2gether A Série (2020)

The best example of how something that has a great start ends up being a disappointment.

The first part of the drama (episodes 1-7) is one of the best examples of how a BL must be done. Tine is an extrovert, funny and naive guy that charms everyone with his charisma. Sarawat is mysterious and silent guy who seems to have interest of Tine. Characters plan to fake-dating to make Tine's stalker stay away from him. The chemistry between them is obvious here, thay have tender and funny moments. If the drama had ended here they would have a sound 10 and it would be considered the best BL ever made (along with Sotus)

Then the second part (episodes 8-13) happens.
It's a new stage of the drama.,Tine and Sarawat decide to make the relationship official so the pace of the series should be different, and it is... in a very disappointing way.
Tine who was always smiling and telling jokes turnssuddenly into a insecure man and a crying mess, he was happier when he was single. They turned him in a strereotyped damless in distress (or worse, an uke) who needs to be saved. And Sarawat who was completely sure about his love for Tine doesn't ease his partner insecurities. He lets misunderstandings happen around him without moving a finger until it's too late.

Even the actors (Win and Bright) seem to have lost their spark and their awesome chemistry. I can't believe they kiss more when they were not dating than when they were. And no, i'm not saying I need a make out session but at least i would like to see love between them.
I thought I was seeing two flatmates instead of two lovers.

On the whole I would say that if you're gonna watch this, do it... until episode 7, then drop it and pretend that everything that comes next doesn't exist at all. I bet your imagination can do much better than the lazy writing of the second part.

Leia Mais

This started strong then ended in huge disappointment. After all, the series is way too overrated.

First is the stage of editing, editing, transiting things. I don't know how good the director is, but it seems that his style of film making doesn't suit me. He made Puppy Honey and Kiss Me Again before and I don't like his vibe either, so here I am confirming that. His method of filming made me really uncomfortable. I didn't rate the music higher because I feel extremely annoyed by some background music in the series. It is not reasonable according to the storyline.

Secondly, the screenwriting team ruined the whole movie. With such chemistry, storyline and characters from the novel like that, the movie would be better if they kept the original spirit. Yet no, the writer's team acted as if they didn't want it. The scene was chaotic, unreasonable, messy. Characters are still serious OOC. In episodes 12-13, the character of Sarawat is even distorted, I couldn't realize he was Sarawat in the previous eps of the film. Even in the last episode, I only feel like 50% of Sarawat returned.

Thirdly, it is the acting. I'm not saying the acting of this movie is bad overall, just a few actors that made me surprised. The scene could have been acted like this and that but the way they acted made me feel like oh what they are doing. Perhaps this is also due to the director's direction, yet it is still kinda in poor quality.

Fourthly, I know that kissing doesn't matter, yet for such a film like this and the drama created in ep12, they should have kissed each other when reconciling, or at least a sentimental hug, but hell no, they did nothing. After they moved in together in ep10, they almost lost their spark, everything afterward seems forced and the characters are seriously out of context.

I was a huge fan at first, but my love for this decreases day by day. In general, although the novel is great and funny, cute. Although I like the character of Sarawat terrifically, although I like Tine portrayed by Win and like Win himself (his quality, his effort, his acting, his cuteness), I still had better be honest with my emotion and feeling. This series is only 4.0 to me overall.

Leia Mais

First half of this series? Fantastic. Fun. Hilarious. Solid.
Second half of this series? Lazy. Cookie-cutter. Overloaded with tropes.

I've had a few days to think about my feelings in regards to 2gether and I have a lot, but I'm going to quickly summarize some of my main thoughts here.

#1: Tine's sexuality
This was the biggest let down for me in this series. Throughout the series there's definitely a few hints that Tine could be bisexual. He clearly finds women attractive, but he doesn't seem all that turned off at the thought of dating a man or being in love with one. I felt that this series could've really delved into bisexuality instead of keeping with the Straight Or Gay tropes that often exist in BL.

