I adored this series, because it wasn't the typical juvenile fluffy, easily digestible, and fan serviced filled BL. The topics they talked about are real, and something that cannot be easily fixed in the last 10 minutes of the last episode because the majority of the viewing audience expects the HEA between the two main male leads. The acting of Pond, Nike, and Mam was wonderful, and I am glad that those three were cast in this production. There was a level of maturity, sensuality, and truth that every now and again, I love seeing in TV dramas. I know that Mam is starring in an upcoming GMMTV lakorn, with Luke, Tay, and Gun called "The Three GentleBros", so I will try that series out. I'm hoping that Pond, and Nike have new future projects that I can see them in, separate or paired up together.
I so wanted to talk about the last 3 episodes and the ending.. hehe... but it's fine. Have you watched the movie Con-Heartist? Mam is one of the leads and she is really funny in there.. I must say everyone is funny.. 3 Gentle Bros.. I am not sure about lakorns from gmmtv (except Happy Birthday). Nike is also on another upcoming BL with Fluke Natouch, Judo and Thanapon.. I think he is paired opposite Pon.
@@blcritic I haven't heard about Mam's previous works, and thanks for pointing out Nike's upcoming series. As for the ending, I wasn't that surprised (I expected it). ETA: "Make A Wish" will be another TV adaption of a Sammon novel. I enjoyed "Manner of Death" and "Triage", so I'm hoping for the best with this latest adaption. It also looks like Fluke will not be a college-age student in this BL.
It took two more months, but I finished the series with 5 hours to spare in 2022. My year-end Best of Lists have been updated accordingly. I enjoyed the literary quality of the series, and the comparison to "a stage play on film" seemed quite apt for me. I found the mother less objectionable than most, since I shared her opposition to the relationship--if not for the precisely the same reasons. It seemed clear to me that Wang was rushing impulsively into something, that his feelings for In arose in too much of a bubble (a few days in the woods) for them to sustain the kind of commitment he proclaimed himself ready to make. At any rate, for telling a different type of story with a different mix of characters, the drama is well worth anyone's time. Well, maybe not the "I want my BL light and fluffy and full of romance" set. This story probably will never be their kind of tea.
Loved this drama. Among all the currently airing one time watch BLs, this is totally a hit. But definitely not everyone's cup of tea. Hope this series bag some awards. Actors and dialogues were impeccable.
I liked this drama. I like the sensible ending too. There are some lines you can't cross. I think Wang just mistook infatuation for love. He wanted to explore that side of him with In. The star of this drama is the actor who played Inthawit. Fantastic piece of acting. The actress who played Mol was also good. Her screeching, oversized personality came across so did her fears. I liked her measured confrontation with In in the last episode. She knew she was a justified victim in this trio and she nailed In during the confrontation. I liked everything about this Bl dialogue, set design
Nike as In was wonderful.. and yes.. her confrontation with In on the last ep was really good. come on.. she lost both her husband and her son to the same guy.. that's too much to bear and her hate for him was justified and she showed it beautifully.
I am slowly watching it and am loving it. I need to lock myself away for a day so I can binge episode 3-8. Based on what I have seen I agree that this transcends the typical BL and is a God-tier series. So glad to hear your thoughts on this series.
One word that describes this series for me is "intense". Everything was so damn intense. The cinematography, the location, the weather, the acting, the tension (both sexual and non-sexual), the melancholy, the character personalities, their past, the dialogues, the story, and the ending. I loved this series, except for the last part. I don't know if it was infatuation or love for Wang, and if In actually started liking the boy or was just seeing his friend in him or if it was love from both side. Perhaps because I'm 26 and never been in love, I don't understand love very well, I actually fell in love with In's way of life. He wanted to be alone, live in his own way at his own pace. Interact with people he likes. It was his choice. I get that Wang is a headstrong, hot-headed youth, with a strong sense of justice. But I didn't like how he always has to push people to the extreme. It is good to push people around you, that motivates them and encourages them to be better and step out of their comfort zone now and then. But damn Wang for pushing his mom and uncle In to such an extreme. Maybe because this hits too close to home for me, but I hated that part about this story. Watching this gave me soo much stress I had to take a break now and then just to breathe and remind myself it's just a story. I ended up muting some scenes and just read the subs. It was just too much for me. I like the ending, where Wang finally lets it go. And that they didn't force this relationship. It gave me almost the same torture as Marriage Story 2019. Although, Marriage Story is on another level. It progresses well. 180 degrees is still a long way from Marriage story, but damn did it hit close. An amazing creation, but Wang is too touring for me to re-watch this series any time soon.
wow nice analysis.. and I agree it was too intense and sometimes too difficult to watch. i refrained form discussing the ending as it would have spoilt the story to a lot. I liked the ending though that is not the one we all wanted, but it was better to have that ending than a forced one. And Same here, I don't thing I will rewatch it anytime soon.. and i definitely won't bingewatch it.
