OPINION: I Told Sunset About You is the best BL series yet

BL genre in the media has been active for the past few years. Almost every month, a new BL series is released in several Asian countries. Additionally, BL couples are becoming famous day by day due to their chemistry and successful series. Despite the proliferation of BL series, there is still one that shines above the others and never lets its audience down. And that is I Told Sunset About You, the best BL series for me due to the numerous incredible things about it.

A coming-of-age Thai BL drama called I Told Sunset About You is about two childhood friends who become rivals. Teh and Oh-aew steadily rebuild their friendship in their senior year of high school while preparing for college. They become closer than ever and learn to deal with new feelings for one another. They go through strong passion, confusion, betrayal, and heartache as their affection for one another grows.

This series has so much going for it, from the technical aspects to the plot and the actors, that it is the best BL series in my opinion. I Promised You the Moon, the second season of the series, which was released in 2021, picks up during the years spent in college. But this time, we’ll limit our discussion to the first part’s brilliance.

Why I Told Sunset About You is the best BL series yet

Impeccable acting

Billkin Putthipong Assaratanakul (Teh) and PP Krit Amnuaydechkorn (Oh-aew) are probably two of the best actors in Thailand. The two actors knew each other personally before, and the chemistry certainly comes through seamlessly with how comfortable they are with one another. In some scenes where they are like-dancing, teasing one another, their movements seem almost too natural, a reflection of how well they know each other. In fact, in the making of the documentary, the director mentions how a lot of scenes were improvised. 

Additionally, the actors do an outstanding job with their nuanced portrayals. These main characters can be endearing, vibrant, and incredibly likable in their greatest moments. However, they also have a gloomy, obstinate, and irrational side to them. Even though you may occasionally run out of patience with them, you are empathetic to their plight and want to see them succeed in overcoming their challenges. They truly do the characters they depict credit with their natural and engaging acting.

These two actors received their biggest career breaks because of the show. They later obtained product endorsements, music launches, and fan gatherings. Their numerous awards were proof of their excellent acting abilities in the series. At the 17th Komchadluek Awards and the 12th Nataraja Awards, Billkin received Best Leading Actor and Best Actor for Online Drama Series, respectively. At the Seoul International Drama Awards 2021, PP also took home the International Invitation – Asian Star Prize.

Excellent cinematography

I Told Sunset About You is a brilliant BL drama with stunning cinematography. With excellent production qualities, it took great effort to prepare for and execute each scene. In a genre frequently constrained by extremely low budgets, you don’t often find a BL series with this much polish, yet in I Told Sunset About You, everything looks so beautiful, warm, and polished. 

Furthermore, given how well it was shot, every frame must be appreciated. The two characters are frequently shown in a way that gives the impression that they are alone in the world. With the support of camera shots, you can feel the emotions they are experiencing and the fragility of the circumstance they are in.

I now have a greater appreciation for the camera work and lighting design thanks to I Told Sunset About You. They make use of the lighting to portray and convey the overall emotional tone. To convey the various character views, they experiment with camera angles. For me, this BL series continues to be the best in terms of cinematography, which is employed to explain the story as well as create a work of art.

Touching story

The show is a whirlwind of emotions. I Told Sunset About You starts off with an incredibly interesting exploration of a childhood friendship that broke down, the tension that followed, and their eventual reconciliation. Teh and Oh-aew’s attempt to mend their friendship while yet lacking complete trust in one another left the emotions so raw and visible. As the show goes on, their relationship intensifies sexual tension, giving their riveting chemistry a new, subtle dimension.

The writers do a fantastic job of exploring newly formed relationships. It takes us on a trip alongside Teh as he learns more about himself. By the time the drama is over, you either understand or empathize with Teh.

Moreover, I really appreciate the series’ discussion of the main characters’ sexual orientation. Teh and his brother had a heartfelt yet natural conversation regarding Teh’s sexual orientation. They did a good job of conveying Oh-aew’s sexuality in a subtle, relatable, and authentic way. The story is not at all wholly unique from what I have previously seen. Rather, it is a story that we are all too familiar with. It stands out because of how it was put together.

What makes it different from other BLs

This series defies every stereotype of a BL series. Teh feels bad about losing interest in his lover and apologizes for his actions. I felt a little disappointed when they revealed that Teh has a girlfriend. However, the series gradually won me over because of the way it portrays Teh’s conflicting feelings for Oh-aew and his girlfriend. I really admire the gradual development of his feelings for Oh-aew. They both take the time to understand how the other is feeling at that precise moment rather than imposing themselves on one another.

It also highlights the beautiful aspects of falling in love. The majority of BLs simply pay attention to the pair and their connection, not how each person falls in love with the other. I Told Sunset About You stands out from other BLs because of this. People can relate to it because of its genuine depiction. It also looks at the vulnerability we experience with our partners since being vulnerable may be extremely frightening.

A final note

The drama’s success was demonstrated by the awards it won when it was first released. At the Seoul International Drama Awards 2021, it was named International Drama of the Year by International Invitation. At the 12th Nataraja Awards, it also took home the prizes for Best Online Drama/Series and Best Original Screenplay for Online Drama Series.

I’m fully immersed in the exciting trip that I Told Sunset About You and the deep emotions in each scene. This is without a doubt the best BL series that receives high points in so many categories, from the solid storytelling to the compelling acting. I Told Sunset About You, an epic display of the BL genre at its finest, comes highly recommended. Any gender or age can relate to this type of BL.