Furthermore - I think exploring Tine's sexuality more would've really given a basis to the severe lack of couple-like affection between him and Sarawat. And I'm not talking NSFW scenes or make outs or even just soft kisses - I'm talking the fact that they high-fived at the end of the series when a hug would've been nice. Or just SOMETHING to show us that they're more than just Bros. Because even after episode 13, I'm not convinced that they "love" one another or even like each other that way; it just feels like good friends that live together.

But had the show explored Tine grappling with his sexuality (as a bisexual or if they wanted, a gay man) - it would've made a lot of sense why he wasn't too affectionate with Sarawat or was unsure of showing that affection. It's hard to grapple with your own sexuality much less be openly affectionate with that person. But Tine didn't seem at all bothered by people knowing they were together and that he loves Sarawat (and vise versa). So why so little affection? Why take that element away?

Which brings me to letdown #2: Affection.
Like I said earlier -- I don't need NSFW scenes or even kisses in a romance to feel that there's a connection. I also think Bright and Win are great actors that conveyed a lot of their emotions through expressions and their eyes. However, the only "slice of life" element we got was the montage of scenes after they moved in together. After that, it was mostly shoulder hugging and staring at one another. I really don't remember a time when they held hands, and I don't remember them kissing after they started dating (and the kisses before that were all Sarawat - Tine didn't react).

I just think that there didn't seem to be a point to them moving in together because it didn't really bring any growth to their relationship. They didn't have slice of life moments or sweet talks in bed or breakfast chats - it was more or less the same, but now the writers could bring Type into the picture. It all just felt a little unnecessary and rushed.

#3: Use of women and Mil
Literally -- the use of them. Throughout the series they're used to place wedges between Sarawat and Tine. This just felt lazy to me, and Pam was the most lazy plot line they could've come up with. It didn't even last more than a full episode and it had no real result other than Sarawat and Tine getting back together. If they're going to go with this trope, I would've liked to see more growth and a longer time apart for them both. Also - Mil just get over Tine. Stop. The whole addition of Mil to it felt unnecessary. There was no chemistry there and I still have no idea why Mil liked Tine. Someone please explain what I missed there lol.

Overall - I'm just underwhelmed. I really enjoyed this in the beginning. I thought Bright and Win had good chemistry, and I was binge-watching all of the episodes up until 9. But after watching the last few episodes as they've released, I've found myself less and less excited and more disappointed. Maybe my expectations were too high. Idk. If there's a season 2 I'll watch it, but I can't say that I'm particularly looking forward to more of the same.

Leia Mais

it started out great - i was certain it could climb up to be one of my favourites this year but god this drama really ruined itself.

BIG BAD:
- who decided on these last scripts?? so much unnecessary, undeveloped and unreasonable angst between the main couple in the later episodes. honestly it just took out the enjoyment for me. the ending, the whole plot line for the main couple turned out to be surprisingly shallow and lazy.
- putting in female characters just for what exactly? certainly not to be their own developed, interesting characters.
SMALL BAD:
- in the beginning the chemistry between the main couple was... awesome! later i just didn't feel it. ironic since i imagine getting together should bring more fluff or something...
- this drama went from me being excited over every new episode and rewatching the previous episodes to me not being able to tolerate it sober bc it's such a shitshow. i'm sorry for being crude - i just don't know how to express my disappointment otherwise.

SMALL GOOD:
- the relationship between man and type. look at this direct communication and conversations about feelings to avoid stupid misunderstandings - beautiful. they got a few episodes but their development was so much more rational than that of the main couple.
- i did like the friendships of this show. thank god they did not throw that in the trash like they did with the main couple.
BIG GOOD:
- the soundtrack. quite nice. :)

Leia Mais

Well, no one died-so there's that

I don't even know what is going on with GMM. They find these amazing dramas and between them, the directors and the writers they use, they mess everything up. I was so excited for this drama. The first couple of episodes were good and then it went down hill.

I love Bright and Win, but I'm going to say I don't love them together. There was very little chemistry between them. We know in real life they have chemistry, the get along. We've seen the behind the scenes footage and the photoshoots. What I wanted was for some of that to make its way into the show.

Each time I decided to drop the show, they hit me with small, moments to give me hope, then back to the sadness of a drama going off the trails. Like that sweet moment they had after the fight where Tine took care of Wat after the ambush-- 2 seconds later, Tine leaves his friend, who is hurt, to walk home alone. I mean, who does that?

