chemistry. I mean, they could just be good actors but I’d like to believe they’re friendly and comfortable with each other too.
- I love that the series included all kinds of love and relationships.
- Bright and Nonkul slayed every intimate scene!
- The costume design and styles were great here. They really convinced me that this was 1927-1928 Chiang Mai. The landscape was great. Though the forest scenery in episode 11 appears to be a greenscreen. I know they used the same location for Home School and didn’t do much with the outdoors but I appreciate the decor and furnishing indoors.
- The music was adequate, except, they used the same two(?) songs throughout the entire show. I love the opening song, it really captured the historical sound of Thai culture.

What I disliked or had me scratching my head:
- The timeline isn’t crystal clear until the end of episode 11. October 1928. Since we had Christmas, that meant Jom spent close to a year in the past. Maybe I missed it but was Jom’s age ever revealed?
- RIP to Jom’s architecture arc. Since he was renovating the main house in the present/future, it would have been nice if he studied its construction in the past and then returned to the present to give the workers some pointers but I guess that would have been a waste of screen time. I did like that the show maintained his artistic skills as an architect though.
- Khun Yai being soft-spoken was expected, given the timepiece, but it was a fresher breath of air that he had no mean bone in his body. However, this side of him didn’t do his character any favors. Diving into the series, he evidently holds some power as the oldest son of the homeowner but after some time, we see that he has no real authority (even Lek doesn’t listen to him). That’s when I began to question if bookworm Yai is intelligent or if his father’s influence is doing all his bidding. Whenever he rescues Jom from Robert, I'm always left with a lingering feeling of dissatisfaction. Everyone seems to be on edge due to his assigned position and not who he is as an individual. Yai also has a tendency to seclude himself to the small house, primarily to avoid his family’s high expectations, and to do his own thing. Early on, he reveals that he finds his brother-in-law offputting but except for one or two conversations, nothing comes of it. Yai also doesn’t have any friends and isn’t close to any of the servants except his nanny. We know Yai works with his father but we never see what he actually does except mentions of running errands and attending parties. Yai wasn’t even trusted to set up, plan, and host his father’s promotional ceremony as it was left to the servant Chan. Yai had no real growth throughout the entire show and the major conflict with his father was easily and single-handedly resolved by Jom (well, with the help of supporting characters but Jom orchestrated and led it). I wished Yai had more going for him other than jumping Jom, reading, and snacking. I know he was the healthy relationship Jom deserved but as an equal Jom could do better.
- I wish the show had a moment where Khun Yai really cared and helped the other servants besides Jom. Then again, even with Jom, he always gave up after one sour conversation with his parents. I.e. the two separate incidents with Prik and Ming.
- Why didn’t Yai ever tell Jom he had a dream about Jom? It gave me the impression that he only developed feelings quicker for Jom because he recognized Jom from his dream. As if the affectionate Jom in his dream shaped the real Jom for him.
- Yai and Jom spent about a year together but hardly knew each other on a personal level. Yai doesn't inquire if Jom regained any memories of his past or what Jom's hobbies, favorite food, desserts, etc are. Jom didn't really know that Yai's dream was to study Law. They always spoke of their love for each other but Yai doesn't seem to care for Jom's personal goals, wishes, etc. Their relationship is somewhat shallow and surfaced level.
- I like that Khun Luang, Yai’s father, knew about his son and daughter’s same-sex relationships but as someone who was painted as very judgemental, old-schooled, and strict, I’m shocked that the worst he can do is arrange marriages and had his son followed. Maybe I’m numb to the harshness some may see in it but I also don’t understand the accusation and treatment he received from his wife afterwards. Khun Ying’s 180 came out of nowhere when she's been supporting Luang’s decisions for 20 years. It’s bad that she condoned Luang’s strictness, but when shit hits the fan, she wants to dump all the ugly on him and plays the nice and accepting parent role? What gives?
- I don’t mind it when supporting characters get a lot of screen time but when there’s no crossover or cause and effect; the feeling of watching two different series in one negates the realism and logic of the entire show. For a while, Yai and Jom were stuck in this loop of mushy puppy love while the other house went through a whirlwind of crazies is crazy to me. What happened to “the walls have ears?” And I don’t understand the distance of the three houses. At times they all seem to be on one big lot, within walking distance of each other, other times you need a boat to get to the other house. The consistency isn’t consistent.
- Why Fongkaew feels the need to apologize to Ueangphueng is unclear. If it’s about her becoming Robert’s second wife then that wouldn’t be on her but him. In actuality, it was Ueangphueng and Mei who plotted and wanted Fongkaew as Robert’s second wife. Fongkaew’s arc is interesting but the arson was glossed over and only employed to stop an engagement. Except for getting Fongkaew to marry Robert, there wasn’t any transparent reason to burn down Kad Luang. We also never got to see Fongkaew ask James for a favor or what hole Ueangphueng dug Robert’s notebook out of. A lot of the investigations were done off-screen and then retched to the viewers at the ceremony. I had no appreciation for that, and again, Yai had no part in bringing the crime to light.
- A handful of the twists and conflicts were jaw-dropping but their executions fell flat. Some for example are a servant witnessing Yai and Jom’s about-to-kiss moment and spreading it like wildfire (though it eventually leads to the engagement) there’s no real consequence for it. Yai continued to jump Jom in broad daylight despite getting caught on multiple occasions. The last drawing is Yai’s, not Jom’s. Ueangphueung’s pregnancy and abortion. A warrior Khun Yai? Chan stalked Yai and Jom day and night but claimed they hadn’t crossed the line when they spent every night together?
- Why wasn’t this series about Jom and James? They would have made a more interesting couple.
- Ming’s problems aren’t taken seriously and that annoys me.
- My theory for the ending is that 1928 Khun Yai, some 3-5 years later is now in the present/future. Simply because in the letter he talked about studying in France and ended it there. There was no 'in my 30s, 40s, or 50s', 'I became a judge', 'I changed this and that', 'I've obtained power without my father's help, 'Ming is now my majordomo but he brings me bad desserts and gets crazy drunk'. I don’t know, something, anything that briefed us he lived past the age of 25, at least.

