Sotus: The Series (2016)

SOTUS pushes its BL plot to the side a bit, but it pays off by adding more depth to the main couple

Before getting into SOTUS, you should know that it puts its BL plot in the backseat for most of its run. For maybe 80% of the show, the main couple: Arthit and Kongpob, are mostly lite-enemies with only a couple of tender moments sprinkled throughout up until the final few episodes. If you want more than that, you're better off skipping the show. I argue that the slow build up definitely pays off, though. Arthit and Kongpob have believable tension that grows throughout the show and you eventually start rooting for their characters to get together instead of simply wanting two cute guys to get together just because they're cute.

With the BL plot in the background, much of SOTUS revolves around the SOTUS hazing system. From episode one, the hazing system seems ridiculous and begs for suspension of disbelief. It's hard to watch, but bear with it. It's a plo point that the system is as ridiculous as it is, and it gets critiqued and discussed in-series, with the show even edging even me to see the benefit of hazing. This was something that I was honestly impressed with since I expected the SOTUS hazing system to be nothing but a vehicle to explain the tension between the main couple.

Around the hazing plot and main couple, we have a fairly large group of supporting characters. Kongpob has his own group of freshman friends, and Arthit has his own group of senior friends. With such a large cast, outside of most of them being familiar, not much is really done with the couple's friends but they at least feel like a realistic, supportive group of college friends. Arthit's friends were treated more fairly than Kongpob's, with the former's friends having a lot more depth to them and even serving as counsel at times. Kongpob's friends on the other hand, don't really have much going on outside of being involved in a love triangle and serving as comic relief. One thing that stood out to me with Kongpob's friends is that one of them (Waad) flatout disappears from the show even though it seemed like he would be getting a subplot involving one of the seniors. I recognized him from other Thai media, so perhaps there was some scheduling issue with his character? After he's gone, focus shifts to the friends (May and M) involved in the love triangle, but because the characters again don't have much depth to them, I wasn't invested in this at all. M in particular is nothing but Kongpob's friend that likes May and my partner and I started to joke about him being a simp with just how shallow his character was. There's friendly M and then there's M that gives solemn expressions when someone else is talking to May. It's all very flat and it's too bad that that's all they gave the character. The one saving grace in the love triangle plot is that the resolution was surprisingly well handled.

The series' direction is mostly okay. Some scenes either feel like padding or feel padded for time. The most egregious are flashbacks that feel almost belittling to the viewer and scenes that serve their purpose and then overstay their welcome. There's also the occasional odd cut here and there. On the flipside, there's a lot of personality injected into scenes at times with the occasional funny background event or a character in the background paying notice to the foreground's characters.

SOTUS' music is unfortunately barely there. The series is a fan of having its opening and the ending themes play during its scenes for what feels like every other episode. The one variation is that you may get the instrumental version over the vocal version. It gets old, and annoying at worst, fast. Those tracks aside, the show relies on only one or two background tracks to break up silence. I's not something that really affected my enjoyment of the series outside of an eyeroll here and there, but it is something that I noticed.

The acting varies among the cast, but for the characters that matter the most: Krist (Arthit) is definitely one of (if not the) strongest actor of the bunch and his flustered moments are some of the most believable I've seen in any drama. Singto (Kongpob) on the other hand, I'm confused about. His character delivers deadpan lines 90% of the time and has an air of straightforward earnestness to him, so I'm not sure if what I took as flat acting should be interpreted as him being in-character or him just not being the best actor. In the more emotional scenes though, it certainly feels like there's a lack of sincerity behind his lines, especially when he's paired with Krist (Arthit) who really excels in those scenes.

As for the BL part of the show, when SOTUS finally gets around to it, it's still a bit restrained. Considering that both of the characters are """not gay""" though, SOTUS' restraint makes sense and the conflict in the latter episodes are believable. I do have to point out though, that there are two episodes that come after the BL plot starts getting focused on that are noticeably the weakest episodes of the series. These episodes are where the show's padding problems are at its worst and I was disappointed that when the show finally started to pay attention to Arthit and Kongpob that they started to waste time like they did on these two episodes. Of these episodes, only a couple scenes have any sort of meaningful plot progression, and I'm really trying to be lenient in my definition of "meaningful plot progression" here. Even IN one of the scenes that matter, where part of a character's backstory is explored, the focus is almost entirely on two characters that we've never met before and it's difficult to really care or be interested when you just want to see more of Kongpob and Arthit now that the show is finally delivering the goods (for a lack of better words).