They wasted the whole Mike/Type storyline. There was so much potential there. We know Mike can act...he is one of the actors who basically saved Theory of love for me so what the hell was this?

Lets not even get started with Frank and Drake because nobody got time for that mess.

I was so disappointed. Its like GMM isn't even trying anymore and that's frustrates the hell out of me. I feel like they don't want to do BL anymore and is trying irritate the fans into not watching.

Ugh... Just ugh

Leia Mais

Hits all the right spots for me

Despite not having a strikingly original story, 2gether manages to hit all the right spots for me as a wonderful BL.

The premise of the story probably does not sound like something that would immediately draw one into watching the series: Tine asks Sarawat to pretend to be his boyfriend so that he (Tine) can shake off a guy (Green) who is chasing him relentlessly. Of course they fall in love for real--what else do you expect? Never mind that Tine is straight; anyone who knows even just a little about BL knows that in the world of BL, any cute straight guy can fall in love with another guy and be totally devoted to him.

The series is surprisingly good though. Apart from the BL element, the story can be rather hilarious as a lighthearted comedy. Very often, scenes that are otherwise possibly quite dull turn out to be rather engaging. In the scene where Tine tries to learn how to play the guitar using an app, for instance, his friends promise to be with him and not fall asleep only (of course) to end up falling asleep--one of them is even apparently using another friend's butt as a pillow.

The character, Green, appears to be one of those exaggerated effeminate characters brought in just for comic effect. But I'm glad that, given his pivotal role in bringing Tine and Sarawat together, there is actually more to him. Yes, his mannerisms seem over the top, but who is to say that such people don't exist? The important thing is that he is not brought in merely for comic effect but is given more attention and sensitive treatment that countless other such characters I have seen in Thai BLs.

The dynamics between the main characters are interestingly portrayed. Although there are viewers who joke that Tine must be really dumb not to realize that Sarawat is totally in love with him, I think he senses something quite early on but simply isn't sure. It's also obvious that his attraction to Sarawat starts quite early on although the character may not realize it. I think the first time it becomes rather obvious for us is when he watches Sarawat sing a song in the latter's room, but even the scene in which Sarawat agrees to be his fake boyfriend is rather telling. The sheer happiness in both their faces suggests something much more than just an agreement to pretend to be a couple, and Tine totally looks like someone he likes has agreed to be his boyfriend for real.

The scriptwriters have done a rather good job in showing Sarawat's love for Tine even before it's directly revealed. It is confirmed only later in the series that Sarawat has already fallen in love with Tine when he saw Tine for the first time at a concert, even before they meet in the university. This means that when Tine keeps bugging Sarawat to pretend to be his boyfriend, Sarawat is already in love with him. Some find it strange that Sarawat would appear hostile to Tine and keep calling Tine a nuisance since he is in love with Tine. But we see what Sarawat is thinking in one scene where Tine asks him to pretend to be his boyfriend,explaining that Green has been pestering him, To Tine's dismay, Sarawat retorts that maybe he (Tine) would enjoy being pestered one day. And that's basically what Sarawat is going through: despite appearing cold towards Tine, he is secretly enjoying being pestered by Tine.

The director has also hinted at Sarawat's love for Tine early on, such as in the music club's welcome games for new members: Sarawat is characteristically uninterested in all the activities, and the only time he seems to be interested in the games is when he is paired with Tine.

He remembers the first chord he teaches Tine, he secretly keeps the guitar pick that Tine stupidly breaks into two, he pretends to lend Tine a guitar he hardly uses when he has intended to give it to Tine from the start, and he refurnishes his room because Tine says that it looks haunted, he immediately turns up with snacks for the cheerleaders when Tine complains that he is hungry. (Ok, Tine actually jokes that he would like Sarawat grab his boobs (what boobs?) if Sarawat brings him snacks, but I'm sure he would do it simply because his Tine is hungry.)