I regret waiting to binge this only because I might have enjoyed it more watching it once a week. Regardless I'm glad I checked it out because I do love historicals and this series not only introduced a talented cast but two very good songs to me. I also got to know of Nonkul’s music and “Won’t Tell You” is a banger!

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I FEEL IT LINGER IN MY HEART.

Im speechless. I am.

This piece of tale will help you realise how gentle this emotion called love is. The story is so warm, so warm that it does not require any other explanation. You slip in the tale of time, and you experience love.

When I began I was not sure what I was looking for. But this series is made with such perfection that you are going to be part of it before knowing. Every little piece sits perfectly. Every other character leaves their mark. Every turn tells a new story.

Together they make a little universe where you learn to hold onto those you love. Which makes it far more than a show. Far more.

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Ambitious but flawed

Things I liked:
- The cinematography and production had a refreshing and unique feel
- The atmosphere and setting convincingly transported me to a different time
- The music was enjoyable and added to the overall experience
- The acting from everyone, especially the main leads, was impressive
- There was great chemistry between the main and lesbian couples
- Ming, Jom's best friend, was a likable character and a true friend

Things I disliked:
1. The story/plot:
- There were several r*pe scenes involving the abusive husband that made me uncomfortable, and I found them unnecessary. His unlikable traits were already evident, and these scenes hindered the overall enjoyment of the show. Including such scenes made it difficult for me to consider this as a series I would like to rewatch
- I felt that the handling of the lesbian couple's pregnancy could have been improved. It would have been interesting to explore various ways they could have dealt with it, such as gradually coming to terms with it and planning to raise the child together. Alternatively, introducing a miscarriage could have added drama and allowed for emotional growth. However, the decision to include an abortion seemed abrupt and unresolved
- The ending left me confused and unsatisfied. The sudden appearance of Yai in the present was unexplained, and it felt lazy. If he was reincarnated, it would have been helpful to understand why he retained his memories and why it took so long for him to come. The portrayal of reincarnated characters with the same bodies also seemed unrealistic

2. The characters:
- The large number of characters introduced was overwhelming, and it was difficult to remember everyone's names even until the last episode. Many of these characters didn't contribute significantly to the story and could have been omitted
- The two main leads often seemed solely focused on their romantic relationship, especially after becoming boyfriends. They were constantly displaying affection, which became repetitive and monotonous. It would have been refreshing to see them engage in activities without constantly staring into each other's eyes and feeling attracted
- I didn't feel like I got to know the main leads as individuals. It's important to connect with the characters on their own in my opinion, rather than solely through their romantic relationship. There were only limited moments where they interacted with others, and Jom's character, in particular, felt underdeveloped and bland. Additionally, their lack of discretion in public scenes was frustrating and unrealistic
- While the presence of a queer character at the bar was a positive representation, I personally didn't resonate with the character. Particularly, during the scene where they were invited to expose the abusive husband, their laughter reminded me more of a witch, which didn't sit well with me. Overall, I wasn't a big fan of this particular character

3. Other:
- The pacing of the series was too slow for my liking. I found myself longing for action, new locations, and a faster tempo. Feeling the need to check how much is left to watch is never a good sign
- I personally thought that Jom's haircut could have been styled better to enhance the actor's appearance

Overall, while I recognize the potential of the series, I found the execution lacking and hope to see the main leads in another series with a stronger script in the future.