All in all though, SOTUS is definitely a must watch if you're into slow burns and I definitely recommend it if you don't mind that fact. The first episode's hazing scenes will definitely be off-putting and taken a bit too seriously, but if you stick with SOTUS, the hazing system is eventually dissected.

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I love every aspect of this BL, the actors are Amazing (especially the two leads Arthit and Kongpob).I was blown away by their performance they really Adapted to there characters and the role of being in love, which really helped deliver all the feelings in an incredible realistic way. The outstanding performance of N' Krist (Sangpotirat Perawat) and the facial expressions of N' Sinto (Ruangroj Prachaya) really added to building tension and emotion in away which is hard for some BL achieve without going over bored.

Before I continue I also wanna mention a few thing the characters are Easily likeable and Arthit makes the cutest face when he gets embarrassed or happy with that being said i didn't really like the music too much.

Let's talk more about the story: At first, Arthit might seem like an asshole and the hazing process might be a little confusing however you'll completed understand by the end. If anything when you re-watch with the experience is even more better since you’ll know what the hazing really meant, and why Arthit does the things he does.The romance is feels natural as well, it doesn’t seen forced in its development same with the kissing scene they feel natural and not awkward like some BL which is why they are able to portray the story and feeling so well.It was great how they build upon the hazing dynamics thought out the story Which was really enjoyable too.

There are times when the story got pretty intense in my opinion but not in a bad way. I don't wanna spoil too much since I highly recommend watching it to see what I am truly talking about Lastly I wanna talk about the ending I Don't really have much to say About it apart from how sweet the last scene is as for the last episode I don't wanna say anything about it since ill leave it up you guy to decide for yourself.

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This was a really cute drama that breaks your heart in a few key places but leaves you with that warm and fuzzy feeling inside.

The story line is really interesting, and I especially liked the first part of the series, while they were going through the hazing. I thought the SOTUS system was interesting, and it was fun to watch Kongpob and Arthit's relationship develop. I think my only complaint with the story line is that Prem and Wad didn't get enough development at all, and I wish we could have seen more of them.

The acting was really good, from all of the characters. Singto and Krist specifically were great MCs. Both of their acting is so natural and effortless. There is a chemistry between them, though not necessarily raw desire. Rather, it's sweet and romantic, the kind the makes you smile and go, "Awww." That said, if you're looking for a lot of makeout scenes and sexual tension, you won't find it here. But if you're looking for something sweet, this one definitely hits the spot.

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I can't believe I only found this show in 2019. It's a pretty great but truly overrated. Storyline wasn't the best, but it was still very cute. I think it dragged on a little bit but what I loved most was the ending. It made the series 10x better. I also really liked how the Kongpob & Arthit's relationship was realistic in terms of how they treated each other and how their relationship developed.

However, I felt that Singto's acting here was awkward (It has obviously improved over the years), and some others just couldn't act. Acting and production value wasn't excellent, but neither was it too bad for me to not want to watch it. There was a lot of still room for improvement but it is obvious how this show paved the way and also influenced Thai BLs.

I've rewatched this show once and will most likely rewatch it again in the near future considering it's sadly the only BL my country made available on Netflix.

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A Great Feel-Good BL

To be completely honest in my review I actually liked how the story progressed. It does take time for the two couples to be together and P'Arthit to realize his feelings to Kongpob. The series does focuses more on the SOTUS' meaning, rather than a full bloom romantic series for the most part.

What's great and interesting about this is that you know they will end up together but actually seeing a not so forceful attempt to make both of them fall with each other was actually a great touch that further helped develop their relationship. The Ost was also pretty good and the opening was really catchy for me.

