Love that transcends time. Whether or not it’s plausible, there’s something about the thought of connecting that deeply with someone else’s soul that casts light on even the darkest corners of the heart.

It’s this love that helps bring the new Thai BL Love Upon a Time. Adapted from the novel of the same name by littlebbear96 and starring Net Siraphop Manithikhun (Phop/Tinnaphop) and JJ Radchapon Phornpinit (Klao/Nakhun), it tells the story of an unfortunate twenty year-old university student who ends up traveling four hundred years to the Ayutthaya Kingdom. There, he’s mistaken for a man named Klao, which leads him to meeting Phop, a man who views the new “Klao” with both hope and suspicion.

I admit I went into Love Upon a Time with no expectations. I’ve not read the novel the series is adapted from, and the only paired project with Net and JJ I’m familiar with is The Next Prince.

I was not disappointed.

The first episode started a little shaky for me, mainly because it felt like the script was trying to “tell” too much with dialogue what could have been inferred partly with actions and expressions. But it didn’t take long before that changed.

The turning point was the visit with the fortune teller. Not only did it generate the intrigue and suspense needed for the building mystery, it emphasized a past connection between Nakhun and his two closest friends, Pun (Kim Pongsaton Sittipan) and Thi (Latte Thanutchon Chankaew-armon). Supporting friendships in a story truly do create the heart behind a series. These friendships buoy the main relationship while building character around the main lead(s). Moments between them don’t just serve the plot, they allow viewers to connect beyond the story to the heart beneath.

And now for the biggest surprise for me: JJ. I went into Love Upon a Time being much more familiar with Net as an actor. While I enjoy JJ’s social presence and his work in The Next Prince, I wasn’t sure of his capabilities as a main lead. What I didn’t expect was how good he is at dramatic acting. Nothing against his comedic timing. The humor is there, and he’ll only get better at it over time, but whenever Nakhun’s character gets serious in the series, any time he gets lost in his thoughts and feelings, JJ truly shines. It’s that nuance that has connected me to the story.

When I say I didn’t expect JJ to be the one to carry the first two episodes for me, I mean it. There’s a definite deeper story coming for Phop (Net) and the past and present Jom/Thi (Latte) and Kaew/Pun (Kim) that I believe will capture my heart as much as Nakhun has. But I appreciate JJ’s ability as the focal point of the first two episodes to show that while the awkward misfortune of his present life and the uncertainty of the past as Klao can be humorous (especially considering Nakhun’s personality), there’s also the promise of sorrow, pain, and connection. That contrast is the strength behind his performance, and I truly hope he’s not only aware of that but cultivates it in his career. Because it’s in small, unguarded moments that a story feels less like a script and much more personal. And he is certainly pulling that off.

I get the feeling Love Upon a Time is setting me up to laugh first in preparation of the tears to come. It helps that Net and JJ’s interactions on screen are already strong enough to make the nuance of this work.

Which brings me to Net. While Phop has less screen time in the initial episodes, I really like how well Net makes sure that his presence is felt and understood. And he does it with a lot less dialogue compared to the rest of the cast. He has strong eyes and expressions, and he uses them to his advantage to convey the inner battle he faces when standing before the man he loves, while quietly questioning whether that man is truly who he should be.

All in all, the first two episodes of Love Upon a Time left me impressed and intrigued. I want to know more about everyone. I want to know what promise Nakhun once made that took him back to the past. I want to know what grudge Pun once held that carried itself through time. I want to know how each romance, the main and the secondary, play out and how each of them managed to transcend time. I want to know how Nakhun’s connection with his father, both in the past and present, plays a role in the bigger picture.

And I want to know why every time I see Nakhun smile, every time Phop stares at the world, every time Pun/Kaew frowns, and Jom/Thi appears, I feel a sudden need to hug them all. And maybe cry a little.

And if that kind of emotion can be expressed amidst the initial humor, Love Upon a Time promises to be quite the ride.

Check it out now on iQiyi.

Rating- 4 out of 5