Eu Não (2021)

BL, but a focus on social economic issues

I wouldn't say that Not Me is a BL in its essence. Yes, the main characters fall in love, but there is more than that. The characters bond over their motivations to make Thailand (or the world in general) a better place by challenging its justice system and by exposing injustices performed by rich people in power specifically. OffGun as always have knocked it out of the park with this one. Their acting is so extremely believable and detailed, you forget they are acting at times. Every single character is given time to shine, and White is able to connect with many of them on a deeper level than Black was able to.

There are parts in the series that show how Black acted towards the other members of the gang and the stark difference is incredible. You really believe that White and Black are completely different people, but they are performed by the same person! From the way he talks and his mannerisms, everything is different and you can feel the tension. I highly enjoyed the drama. I binged the last half of the show in two days because I just really wanted to see how it would develop and end. I even cried during the last episode with the crowd of supporters. I think this BL is not only good, but it is also important. This series is a statement, and I believe that there are some valuable lessons to be learned from this.

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I'm watching Not Me, it wasn't me.

I've been watching Bl since 2018. My first treatment is Bl Sotus. They will complete 90% of the productions in this sector. There were children I liked. However, I don't like that I like any of them as much as Nor Me. It was an incredible production as much as his acting, not me. In addition to the many productions where we watch too many rich lives and in many stories, things are easy for us, this series is one of the stories about the struggles with our characters that can be created real. There is not only Bl involved, this series is much more. Brotherly consciousness, the possibilities of being together, a counter-view against the present and the underappreciated. You are also a member of the gang. You get angry with Sean, you make sense with painting with Whitela, you make love with No and stay with a friend. I was very hesitant to update the series. Because it was incredibly difficult. One does not know how the other market will come. But all together for 14 weeks, this atmosphere would not be breathing and enjoying the new season. Thank you so much for this kind of production. Lots of love to everyone. You should definitely watch this series. Don't be unwatchable.

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Thai BL Series Are Stepping Up Their Game

This series is a giant leap forward from the plotless, misogynistic BL series that are a dime a dozen in the Thai BL industry. This is why, as a BL fan, I believe that it deserves a 10/10 rating for its unique storyline that stands out from almost any other BL.
The story distinguished itself with its social commentary and positive representation of women. The girls, Namo and Eugene, were independent, emotionally mature individuals and worthy representatives of the protest movement. Kudos to the scriptwriters for that.
Furthermore, Gun and First's acting was brilliant. Off also demonstrated a lot of improvement. The rest of the cast kept up. Sing deserves special praise for delivering a memorable performance despite his limited screentime. I want to see him in a main role in the future.

