A drama with a different setting from the usual Thai BLs - olden Thailand
The main leads are mature working adults. The setting is quite different for this drama, unlike the usual school settings in most Thai BLs. It is set in the 1920s Chiang Mai, so the characters are dressed in olden traditional Thai clothing of that time. Thinking and mannerisms also reflect that era.The story flow is logical and systematic.
Not sure if this is related to culture, some of the reactions look exaggerated and awkward. The acting of the main leads is natural enough though. And others have pointed out as well, spoken English by some of the cast, is excellent.
The kissing and bed scenes are steamy and natural enough to me.
Happy ending or not, yes, it is a happy ending, but I am left slightly bewildered because there is no logical flow or explanation of what is happening in the last scenes of the last episode. This is probably my only gripe with this drama.
Overall, this drama gave me a glimpse to olden Thailand. It was something different and I enjoyed watching such dramas. I did not struggle to watch every episode because I was looking forward to some reveal or explanations to why the male lead travelled back to the 1920s in the first place. There did not seem to be any explanations in the drama eventually, but I was contented to believe that it was to meet his destined other half which seemed reasonable enough to me after watching the drama to the end.
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This review may contain spoilers
one of the best thai bl series this year!
I'm not typically a fan of historical BL series, but when I stumbled upon IFYLITA, I couldn't resist giving it a shot. And let me tell you, it didn't disappoint... AT ALL. This series offers a unique blend of suspense, intrigue, and the opportunity to connect the dots yourself (the way Jom connects the dots on his masterpieces called drawings), making it a thrilling experience from start to finish.One of the standout features of this series is the setting. The portrayal of the countryside in the 1920s serves as a breath of fresh air compared to the urban settings we often see in BL series. Watching the serene environment can make you feel relaxed one minute, but it's the series' ability to make you shift between emotions that truly sets it apart. One moment, you're as calm as the peaceful countryside, the next you're seething with anger at the societal system (especially Ming's punishment), and the next you're genuinely concerned about the fate of the characters, especially Jom.
Unlike other series where you're primarily concerned about what happened in the past, IFYLITA ingeniously flips the script, leaving you wondering about what will happen in the future. It's a brilliant plot twist that keeps you engaged and invested in the storyline, don't ya think? Anyway, you'd know what I'm talking about when you see for yourself.
Perhaps it's because I'm a history enthusiast, but this series has rekindled my passion for the subject. While watching the show, I found myself frequently turning to my trusty Microsoft Bing tab to look up unfamiliar words and concepts. It's astonishing how, within just 33 hours of spaced-out watching, I learned so much about Thai history, even without the series explicitly teaching me. IFYLITA ignited my curiosity about the master-servant and peasant-elite relationships in 1920s Thailand, prompting me to delve deeper into that period. Why am I today years old learning that Bangkok wasn't the capital of Siam back in the day???
As for the series itself, it holds so much untapped potential that I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing unravel in the upcoming episodes. For now, I can confidently recommend IFYLITA to any BL fan who's in need of a refreshing break from the typical city-life BL series we're accustomed to. It's a captivating journey through history that will leave you craving more, and I can't wait to see where the story takes us next and what James has up his sleeves to woo Khun Yai's man.
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STUNNING
I went into this with an open mind, as I've never watched Thai historical dramas before but tend to enjoy them from other countries, so figured I should give it a shot. This is one of if not the most beautifully shot show I have ever seen. It is simply stunning to watch. The characters and storyline are written perfectly, and the backdrop of 1920s Chiang Mai is beautiful.After a horrible ending to his long-term relationship, Jom (Nonkul) goes out drinking and ends up crashing his car into a lake. Luckily, he manages to get out and survive - but wakes up 100 years in the past. He washed up on the land of a wealthy lord, and is taken in to be a servant for the son of the lord, Yai (Bright). Both Jom and Yai seem to recognize each other from their dreams, and the two quickly become closer. Naturally, this creates rumors and problems for Yai, as there are certain expectations of him. Jom, who is still trying to return to his time, seems to slowly become content with staying where he's at, as long as it means he can stay with Yai. However, between the societal pressure they face as a couple and the complications with Jom's time traveling, they both fear that all these good things must eventually come to an end.
This show blew me away. I can't believe I loved it as much as I did, and would urge anyone that likes historical dramas to give it a try. It was perfectly executed. My biggest qualms with many Thai dramas tend to be drawn out and unnecessary conflicts, but those were never present here. Truly a wonderful drama that I couldn't recommend more.
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The best drama I’ve watched
I truly would do anything to watch IFYLITA again for the first time. It made me feel so many emotions with its sentimental journey that takes the viewer to, I felt such a deep connection with the characters and the story.I can assure that I truly loved every single aspect of it; the cinematography, acting, chemistry, setting and plot. It’s one I would and I will recommend to anyone and everyone, you can just tell how much hard work there was for it and the passion everyone in the cast gave to make us receive such a good polished and beautiful story.
I’ve seen many interviews with the director and how much he wanted to do this project so please give it much love since it deserves it, and then with hope we will be able to get a second season.
