Okay. Wow! Where do I start with this story? Because everything looks perfect. And this is only 2 episodes! Can you believe this? I can’t either. It is safe to say that my heart sure skipped a beat.
A young photographer named Po (Est Supha) is lost in life. He doesn’t have a decent job, he fails an important interview, he has a habit of saying wrong things at the wrong place, he is ashamed of his parents sending money to him, he is also a bit slow, he is dumped by his love who used Po’s talents for his own gains. So when, a friend recommends a dream job- capturing the final moments of the beloved T-pop band MARS- Po can’t resist the opportunity.
Things get interesting when Po meets the band’s leader, Thame (William Jakrapatr). Let’s just say their first encounter isn’t exactly smooth sailing!
Now coming to the main actors. Est is absolutely brilliant. Most of the time we have seen him as a support cast, as a rough and tough guy supporting his best friends. But here he is a changed person. Po is a shy reserved person and has a meek nature. Almost a broken loser, he has not said anything about his pain to anyone. He doesn’t even like to complain and has a serious problem of not being able to stand up for himself thanks to his shitty ex.
Est has brought out the character superbly. His hesitations, his helplessness, his eyes full of pain and hurt, him crying out, his obvious open-eyed awe at the attractiveness of Thame; honestly, I am shocked at how he brings out so much depth in his character. He did a complete 180 from his previous role in “High School Frenemy”.
This is William’s biggest acting project till now, and I will be honest I love how well he portrays the character.
The show also sheds light to a few heavy themes. Let me say that GMMTV knows how to do business. They are showing us the behind-the-scenes of the talent acquisition, management and also the marketing as well as business of the idol culture. We see their sacrifices, the pressure of being in the spotlight, and the suffocating restrictions of their contracts. It’s a side of idol life we rarely get to see, and it’s both intriguing and eye-opening.
But here’s the best part: amidst the struggles, there’s a blossoming connection between Po and Thame. It’s a beautiful portrayal of two souls finding solace and understanding in each other which I am hoping to see unfold more in the future episodes.
This show is a fine example of GMMTV’s agenda of bringing Thai Pop music culture to a global audience. BLs are already global and when you bring idols into it, you are able to market and promote both.
And the recent launch of JASP.ER is another way to promote THAI POP to the world. In one BL artists are becoming music makers while in this one musicians are taking part in BL acting. A fine crossover, a successful ecosystem and if the idea hits the right spot, is also a very lucrative source of income. And from the positive reactions of the fans, it is surely working.
The cinematography is beautiful. I love the warm cinematic colour grading. I checked the production team and a lot of them are women including the director. Kudos to them.
All in all, GMMTV loves to release their tear jerking, heart wrenching works at the end of the year. Last year, “Last Twilight” aired around this time. This year it is “ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat”
With its captivating story, stellar acting, and willingness to delve into real-life issues, “ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat” has all the makings of a top BL for 2024. If the rest of the series lives up to these first two episodes, it’s definitely going on my top five list!
Rating- 4 out of 5
Streaming on- GMMTV YouTube Channel
The BL Xpress 
The director is doing a masterful job of contrasting the vibrant, energetic side of pop music with scenes that are incredibly subdued, contemplative, and quiet. Instead of seeming slow or dull, she seems to be using the technique to demonstrate that the public personalities of boy / girl band members that have been carefully crafted by managers don’t always reflect the “real” versions of the men and women when they’re not “on stage.” Based on her past works, it is already evident that the director is not only going to tell us a story, but has something to say that’s deeper than the plot.
GMMTV takes much criticism since they’re the largest producer of BLs, especially being accused of being “too safe” in any series not directed by Jojo. In my mind, much of this criticism is undeserved. In western terms, this series is incredibly risky. They are trying to propel a real life T-pop group into international stardom by using the strategy of casting its lead singer in a queer romance. We haven’t been given the backstory on Thame’s past romances, but Po is not an “I’m only gay for Thame” man, from every indication, he’s a gay man. I know this strategy has worked provincially with some K-idols, but somehow this seems like taking a bigger chance since GMMTV’s plans for LYKN seem very ambitious.
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