As an objective viewer, though, I have to acknowledge that Not Me could have been better both in terms of plot and characters.
1. Plot holes, plot holes, and more plot holes.
The plot broke this series as much as it made it because, despite being unique, interesting, and well-paced, it was riddled with plot holes both big and small.
Let's start with the less significant ones.
- White and Black live in the age of social media, but they somehow did not manage to get in touch with each other for years despite obviously being eager to reunite. How come? This should have been explained. If you want the viewers to take your script seriously, you should not rely on Wattpad logic.
- In the initial episodes, White's father plays an important role, but after White and he have an argument and White leaves home, he is not heard of again. His son disappeares with a trace, and he does not even call to ask where he is? They did not have a bad enough argument for this to be believable.
- When White tells Sean that Black and he share a special twin connection that makes one of them feel the pain that the other is experiencing, Sean just accepts it. His reaction makes no sense. The setting of the series is modern Thailand, and there are not any supernatural elements. It is not like Sean hears things that venture into the realm of the supernatural every day. He should have at least been surprised.
- What happened to White and Black's mom? White met with her, and then what? Nothing? It is also not revealed why Black and she fell out. Yes, it is probably because he joined the resistance, but this raises another question: what inspired Black, who could have led a life of privilege, to switch sides?
- We learn that there was no love lost between Sean and Black, but the reason remains unrevealed. Yes, Black abandoned Sean during a mission gone wrong. However, this does not seem to have been the root of their dislike for each other, which goes further back in time.
- Who is Gumpa? He owns a garage that serves as the gang's hideout and is in charge of the protesters' physical training. He knows how to shoot a gun and owns a pair of handcuffs. The most logical conclusion is that he is a former policeman. But who knows? Not me. Even one minute of this series is not dedicated to explaining this character’s backstory, although he is an important member of the gang, whom everyone treats with respect and thanks to whom White managed to fit in with the others.
Now let's move to the plot holes that are bigger than black holes.
- The extremely predictable twist revealed that Todd is the one who harmed Black. It became known that once upon a time the two of them were close, and that even now, when they stand on different sides of the social struggle, they cannot kill each other. This is all the information that the viewer gets. Why did Todd hurt Black so severely? What was their relationship prior to the split? Were they friends or lovers? Todd must have meant a lot to Black if Black cannot kill him even after Todd sent him to the hospital in a coma and deceived his twin brother. But who knows? Not me, which is pretty disappointing, considering that who hurt Black and why is the main mystery of the series.
- The gang spent the bulk of the episodes devising and executing missions to subvert Tawi's corrupt empire only for the series to get an open ending regarding this matter. We neither saw Tawi get overthrown nor stay in power. Unless the production team is aiming for a second season, this is a really underwhelming way to end the series.
2. Unnecessary relationships, onesided relationships, and confusing relationships.
- I believe that the GramEugene sub-plot was unnecessary. Not only did they have no chemistry, but also this turn of events did not do Eugene justice. She was an interesting character in her own right. I liked her quiet strength and her commitment to fighting social injustice through dance. The melodramatic love triangle only overshadowed her story.
- GramBlack was a hot mess. The initial episodes made it obvious that Gram cared for Black, and several of his interactions with White at the time hinted at a possible romantic attraction. Then, their relationship took an abrupt turn. I am not criticizing the production team's decision to make a change. However, they should have edited the script instead of patching things up along the way.
On a side note, I am actually glad that the GramBlack couple was dropped because I liked the enemies with benefits thing that Todd and Black have going on. I hope that it will be expanded on in a second season.
- Yok carried DanYok on his back from start to finish. I lost interest in this couple pretty quickly because they had almost no chemistry – I say almost because First managed to bring some passion to the romantic scenes – and I felt like Yok is the only one in love. Fluke did a great job in every scene but the romantic ones, though, so the problem is not his acting. The problem is the way in which the romantic scenes are written. Now that I am watching First's sizzling hot chemistry with Khaotung in The Eclipse, I realize that the script of Not Me did not do Fluke and him justice.

Nevertheless, I would like to recommend Not Me to every BL series fan out there. The criticism aside, it is a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you root for White, Sean, their love story, and the gang's mission.

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Should have I expected more?

Before watching this series, I had high expectations because of the overall very positive reviews and the interesting plot.
Was I disappointed? Not really, but I think this series could have been so much more.
It started pretty well, and I was getting really invested in the story... but then it slowly became less interesting, and the plot holes started to pile up.
The whole "social commentary" message this show tried to convey was executed beautifully, and the diversity of the different characters surprised me in a good way. Besides that, everything was mid.

The story was sometimes very messy, and other times it kept going in circles. At one point, White just stops looking for the people who beat up his brother and forgets that's the main reason he's there with his friends. Tot, who's supposed to be the hidden villain, disappears in the middle of the show, and honestly, I forgot about him until the plot twist came.

The whole Gram-Eugene-Black situation was messy, and the way they decided to go with it wasn't good enough for me. It left a sour taste in my mouth. Also, unpopular opinion, I wasn't a big fan of the second couple, Yok and Dan. I get what they tried to portray, but I wasn't feeling for them. Maybe they were not my cup of tea? Either way, some of the decisions they made seemed irrational, and I felt like they got back together way too fast, given the situation.

The ending was very rushed, and it didn't conclude anything. It left behind so many loose ends and could have been so much better. I think I would enjoy a second season where they wrap up some of the plot holes and give the characters a proper ending.

In conclusion, this drama wasn't perfect, but it had its good moments. It is not for everyone, and depending on your personal preference, you might like it or not. For me, despite the original plot and powerful message, this drama had forgettable couples that didn't add much to the story.
The series had its strengths in its thought-provoking social commentary, diverse characters, and original plot. Although it had some flaws with messy storytelling and unresolved plot holes, it remained an engaging watch with its strong messages and unique elements, and I appreciated the overall positive aspects it offered.

