Deep Night (2024)

The bare bones of a good show

There's the foundation of a genuinely good story in here somewhere, but unfortunately you have to dig through a lot of meaningless-at-best, annoying-at-worst filler to get to it.
But let's focus on the positives first. This show genuinely has a lot going for it, the cinematography is good, the pole and aerial silk performances are surprisingly great, and most of the characters are genuinely likeable, realistically flawed human beings.
My personal favourite being Wela, who honestly could have been milestone for the genre on top of being incredibly charming, if only the script had been, well... better.
There are also middle aged lesbians in a thriving relationship as well as polyamory representation which we love to see. Yes, the latter could have been handled a bit more smoothly and I think that plot line would have benefited from more of a romantic buildup between Pan and Ken as well, rather than just between Seji and the other two individually, but all in all it still works surprisingly well and I am hopeful that this casual inclusion will open the door for more series and films to showcase healthy, loving polyamorous relationships.
Finally, and arguably most importantly, the show focuses on sex work and sex worker's daily lives which is an incredibly mis- and under-represented group of people, so I was understandably excited for this story.

Unfortunately, however, this is where the series really crashes and burns.
It does treat its characters with the respect they deserve and even tries to address certain topics like social and systemic discrimination of sex workers, or the fact that sex work is a paying job like any other which pays the bills and puts food on the table (which is quite an important point to highlight seeing as, statistically speaking, quite a high percentage of Thai sex workers actively use their income to support family in their home towns). But any deeper exploration of these topics is hindered by bad writing, a meandering, unfocused plot, and So. Much. Product. Placement.
There is a certain point in the series at which I thought the story was going to address the vicious cycle of repeat criminalization which allows corrupt government forces to profit off the sex work industry endlessly while publicly condemning it, but no. To my great disappointment it's just another opportunity for the almost offensively cartoonish female villain to do her thing.
The series also spends way too much time on people making out with one another and while yes, the portrayals of physical intimacy are very good and yes, I understand this can be a draw for some viewers, these scenes take up vital screen time that could have been much better spent on more important things like fleshing out the plot and weaving more cohesive storylines.
Personally I also really dislike the ending of Wela's character arc, it feels completely contrary to his previous actions and kind of devalues most of the show's core messages.

All in all, this show tries, in its own convoluted way, to offer a nuanced and respectful portrayal of sex work and shine a light on the serious issues facing people working in that industry, and for that it is to be commended.
It does, however, mostly fail to achieve what it sets out to do, making it quite difficult for me to wholeheartedly recommend watching it.
Instead I would recommend doing your own research on the issues of sex work in Thailand and around the world before watching the show and forming your own opinion :)


P.S.:
If you don't know where to start you could, for example, read some articles published by EMPOWER, a Thai sex workers' advocacy group and non-profit, or by the NSWP, a global network of human rights organisations advocating for sex workers worldwide, which offer some highly educational material.
Hell, even just reading through the wikipedia entry on sex work in Thailand can offer some reasonably nuanced insights on the topic.
For any visual learners I recommend watching John Oliver's segment on sex work (it's available on youtube for free) - it does strike a fairly satirical tone and focuses mostly on America and other western countries but a lot of the points made are universally applicable and it covers a lot of ground in a relatively short time span, so I feel it could work well as an introduction to the topic.

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Host Club BL done right, unlike Time the series

Well, time the series did have a half-baked time travel element to it while this show doesn't, but im mostly talking about the shared similarity of both shows settings being a host club.

I'd say my biggest gripe with this show was the rushed ending for the side trio. The three characters could have been a lot more developed and would have been really nice to see how the three thrived in the poly relationship. But all we got was a 30 second or so sexualized scene of the three making out and one rushed conversation. That being said, I am grateful for the trio all getting their happy endings with each other. A bold move I genuinely didn't expect them to go with.

Besides that I overall enjoyed this BL. Aside from Time, this is the only BL I've scene which is set in a host club. Which probably goes without saying but really helps with the aesthetics of this show. Deep Night takes this very specific vibe and rubs with it throughout the entire series. With the lighting, set dressing, costuming, it was just really nice to look at is what I'm saying. The actors also all really portrayed their parts well, the only issue being that some of the R18+ felt a little awkward to me. Specifically the hand job and dream sequence scenes near the end. Felt very tacked on just for the sake of having something sexual thrown in when it wasn't necessary at all.