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Episode 12 of the series got a lot of flak for the way it introduced Pam, supposedly Sarawat's first love but more like the first person Sarawat fell in love with (for a short time) before he sees Tine. Some people were not happy with how Pam turns out to be in love with Sarawat and tries to get him to leave Tine. (In the novel, Pam is just a friend although she is the first person Sarawat is in love with.) I have not read the novel, but I find myself preferring the way the series brought the tension to a high point with a more complicated misunderstanding. (But of course, both the novel and the series may be good in their own ways. It depends on how the medium is used.)

The series is not without its flaws, to be sure. The episodes after Tine admits to his brother that Sarawat is his boyfriend do suffer from some transition problems. I may have to rewatch the episodes to be sure that this is a fair statement, but I find Tine's sense of insecurity about his relationship with Sarawat a little too suddenly. I know that the more he cherishes the relationship, the more he fears losing Sarawat, but Tine's inner world could have been explored further (without really needed many lines, really).

The last episode also had some weaknesses in editing, with cuts to the side characters being rather sudden. The editing of the flashbacks is also not always well-executed and even potentially disorienting. But these are not so severe as to affect our understanding of the story.

What is possibly more serious is how the final episode is not made to be particularly touching. It is overall still good, but the flashbacks actually have unfulfilled potential. They are not fully utilized to show how much Tine misses Sarawat after leaving him due to the misunderstanding about Pam. I'm still rather satisfied with the ending. It's just that the most memorable scenes take place from Episodes 1 - 11, and there isn't anything particularly memorable when the couple make up or after that. Tine's voiceover speaks of a relationship that stands the test of time, and I wish this had been shown more, kind of like the way Season 1 of SOTUS ends.

Although some viewers have commented that the actors seem awkward or lack chemistry and others have complained about the lack of kissing and sex scenes, I have a different opinion. I don't find the acting awkward. Win is very good as Tine, conveying Tine's latent attraction to Sarawat and confusion about his relationship with Sarawat well. The happiness he exudes when Tine is with Sarawat and the affection he has for Sarawat are remarkably conveyed without resorting to kissing to show intimacy. In Episode 11, Tine asks Sarawat if he thinks their relationship would last ten years and Sarawat says it will be more than ten years, the cautious delight on his face was naturally shown, and I can see that Tine really wants it to be true yet doesn't dare to be too happy about it because he's still feeling insecure. I think choosing an actor who looks the role may be one reason for the success, but I saw a trailer (made before the series) and Win gives markedly different vibes in the trailer.

When I wrote the first part of the review before the end of the series, I mentioned that there are two bad things I can get out of watching this series. The first is that it would leave a void when it ends (though I have to say that Episodes 1-11 contribute the most to this). The second bad thing is that it's one of the series that will remind me of a kind of relationship I can only wish for but never have.

Leia Mais

This series is a first for me in the sense that I have never been moved to review any series( bl, adventure, mystery etc) but my word something has to be said about this.
First of all how is it possible for relatively good acting to be so completely overshadowed by the plot. What constantly went through my mind is that parts of this story was missing. That could be the only explanation I could think of for the sharp turns and twists this story took. At no point was there a seamless flow of ideas. I usually dislike critisim but at the same time I believe it sometimes necessary.
I literally began cringing when many of the main story scenes took place. I think that both the main characters had just enough chemistry to pull off their fictional romance. However having said that, when Sarawat's character was paired alongside Pam's charater; I began rooting for them thinking they looked more natural together. That late plot twist destroyed for me any sense of make believe romantic chemistry between the main characters. Ultimately, removing my ability to suspend belief and believe that these two were romatically involved in any way.
Without intending to, whatever beauty of the story that was supposed to be portaryed was lost. I walked away from this series disturbed by how it turned out. Whatever good ( for me it was Man and Mil's character and their respective side stories) was detracted by too many cliches, a lack of a clear idea and a jagged progression of storyline.
All in all, it was meant for entertainment, to share an idea/experience and to bring us into another world (an escape). I will always be thankful to everyone in the world wide entertaintment industry. In the end it is still a series to appreciate but definitely a first for me in terms of how put off I am left feeling.