It is a great feel-good bl that doesn't rush or have a really heavy topic, which is actually great. What I especially liked about this is the relationship of the seniors to their juniors as the story progress. You will come to a realization that their actions (the seniors) for the most part is actually for the betterment of the juniors. Especially the beach scene, it kind of reminds me of the last few days of high school when you get to spend time with the strict teachers who are actually pretty chill.

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I recently started watching this thanks to a recommendation from Netflix. The first episode or two starts off typical of a BL series and I wasn't sure if I could get into it. But as the series progressed, I got more invested. The storyline grew to a point where I couldn't stop watching and wanted to know what would happen next. After the two main characters eventually get together, it made me really happy and satisfied. The main actors for the leads males really did a good job in their acting. From showcasing uncomfortable scenes, to portraying innocent love. While the character of Arthit was discovering who he was and deciding what route he wanted to take, the writers made sure to portray is accurately to reality in my opinion. I definitely recommend this to be watched and after I finished I feel like I could rewatch it easily with the same enjoyment as when I first saw it. I will say that the ending is not my favorite. Their was not enough character development to support Kongpob to take over as head Hazer. Nor do his groups of friends from his class portray good hazers either. Kong doesn't have a strong enough presence for head Hazer and his friends still seem immature in my eyes. If there was more character growth I could see it but it didn't do it for me to be a good ending. I'm glad we get to see Arthit grow and become a working man. The commitment the two show each other on the last episode, from Kong stating his commitment to being head Hazer but also acknowledging his commitment as a boyfriend really makes you feel things. The same can be said for when Arkhit tells Kong he misses him and even though work starts early for him the next morning you can sense the distance life has put between them but also the growth in their love for each other.

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Classical yet spectacular

Story
The story really is kind of a cliche yet they make it sooo unique at the same time. The how thing actually has lessons you can learn which I stan. The story is amazing and I love it.

Acting/Cast
Of course SIngto and Krist did an amazing job like always so of course that is a no brainer. However let us not forget the New and Gunsmile (give that man a lead role) moments tho. Amazing. Their acting, the crying to the love and the hate were all spectacular.

Music
The music was always a bop. The OST fine wine. Even their background music was amazing never too over the top. I could rock out to all the songs.

Overall
The only reason I gave rewatch a 9 is because it has been a while since I have rewatched it but don't worry I will. I love watching it. Please watch it 10/10. A luxurious show that makes you laugh cry and feel inspired.

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This drama is by far one of the best iv seen in a looooong time. Its like a roller coaster all together. So much emotion while watching. Its not often I both cry and laugh at the same time. But in this series everything gets to the point where I just wanted to be the main character and take the lead, haha. The acting is so good, it feels like watching some of it off screen - real life.
If gay themed drama is something you watch or are thinking about watching, this is one of the good ones! I recommend this, by faaaaar one of the best! I'm about to watch it again :P

ENJOY!

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Q: Is SOTUS worth watching despite the bullying?

So I was recently asked: Is SOTUS worth watching? I couldn't get past the first episode because the bullying was so disturbing.

A: I love it, but bullying isn’t a trigger for me.

It’s a really slow burn so you’ll have at least 6 episodes of the hazing before the tables turn, but then they really do turn. You’ll learn at least WHY Arthit is doing it, even if you maybe will never truly understand. But I would say that this is used to justify the bullying, so be aware of that.

You do get to see Arthit and his defenses crumble - in the context of being head hazer. He will also crumble for Kong... but that comes much later.

In Defense of SOTUS
The dynamic is really interesting because Kong is not only being hazed, he is younger than Arthit and thus supposed to be culturally submissive due to Thailand’s prescribed familial codified age dynamics. I happen to really love it when the seme character is younger because of this obstacle. As the one doing the courting, Kong has a lot to go up against, not just a gay relationship and the hazing, but also an age dynamic that restricts his agency.

So what justifies watching SOTUS despite the hazing?

1. The killer chemistry.

Krist and Singto don’t have much physical attraction (I like to think of KongArthit as an ace homoromantic pairing), but their emotional and chemical feedback is seriously glorious. But if you prefer high heat like TharnType or Why R U, this is not your series. Gen Y has many of the same dynamics in place but without the hazing and KimCop show better physical attraction. Try that instead.

