I grew up on a stable diet of Indian mythological (Ramayana & Mahabharata), both have been remade again & again with different casting. The central character that remains at the heart of both mythologies is Lord Vishnu (both Lord Ram & Lord Krishna are his reincarnations). So, when the trailer for “The Sign” was released, I was intrigued; because it had two main characters based on Indian mythology. I was surprised to say the least; Garuda is the vahana/vehicle of Lord Vishnu while Sheshanaga is his mount. Although we know about the enmity between Garuda and Nagas, their story was never properly described/depicted beyond the fact that they both serve Lord Vishnu. So, to see two divine figures from the Indian mythology in a Thai drama was quite riveting. It was only after the show started that I realised that Thais have their own myths about Garuda & Nagas. The show is hugely based in modern era, but is fantasy drama based on the age long enmity between the two demigods. In Buddhism, Garudas are enormous predatory birds with intelligence and social organisation. The Garudas have kings and cities, and some of them have the magical power of changing into human form; as can be witnessed with Phaya’s characterization. The Garuda are enemies to the nāga, a race of intelligent serpent- or dragon-like beings, whom they hunt. Nagas are believed to live in either water bodies or in caves and have different clans; as witnessed by their attire. Tharn is mostly shown wearing green clothes, which depict his noble status while Chalothorn is show wearing black clothes which signify the fact that he is a royal. “The Sign” cleverly combines these age-old mythologies with the concept of reincarnation to script a thriller that is incomparable to most modern dramas in the BL world.

PHAYA & THARN CENTURIES LONG ROMANCE

As unbelievable as it might seem, Phaya (Billy Patchanon) & Tharn (Babe Tanatat) have been in love for centuries; while our dear old villain Chalothon (Heng Asavarid) spends his time separating them. The show glosses over their past reincarnations, while training it’s lens on their original form and latest rebirth. As the show traces their old origins, Phaya & Tharn undergo training to join the IDF task force. Their romance is heightened by the fact that Tharn has the power of visions; whenever Phaya is in danger, he senses it beforehand. Their connection doesn’t make much sense in the beginning; because Phaya keeps dreaming about a girl who looks like Tharn (frankly, Freen Sarocha does not resemble Babe, so it was a huge disservice to her). As we dig deeper, we are given a vivid flashback where Tharn/Wansarat’s sister pulls Phaya in a dream and describes the ordeal they went through. I’m pretty sure there are many who are wondering why Wansarat is described as a female (while Babe plays the role). Wansarat was born as a noble nagini/female naga; in most ancient sculptures, nagini’s are depicted in semi nude form. The show’s producers seemed to affirm to that belief; but since it is impossible for an actress to appear in a semi nude attire, they choose to depict Babe as a nagini with long hair instead. The show does a nice job blending their romance in the past and present; obviously love between a Garuda & a Naga was frowned upon because of their enmity. Billy Patchanon and Babe Tanatat do a splendid job embodying the finer nuances of their characters, be it old or new; the life long separation they have faced, the longing and yearning to be with each other is vividly portrayed. Their intimate scenes are daring and sensual, never tasteless. Billy and Babe share a comfortable camaraderie and it translates to excellent chemistry onscreen. I was enthralled and I kept coming back for more!

THE SECOND LEAD SYNDROME

Most probably yes; Tack Phongsakorn “Khem” and Poom Nuttapart “Thongthai” make a frisky, adorable pairing. While Khem isn’t exactly the brightest bulb in the lot, his love and adoration for Thongthai clearly wins over everything else. Coupled with Yai (Gap Jakarin), they make a formidable force with Phaya & Tharn. I wouldn’t comment much on the cases being investigated or how they bought the human villains to justice. Somehow, that part just blends into the shadows as compared to the mythological aspect. But Tack & Poom do have an endearing chemistry; I wish they had fledged out their storyline more. Similarly, I was also disappointed that Yai’s sweet love story with Sand (Yoshi Rinrada) didn’t have much screen time. Sand is utterly gorgeous yet fearsome and there are very few shows that actually showcase a trans woman in such a splendid glory. I wish we had more scenes with them!

HENG ASAVARID AS THE ANTAGONIST

Heng Asavarid has recently been into playing antagonist roles. He played the semi villain, Kirk in “Gap The Series” last year and has fully graduated to the antagonistic level with Chalothon, the Naga Prince in “The Sign”. As Chalothon, he is cunning, sinister and horrifying. The CGI effects compliment his fearsome act and Heng’s performance was commendable. Chalothon has spent centuries stalking Tharn’s every reincarnation to separate him from Phaya; that’s some serious dedication (makes you question if he found any time to perform his regal duties as the Prince). Clearly, his obsession is beyond repair and as such, his last act of redemption makes no sense. A guy like Chalothon would never easily accept his mistake or let go of Tharn. It seemed like the scriptwriters wanted to get rid of him hurriedly and didn’t find time to bring his character to a proper conclusion. Oh, how the mighty have fallen!

Is It A Worthwhile Watch

If you try to find sense in their investigative conclusions, then you might be slightly disappointed.

I will be frank about the fact that this show’s popularity solely existed on the mythological aspect. Weeks after weeks, I read comments and posts on X from avid Thai locals who helped explained the myths related to the divergence of the Naga clan and their enmity with Garuda. Another interesting aspect was the depiction of the Naga fireballs, a phenomenon said to be seen annually on the Mekong River. Glowing balls are alleged to naturally rise from the water high into the air, which is locally attributed to phaya nak, a giant serpent (Nāga) said to live in the Mekong river. The scriptwriters have tried their level best to weave the local folklore into the main story line. It’s best to watch this show for the centuries long romance, capturing Tharn & Phaya’s wish to be together. Even though, Chalothon keeps separating them, they are reborn again & again, so they could be together. Such a love story is unheard of; Billy and Babe excel in their depictions of both Garuda/Wansarat and Phaya/Tharn. Watch it for them and nothing else!

Rating- 4 out of 5

Streaming on- Idol Factory YouTube Channel