Deep Night is more of a matter over substance BL in general, since it's messaging and story doesn't really bring anything that new to the table. And when it does its near the end or gets very little attention put towards it, like with Ken, Japan, and Seiji. Not to mention Freyja and her girlfriend, whose entire arc got established and solved within two scenes.

So if you're looking for a BL with strong vibes and an appealing cast. By all means, enjoy your visit at Deep Night. I sure did.

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Is that all?

It's actually a fun ride, I quite like the journey following this series, I really enjoy the chemistry between the characters (especially the main couple who have been together from the start so there are lots of moments to enjoy, I'm a bit tired of the "confused phase" in BL lol) , the plot is also light and easy to follow, it's not long-winded (like some Thai BL where I dropped, usually because the long-windedness to lengthens the duration), but in my opinion overall it's just ordinary. There's no after taste. Not bad, but nothing special either.

In my opinion, the conclusion about the side couple, Japan-Seiji-Ken, is too late. I like it, but it's too late. And it's like, okay, that's it?

But overall I recommend it for people who are looking for something to watch while filling their time. 🤣

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surprisingly enjoyable with loveable characters :)

this series was surprisingly good but ofc it had its pros and cons.

for the cons, I wish there were fewer nc scenes and more scenes with kenseijijapan and freyameiji cause they could've been shown a lot more. like we could've explored the way older lesbians are in a relationship as well as how a polyamorous couple are together. great and james felt very last minute and rushed as well, could've added more scenes about their relationship and dynamic.

as for the pros, the music and cinematography in the show are so good! especially scenes in the nightclub while they're performing and whatnot. khem and wela have my entire heart, I love them so much which was surprising to me as at first, I had doubts about khem but he had so much character development which was amazing. I wanted to see more of their relationship without the nc scenes though. I love wela's character, so hardworking, passionate, and lovely (and adorable ofc). I also love seijijapan's dynamic, japan is such an adorable character. love the poly representation cause I'll take whatever rep we can get and also love older queer rep that shows how different older queers think compared to younger queers. love p'dai, she had an iconic personality matched with iconic outfits. I wish they didn't just use her as a comic relief character to give us more proper trans rep.

overall, it's not exactly a masterpiece, I would say there is something that feels missing from it. Nevertheless, it's a cute show to watch just for fun with cute and complex characters. the chemistry between the actors, especially between the two male leads, was amazing. definitely worth watching if you wanna just binge a cute lil gay show.

IM SUPER EXCITED FOR DEEP LOVE THOUGH HOPEFULLY IT COMES OUT SOON CANT WAIT!

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Man on pole? Bring it on!

It was really good and it fell flat towards the end.

I love all the couples here. I wish there are more screentime for the supporting couples.

I'm not a fan of the nightclub business per se but I do really enjoy the performance by the hosts. I also love how there's BL shipping in the club, that part is really so funny

There are decent number of NCs, some are pretty good- I can feel that they want to eat each other up

The ending is pretty cool, I didn't expect they'd really go ahead with polygamy. I love how this show is pushing boundary in this sense. It's also giving us a different perspective of the host business

Although, I've a mixed feeling about this. While I'm supportive about showcasing their talent, I'm not sure if it's "right" to promote "accompanying clients" as a profession. After all, the clients do get touchy, it's not like they are having heart-to-heart talk. This is the only piece of the show that I'm not sure how to feel. But, at same time, this is just depiction of real life, and it's up to the viewers to make our own discretion

Overall, I enjoy the show- it's pretty wild and fun.

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Don’t waste your time.

I have completed watching all 8 episodes of this series and I would just like to say, that this series did not meet my expectations. It’s just a series about male prostitutes who are called “hosts” and about their “dating” lives. It’s more proper to call them “sex lives” rather than “dating lives”. Out of the approximately 240 minutes of this series, I assure you that atleast 200 minutes have NC scenes. It makes you wonder about the writer… what kind of a writer makes an entire series out of ONLY GAP-FILLERS? (I.e., sex.)
The main characters do not have any substantial relationship with each other; atleast you don’t feel so, because they feel so forced and unnatural. Shogun keeps smiling the entire series, but I don’t know if it is because he is a new actor or what, but that smile doesn’t reach me. I don’t feel like his character actually loves wela… and their banter is so cheesy and forced, taht at some point you being to judge yourself for continuing to watch this series.