If you haven’t watched it yet, I can’t assure you will feel the same love I do for it but I can tell you, this is one of the best BLs in terms of production and quality, it may be confusing at first but everything gets explained so well so I hope you do give it a try and help spread love to this underrated gem.
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… And I hope you will linger forever
A little warning: I don’t know enough about Thai history and the historical period the series is set in to comment on the accuracy. I felt like a lot of it seemed as if it could be accurate, but I have no knowledge if that’s true or not.I am absolutely amazed by this series! I loved the trailer and all the teasers, but the series itself… that was a masterpiece! The plot was interesting, it wasn’t something that we have seen often in BLs. And the plot twists were very well thought through. Some were expected, but a lot of them were quite surprising. The historical setting was beautiful, I really loved the house and its surroundings that we got to see. The OST is beautiful and full of emotion, just like the series.
We get to see a lot of different relationships, both good and bad ones. They did a great job portraying the differences between the rich and the poor. They also addressed a lot of important topics, but one I want to stop at is the relationship between a couple, and what is and is not okay. It was a big step in the right direction (and I truly wish this would be the standard) when it comes to validating relationship trauma. Both Ueang Peung and Fong Kaew suffered under Robert, even if they came from very different backgrounds. And I am glad that their pain was validated, that their trauma was seen.
The series was incredibly heavy on emotions. I felt emotionally drained after each episode, but I think that is a good way. It shows that they portrayed those scenes incredibly well. There was something that has us on the edge of the seat in each episode.
Yai & Jom: the two of them were destined to be together. Jom travelled to the past, and he struggled with adapting to the period he was thrown into. I do think his struggles, especially with things that are now seen as normal or forbidden, really made it appear believable. He is heartbroken, but that doesn’t change the fact that he is a warm, caring, and loyal person. Yai seems almost trapped in his life. He’s similar to Jom in the sense that he too is very caring and soft. I liked how Jom brought out a more independent side of Yai, a side that was daring and has bit dreams. And Jai helped Jom mend his broken heart, he showed him that there’s still hope and beauty in life. Their story was a slow burn, but it was so worth the wait. Bright and Nonkul have amazing chemistry. The way they looked at each other, the small touches, how they always tended to gravitate towards one another… beautiful.
Eeang Peung and Maey are one of the side couples. I found the two adorable, I really liked their relationship and the way the two seemed to have been together for a very long time. The support they showed to one another was amazing. I also liked Fong Kaew and Khamsaen as a couple, they went through a lot and might seem very unlikeable at first (I still hate their present selves and what they did to Jom), but both grew a lot throughout the series.
I really liked a lot of the side characters. No matter if they were good or bad, the actors playing them really nailed the roles. Ming is the kind of friend we all want. James has a lot more dimension than I expected. Lek was a cutie, even if he was very spoiled.
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The perfect combination
This is without a doubt one, if not the best series of 2023.I'm usually not a fan of historical series and when they have some fantasy and things like that (although I like the theme of time travel ) and the main reason is that they rarely have an ending that makes you feel fulfilled with the series, many end in tragedy or an open ending. and although in this series the final episodes are somewhat dramatic and have a touch of nostalgia and sadness, they do not leave you with a feeling of emptiness or that something was missing, the previous episodes, before the ending, are so incredibly well developed that it is easy for the audience to digest what is going to happen and feel like you/them ? lived what you/they had to live, so to speak.
Regarding the plot and the actors, from the first moment I was captivated with the way in which they approached the future(past) that the character was going to have, under that concept that they were destined to be together. I cannot describe how much I suffered while Jom suffered , I wanted to take care of him so bad. And they gave him the greatest Green flag as boyfriend. Yai Is just the ideal man. Both ML deserved to be loved the way they did.
The series is not only drama, it is not only romance, but it is also comedy and touches on sensitive topics in very well-addressed ways. The chemistry between the main characters is subtle at the beginning but clear and little by little it gains intensity without becoming morbid or exaggerated. The effects and production 10/10 always making you feel immersed. This series is without a doubt a masterpiece, hard to find in BL world.
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One of the most beautiful series I've watched so far!
I've never written a review on here, but I really wanted to say something about this masterpiece.I have seen numerous BL series and movies over the past few months but none of them touched me as much as this one did.
It's just such a beautifully written story that captivated me from the beginning of the series. The acting and the remarkable chemistry between the actors is just AMAZING. I enjoyed every single minute of it!
Although the ending was a bit confusing for me, as I didn't read the novel, it was still a beautiful ending, definitely worth the watch!
I'm really happy that I discovered this gem. It's definitely worth watching, I can only recommend it to anyone looking for a beautiful love story, you won't regret it! (At least I didn't :) )
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THE Thai BL for the year
this series had everything to make it good, and they went ahead to create not only one of the most cinematically beautiful series, but gave life to characters I had never heard of to a degree that they immediately felt familiar.nonkul and bright had such electrifying chemistry in the most minor moments, it was such an experience seeing them expand on their roles as their bond grew in the story.
i cannot say I’ve felt this way about a series since ATOTS and ITSAY. truly a gem. P’Tee, we may drive you crazy saying this, but IFYLITA truly deserves another season! here’s hoping that may happen someday, but even if it does not, this series gives me the overwhelming interest to pick up the books and actually read them.
a superb series, with a star studded cast, and cinematography that puts most releases to shame. they truly outdid themselves here.