BL Critic (and object of my respect)--I am so appreciative that you took on the subject of this series. Your background and familiarity with the business are something special. We both have a history in the theater and I currently am an educator in theater arts. (I want to bring the theater world to young people.) I thought it was just my perspective that the staging, acting, sets and even lighting were theater inspired. It particularly jumped out at me that the bedroom divider had Wang and In seeming to communicate through bars. The only thing we don't agree on is "Mom". I found her voice to be grating and her acting to be hammy and over-the-top. I muted her appearances. I am pleased that the ending was more real life than so-called Hollywood style. Whoever is responsible for the setting of this beautiful house and its surroundings deserves applause also. I have gone on too much but let me add "thank you."
As a fellow male, in my case a gay fudanshi, I gave up on this series after episode three. I simply couldn’t tolerate momma’s way-over-the-top, screeching voice for one more second. I kept imagining what it would be like to have a literally roaring drunk like her living in my own house. In my opinion the director should have told her to turn the volume down. The action was mainly taking place inside a house, not in a football stadium.
@Ron Hilton: Wow.. an Educator in Theater Arts.. you are an Ajarn. Theater is my first love and am always fascinated with the level of dedication required to perform in front of live audience. I agree, the mother would have been toned down but i gave my reason why she passed being loud. i have watched a lot of university drama, esp in Chula and Thammasat, and they don't usually use any props.. eps in plays in one act and they just come on empty stage and set up the imaginary setup and start performing. @davij417: I think you should continue, the mother will leave them alone to attend an award show and till the end of ep 6 Wang and In are left alone. hehe
@@blcritic Thanks BLC buddy for kind words. The last 2 plus years have been hard on literally billions of people. I have my own small slice of challenges. I teach high school seniors and college freshmen theater arts to bring this light and life to them. BUT. We have had to do auditions, table reads, rehearsals and performances of short one-acts...on Zoom. Many people have worse problems but it has been difficult. Have you written any plays? It is hard, right, to do it properly? This coming year I hope to stage an abridged version of one of my favorite musicals from the 60s, Bye Bye Birdie and some short plays penned by my students. Fingers crossed. Thank you as always for your stellar work.
As someone who hasn't yet watched the series, I don't feel it was spoiled. The video was good criticism. Provided those who haven't found the material yet a sharp sense of what it offers and whether it's worth their time. Good work, Mr Critic.
Move to heaven.. hehe... it is good.. may be i connected with it a bit more .. btw have you watched Happiness? though it is a mix of c*v*d lockdowns and Zombie apocalypse.. it has a main theme of a girl's search for happiness.
Critic, John Master, & Dallas, I loved this series. It felt like I was watching a play on stage. 🤔 In fact, I had to pause it twice in the last episode just to digest what I was experiencing; Wang was giving rapid-fire dialogue and emotionally packed expressions en masse at certain points that I had to just let his sentiments soak into me else the moment would have bounced off of me. WHOOSH.
No, I don’t think it’s just you. I think the way the drama way presented in a stage- like fashion kept the audience from forming an emotional attachment to the characters. That being said, without spoiling the end, I was very emotional. I had so many questions regarding the metaphors of the bridge, the dark house, the glass globe that the son carried. I’m somewhat stupid when it comes to figuring out metaphors. Other than that I can’t say I enjoyed it, but I respect all involved.
True... the stage feels makes you an observer and constantly reminds us it is not real. however, even some really good horror movies makes us feel we are in there actually.
This one was a tough watch for me, due to the deep subject matter, but I liked it. I can't argue with any of your points. Beautifully shot, if a bit dark, but that fits with the tone of the story. If I have one complaint, I would say that the metaphors are a bit heavy-handed. Maybe a more subtle touch with those could have worked better? The series hit closer to home for me than I would have liked, and it caused me to revisit a past relationship with someone who couldn't or wouldn't allow himself to be happy. As lovely as the series was, I don't think I can bear to rewatch it. I'm not sure I'm objective enough to give a final score yet. Maybe after another few days of reflection...
Yeah, I also pointed that out.. it could have been a bit simplified.. simple thinga are easy to undersatand and fun too.. people underestimate the power of simplicity. You can see Jittirain's novels ( 2gether, FUTS, TOL ) nothing really happens in them yet they are extremely well received ( the novel version). hehe some movies/series do give us the deja vu feeling.. however my life is a lot more sorted than this series... may be light fluffy BL might give me one.. hehe
@@j_scott it seems to me "hits me so hard I can't breathe" and "the series hit [so close] to home for me, ...[that] I don't think I can bear to rewatch it" indicate that the score you're contemplating deserves to land on the high side. Effective material.