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My favorite BL drama

This drama is a gem. One actor (Gun) playing two roles and he nailed them both. Off is also brilliant actor. Story is amazing. They could have really got in trouble for addressing so many social and political issues in Thailand but it's an eye opening series and to top that they are adding so many interesting characters and BL love story. It's like the director decided to take all controversial sides of society and put it in one drama. Neverending battle between poor and rich. Those in power vs controlled ones. Yeah addressing those issues is interesting enough. Even without BL part it would be an awesome drama but the romance between Gun and Off is adding so much to it. Music is very pleasant and scenes are shoot beautifully. Story is a little bit inconsistent sometimes and some plots are not resolved but for limited screen time they did amazing job.

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What a surprise!

I put off watching this one when I saw it in my YT recommendations because it's not my favorite BL pairing and I'd gotten a little burned out on the usual gmmtv fare. But I read the synopsis and thought it might be sort of interesting.

But it's unusual to see such overt political themes in BLs so I wasn't expecting it at all, and through most of it I was expecting some sort of redemption arc for the system the story sets as the villain. But insisted they really handled a lot of difficult questions with nuance and care.

Overall it was a great story done really well, the whole cast did a great job. I was really gripped by the characters and plot all the way to the end.

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I lately watched Semantic Error, a very short and cute Korean BL which I rated with 10 stars. So giving Not Me less stars may seem very unfair. And maybe it is. But it depends on what a series is trying to do. Not Me is a very serious series that provides us with lots of action and social criticism. It tried to do A LOT. It tried to be A LOT. It succedes in many aspects but not always and not 100%. Let me start with saying that I didn't care much for the romance, because everything else was more interesting. That doesn't mean the romance was bad or boring, it just means that everything else was more intriguing. The plot, especially the twin aspect, was great. I waited for Black to wake up, I wanted the gang to find out there is a twin, I wanted to know who is the traitor etc. But not only the main plot was interesting. The way how they told the story was excellent. The music and the filming just draws you in. There were countless beautiful well filmed scenes. So why did I not rate it higher? It just didn't feel "perfect". Sometimes the action was great, sometimes rather amateurish. Sometimes I was on the edge of my seat, then again everything was rather dragging. I was into the Sean/White love story, then again I wasn't so much into it. The plot was convincing, then again it wasn't. Sometimes it just didn't feel "smooth". If I rate this with my BL googles on it deserves more than 10 stars, but since I want to look at it as a series where BL is just the subplot, I feel like 9 stars is a good rating.

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You cannot miss this for anything

Let me start by saying that Gun stole the show. His performance alone is reason enough tp watch this. A true work of art,as you can tell the difference between the two characters he plays just by his eyes and his body language.

Now, the show presents a story different from what we had seen, starting off a year of more serious BLs. A tale depicting a group of university students that decide to stand up against oppression.

This show is to a certain extent a critique to Thai society, use of power, monopoly, and discrimination. It really shows the reality many people live in but with an element of fantasy that plays an interesting role.

Regarding characters and performances.

Each character has their own views on thw situation as well as a background that you discover throughout the series that makes you fall for them. The acting is insanely good, as the emotions of each of them are very palpable and relatable. The relationships develop and entangle and get complicated as in real life, while the show mantains each characters convictions without attempting to convince you that every action is either right or wrong.

Talking about the production... A work of art I cannot express without spoilers so look formward to an article on the best scenes and references on the series.

Overall this is a beautiful series. That you cannot miss, a true romance that feels like a tale of this time.

Warnings

The soundtrack sucks ass, ngl. But if you ignore it its fine.
Also the advertisements sometimes feel ridiculous.

Also

Gun violence
Corruption
Vandalism
Partial nudity

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The new era of Thai BL

I really wanted to write about these series from almost the start but I waited. I will try to write this as much objectrively as I can.
The main story is really unique and different from the majorityy of BL dramas, especially from major production companies. We have seen before a few stories of everyday people try to get by, survive and in the end they fall in love. But, major companies rarely make dramas with people challenging and trying to change the system. Actually, Thailand has a great history of uprisings and student protests. It is really hopeful and empowering to watch stories like this, As an active member of different movements and a communist, in the start I was affraid they will glorify or dismiss this believes and fighting. But they actually are protraying reallistic protests and causes. Also, I really liked that the drama doesn´t try to take sides about the team's behavior. They present it and they let us decide if it is wrong or right. Lastly, when I watced the last episode, I was a bit underwhelmed with the ending, but I changed my mind because saddly the world doesn´t change so easily. As for the romance, I really liked that it wasn't the main focus and there was a greater plot around the love of the characters. I don't really know if I like the twin brothers plot but ok... I also wanted a bit more of the female characters. Finally, the drama has great acting. I really liked First's acting and of course Gun, who played two completely different characters. And what amazing chemistry Gun and Off have?