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Fell off towards the end, but overall a great watch
Starting off, I want to say this BL series has an incredible storyline. It effortlessly blends together romantic, sad, and funny scenes, making you go through a rollercoaster of emotions every episode.As I went it blind, I still had pretty high expectations seeing all the high rating reviews, and I wasn't disappointed.
The time-traveling trope hooked me in from the first episode, coupled with all the compassion I had for the main character, Jom. I left completely attached to all he was going through, as if Ohm had carved a hole in my heart as well.
As for the main couple, I loved their chemistry so much. The creators weren't scared to show some intimate, vulnerable scenes between them, and I'm genuinely grateful for that.
The second couple, Fongkaew and Ueangphueng, were also fine. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that we needed more scenes delving into their relationship, mostly because they are already together at the beginning of the series, and they don't elaborate on how they fell in love at all. Their future seems to be uncertain, as the last episode leaves me rather confused.
One character in this series that deserves more love is James. Although at the beginning I thought he was going to be stuck as a generic second lead, he proved himself to be so much more than that. He is a walking green flag and they should consider giving him a spin-off series where he finally finds love
What ultimately led me to rate this series an 8.5 were the final three episodes. I won't go into details, as to avoid spoilers, but instead of keeping the same pacing as all the other episodes, they decided to wrap up the main conflict early and keep us wondering about the future of our main character for a bit. It was unbearably slow, worsened by the inclusion of unnecessary scenes that ended up creating major plot holes. I honestly feel they could have handled those episodes better.
In conclusion, despite its flaws, I would recommend this series to any fan of the genre.
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It was so good but the ending?
I would say I was hooked to this series even though I'm not a fantasy fan. Yai's character might be the rarest green flag in thai bl. His and Jom's chemistry is off the charts. No doubt about it. I liked the cinematography and the music too. It clicked with the story very well. Coming to the plot...time travel is a risky genre and it usually leads to many plot holes if not done properly. Everything was very well scripted and I enjoyed all the episodes until the last few minutes towards the end. I will deduct one star for the ending. There is no explanation given as to how Yai was there in the present with Jom and how he remembers everything. Obviously the Yai in past already stated in the letter that he must have died by the time Jom reads it so who is the one who came at the end. They could have ended the series with Jom unexpectedly meeting a random guy looking like Yai or just moving on from him but they made it confusing and left us with too many questions. Anyways it was a good watch....I liked the dance scene, the kiss in the rain and the oil applying scene omg that was HOT.Don't skip this one. It's worth the time.
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Shiny gemstone in 2023
The high quality of this show is visible in Ep1 already. The cinematography, the direction, the production, the OST, the setting, the cast... everything just feels on spot.The plot has a very strong start with Ep1 with really heavy drama and great acting; providing a unique, somewhat supernatural premise. In later episodes the plot's strength is fluctuating, not as strong as Ep1 but still pretty good and enjoyable, the main plot and side plots are pretty slowburn, yet giving time for the characters and actors to shine, develop connections, show emotions. It's such a great relief compared to average, lower production highschool BLs where sometimes their emotions often come out of the blue and we're supposed to believe it. Moreover, the presentation of the culture of Thailand in the past is also amazing and I enjoyed every moment of watching it.
My only regret is that the plot often changes from serious to a fluffy and funny tone. I would have also liked some more representation of the old<->modern conflicts, solutions and more times when both timelines teach each other. Instead, one of them is quite passive, and the only one being taught, not vice versa.
Ep11 is heavy drama, in contrast to previous, more playful and side-plot focused episodes, maybe the strongest episode after Ep1.
This show is already a 9/10 for me, and I'm looking forward to watching the finale. I somewhat have high hopes that it will be as satisfying as the previous 11 episodes, maybe with an open ending and a hint for another season...
( Fingers crossed :3 )
If you want to see more of something, it should be I Feel You Linger in the Air. This is probably the best and most surprising BL series of 2023 (so far), with the best drama, OST and setting.
9/10
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This review may contain spoilers
Best Thai bl for me
While it’s not perfect it did a lot of things right.The best thing in this drama is Khun Yai. I loved how he cared for and respected Jom. Khun yai respected Jim’s boundaries, he didn’t force himself on him, though he fell really fast for Jom he was patient enough to wait for Jom to accept him and want to be with him.
Fav parts
Drunk Khun yai was not a nuisance nor did he try to do anything to Jom. And yet when he wake up the next day he was concerned that he might have done something to Jom. I’m most Thai bl when someone is drunk we know we gonna have some non con sth.
Eeeh I’ll get back to this review later I’m tired haha ?
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