@@johnmaster3748 Yes, certainly it will be on the high side. The series was well made, the actors were terrific and it deserves high marks. I just don't think it will end up on my re-watch list.
WOW BLC you got that up fast, nice job. I think it was a powerfulI series and would give it a 9 as well. The stage angle was in the back of my mind and now that you pointed it out I can really see it as a stage production that they turned into a series. Continued: I feel in many ways 180 Degrees is a masterpiece and many ways not. I think we are all hungrey for something better after so much fluff, cake and candy, it is nice to have something with substance that we can really bite into. I was moved by it. The metafors are all there, each character playing their part, the brashness of youth, the fears of old age and tradition. The relationships of women to gay men, the mother, the wife and the best friend. The bridges in our lives that some embrace and others fear to cross. When Wang pushes In to cross that bridge they are rewarded with a beautiful view but in the end there is a price to pay and In is injured trying to cross back. I agree with BLC and think that these metafors were handled nicely and not heavy handed. I think the acting was great, each one playing their part to perfection. For me the objection was not the quality of the work it was the story itself, the reason I gave it a 9 and not a 10. When people say they were glad In did not cross the line. I think what line, the line of choicing to be happy and not sad and alone. I have spent the last 40 years watching and studing movies about gay men with so few happy endings. Is the line if you are gay you can only expect to be sad and lonely if you cross that line and are happy society will disapprove. Why are we not talking about all the lines the mother crossed, all her young lovers, sending her son to boarding school when he needed her the most, the poor man who's life she distroyed not once but twice. The sad moment when the mother calls In disgusting and In begs forgiveness when he has done nothing wrong and she had done everything wrong. To see this beautiful gay man so emasculated and distroyed by this spitful women is truely painful. He did not ask to have these people come distroy his life again. We also have Wang with youth's willingness to expose everything with out understanding the price others must pay. So 180 Degrees fits nicely in that tradition of gay cinema of great films that expose the pain and loneliness of heart broken men. So at least with all the fluff of Thai BL we have some happy endings. My first Thai BL was Love Sick, still a favorite of mine, at least with all the pain that series served up in the end they went off hand and hand happy to be boyfriends. I cried with joy. So another story of a broken man is not something I want to give a 10 to, would it have been so bad if he had crossed that line. A note: Really loving Ai Long Nhai not sure why.
wow nice analysis. I agree about you not giving it a 10 and somewhat I also think that way, however, as I have said in the end.. it reflects the Thai society in general. so I found it a bit realistic. Still it could have shown the life is In not miserable. Ai Long Nai.. its funny.. but I liked the 2nd episode.. the problematic trope of that novel is handled well and I like the visuals of Meen.
@@blcritic Don't you think if it really reflected Thai society Wang and In would have been having sex secretly and the mother would have looked the other way. You know better than I, but I have lived here 20 years. I do not think Thais would ever confront each other like that and the Thais I know never seem to ask each other anything.
@@blcritic This series does reflect aspects of Thai society, and the internal struggles/choices these characters made, reminded me of the initial viewer reactions of episodes 10 to 12 of Bad Buddy. How things were divided between Western vs. Asian cultures. How Pran was so torn over how he left things with his Mom, versus how Pat was defiant in not being able to understand his Dad's behavior. Why both Pran, and Pat chose to go back home. How some folks were really mad that Pat & Pran chose to "hide, in plain sight" their continued relationship from their parents, and not so close friends.
I also didn't cry with them, couldn't emphasise and usually Im a whining emotional wreck in sad BL s 😿. I cry every episode of 12% , cried buckets in ITSAY, and the world record of crying 17 episodes- Until we meet again... I got upset with Wang mostly- He was hurting In a lot and In didn't deserve that, he did nothing wrong. I think it was beautiful but the story? beating around the bush so long, talking and talking, mostly in the dark, it didn't do it for me, and I guess I am "not their cup of tea" audience you were talking about. but we do need this kind of dramas so good job everyone.👍👍👍😿
Oh, it is indeed a work of art and a masterpiece. Loved the melancholic theme. In my opinion, it is a 10. This show is a breath of fresh air, ironic, I know… I have been watching BLs for 7yrs now and I can say only a handful comes close to this 🔘180 DLPTU 🔘ITSAU 🔘Blueming 🔘Sotus S (cinematography may have not been as good as the above mentioned, but the story still is one of my favorites) Maybe there are others I haven’t watched, “maybe”… but these shows just hit different - close to home
Can you make some basic suggestions how regular BL series could improve? I realise Thai BLs are funded by sponsors so I am not suggesting more money but practical ways they can shoot scenes differently, use extras and cast differently, perhaps the type of story that is told. I would love to see collaborations between Western production companies and Thailand. So we could get different types of actors, increase to possible range of locations, experience of the production team and the sort of LGBT stories being told. Perhaps BL in different genres. Thanks
well the Bls are improving.. being in the entertainment business I can safely tell it is hard to say what works.. sometimes good ones also fail to impress and sometimes even the teaser makes the actors superstars. eg 2gether the sereis.. both Bright and Win became stars with the teaser only and it was not even gmmtv's most ambitious project when it was announced.
