Alpha, Beta, and Omega are the three names represented in the ABO romance genre. Alpha’s being the dominant in relationships between men or women; while Betas are normally not as strong as Alphas, Omegas have lesser strength than them, with the unique ability to get pregnant whether male or female. This is the world that “Pit Babe the Series” takes place in. The drama series is one of the few I have seen that features an ABO format, but the aspects of the show that make sense because of it are so subtle it’s yet unclear if it’s truly necessary to include this trope.

The series stars “2 Moons2” actor Pavel Naret as the “King of the Hallows”- Pit Babe. The undefeated celebrity race car driver from the Yaoi novel of the same name by author alittlebitch. Directed by Peter Nopachai who utilizes a wonderful background score to create a range of moods throughout the stylish series. Using the alternating settings, most scenes occur on racetrack, locker room, or the luxurious home settings and offices of the corporate end of the racing business. But heavy-duty scenes are relegated off the track as it alternates between perspectives of different characters; for example, Way played by Nut Supnanut (Oxygen The Series, the man with unrequited love for Pit Babe. Charlie is played by Pooh Krittin, an alpha unique in appearance (glasses and small) but easily dominates Pit Babe in a seemingly loving way. It’s clear he has an agenda. The antagonists of the series is Tony Chen played by S Vorarit, Pit Babe’s adoptive father and main villain. And Winner played by Pop Pataraphol, Pit Babe’s main racing rival. The show does have a larger cast consisting of Alan (Sailub Hemmawich) who acts as Pit Babe’s mentor and owner of X Hunters. Jeff played by Pon Thanapon, Pete played by Ping Obrnithi are some other actors in this ensemble casting.

The series itself is a Yaoi story with Pit Babe at the center. While there is a large cast of people around him most of whom you won’t remember by the end of the episode due to the fast pace, script or the scenes predominantly based around the main character, Pit Babe you will. Mainly because he never loses at anything; whether its racing or arguing. Or seducing men, he doesn’t seem to have any real struggles. Instead, he bulls through life as if he is entitled to everything. A role that suits Pavel very well as he portrays Pit Babe as the King of the Raceway in every way (he does have a dark past F.Y.I, it isn’t brought up til Ep.3). From a story line perspective the show is a patchwork of scenes depicting the different ways the world seems to revolve around Pit Babe.

So if you’re not a Pavel fan this is not a show for you.

The series never forgets it is a ABO series either as they keep commenting on alphas in different ways. Pit Babe uses sex before races as a way to emotionally and mentally “still” himself. As a bottom he uses alphas for the “grounding”’ effect. This however is where the issues with the series lies. I understand that sex is going to be a strong component of the story. But if the script wants to focus on the grounding effect for Pit Babe, then the ill-effects of bad sex should be shown or at least acknowledged. Instead, the show makes a point to showcase a sex scene only to have Pit Babe feel disgusted by the air being filled with the alphas pheromones. The acting and the boldness of opening the series in such a way set the sultry tone for the show, true. But having people acknowledge Pit Babe’s skill and how he goes through men like energy drinks did offer an incomplete portrait of the character. People around him seem to fully acknowledge this aspect of him and take it in stride; while Way who has been nursing a crush on Pit Babe for years.

While most series have moving plots and interspacing story lines, the show seems to literally exist around Pit Babe. When Charlie appears and offers to give him a test try as his boy in exchange for the use of his racing car; it doesn’t actually make sense save my assumption that Pit Babe isn’t an Alpha. When the situation persists, it’s only by smelling Charlie that Pit Babe agrees. Obviously, the show displays later the high level of value that Pit Babe places over his cars. Let alone himself. So to allow Charlie to use him or be used by him in a “Friends with Benefits” program as payment for the use of a car seemed a bit of a stretch.

Pooh’s acting as Charlie during the scene where Pitbabe is betting him felt hallow to me. He barely said anything even though he’s more dominant than Pit Babe. Because “Pitbabe” doesn’t have to make written sense. It just has to create sleek, tense moments with little to no context. Once the main characters are established the series opens into the external struggles between Pit Babe and his father. At the end of the first episodes we see a silhouette of a man working on a banzai tree with a foreboding air.

The second episode does shed light on his identity as the rich man who purchased the enemy camp, the leading rivals for Pit Babe’s main backers “X Hunter”. The script drew me to the repeated acknowledgement of the value Pit Babe should be placing on Tony (adoptive father) while Pit Babe just ignores them, tight-lipped on the subject. Charlie is doing something shady though what you still don’t know by the end of the first three episodes. But he does know how to lie, something he does very well. While acting as a honeypot, he uses his alpha status to dominate Pit Babe in sexual situations, allowing himself further access to Pit Babe. Something that drives Way up a wall.

Tony is an interesting spider on the wall, still working on his banzai tree while making moves to poach other drivers and repair men from X Hunter. Why? I’m not gonna lie, the script is a hot mess, by the end of the third episode, it’s clear he wants access to Pit Babe. Charlie and his friend, Jeff? Cohort? Meet occasionally before the said friend joins X Hunter as an intern repairman much to Alan’s delight (it seems he has a thing for him, judging by the way he ruffles his feathers every chance he can).

Now for the ABO seemingly invisible waves in the room. Alpha-Beta-Omega fictions generally have science fiction at their core. Sometimes there’s a DNA science angle as to why people are grouped in different categories. Sometimes it’s unexplained, and we (viewers) just get told this form of human or creatures exist. Pit Babe uses these unexplained origins, with the bonus of not diving into a world where Charlie, Pit Babe, and unnamed bad guys are the only ABO characters so far. But! That doesn’t explain how Pit Babe has special powers.

☆☆☆Massive Spoiler if this plot device is ever USED☆☆☆

Pit Babe has special powers. No it doesn’t make sense. He uses telekinesis very seldom, how does he have this powerful psychic power, no one knows why it exists as we get a short rehash about his childhood where Pit Babe was left homeless since his father vanished, and he was adopted by Tony. Tony has other adoptees like Pit Babe, living in separation in a mansion. How Tony knew about Pit Babe isn’t explained, but his telekinesis was Tony’s reason for adopting him, he was also the reason why Pit Babe’s father went bankrupt. Upon realizing this Pit Babe runs away and somehow becomes who he is today.

Again does it make sense, no but nothing on this show does. Why Pit Babe doesn’t do telekinesis as an adult is never mentioned save in his information dump of a biography he reveals to Charlie. Again it’s a nifty ABO moment if the power works in conjunction with that plot device but as it is never mentioned again or done later in the episodes, it is what it is? The show remembers it’’s a Yaoi as Way gets information about Charlie, which isn’t information. It’s just him walking with Jeff. Since we haven’t seen Charlie do anything insidious, it seems silly for Pit Babe to believe it. But in typical Yaoi fashion, Way uses a dominating tone of voice influencing Pit Babe and Charlie stays sneaking around doing whatever.

The episode ends with Winner cheating to win against a rash driving Pit Babe during the first race where Alan procures a new sponsorship to compete with Tony; ending the trio of episodes on a low note. The show is a Yaoi, it is unapologetically here for lovers of high octane series. It doesn’t make consistent sense but is pretty to look at. Maybe the science fiction will be as prominent as the sex in later episodes. Maybe Tony has a reason for “collecting special boys”?

Rating- 2 out 5 stars (for being a bunch of great ideas poorly executed)

Streaming on- IQIYI