Lastly, this drama feels like a new era in Thai BL, especially considering Bad Buddy and what is coming. We are starting to see that the creators are trying to challenge the sterotypes and the problematic behaviors (ex. non-con, fetishism of certain groups of people like trans etc.). Also, they are trying to make them more inclusive (Yok's deaf mother). Also, here in Not Me we can see everyday people which are poor and work to get by, not the common in Thai Bl super rich boys which feels away from our society sometimes. I really hope that we will continue to walk in this path and make more series that actually represent the LGBTQ+ people.

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NOT ME IS A SERIES ECHOING THE VOICES OF MANY

Not me is an absolutely stunning series focusing on the underlying real-life issues of how powerful people use their power for corrupt practices. The series is more of a plot-driven with elements or themes focusing on action, politics, social problems, thriller along with the BL romance. If you love series that mainly focus on the story and character then you are at the right place, romance is like a treat that you will find along the way. Also, you are not going to find a fluffy romance here.

STORY
The story sequence of the series is mainly focused on the individual motive of the characters which pushes the events in the story. Not me has successfully portrayed the voice of the youth demanding justice due to their broken system. I loved the portrayal of all the energy of the students demanding an explanation and transparency of their government. " The power of Unity" is echoed throughout the series making it a remarkable and meaningful series to watch. The symbolism of White and Sean holding hands under the Pride Flag in the parade was so powerful and emotional that it literally gave me goosebumps. I think it was probably one of the most powerful scenes in the series. The discussion on politics, law, and crime, and art is something that makes an audience more interested in the series. I personally like that they kept the romance slow burn, This was befitting for the series like 'Not me'. You get a pure example of how circumstances bring together people of diverse notions. I found the ending to be good and justified. Not me has taken on the example of Tawi to show us that there are several powerful people like him who take advantage of their power. Even in the end the fate of Tawi remains undetermined and is left for the audience to interpret its actual ending.

ACTING/CAST
Off has done a remarkable job in portraying Sean. I have been watching his series since SOTUS and one has to applaud for his immense improvement in his acting. Gosh, his acting was so freaking powerful that his expression was enough to convey his emotions.
Gun never disappoints in whatever role he has been given, but I guess he broke his own record by playing Black and White. The transition of his portrayal in playing both of the characters on the same screen was hair-raising. Personality-wise I like White more than Black, but I like watching Black more because I have never seen Gun playing such a character.
First is an immensely talented actor, even as a supporting cast he dominated his role in such a way that it left a deep impression on me.
Gawin did such a great job in portraying Dan, since the beginning, his eyes showed so much emotion, I could from the very beginning understand that he is portraying someone with huge guilt weighing him down.

The chemistry between both the main and side couples was amazing. I am glad that both the couple got a happy ending. Towards the end, I was so devasted to know that Dan had betrayed the gang but then he was helpless in that situation, and with no way out he had to follow his superior's instructions. It absolutely broke my heart when Yok comes to know what has happened at that point, his expression of hurt was so on point that even I cried along with him. I would also like to point out the friendship between Yok and Sean, It was well played out that you can't help but smile at how much they care for each other.

OST
I want to know who was in charge of selecting OST for the series. Each and every OST never failed to echo unexplainable emotions within me and it only made me draw more towards the series.

REWATCH VALUE
The direction, visuals, storyline, and acting are enough to tempt me to watch the series again.

Overall NOT ME is a series that left a deep impression on me by successfully conveying powerful messages and symbolism.

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Top tier

One of my top 3 favorite dramas, everything from the music choices to the story line about issues many face in society today, to the romance is so well constructed. The characters each have their own drive and means for what they are doing and how they react to the situations they are put in, they are each a turning gear in a story that strives to show how corruption from power can trickle down into everyone’s every day life, and how with White, growing up with power was something he wasn’t aware of even having, and how he benefited from it without being aware of the system. The romance is a bit of a slow burn, but it has sparks from the get go, and is worth the wait.

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