Was sad, but still beautiful.It was about love, who can be sweet or bittersweet.Wang was frank with his feelings, he knew, what he wants and he went for it. But in one of the episodes, he was literally forcing In to talk about his feelings and I did not like it that much.In the end, In was a coward. He did not even try to be happy. He lived a life of loneliness, even though 20 years pass and the society has changed, he choose to live alone.Wang´s mother won. She was a selfish homofobic alcoholic.Sometimes I had the feeling, that she wanted live her life trough her son.The actors were great. It was three men show👍. A the melody of the song is very calming. I do not speak Thai, but I really like it. PS:At the beginning I was expecting some hot scenes, but I am glad there were not
Started with my anticipation … got very bored along the way … ended up with an enjoyable memory. It took 6 episodes turning a high expectation into a big disappointment, suddenly by the end of episode 7 that Wang straightforwardly confessed to In … he loved him … I was like “yeah… finally !” Stage play dialogues tripped me up at first, I got used after a while though. Nonetheless the pace was slow causing a boredom especially when there were almost just 3 people in the show talking metaphors. Wang’s confession was an instant turning point to me. The idea of father & son fell in love with the same person itself is a taboo already, let alone that person is a guy. A junior of Wang’s father whom Siam secretly loved through the years. That person also captivated Siam’s son after they met in person. Such a mesmerizing power he had to those two. A wife / mother who lost the loves of her life to In twice. How devastated must she be ? I loved the fact that she overcame her sorrow & kept her friendship with In. Once history repeated itself & she threw her anger at him, still it was understandable & I couldn’t blame her. Cattleya McIntosh’s character had a depth & deserved sympathy. This character is like a representative of women whose beloved husband loves another man. As a married woman, I felt her pain. The finale was impressively told … the two mature man & teenager couldn’t cross the line. It was not an age gap they couldn’t cross but the morality that had In stumbled & stopped. And because of that it owned my praise. Never thought they would choose a departure as their end. Touching ending.❤ One last thing Khun BLC, please do a review of the official pilot “I Feel You Linger In The Air” one of my most anticipated but doubtful of their budget series. Even a short review would be appreciated.🥰
*Spoiler* wow... nicely told.. and though Mam's character got a lot of hate.. i really liked her when she confesses she really hated In and how she put everything behind after Siam's death. And a lot of people said she is against her son's sexuality, however she was more against as it was In. I was thinking about doing a small review of I feel you linger... however, I had some reservations about the teaser.. so i decided not to.. but i will now.. coz if i don't vent it here where would it?
I'm not a fan of artsy films in anyway so in my opinion I wasted 8 weeks watching this drama! It wasn't a bl and I hated the mom so much that I couldn't connect with her in anyway. I would have loved to seen her killed off to be honest. In and Wang's relationship was awkward. I think it's because there always seemed to be something between them like an emotional wall. It was definitely coming from In and I understand why but unless I missed something Wangs dad and In were never together. In left when he told In that he loved him. I understand that the technical stuff was great but to me this is more like a 2 than a 9.
!["you tolerate it" | wang x in [180 degrees longitude passes through us]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/b3OUa1ovgU4/mqdefault.jpg)
!["you tolerate it" | wang x in [180 degrees longitude passes through us]](/img/tr.png)
I adored this series, because it wasn't the typical juvenile fluffy, easily digestible, and fan serviced filled BL. The topics they talked about are real, and something that cannot be easily fixed in the last 10 minutes of the last episode because the majority of the viewing audience expects the HEA between the two main male leads. The acting of Pond, Nike, and Mam was wonderful, and I am glad that those three were cast in this production. There was a level of maturity, sensuality, and truth that every now and again, I love seeing in TV dramas.
I know that Mam is starring in an upcoming GMMTV lakorn, with Luke, Tay, and Gun called "The Three GentleBros", so I will try that series out. I'm hoping that Pond, and Nike have new future projects that I can see them in, separate or paired up together.
