There were quite a few decent releases in the month of January. The year started on a good note, and we wanted to share the goodies, with those who aren’t watching any of these interesting shows. They may not live up to everyone’s taste buds or choices, but they sure are riveting; in terms of casting or variant storytelling!

Flirt Milk

Announced as a part of “Star Hunter Entertainment’s 2023”, the show has been in making for a long time. We don’t know what caused the delay in its premiere, but “Flirt Milk” finally made it to the silver screens two years later. As for the storyline, it is nothing new. Adapted from the novel “Rak Rot Nom Juet” (รักรสนมจืด) by Arpo, the show follows Nomjuet (Neel Kawich), a young man whose personality and life are as dull as his name suggests. He is quite naive, slightly awkward and entirely clumsy; so much so, that his best friends need to constantly guard him, lest he would get into some troublesome situation. One day, he brings a forgotten coffee to the photography club and there, he meets a guy named Phra-ek (Pooh Poohrin) whose personality and name are very different. An ace photographer in his faculty, Phra-Aek hides his handsome looks under his unkempt attire. They are as different as the sun and moon; and yet Phra-Aek is inevitably drawn towards Nomjuet’s innocence and naivete. Fong Bovorn who was previously paired opposite JJ Rathasat in most projects is involved in a love triangle with the main couple. Apart from them, we have a supporting BL & GL couple who are equally intriguing!

FC Soldout

This show dropped out of nowhere, with absolutely no promotions or marketing. Starring Park Jong Hun & Ko Deok Won in lead roles, the show focuses on a washed up soccer team which is bought by an Entertainment Group. The reason for the acquisition is just to commoditize the team to make money again. The agency takes over and cuts out all the players with a poor face, then forces the actors with a face value from their agency to become players. It is actually a “Give & Take” policy. The CEO of the agency wants to promote the undervalued actors in his agency by pairing them with the popular team members of the soccer team. This ridiculous idea actually works and we end up with three handsome pairings. Especially, the main couple, Do Ji U & Yoo Gang Jae who are schoolmates. While Yoo Gang Jae has had a crush on Ji U since their school days, Ji U fell for Gang Jae after watching his movie where he played a soccer player. The team captain Yun Tae Young (Hwang Yun Je) and fallen idol trainee, Han Don Hui (Im Jung Gyu) form the second couple. City Log members Lee Jae Jun (Kay) and Lee Ji Han (Kang Min Su) are the third couple. Give this show a chance, it is atypical but interesting!

Friendly Rivalry

Probably the most anticipated sapphic romance this year, “Friendly Rivalry” premiered to high expectations and the show is already setting a precedent in Korean mainstream culture. After the mayhem caused over the release of “Love in the Big City”, there were speculations about the sapphic tones in this adaptation. Surprisingly, it seems the show’s producers and scriptwriter daringly remained true to the original content. So, we get to watch popular actresses Lee Hye Ri & Chung Su Bin share a passionate kiss. The story follows Woo Seul Ki who grew up in an orphanage out in a province. She moves to Seoul and enrolls in Chaehwa High School, which is a school for the top 1% students in South Korea. Unexpectedly, she gets acquainted with Yoo Je Yi who is the most powerful student in the school. She has a high IQ, comes from a wealthy family background, and is attractive. As Yoo Je Yi begins to take a special interest in Seul Ki, their relationship slowly develops into something more than friendship. The main couple are hot and the storytelling is risque yet riveting!

