The title of this series alone had me hooked since it is so esoteric. This whole series is unique in that despite its dark surroundings, it is still a human connection that binds two people together and that might be the requisite for survival in their world. Perhaps without that, the days and nights become a crestfallen abyss. If that connection is a form of love, then let it be named so. All I know is that this throw-away series is an exceptional and phenomenal series that says more with less.

Unquestionably, this is a story conceivably of thousands mirrored in two people. ‘Jed’ Pathomakan (Mark Methasit) is arrested and sent to prison for cheque fraud. Perhaps he would be unremarkable in the sense that typically he would blend into society well. Quiet, somewhat studious-looking, but now having to fend for himself in prison- alone. In this setting, his face and demeanor are enticing and to a degree charismatic. Almost immediately he is ‘protected’ by Bible (Art Pawaret). Bible is haunting. He is boyishly handsome and hypnotic. He seems to be somewhat of a leader in the prison yet obviously given the pecking order within the penal environment, is still subservient to those to whom he owes money. While quiet and introspective, he wields a lot of force among other prisoners and seems to be respected by the guards. Not by force but by demeanor. He rarely, if ever, smiles and even more rarely gives in to any emotions.

Despite the walls and barriers, he and Jed form a union. Inching closer and closer. Each enjoys the company of the other to the degree that the prison standards allow them to. It does lead to intimacy but never seemingly initiated by Bible. Yet, never ever rejected by him either. It is obvious that they care about each other and relish the time that they can spend that time alone. In a sense, it becomes their own private world within a world. To the extent that he can, Jed discreetly shares his feelings towards Bible. Typical of Bible, he stoically accepts it with detachment. Jed is the only one that can get Bible to smile on occasion. For both, prison life becomes bearable and tolerable. Their devotion to one another does not go unnoticed by others.

Most noteworthy is the doctor of the prison, who by happenstance is the former lover of Jed. Dr. Kong (Top Arithach) is essentially a passive watcher of him while in prison. Having cheated on Jed, Jed is dismissive and contemptuous of anything he has to say. Essentially, Jed had been a good and decent partner, and it was Kong who violated that trust. Thus, Jed faced his metamorphosis of rejection alone and unburdened himself of any feelings for Kong. While Kong remains in love with Jed and tries when he can to protect him, he knows the damage is irreparable, and Jed will never return to him. Their relationship is dead.

Obviously, this series is not merely a story between these two protagonists. There are others and one other is an intriguing and interesting player. He, along with Bible, are ‘leaders’ and seem to ‘distribute’ the new prisoners as they come in as to which ones they take under their wings. Initially, Khuen (Jew Aekkawit) takes an interest in Jed when he returns to prison again and to some degree falls in ‘love’ with Jed. Maybe that is too strong of a term to use here as they all know that love is transient in a prison setting. Kheun tries to warn Jed that falling in love with Bible is essentially unrequited but that does not stop Jed. Eventually, Kheun seems to be merely content to be his friend – again that is all so relative in a prison setting. His portrayal of this character is so genuine and sincere. He knows the prison system well and is an expert on how to use it to his advantage. He has not completely lost his capacity to be human in prison, which is a rarity. In a way, he earnestly does seem to like and even care for Jed. His whole personification is one of acceptance as that is the only way to get along and to survive in this environment. He is the exemplar of how to survive in a prison. To the degree one can define the term honest, he is indeed that.

This series, I think, is misunderstood. It does not flow well. It feels disjointed. Time is hard to discern, as in reality, it would. So much is done cryptically. However, I am guessing that is exactly what prison life is like, plus more. There is also more unsaid than said. It is up to you to fill in the blanks here. For example, we only see Bible and Jed making love a few times and mostly in silence and awkwardly. Partly explained of course by the setting, but not always. Bible hides something and never fully commits himself. And Jed wants to but obviously cannot. The one intimate sex scene is done in almost complete silence. Not forcibly and yet in a sense not willingly either. It felt more like a hunger for intimacy that needed to be fed right then and there. Something that they both lusted, wanted, and desired. I am not convinced that they ‘loved’ each other but merely wanted the craven companionship as both were lonely, misfits, and in a sense so close to depression it would not have taken much for either one to have it becomes full-blown. They found each other, accepted one another, and more importantly took away the other’s intense almost unbearable loneliness. Was that love? In the end, no, as you will see.

If anything, this series is a visceral experience that leaves you hanging. It gives you no answers because there are none to give you. It is merely a slice-of-life in a prison environment where love is loosely engaged in but never really felt. It is an empty designation that two people tried to make sense of for a period and give meaning to but failed. It really was never meant to be. This is a sad, sad story that in the end made me weep. Not for love lost, but for the love never gained. These guys were shallow and their devotion hollow.

This is one of the few real, honest, and genuine BLs to come out of Thailand in a long time. It is brilliantly acted, as the story is told with a brutal sincerity that is relatable for all of us to understand, if we open our minds to their confinement. They lost their souls in prison. We see that clearly. They are shells of humans. The only vestige of humanity is the here and there touch by one another that brushes past them occasionally, and even then, it can never fully be intimate. This story is gritty, touching, and unfeigned and not comfortable to watch.

I know that this series has a lot of production issues. Editing and sound in places is inadequate. The story sometimes escapes the plot and feels jumbled and confusing. The setting itself is undoubtedly sanitized for our purposes, as I doubt prison life anywhere in the world is that passive.

Nevertheless, for me, this one is going in my Apotheosis list for 2025. I can overlook all the production issues because of the singularity theme and focused storytelling are refreshingly different and told in a way that we can truly understand the misery and loneliness of prison life. Do not tip your judgement of this series solely on its production flaws or issues but experience the painful and plain truth of its story which is haunting.

Rating- 5 out of 5

Streaming on- Recordy Official YouTube Channel/ WeTV