I so wanted to talk about the last 3 episodes and the ending.. hehe... but it's fine. Have you watched the movie Con-Heartist? Mam is one of the leads and she is really funny in there.. I must say everyone is funny.. 3 Gentle Bros.. I am not sure about lakorns from gmmtv (except Happy Birthday). Nike is also on another upcoming BL with Fluke Natouch, Judo and Thanapon.. I think he is paired opposite Pon.
@@blcritic I haven't heard about Mam's previous works, and thanks for pointing out Nike's upcoming series. As for the ending, I wasn't that surprised (I expected it).
ETA: "Make A Wish" will be another TV adaption of a Sammon novel. I enjoyed "Manner of Death" and "Triage", so I'm hoping for the best with this latest adaption. It also looks like Fluke will not be a college-age student in this BL.
It took two more months, but I finished the series with 5 hours to spare in 2022. My year-end Best of Lists have been updated accordingly. I enjoyed the literary quality of the series, and the comparison to "a stage play on film" seemed quite apt for me. I found the mother less objectionable than most, since I shared her opposition to the relationship--if not for the precisely the same reasons. It seemed clear to me that Wang was rushing impulsively into something, that his feelings for In arose in too much of a bubble (a few days in the woods) for them to sustain the kind of commitment he proclaimed himself ready to make. At any rate, for telling a different type of story with a different mix of characters, the drama is well worth anyone's time. Well, maybe not the "I want my BL light and fluffy and full of romance" set. This story probably will never be their kind of tea.
what an amazing young actor...
fantastic acting..especially in ep 8...this young man should go places...A MUST WATCH
Loved this drama. Among all the currently airing one time watch BLs, this is totally a hit. But definitely not everyone's cup of tea. Hope this series bag some awards. Actors and dialogues were impeccable.
I think it will bag some.. among the critic awards.
I liked this drama. I like the sensible ending too. There are some lines you can't cross. I think Wang just mistook infatuation for love. He wanted to explore that side of him with In. The star of this drama is the actor who played Inthawit. Fantastic piece of acting. The actress who played Mol was also good. Her screeching, oversized personality came across so did her fears. I liked her measured confrontation with In in the last episode. She knew she was a justified victim in this trio and she nailed In during the confrontation. I liked everything about this Bl dialogue, set design
Nike as In was wonderful.. and yes.. her confrontation with In on the last ep was really good. come on.. she lost both her husband and her son to the same guy.. that's too much to bear and her hate for him was justified and she showed it beautifully.
I am slowly watching it and am loving it. I need to lock myself away for a day so I can binge episode 3-8. Based on what I have seen I agree that this transcends the typical BL and is a God-tier series. So glad to hear your thoughts on this series.
episodes 5 and 6 are really good...
One word that describes this series for me is "intense". Everything was so damn intense. The cinematography, the location, the weather, the acting, the tension (both sexual and non-sexual), the melancholy, the character personalities, their past, the dialogues, the story, and the ending. I loved this series, except for the last part. I don't know if it was infatuation or love for Wang, and if In actually started liking the boy or was just seeing his friend in him or if it was love from both side. Perhaps because I'm 26 and never been in love, I don't understand love very well, I actually fell in love with In's way of life. He wanted to be alone, live in his own way at his own pace. Interact with people he likes. It was his choice.
I get that Wang is a headstrong, hot-headed youth, with a strong sense of justice. But I didn't like how he always has to push people to the extreme. It is good to push people around you, that motivates them and encourages them to be better and step out of their comfort zone now and then. But damn Wang for pushing his mom and uncle In to such an extreme. Maybe because this hits too close to home for me, but I hated that part about this story. Watching this gave me soo much stress I had to take a break now and then just to breathe and remind myself it's just a story. I ended up muting some scenes and just read the subs. It was just too much for me. I like the ending, where Wang finally lets it go. And that they didn't force this relationship.
It gave me almost the same torture as Marriage Story 2019. Although, Marriage Story is on another level. It progresses well. 180 degrees is still a long way from Marriage story, but damn did it hit close.
An amazing creation, but Wang is too touring for me to re-watch this series any time soon.
wow nice analysis.. and I agree it was too intense and sometimes too difficult to watch. i refrained form discussing the ending as it would have spoilt the story to a lot. I liked the ending though that is not the one we all wanted, but it was better to have that ending than a forced one. And Same here, I don't thing I will rewatch it anytime soon.. and i definitely won't bingewatch it.
