Hello, hello and welcome to another Hidden Gem
and this week I have something with me that has excited me for the last few weeks and has in my opinion by far not reached the popularity that it deserves. So what’s better than fighting against this huge injustice by just presenting it here to you guys. Maybe some people might change their minds and give this awesome show a try. I really hope they do.
But before I continue to ramble on, I should maybe tell you about what show I am talking here and it’s none other than the fantastic
I Will Knock You.
I actually had no big expectations when this series started and I just watched it because I usually give episode number one of anything a chance. And lo and behold… This series captured me with all its uniqueness. On one hand it reminds me so much of the really old school thai series we know and love so much. But on the other hand there are so many differences in the storyline from what we are usually used to that everything is still fresh and surprising, which in fact definitely surprised me. It’s rare these days to find such a good show from a more unknown production company and with pretty much no known face from the BL industry.
So yeah, you can see I was sold very early on to this gem and I have to say that so far it has not disappointed me one tiny bit. We still have the finale coming up tomorrow, but I think it’s almost safe to assume that they won’t drop the ball on the last few metres (careful, Heart! These can be famous last words. Just saying WTD2.).
What Is It About?
Thi is a university student like everyone else. He goes to classes, meets his friends and works next to his studies as a tutor for high school kids. After one of his study sessions with his pupils Thi runs into a situation with the local thug Noey who has been harassing pretty much the entire highschool. Noey definitely is not leaving a good impression on Thi and if it would be up to him, he wouldn’t mind never seeing Noey Watplu ever again.
But fate has different plans. Before Thi even can do anything to prevent it, Noey ends up being Thi’s newest tutoring pupil and our teacher suddenly has both his hands full trying to teach the nefarious Noey, while trying to stop him from getting into even more fights. But before Thi even knows what’s happening he sees a side of Noey that doesn’t want to fit into the entire gang mentality and violence. And maybe, just maybe, Noey of Watplu might not be so bad after all.
Why You Might Like It
This series really has a very strong and classic Thai BL storyline. It really reminds me so much of all our early shows we had, like Love Sick and maybe even Sotus. It’s just so memorable and you can see so many tiny things that will remind you of other shows you have seen. But, and yes, this is a big butt, the storyline also has some very strong and interesting twists, to make this show not just a rip off of old fan favourites. For example we have an age gap here, where a high school student is trying to “seduce” his tutor. We hardly ever get stories where the younger one is actually the more dominant and pushy one, but in this one? Noey pretty much doesn’t know the word no. But don’t be alarmed when you read this, because it’s such a slow burn, this show. Even if the age gap would usually make you uncomfortable, here it’s all just very sweet and naive and not creepy at all. But yeah, the storyline has so many delicious twists and turns and you won’t see at least half of them coming.
The chemistry between our two main actors Bom and Tar is really something to behold. They are like a rubber band pretty much. They push and pull each other so much, it’s just so beautiful to witness. It’s pretty much a dance together the entire time and they fight who can take the next step and where this step is even supposed to go. So it’s just extremely entertaining seeing these two fighting it out together.
As I said above already, we are dealing here with an age gap. Thi is at university already and will finish his bachelor’s degree soon. Noey on the other hand is still at high school. I know this could now be a recipe for something cringy. But it isn’t at all. Because of the way they are telling this story it never feels like someone older taking advantage of someone younger. If anything it’s the younger here taking advantage. But i think due to the fact that Noey is such a thug and Thi is such an innocent cutie pie you just don’t find it weird, that Noey would maybe go for someone a bit more mature while Thi might find someone with a bit more fun in life more endearing.
A big part of the series is about Temple Plu (Watplu). You meet the temple boys, who help the monchs with their everyday duties. You see temple festivities and just in general get a bit more of an inside into what “normal” Thai life looks like. I for one totally love to see a different side to Thailand with this series and I can’t honestly get enough of this entire temple backdrop. So, so awesome.
Humor also plays a very big part in this series and yes, it’s the typical Thai humour we are getting and yes, I know, I know. Sometimes that can be a bit too much for our western tastebuds as we are just not used to this. But with this series I really wanna stress that it’s just the right amount of silliness and stupidity to really make you enjoy it. Thi for example is such a klutz. The amount of accidents and stupid things this boy gets involved in is just breathtaking. But instead of being too over the top they managed to rain the silliness to a level where it’s just freaking entertaining without being cringe.
Why You Might Not Like It
Just as I said in my last point: The silliness is strong with this one. I for one think that they definitely managed to walk the fine line between silliness and sensibility. But of course I can’t promise you, you will see it the same way as your cringe level might just be lower than mine. I think they did a fantastic job, but see for yourself.
It’s a reaaaaaaaal slow burn. We are at the last episode this week and I still have no clue how this is gonna end. So if you are expecting skinship, kisses, tons of lovey dovey behaviour… You are completely wrong here. As I said it’s pretty old school BL and skinship is just not something you will find here.
If you have an issue with violence and blood, you might wanna rethink watching this show again as well. Our temple gang is getting into all kinds of fights and there is not just one time that Thi has to put Noey back together after him fighting. There is even one extremely dangerous situation with even more blood. So if that’s an issue for you, be careful.
And the last point is pretty much the selling point for this show as it just changed the dynamics within so much, but I know that some people have an issue with age gaps, especially if it’s highschoolers and university students. So if that’s not your cup of tea, please move on.
Finale Thought
I really, really enjoyed this show so much until here. It has brought me so much laughter and joy, it’s crazy. You could argue if this is even a love story but I think it definitely is. It’s a different love story from what we are used to in BL these days, but I would very strongly say that this is not a negative point but something extremely positive. I love the way they tell this story between Noey and Thi and that they don’t shy away from talking about the stumbling blocks these two would have to face to even come to the point where they are now, one day before the big finale. I think they are telling a very unique love story which also makes me not mind the age difference that much. Because we can see that this is not promoting any kind of relationship here. They are pretty much just showing us that love sometimes happens in unexpected circumstances and sometimes with someone you never thought possible. Feelings are unpredictable. Just like Noey of Watplu.
So if you are looking for a new show with some traditional BL traits in it, then I honestly can’t recommend this show enough. It has everything, from drama to angst, to laughter and love. It’s really just a fantastic watch which might even make you cry at some points. But you will laugh even more about Noey’s antics and Thi’s mishaps.
So let us all please cross our fingers now, that tomorrow’s finale is not gonna make me look like a total idiot by bombing everything within the last minute. If they do that… Honeyyyyyy, where is my passport??? Because yes, I shall fly to Bangkok and have words with whoever I need to have words with. But if these two are not getting their happy end, I will riot. That’s a promise.
First posted on BLDA
Your Heart's Content 