Dark Blue Kiss (2019)

Too Many Coincidences To Be Believable, But You Get Invested in #PeteKao...

Watched the three-part PeteKao/Kiss Me Again cut on GMMTV's YouTube channel and their Our Skyy episode in preparation for Dark Blue Kiss. Heard about how this series deals with the struggles that gay people have to face in society, which it touched on. I wished that it went deeper into that struggle though. I also like Sun's back story with his father, which is a reality that a lot of LGBTQ+ people face, going against their parents wishes to lead a life that they will be proud of. Disappointing their parents with their career choice and their identity. And the parents shaming their children to try to control their lives. And the pressure to be successful in one's chosen career/being held to a higher standard since they are already disappointing their parents by being gay. The series also deals with cultural issues, such as the distinctly Asian parent characteristic of comparing/showing off their children. And the feeling of incompetence when you are surrounded by family members who are successful in their careers and who know what they want to do in life. All themes that are extremely relatable for me at the moment as someone who was forced to go to dental school by my parents and though I did fight with them, I didn't fight them enough because subconsciously, I knew that I was already disappointing my parents by being gay. I also liked how they mentioned that gay marriage isn't legal in Thailand, which is absolutely ridiculous considering how Thailand is always being promoted by their tourism board to be an LGBT-friendly place.

I found the story to be manipulative. The fact that the Non just so happened to be bad at math and that his father just so happened to be Kao's mother's boss and that he just so happened to be Pete's rival because he just so happened to arrive at the building at the same time as Pete where he just so happened to mistaken Pete, a grown man (not a stereotypical fan girl) for a fan, not just once but twice. Way too many coincidences to be believable. It's just so much bending the story to make it fit a certain mold, a 'cheating' story in this case. The story doesn't flow. It's not natural. It's clearly constructed. Yes, all films and series are fiction and fabricated, but the story still has to flow. If it doesn't like this, it feels fake. But at least, PeteKao's story is compelling though I give it that. You get fully invested in their relationship.

Pete is quite possessive though and quick to anger. He was being unreasonable, always barging in on Kao's tutoring sessions. But Kao did lie to him about stopping tutoring Non. Not sure why he didn't tell him, especially since Non kept on appearing every so often anyways. And if the truth came out, it would have showed that Kao lied, that would be way worse than telling Pete that he was still tutoring Non so like why didn't he? And Kao did know that Non liked him and could reveal their tutoring sessions to Pete at anytime. Yeah, so not telling him didn't make sense. Anyways, if Non's father is so strict and the director of a school, shouldn't Non already have a tutor if he wasn't doing that well in class? And shouldn't Kao know that Non would be too scared of his father to be able to actually make him fire a perfectly good employee (his mother)? I hate that two-faced Non b*tch who tried to out Kao to his mother. Disgusting, especially coming from a gay person himself! I don't get why Kao doesn't want to tell his friends that he is a couple with Pete. Like they already suspect it as PeteKao do act like a couple and coming out to them, it's not like his mother would hear about it anyways. And when Pete decides to go Kao's house to apologize, it just so happened that Non was there for dinner and that he just so happened to get a phone call where he just so happened to take it outside of the house. And how does Non even know the address of Kao? Isn't that illegal to give out addresses like that? And it makes no sense that his father would make him bring dinner to Kao's house. Yes, he could have used that as an excuse to eat with them, but still. And that random phone call from Non's friend, asking Kao to bring Non home. Like what?! A taxi could have brought Non home. His friend could have brought him back to his home. It makes no sense for Kao to not bring up those excuses, especially since Pete is angry that Kao keeps on associating with Non. And why the f*ck is Kao cleaning him instead of just leaving after bringing Non back? And why didn't Kao try to explain what happened to Non's father instead of just saying, "I didn't do it." WTF?! And why didn't do anything to try to clear his name earlier? Cheap writing to create drama. However, you do get invested in PeteKao's relationship and get so f*cking p*ssed at Non, so props to the writer and director for that.

In regards to Sun and Mork, like Rain could've easily said that it wasn't Mork's fault, but he decided to say, "Let me explain." Like what?! He could have easily said, "It's not his fault." Same number of words but more effective.

Anyways, TayNew do have great chemistry. Their acting isn't as strong as other BL actors, but it is perfectly fine for this series. I felt so attracted to Pete and Tay Tawan watching this series. He's HOT! On an unrelated note, the cafe is way too understaffed! Like what?! Anyways, Pete's father is literally the best! Accepting his son's sexuality and supporting his son's desire to pursue whatever he wants without pressuring him. Ugh. How I wish my parents were like that...

The story is pretty predictable. About to finished episodes 2, I can predict where 5e story is going to go: Non is going to come on to Kao. Kao won’t like it but he will relent because he doesn’t want to turn down Non for fear of his mother getting fired and possibly feeling bad for him because of his strict father. Pete will get pissed and avoid Kao. Kao will try to explain to Pete. The truth will come out and Non will get in trouble with his father for abusing his connection. PeteKao will reconcile with a happy ending. I’m placing my bet that this will be the story. --> So my prediction was partially correct.

The story does also feel a bit aimless at times. Don't really care for the other couples in the show. Only interested in PeteKao to be honest. I felt bored watching Mork & Sun and Manaow & Rain.

On a side note, can sequel season not use cheating as a cheap way to generate drama and tension for couples? Together With Me also employed this cheap tactic. That is why SOTUS S is the superior sequel.

On a side note, I'm surprised seeing Sun and Non be so tall compared to the people around them. On another note, why do all these BL couples have fan pages/fan clubs/hashtags in their shows: PeteKao in Dark Blue Kiss, KornKnock in Together With Me and Sarawat & Tine in 2gether.

Not sure how the titles or poster relates to the series to be honest. The title, poster and opening credits make this series seem like a sophisticated, serious drama, which it isn't really. It's more light-hearted.

A touching write-up on Youtube about the portrayal of PeteKao which I wholeheartedly agree with: "i can't express enough how important it is what this series is doing with petekao. some people complain about there not being many kisses and consider it boring, but they're giving us something so much better and significant than just a bunch of kisses. apart from the purely dramatic aspect of the show, which is the whole non storyline, they're showing a relationship that is maturing and evolving and thinking ahead of just their attraction towards each other. they're talking about mutual love, trust and support, and everything they have to face as a couple.

they're having them talk about their sexualities and their love for each other as something normal and not exceptional (they didn't go with the "i don't like men, i only like you" trope but instead they talked about how it's something they both know since they were kids: "if we had talked about this with our parents when we were kids then we wouldn't be stressing about it now"); they're having them criticize what people expect from them ("why do we have more to prove than others? it's not fair. you and me are just like other people" "i'm good because i want to be, not 'i have to be a better person than everyone else because i like men'"); they're showing parent's acceptance and support through pete and his dad, and then the struggles of coming out through kao. they're talking about safe sex and how important it is for parents to allow their children to be open about their lives and feelings with them. and then in this chapter, they're having them talk about their futures and same sex marriage. that's HUGE. all of those things are huge and so important, yet still rarely talked about. not just in bl series, but in general, western shows included.

as a member of the lgbt community this kind of depiction is so so refreshing and great, it makes me feel understood and hopeful and i wish more people would appreciate it as it deserves."

On a final note, I hope that we get another season of #PeteKao. I truly do. Maybe in a similar vein to SOTUS S where they are in the work environment. That would be awesome!

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