BL Critic (and object of my respect)--I am so appreciative that you took on the subject of this series. Your background and familiarity with the business are something special. We both have a history in the theater and I currently am an educator in theater arts. (I want to bring the theater world to young people.) I thought it was just my perspective that the staging, acting, sets and even lighting were theater inspired. It particularly jumped out at me that the bedroom divider had Wang and In seeming to communicate through bars. The only thing we don't agree on is "Mom". I found her voice to be grating and her acting to be hammy and over-the-top. I muted her appearances. I am pleased that the ending was more real life than so-called Hollywood style. Whoever is responsible for the setting of this beautiful house and its surroundings deserves applause also. I have gone on too much but let me add "thank you."
I thought the shot of the bedroom divider in the video (at the moment Mr Critic was discussing it) looked like it was a set on a stage.
As a fellow male, in my case a gay fudanshi, I gave up on this series after episode three. I simply couldn’t tolerate momma’s way-over-the-top, screeching voice for one more second. I kept imagining what it would be like to have a literally roaring drunk like her living in my own house. In my opinion the director should have told her to turn the volume down. The action was mainly taking place inside a house, not in a football stadium.
@Ron Hilton: Wow.. an Educator in Theater Arts.. you are an Ajarn. Theater is my first love and am always fascinated with the level of dedication required to perform in front of live audience. I agree, the mother would have been toned down but i gave my reason why she passed being loud. i have watched a lot of university drama, esp in Chula and Thammasat, and they don't usually use any props.. eps in plays in one act and they just come on empty stage and set up the imaginary setup and start performing.
@davij417: I think you should continue, the mother will leave them alone to attend an award show and till the end of ep 6 Wang and In are left alone. hehe
@@blcritic Thanks BLC buddy for kind words. The last 2 plus years have been hard on literally billions of people. I have my own small slice of challenges. I teach high school seniors and college freshmen theater arts to bring this light and life to them. BUT. We have had to do auditions, table reads, rehearsals and performances of short one-acts...on Zoom. Many people have worse problems but it has been difficult. Have you written any plays? It is hard, right, to do it properly? This coming year I hope to stage an abridged version of one of my favorite musicals from the 60s, Bye Bye Birdie and some short plays penned by my students. Fingers crossed. Thank you as always for your stellar work.
As someone who hasn't yet watched the series, I don't feel it was spoiled. The video was good criticism. Provided those who haven't found the material yet a sharp sense of what it offers and whether it's worth their time. Good work, Mr Critic.
Aside for Mr Critic: I finally made it thru Move to Heaven last week. It was good, though probably I enjoyed it less than you appear to have.
Thank god.. I have refrained from discussing so many things esp. the last 3 episodes as it will spoil the fun.. hope you'll like it.
@@blcritic I discovered *Sing Again* lurking on Netflix. Saint and Talay--not a BL, but--Saint! And Talay! How did it do in Thailand?
Move to heaven.. hehe... it is good.. may be i connected with it a bit more .. btw have you watched Happiness? though it is a mix of c*v*d lockdowns and Zombie apocalypse.. it has a main theme of a girl's search for happiness.
@@blcritic I will look into that one. I could use more Happiness in my life anyway.
Critic, John Master, & Dallas, I loved this series. It felt like I was watching a play on stage. 🤔 In fact, I had to pause it twice in the last episode just to digest what I was experiencing; Wang was giving rapid-fire dialogue and emotionally packed expressions en masse at certain points that I had to just let his sentiments soak into me else the moment would have bounced off of me. WHOOSH.
Wang's constant interrogation made me uncomfortable.
No, I don’t think it’s just you. I think the way the drama way presented in a stage- like fashion kept the audience from forming an emotional attachment to the characters. That being said, without spoiling the end, I was very emotional. I had so many questions regarding the metaphors of the bridge, the dark house, the glass globe that the son carried. I’m somewhat stupid when it comes to figuring out metaphors. Other than that I can’t say I enjoyed it, but I respect all involved.
True... the stage feels makes you an observer and constantly reminds us it is not real. however, even some really good horror movies makes us feel we are in there actually.
This one was a tough watch for me, due to the deep subject matter, but I liked it. I can't argue with any of your points. Beautifully shot, if a bit dark, but that fits with the tone of the story. If I have one complaint, I would say that the metaphors are a bit heavy-handed. Maybe a more subtle touch with those could have worked better?
The series hit closer to home for me than I would have liked, and it caused me to revisit a past relationship with someone who couldn't or wouldn't allow himself to be happy. As lovely as the series was, I don't think I can bear to rewatch it.
I'm not sure I'm objective enough to give a final score yet. Maybe after another few days of reflection...
"It caused me to revisit a past relationship." How often does a BL series impel you to do that?
@@johnmaster3748 Not often, but when it does, it hits me in the chest so hard that I can't breathe.