Leia Mais

This drama was very promising. But I honestly felt like the writers and directors, did such a horrible job selecting the main characters development with each other. It was entertaining in the beginning when they were “fake coupling” but then once they actually started dating it really just went downhill. I still manage to finish it just for the sake of it really, cos I was still hoping for a decent turn out but I was wrong. Ending really just made it even worse. I also saw one review here how the actors (Bright & Win) just seemed like they weren’t really into being a BL couple and I 1000x agree. Don’t get me wrong both actors seem like they really have bright future but they do need to consider if they want to be known as a BL actor as they did seem uncomfortable doing it. And no I wasn’t disappointed cos they didn’t really show much affection like having a bed scenes or more intimate kiss. I don’t even remember if kiss or not? So weird. But the chemistry between them just lack so badly. Don’t get me started with Brights acting skills, I understand it’s his first time acting, but how I wish they did more workshop and practice. With Win though, he surprised with his acting. He really did good. Overall, this drama is only good to watch if you are bored during quarantine and you just need something to watch to get by.

Leia Mais

The story in general was nice and there were some funny and some sweet moments I really loved. I liked the first half of the series, which to me felt less rushed and much more romantic than the other half. The actors were nice to look at and believable, and I especially liked the character of Man (except for the stalking part). I appreciate the music that was used throughout the series, because it featured more songs than just the theme one as is usual in other series. Now I know a little more about Thai music, which is great. I am afraid I am out of the positives now.

As for the negatives, I don't think each scene was really thought through, especially in the second half of the season. So we had an episode with Type playing an evil brother (and I don't really believe his character was like this), then we have the field trip, then Pam - in the first half, everything's happening at the university, there aren't really new characters, there are no trips, and the development of the relationship between Sarawat and Tine works really nice. You can clearly see Sarawat fell head over heals for Tine and is only shyly trying to show him that, while Tine is slowly falling in love as well, first without noticing... it's slow, it's believable, and it is really sweet. Than this happens, that happens, Type arrives, Pam arrives... and while Tine knows perfectly well that he loves Sarawat and that Sarawat loves him and didn't really get any reasons to doubt it, he throws everything away at the first sign of a girl on the scene? Well, perhaps it is because they weren't really boyfriends in the first place, were they? No kisses, sleeping on one bed as friends would do. Real holding hands when together? No. They are what, nineteen years old boys? Somehow I really doubt two guys of that age in love with each other would act like that.
I get that the series was aimed on younger audience than, for example, TharnType, so I might not even mind the practically non-existent PDAs (although it really was more of a bromance than a love story). There's one thing I don't get, though: Younger audience, huh? So as I understand based on this series...
Things that cannot be shown to younger audience:
- sober loving kisses,
- saying each other "I love you",
- spooning each other in normal bed (and not just on a couch behind your brother's back).
Things that are perfectly fine for younger audience to see:
- getting so drunk you forgot what you've been doing last night (and regularly drinking hard in general)
- kissing the person you love only while drunk as hell
- beating someone because your girlfriend liked his photo
- getting your boyfriend drunk so you can ask him questions he wouldn't feel comfortable answering
- stalking (I loved the ManType couple, they were really cute together, but omg if anyone followed me like this, I'd be furious)
- beating your boyfriend so he's scared of you, than saying sorry and everything's just fine. You can even slap him in public from time to time, no big deal (Dim & Green - what the f?)
- taking a cellphone of the other person without permission, posting on their profile, searching through their media (Sarawat and Tine both)

It's not a problem that these things are shown - they happen in real life, and youngsters might just as well know about them in advance. The problem is that they have zero bad consequences. The person you stalked? Not only he never really says it's inappropriate. He starts to miss you. You are regularly drunk to the point of being unable to walk - no problem. Someone just puts you to bed, no big deal. You beat your boyfriend? He loves you anyway and everyone around you is ok with it. In TharnType, lots of fans were criticizing the lack of consent in several scenes between Tharn and Type - but there were at least some consequences. In here? Zero. So the young audience can learn that you can stalk someone just because you like him, but kissing your boyfriend, that's the real tabu here. IDK whether it's a western thing, but I do not like this a bit.

Leia Mais