La Señal (2023)

Interesting story

The series looks to be fun and the storyline got my attention as I love mythology, but this series is overrated. Sadly the characters feel like something is missing. Not a fan of Babe at all. The acting looks like acting. Billy is a great actor, but for this pairing just did not work. The side cast was great and the costumes were lovely. It a fun series, but felt lacking in story and slo at some parts then felt rushed. I hope Babe grows more. I know this is his first role but I just did not feel the chemistry and I am sure lots are going to say the opposite but then they are reading into the fandom that people love.

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blended several elements well but needed more trust

Overall: romance, fantasy, mystery, action, thriller and humor worked well together but I needed more trust in the relationship with the leads. Note that there are some very intense scenes. 12 episodes about an hour each. Aired on Idol Factory's YouTube Channel. Idol Factory also produced Secret Crush On You and Gap The Series.

Content Warnings: murders, attempted murder, suicide, manipulation, mentions of rape and sexual assault, kidnapping, torture, violence, blood, vomiting, manhandling

What I Liked
- hooked right away at the beginning
- integrated action, thriller/mystery, fantasy, romance and a little humor (Jack & Rose comment was funny)
- sweet moments
- Yai/Sand established couple
- Tharn's supportive friends
- good dream sequences
- some GL
- NSFW scenes were well done

Room For Improvement
- the slap was not needed in episode 5 and a later episode
- I found the camerawork a little too shaky/fast during some of the action scenes
- toilet "humor"
- kind of a tourism ad in episode 3
- unrealistic elements (not talking about the fantasy things), why wouldn't the brother have gone after his main target first and then the others, not shooting when there was opportunity, discussing a case in a public cafe, stupid decisions (the allegedly best of the best managed to share 1 brain cell), how on earth they did they survive that in episode 11, why wouldn't have the doctor done something much sooner (the writers could have made up a mythology that Tharn had to be a certain age before he could be taken to that location)
- the lack of trust that Tharn had in Phaya and the absolute trust he had in another character was off putting, the writers need to show more why Tharn would have that must trust in the other character
- that's pretty awful of Tharn to put Phaya through that much pain at the end, wish they could have written this differently

Thoughts on the Finale YouTube Release Date (I didn't take off points)
- I understand that companies need to make money, but I think they could improve regarding the finale episode release (also since they sold out that Thai theater in minutes, they should have had several live showings in Thailand to increase their revenue, the audience is definitely there)
- they should have had the theater/livestream finale a few days max 1 week after the episode 11 YouTube released and then a few days max week for the YouTube release, the 3 weeks was too long
- should have been clear from the beginning that the livestream would have English subtitles
- should have had the livestream be a window of at least 6 hours for those who were sleeping during the livestream (maybe there was a rerun option added later but that wasn't well advertised)
- release on a platform like Vimeo, the Thai platform wanted a ton of personal information including passport number/drivers license, even if they could add Vimeo as an option for a rental that would be great

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Not the masterpiece that everyone is talking about...

After PitBabe the Series, I've been had once again by the rating and the praise that I've read about the series. However, once again, I'm feeling disconnected with all the people praising those two series because I don't find them really enjoyable to watch (but to be fair to The Sign, PitBabe was way worse!).

I'll be totally honest, this was not a bad series. But it is far from the masterpiece that everyone on the net is saying it is. There are a lot of flaws that I can't ignore as they were pretty big to fully enjoy the story.

So, I'm going to talk about the things that I liked first:
- the CGI (and the mythology plot). I was really impressed with the shot in episode 1 where Phaya is almost drowning and he sees the Naga and the woman trying to save him. It was really impressive and I was hopeful about the quality of the show. Unfortunately, the mythology part of the story was put aside very rapidly but everytime Phaya was stuck in his "dreams", the CGI was very good. Apart for the fights between the Naga and Garuda and sometimes the image was too blured that my eyes started to hurt but I'll still put that as a like.
- Billy. I'm not really a fan of his work (I hated and dropped Secret Crush on You and have only seen War of Y that I liked) but I'm not denying that he's a good actor and he knows how to deliver emotions (contrary to his partner...) - even though, it was sometimes too much but it's undeniably the director's fault and not his because he was asked to act that way.
- Doctor Chalothon. The best thing in this series (with maybe Lieutenant Akk). I wanted to punch him in the face so many times but, because he was supposed to be the villain (or one of them), he did it perfectly.