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Ending could have been better but this show gave me serious butterflies

It’s not often that a BL gives me butterflies in my belly – after all, I’ve watched so many and they tend to be more of the same these days – BUT THIS DEFINITELY DID THE TRICK.

The romance is great and will be well-worth your time. As the two men wrestle with their desires for each other, the episodes get progressively more intense, culminating in mounting sexual tension and explosive passion! Energy! And footwork!

The show dances around themes of destiny and fate, making the suggestion that everything runs in cycles. Jom and Yai are destined to meet, even when they are hundreds of years apart. But the show is also about change and resistance in hope of a better tomorrow. It touches on reforming antiquated master-servant relations, rejecting blind adherence to traditions, and the struggle against the patriarchy.

For the most part, I Feel You Linger In The Air has great story progression and complex characters. But as the show slips from the past back into the present, the ending feels a little sloppy and audiences are left wondering wtf is actually going on.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/12/13/i-feel-you-linger-in-the-air-2023-review/

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Everything Was Just Unbelievably Beautiful

I will be honest, I was hesitant to watch this, because sometimes these timey wimey travel through time shows tend to make my brain break. But I'm glad that I gave this one a shot because it is one of the most beautiful BL series that I've ever seen.

The cinematography was breathtaking. Even the filtering and the lighting, everything just complimented the story so well.

And the acting... the actors in this series were SO good. I didn't think I'd buy the romance in how quickly it had to develop over 12 episodes, but they sold the hell out of it for me. By the end I was sobbing in pain right along with Jom and Yai.

I'm glad that it didn't have a sad ending, I'm glad I gave it a shot.

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A love transcending time

There's truly nothing I can say in my review that will do this series justice, but I will try to relay my feelings.

We don't often get BL that's a complete package. Either the plot is lacking or the chemistry is lacking or the actors aren't great or there's too many clichés and loopholes in the story that don't make sense and other factors. However, with I Feel You Linger In the Air, we got a complete package and I couldn't be more satisfied.

The love story between Jom and Yai is one that transcends time. You can tell it is one of those epic romance stories. Like true ROMANCE. BL sometimes can come across as this light and cutesy fluffy thing we watch; it can come across as being unserious sometimes. I Feel You Linger in the Air was a true romance story. Something for us to actually watch with focused intent and take seriously and I so much appreciated what a fresh breath of air this series was. Not trying at all to discount other BLs out there because I enjoy them all regardless, but IFYLITA 100% stands out in the top 1%.

We get a beautiful love story full of sincerity, devotion, passion, desire, patience and a lot more between our main leads. I love the set up of Jom and Yai's story because it is one that can be told in so many different ways and I truly hope we can get more sequels or prequels showing their love story in various timelines.

I highly highly recommend you watch this.

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If Perfection has a visual representation that is this drama

First, let me gush a little bit why this show is so prevalent for me. Frangipani flowers hold a really special value to me. I have some of the best memories with it. My school premises had a huge frangipani tree that was teeming with flowers almost whole year. My best friend and I used to collect the flowers that fell from the tree on the ground, beautiful white petals with specks of gold in the centre and the heavenly scent was both of our favourite.

Then we grew up, moved cities to find our lives. We are in touch but not as much as we were before.
And now that I go to office, I found another frangipani tree on the way, smaller than the one I knew, but full of bloom. They remind me me of my sweet time of childhood. Out of habit, I collect them and take them with me.

Never did I ever imagine that someday, someone will make a whole series using frangipani flower as a symbol of love. Because it is not a fancy flower. It is not used in traditional worship offering, it is not something one gifts their lovers with, it is not even given a second glance. So when I saw the flower used as a symbol of love I was delighted.

The seemingly insignificant flower gets such love is also a proof of every ordinary person has their own extraordinary story . Jom is an ordinary man in his timeline but his story of love is extraordinary.

Now that I got it out of my chest , let us move to the series itself.
The plot, the storytelling, the characters, the writing, the acting , the cinematography, the music - everything is superior.
I Fee You Linger in the Air is not a series, it is feeling, a vibe, a piece of pure art. A gem of production.

I know Nonkul is a very strong actor. And his previous works show that. Bright on the other hand is fairly new but their chemistry together is absolutely marvelous. And the support characters have done such a great job that I am speechless. The portrayal of the 1920s Chiang Mai is enacted beautifully.

Tee Bundit has exceeded my expectations with this. One of the best drama series ever and not just in the category of BLs.
I am eagerky waiting for the special episode and the season 2.

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