Yeah, I also pointed that out.. it could have been a bit simplified.. simple thinga are easy to undersatand and fun too.. people underestimate the power of simplicity. You can see Jittirain's novels ( 2gether, FUTS, TOL ) nothing really happens in them yet they are extremely well received ( the novel version).
hehe some movies/series do give us the deja vu feeling.. however my life is a lot more sorted than this series... may be light fluffy BL might give me one.. hehe
@@j_scott it seems to me "hits me so hard I can't breathe" and "the series hit [so close] to home for me, ...[that] I don't think I can bear to rewatch it" indicate that the score you're contemplating deserves to land on the high side. Effective material.
@@johnmaster3748 Yes, certainly it will be on the high side. The series was well made, the actors were terrific and it deserves high marks. I just don't think it will end up on my re-watch list.
WOW BLC you got that up fast, nice job. I think it was a powerfulI series and would give it a 9 as well. The stage angle was in the back of my mind and now that you pointed it out I can really see it as a stage production that they turned into a series. Continued:
I feel in many ways 180 Degrees is a masterpiece and many ways not. I think we are all hungrey for something better after so much fluff, cake and candy, it is nice to have something with substance that we can really bite into. I was moved by it. The metafors are all there, each character playing their part, the brashness of youth, the fears of old age and tradition. The relationships of women to gay men, the mother, the wife and the best friend. The bridges in our lives that some embrace and others fear to cross. When Wang pushes In to cross that bridge they are rewarded with a beautiful view but in the end there is a price to pay and In is injured trying to cross back. I agree with BLC and think that these metafors were handled nicely and not heavy handed. I think the acting was great, each one playing their part to perfection. For me the objection was not the quality of the work it was the story itself, the reason I gave it a 9 and not a 10. When people say they were glad In did not cross the line. I think what line, the line of choicing to be happy and not sad and alone. I have spent the last 40 years watching and studing movies about gay men with so few happy endings. Is the line if you are gay you can only expect to be sad and lonely if you cross that line and are happy society will disapprove. Why are we not talking about all the lines the mother crossed, all her young lovers, sending her son to boarding school when he needed her the most, the poor man who's life she distroyed not once but twice. The sad moment when the mother calls In disgusting and In begs forgiveness when he has done nothing wrong and she had done everything wrong. To see this beautiful gay man so emasculated and distroyed by this spitful women is truely painful. He did not ask to have these people come distroy his life again. We also have Wang with youth's willingness to expose everything with out understanding the price others must pay. So 180 Degrees fits nicely in that tradition of gay cinema of great films that expose the pain and loneliness of heart broken men. So at least with all the fluff of Thai BL we have some happy endings. My first Thai BL was Love Sick, still a favorite of mine, at least with all the pain that series served up in the end they went off hand and hand happy to be boyfriends. I cried with joy. So another story of a broken man is not something I want to give a 10 to, would it have been so bad if he had crossed that line.
A note:
Really loving Ai Long Nhai not sure why.
wow nice analysis. I agree about you not giving it a 10 and somewhat I also think that way, however, as I have said in the end.. it reflects the Thai society in general. so I found it a bit realistic. Still it could have shown the life is In not miserable.
Ai Long Nai.. its funny.. but I liked the 2nd episode.. the problematic trope of that novel is handled well and I like the visuals of Meen.
@@blcritic Don't you think if it really reflected Thai society Wang and In would have been having sex secretly and the mother would have looked the other way. You know better than I, but I have lived here 20 years. I do not think Thais would ever confront each other like that and the Thais I know never seem to ask each other anything.
@@blcritic This series does reflect aspects of Thai society, and the internal struggles/choices these characters made, reminded me of the initial viewer reactions of episodes 10 to 12 of Bad Buddy.
How things were divided between Western vs. Asian cultures.
How Pran was so torn over how he left things with his Mom, versus how Pat was defiant in not being able to understand his Dad's behavior.
Why both Pran, and Pat chose to go back home.
How some folks were really mad that Pat & Pran chose to "hide, in plain sight" their continued relationship from their parents, and not so close friends.
I also didn't cry with them, couldn't emphasise and usually Im a whining emotional wreck in sad BL s 😿.
I cry every episode of 12% , cried buckets in ITSAY, and the world record of crying 17 episodes- Until we meet again...
I got upset with Wang mostly- He was hurting In a lot and In didn't deserve that, he did nothing wrong.