I can't thing of any other things that I liked so I'm going to move on with the things that I didn't like (and there are more!):
- Tharn / Babe. I don't hate the actor as I disliked Charlie's actor in PitBabe but we have to admit that he only has one expression throughout the series (except when he tries to cry). I wasn't moved by his delivery and I'm pretty sure that it's also because his character was badly written. Despite being the hero of the story, Tharn is not a good character: he is dumb and, even though, I could believe he loved Phaya at the beginning of the series, I was not so sure about it from the middle until the end. The guy believes in his fate and in the dreams that Phaya is experiencing (he also has visions of the future). He believes Phaya when he tells him about their past lives and that there's a man that wants to separate them (and he's actually dumb not to immediately think about the doc when the guy is mentionned but not named - but I can excuse him for not thinking about him). However, I can't excuse him for not believing Phaya when he finally tells him that the guy he was talking about earlier was the doc and that he even accuse him to just be jealous of him. I'll be honest, if I was Phaya at this very moment, I would have told him to f**k off. Especially because, at the beginning of the series, when Phaya is angry at him because he thinks Tharn told the doc about his dreams, Tharn says that he would talk to the doc about it but he never does!! Also - I was so shocked about that -, he didn't even react when the doc openly confronted Phaya in front of everybody and openly said that his behaviour and traits were those of a mentally ill person (or something like that). And the very end of the series confirmed my suspicions about him not loving Phaya as he came back ONE YEAR LATER and the only excuse he had was that he felt bad for Chalothon, like WTF!!! The guy prefers to stay with the guy that almost killed his supposed lover several times and that blackmailed him to kill his loved ones instead of trying to flee and go back to the one he's supposed to love. That was ridiculous...
- the fight scenes and the whole Montree plot. For a seven-month special training, I found that the guys were sometimes easily at a disadvantage in a fight against someone sometimes not specially trained and not even that muscular... You're not going to tell me that the forensic guy that were working with them at the beginning can fight both Tharn and Phaya and make them difficult to catch him, I won't believe it. And yet, it happened... Also, the scriptwriters decided to leave the mythology plot aside to focus on Tharn's father's death and I couldn't care less. I thought at the beginning that it was linked to his past life as the characters around him and even himself constantly repeated that he was cursed and every person that he loved was condemned but it had nothing to do with that. They are two different stories that they tried to link without success... Also, I'm curious to know who is the person that Yai was talking about and that supposedly died because Tharn loved them because I don't think he was talking about Tharn's parents at this moment so I'm still waiting for an answer...
- the abbot and Tharn's grandmother. A lot of people on YT wrote in the comments that the abbot deserved his own series because he was protecting Tharn so much and so on. But... if the abbot wasn't there, it would have been the same... He did nothing the whole time while he knew who was after Tharn! He even asked Phaya to bring Tharn to him on the day this whole mess was supposed to end but he did nothing to protect Tharn at all!!! And I would even blame the grandmother as she knew that the doc was preying on her own grandson and was not even human... I know that if they told him the truth earlier, there wouldn't be a story but make it make sense if you want your audience not to be disturb as the fact that the closest persons to Tharn were the ones that let him be in danger his whole life.
- the NC scenes. I don't really mind s*x scenes in general but I felt like they were making them just for the sake of it and I hate that kind of thinking. Phaya just woke up after almost being dead, he's not even recovered, and the only thing that he does is to go to Tharn's flat and sleep with him. What a great mind... Also, the "good bye" s*x scene they have before Tharn disappears was so freaking long that I had to skip most of it. It lasted more than 6 minutes and I wouldn't have complained that much if it was animated but nothing happened, it was boring!! They were simply kissing gently for 1 or 2 minutes before changing position... Also, I know they have to censor some of the scenes but instead of blurring the a**es of the actors, they could've just not shot below the waist because the blur was a bit disturbing...
- the second part of the series. The first part was mostly watchable for me to be kept interested but from episode 7 or 8, I started watching it with my phone on the side which is a good indication that the series is not entertaining enough.
- the delay of the last episode. The last episode was supposed to be out on the 11th and it was really annoying to wait another two weeks to watch the series...

As a whole, I don't particularly recommend the series, but I'm not saying you shouldn't watch it either. You probably will like it like 99% of the people who watched it, I feel... It is simply not my cup of tea.

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Annoyed ? Me to the core!!!!

This the 2nd bl I ever dropped and the 1st time I've ever written a review it bothered me so much. I gave the sign a 5 I really couldn't get into it I dropped at EP 9 it just was boring and annoying to me. Thanks idk if I want to date anybody because I'm afraid of them dying yet is jumping in front of knives and bullets got on my nerves. In addition the fact that Tharn had warning ⚠️ visions which he believed and wanted to protect set fine with him. yet Phaya had warning ⚠️ dreams wanting to protect but Tharn would discredit him and not believe him was so fukin stupid to me I just wanted to kick his lil azz it got on my fukin nerves I couldn't finish it. the story was the only reason I gave it a high score I was interested in finding out everything but it bothered me so much I just couldn't go further in trying to force myself to watch it or like it.