Impression of Youth

This was another surprise release that dropped out of nowhere and I wasn’t prepared for the cuteness. The show has two different couples and both are equally endearing. Art graduate student Yu Xing is forced by his professor to spend a month teaching at a rural high school as a substitute teacher in the hopes that the change of scenery will inspire Yu Xing and help him salvage his rejected graduation project. Upon his arrival, Yu Xing meets Xu Lu Hui, a cheerful high school student with a passion for painting but limited opportunities to pursue it. Muji Hsu & his new onscreen partner, Andrew Chien are absolutely adorable together. I have watched Muji Hsu in “Because of You” and I can attest to the fact that his chemistry with Andrew is so much better than that with his old co-star Lee Shi Kang. Despite the obvious age-gap, the actors are literally eating up their roles and their chemistry is refreshing. The other couple, Wish Chu (Bingchen) and Will Wen (Xu Lu Xi) have a surprisingly strong chemistry. Bingchen returns to his hometown after his wife’s death to fulfill her last wish- to open a cafe by the seaside. Unexpectedly, he meets Xu Lu Xi who is his nextdoor neighbor and owner of a homestay. Their initial interactions are pretty awkward as Lu Xi instantly falls in love, while Bingchen is still in mourning. But slowly, they open up to each other & Bingchen realizes that Lu Xi might be the person he needs the most in his life!

I’ll Turn Back This Time

If you have watched the Chinese adaptation “Meet You at the Blossom”, enjoyed the hijinks between the supporting couple, Kou Wei Long & Li Yi Mu, then you would be delighted to watch them in their new show “I’ll Turn Back This Time”. A transmigration romance, the show focuses on Shen Nan and Gu Shi Wen who become family after each other’s parents remarry. Initially in discord, they fall in love with each other, and the gentle Shen Nan helps heal Gu Shi Wen’s heart. But tragedy strikes and Gu Shi Wen dies in a major accident. Immersed in grief, Shen Nan somehow time travels to the past where Gu Shi Wen doesn’t know him. They get reacquainted and fall in love again. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes yet again and Shi Wen’s death leaves Shen Nan grief stricken. As he travels back to the past yet again, he decides to stay aloof and cut off ties with Gu Shi Wen; it is easier said than done, since their paths keep crossing. The main lead couple have an unassuming chemistry; the love their characters have for each other is strong and even fate couldn’t tear them apart!

Ossan’s Love Thailand

There are many who kept wondering if the Thai version would be as good as the Japanese original. Starring Earth Pirapat & Mix Sahaphap alongside Krit Shahkrit in a hilarious love triangle, the show banks on the lead pairing’s strong chemistry. The script has been quite a few changes- like Kongdech is portrayed as a widower with a daughter, Thor Thinnaphan who portrays senior manager, Ten is seen pinning after Mo instead of the Boss. Ryu Phudtripart who would have been possibly paired opposite the Boss’s wife is single and pitiful. Despite these dynamic changes in the script, the show does manage to catch the drift between the main couple; with Earth & Mix embodying the silly yet adorable romance between their characters. I’m not yet impressed with Krit Shahkrit’s depiction of the Boss, but fingers crossed!

Us The Series

Another show that took a long time to premiere, “Us The Series” stars Emi Thasorn & Bonnie Pattraphus in lead roles. Like most novels written by Chao Pla Noy, this story is no different. We have characters with hidden agenda, cheating tropes abundant and a secret romance unfolding. Nineteen-year-old Dokrak leaves home after a fight with her father who owns a hospital. She has a part-time job at a coffee shop in the gallery Art & Us. It’s here that she crosses paths with twenty-two-year-old dentistry student Pam. As she gets to know Pam, Dokrak develops a crush. When her brother, however, meets Pam, he falls for her at first sight. Kawi turns to Dokrak, asking her to play matchmaker. Because she loves him and wants to see him happy, Dokrak starts helping him. As time goes on, she finds herself unable to ignore her growing feelings for Pam who reciprocates in kind, even though she is dating Kawi. Unbeknownst to both siblings, Pam has her own agenda and has been getting close to the siblings to seek revenge from their father. Pam is like a mystery, she keeps a tight control on her emotions most of the times. But as she gets close to Dokrak, her control is shattered. Unwittingly, she starts falling for the enemy’s daughter and there is no way back. Emi & Bonnie have an interesting chemistry, it is refreshing and intriguing!

Await our next feature for the month of February!