None of the other actors have any substantial story to contribute to either. Great and James only get together in the last episode, and we were offered only one scene where they were almost together, but not quite. Japan, Seiji and Ken become a throuple, which is horrifying to say the least. That love-triangle really was the last straw that killed my interest in this series.

They also did a sloppy job of dealing with the evil aunt, and the mommy-of-wela-had-a-problem-with-his-prostitute-y-job problem. In the span of one episode, she became okay with him being a prostitute. Why? Because he was THAT good at it. Unrealistic. That kind of dedication may be appreciated in other jobs “by parents” but not in hosting professions.

So essentially, until you wanna watch some NC scenes, and no story, don’t watch it.
The worst part is, it doesn’t even do the NC scene job properly…

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maybe if you're really bored?

I was so excited for this title because I love circus and acrobatics... but there is not nearly enough of that to keep me watching. With so little effort and budget put into the host club, it's really just the thinnest of gimmicks to differentiate a show without enough plot to stand on it's own. While the cast seems mostly competent and there's a decent (if slightly weird) sense of chemistry, this story doesn't really seem like it has any interest in exploring that. Instead, the plot just kind of moves around perfunctorily without any real sense of character or motives.

I'll admit, I'm not really interested in giving this show second or third chances. The show started out with blatant plagiarism of the kpop group OnlyOneOf in episode one--which the production team later admitted to and apologized for--and it's soured the experience for me. Combined with the way this appears to be one of the shows where Cheewin's got no strong sense of direction or vision? I'll pass. There's plenty of other shows to keep me busy. But maybe if you're just looking for background noise?

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A Fresh and Captivating BL Drama Worth Watching

"Deep Night: The Series" Episode 2, starring First Piyangkull as Wela and Shogunnn as Khemthis, is a refreshing entry in the BL genre, exploring unique themes with depth and sophistication. The characters break free from clichés, offering complexity and relatability, especially Wela, who captivates with his multifaceted charm. The acting from both leads is commendable, adding authenticity to the narrative. This series stands out for its innovative storytelling and engaging character dynamics, making it a must-watch for fans looking for something beyond the usual BL fare. Highly recommended for its fresh approach and quality execution. Give it the love it deserves!

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2 episodes in, and no one can keep 'it' in

Some of this is copied from my comment on the series comment section, but that was a whole ep2 review, so if anyone is interested in this series but is hesitant, go check that and all the other comments out, bcoz we all absolutely love this so far, and rightly so!

Literally all the couples chemistry is🔥🔥

I love how no on is denying their feeling, they be like 'hmm, i kinda like him, lemme go kiss him to check...yep, i do'

The writer is wasting no time either, theyre like 'i have 8 episodes to impress, ive got no time to waste', and they have done more than just impress me! I think i regret watching this ongoing, bcoz each episode gets me so excited, but then i have to wait a whole ass week for the next ep, its like theyre playing w us

-Once again, the pacing is absolutely brilliant, and i love how the writer doesnt rely on the plot to make them fall in love, but actually shows us the characters, and i cant wait to see how their relationships develop

The sexual tension is 📈📈📈, i am SO ready for nc scenes with this vibe:
-'i might please other people, but only you can please me' (kemthis/wela)
-'youre the only one for me' (kemthis/wela) (japan/seiji)
-'even when im with other people, all i can think about is you' (Japan/seiji)
-'i want you, so give in' 'i give in, take me, my body is yours' 'now, youre all mine' (japan/seiji)

-the visuals, THE VISUALSSS😍😍😍😍literally EVERYONE is absolutely STUNNING, SEXY, AND EVEN MORE SEXYYY ughhh I NEED MORE😩

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normalising sex work?

After watching the first 4 episodes the acting is good etc however I cannot deal with the story. The main lead is not accepting the his bf is basically doing a form of sex work aka using his body to get paid with love bites, touching etc. This just does not seem appealing and also seems to be trying to normalise this kind of sex work/ host bars that can be very problematic for the host. Wela comes from a good background and does not need to do this work. His bf is also rich so why does he keep doing it. Why cant he get into just performing at the club instead of doing the host work. I'm just not enjoying this type of content.

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