I think it was beautiful but the story? beating around the bush so long, talking and talking, mostly in the dark, it didn't do it for me, and I guess I am "not their cup of tea" audience you were talking about.
but we do need this kind of dramas so good job everyone.👍👍👍😿
Oh, it is indeed a work of art and a masterpiece. Loved the melancholic theme. In my opinion, it is a 10. This show is a breath of fresh air, ironic, I know…
I have been watching BLs for 7yrs now and I can say only a handful comes close to this
🔘180 DLPTU
🔘ITSAU
🔘Blueming
🔘Sotus S (cinematography may have not been as good as the above mentioned, but the story still is one of my favorites)
Maybe there are others I haven’t watched, “maybe”… but these shows just hit different - close to home
180 degrees is defo in my top 10 list this year along with Blueming and Semantic Error.
Can you make some basic suggestions how regular BL series could improve? I realise Thai BLs are funded by sponsors so I am not suggesting more money but practical ways they can shoot scenes differently, use extras and cast differently, perhaps the type of story that is told. I would love to see collaborations between Western production companies and Thailand. So we could get different types of actors, increase to possible range of locations, experience of the production team and the sort of LGBT stories being told. Perhaps BL in different genres. Thanks
well the Bls are improving.. being in the entertainment business I can safely tell it is hard to say what works.. sometimes good ones also fail to impress and sometimes even the teaser makes the actors superstars. eg 2gether the sereis.. both Bright and Win became stars with the teaser only and it was not even gmmtv's most ambitious project when it was announced.
@@blcritic I just find it awkward the way actors just stand or sit awkwardly delivering their dialogue.
Was sad, but still beautiful.It was about love, who can be sweet or bittersweet.Wang was frank with his feelings, he knew, what he wants and he went for it. But in one of the episodes, he was literally forcing In to talk about his feelings and I did not like it that much.In the end, In was a coward. He did not even try to be happy. He lived a life of loneliness, even though 20 years pass and the society has changed, he choose to live alone.Wang´s mother won. She was a selfish homofobic alcoholic.Sometimes I had the feeling, that she wanted live her life trough her son.The actors were great. It was three men show👍. A the melody of the song is very calming. I do not speak Thai, but I really like it.
PS:At the beginning I was expecting some hot scenes, but I am glad there were not
Wang's mother got what she wanted in the end.. however she lost both her husband and son to In.
@@blcriticYes, she lost him. He went home with her, but he was carrying a big loss with him...
Started with my anticipation … got very bored along the way … ended up with an enjoyable memory.
It took 6 episodes turning a high expectation into a big disappointment, suddenly by the end of episode 7 that Wang straightforwardly confessed to In … he loved him … I was like “yeah… finally !” Stage play dialogues tripped me up at first, I got used after a while though. Nonetheless the pace was slow causing a boredom especially when there were almost just 3 people in the show talking metaphors. Wang’s confession was an instant turning point to me.
The idea of father & son fell in love with the same person itself is a taboo already, let alone that person is a guy. A junior of Wang’s father whom Siam secretly loved through the years. That person also captivated Siam’s son after they met in person. Such a mesmerizing power he had to those two. A wife / mother who lost the loves of her life to In twice. How devastated must she be ? I loved the fact that she overcame her sorrow & kept her friendship with In. Once history repeated itself & she threw her anger at him, still it was understandable & I couldn’t blame her. Cattleya McIntosh’s character had a depth & deserved sympathy. This character is like a representative of women whose beloved husband loves another man. As a married woman, I felt her pain.
The finale was impressively told … the two mature man & teenager couldn’t cross the line. It was not an age gap they couldn’t cross but the morality that had In stumbled & stopped. And because of that it owned my praise. Never thought they would choose a departure as their end. Touching ending.❤ One last thing Khun BLC, please do a review of the official pilot “I Feel You Linger In The Air” one of my most anticipated but doubtful of their budget series. Even a short review would be appreciated.🥰
*Spoiler*
wow... nicely told.. and though Mam's character got a lot of hate.. i really liked her when she confesses she really hated In and how she put everything behind after Siam's death. And a lot of people said she is against her son's sexuality, however she was more against as it was In.
I was thinking about doing a small review of I feel you linger... however, I had some reservations about the teaser.. so i decided not to.. but i will now.. coz if i don't vent it here where would it?
I'm not a fan of artsy films in anyway so in my opinion I wasted 8 weeks watching this drama! It wasn't a bl and I hated the mom so much that I couldn't connect with her in anyway. I would have loved to seen her killed off to be honest. In and Wang's relationship was awkward. I think it's because there always seemed to be something between them like an emotional wall. It was definitely coming from In and I understand why but unless I missed something Wangs dad and In were never together. In left when he told In that he loved him. I understand that the technical stuff was great but to me this is more like a 2 than a 9.
Since you ask: it’s just you. I refrained from giving you a thumbs up because of that. But for the most part a good review.
I watched 4 episodes and got bored so I dropped this show. Sorry ... but not really a fan of artistic film.