2. Enemies to lovers.

If you really like this trope and you love it when the seme has to WORK to earn his uke, then this is the dominate drive behind SOTUS. There is even a kind of quest narrative, where Kong has to win all of the freshy games in order to win Arthit’s heart.

3. Fantastic coming out sequences.

Arthit publicly comes out to their friends/colleagues 2x in the 2 series, and each time is glorious. (Although family coming out doesn’t come into play.) Also Arthit has most of the sexual agency, he tends to incite what few kisses there are, which I like.

4. A consistent longer series.

The follow up series, SOTUS S is also really good, as is their Our Skyy installment. This makes SOTUS more consistent than many Thai BLs. SOTUS S has a “secret office romance” foundation. I really like that we get to follow them out of college and into the workplace.

5. Great friendship rep.

Both Kong and Arthit have wonderful surrounding friendships. SOTUS is also the first BL to at least have consistent, present, female friendships, and a lesbian character.

6. Heritage.

If you’re interested in the foundations of BL, SOTUS is important because it took Thai BL mainstream internationally in a way that its forerunners (like the truly special Love Sick) couldn’t. It’s also the pilot for GMMTV to get seriously involved, they have the production values and $$$ that previous (and current) Thai BL outside this parent umbrella doesn’t. SOTUS also established some BL specific tropes, like Engineering = gay, gear and gift exchange symbolism, and pink milk (although technically that’s originally sourced in 2 Moons).

7. Lack of OTHER damaging tropes.

Aside from the hazing and a certain amount of sex negativity that seems endemic to low heat BL SOTUS is pretty safe in other arenas, like statutory rape, non-consent situations, and queer femme vilification and mockery. It does highlight gay-for-you, but many don’t find this as objectionable as I do.

Frankly, there is a reason SOTUS is one of the pilot BL’s picked up by Netflix USA. It’s sanitized for a wider audience. I don’t object to popularization in my queer media (on the grounds of pro-normalization as part of the queer acceptance battle), but some queer folk have justifiable objections to this and to SOTUS.

In the end what I love about SOTUS is that what it does well, it does REALLY well and where it’s successful it’s REALLY successful. Thus it’s a stand out in several categories and only concerning in a few. Frankly, there’s not a lot of BL I can say that about.

Alternatives?
However, if bullying is a serious trigger for you but the OP trigger of suicide is NOT then you should 100% watch Until We Meet Again instead. It’s got killer chemistry in all couples, and is unquestionably one of the best written, paced, and plotted Thai BLs.

And if all you want is some intensely fluffy uplifting nonsense where all the offenses are bog standard to Thai BL and all the tropes are equally bog standard, then you want 2gether. It’s what I would call archetype BL, and ridiculously adorable on the strength of the charisma of the two leads.

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For a person who didn't want to watch any series for two years(since the release of Sotus), I started watching the series (completed it overnight) for a single conversation b/w the main leads and I am hooked to it. In my opinion, the idea of Love beyond Lust is beautifully depicted in SOTUS The Series which is also another reason why I am completely addicted to it (rewatched it at least 20 times by now). I literally fell in love with every single aspect in the series including the story, cast and crew, the acting, music, in short everything but most of all, the love between the main leads and the friendship they share with their friends. I definitely have to mention Krist and Singto for doing an amazing job, along with the other cast and crew members who put their effort in making this a wonderful series. Hats off to them all. For a lady who doesn't even know a single word in Thai I surely enjoyed it with the help of subtitles(Which wasn't bad at all) and the show did manage to pull me into the field of Thai dramas since then!

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Sets the Tone

In a very real sense, I think this set the tone for many of the following BL series. It is an intensely character driven with superb acting and a great story line. What I enjoyed about this series is as the characters grow, so does the intensity of the relationship. You see it develop through a sense of caring. It is not overwhelmed with gay overtones but still manages to make it its central point. You can honestly feel for these characters as they ebb and flow from anger to frustration to affection to intense love. It helps also explains many of the rituals of college life and how they really do impact the growth and development of character. It deals rather effectively with bullying and those who are experience the bullying. It is good solid storytelling and is a window into the world of freshman and upper-class students. This one is in the must column for watching.

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