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A gay romance with fantastic touches and the whitewashing of the homophobic Thai Police

The Sign is a captivating drama that stands out among other BLs for its ability to balance multiple stories and themes. Broadcast on Channel 3, this production by renowned Thai director and screenwriter A Natthaphong Wongkaweepairod, perfectly intertwines elements of gay romance, the complexity of first love, religiosity, the exciting world of fantasy, the supernatural, the resolution of crimes and political and police corruption.
This unique combination of genres, its compelling narrative, the pair of irresistible protagonists and a direct story of love-overcomes-adversity, guarantees that 'The Sign' will hit the mark among fans of BL products, always in search of a series that show an engaging and exciting experience. All this positions the audiovisual among the most outstanding in the BL universe of all time.
Professional critics and fans alike praise its emotional depth and the cast's sincere performances.
Its director has to his credit the dramas 'My Hero Series: Spell of The Swan Mark', from 2018; 'School Tales The Series', 2022; and the lesbian 'GAP The Series', from 2022, and 'Dream', to be released in 2024. In addition to directing, he is also the screenwriter of the serial 'Lipgloss Spy' and the film SLR', both from 2022.
Based on the great success of 'GAP The Series', its first GL series, the Idol Factory company put all its effort into producing a BL criminal investigation project. This is how 'The Sign' comes about. The series is a television adaptation of I-Rain-Yia's novel of the same name, with a literal translation into English, Premonition, which was produced by Saint Suppapong of 'Love By Chance' and 'Why RU?'.
Billy Patchanon, star of 'Secret Crush On You' and 'War Of Y', and promising actor Babe Tanatat, are in charge of taking on the main roles. I have no doubt that both because of their on-screen chemistry and their genuine performances, the two young actors will consolidate themselves as a ship within the BL universe.
The story centers on two young people who loved each other for centuries and were separated in several past lives, but in a twist of fate they were reincarnated as Phaya o Sakuna (Billy Patchanon Ounsa-ard) and Tharn Wansa (Babe Tanatat Phanviriyakool). This allowed them to meet at an academy where future police officers are trained, in order to enter the Investigation Detective Force (IDF).
During their training, they both experience unique visions related to their pasts and common future, which ignites their romance as they embark on the investigation of some criminal cases shrouded in mystery. Phaya and Tharn's love will be tested by an enigmatic man.
Other talented actors and actresses bring the characters to life in a way that has resonated with audiences.

Brief characterization of the characters

Tharn: He is the cheerful and kind young officer of the IDF. He loves Phaya, with whom he has a romance from the past. That is why he constantly risks his life to save him from the danger he is in. He has a strong sense of "instinct."
Phaya: He is the young, handsome, intelligent, cool and upright IDF officer. Love Tharn.
Khem (Tack Pongsakorn) is the young officer who has a flirtatious personality, likes to have fun and plays with all the other IDF members, especially his boyfriend Thongtai.
Thongtai (Poom Natthapas): Khem's boyfriend. He studied psychology and has a good sense of duty. He is a very observant young officer.
Yai (Gap Jakarin) grew up alongside Tharn since childhood. They both consider themselves brothers. He is a young member of IDF.
Singha (Surprise Pittikorn Siripornsawan) looks weak on the outside but is the brains of the team.
Doctor Chalotorn (Heng Asavarid) an attractive psychiatrist who is close and protective of Tharn.
Captain "Akk" Akkhanee Assawawaisoon (Akk Akarat Nimitchai), leader of the investigation team.
Wansarat (Freen Sarocha Chankimha): The GAP The Series actress is part of the cast as a Guest.
The resounding success of the series has led to the creation of other content, such as The Sign Special and Behind the Sign.
A must-see drama for fans of the BL genre and those who enjoy a good mix of romance, mystery and the supernatural, The Sign brings a captivating story that, together with its talented cast and unique combination of genres, will leave a lasting impression on the spectators.

Underlying reality of the series

On the same day of the premiere of The Sign, after watching the first episode, I wrote in MDL: “I find it commendable that in a hostile, sexist, homophobic environment, which exalts masculinity, as the Police Force of any country is supposed to be, tell a story (maybe two, if we take into account Khem and Thongthai's relationship) of a romance between boys. But I wonder if this series is not a 'whitewash' for the Thai Police. I hope that the series is not a tool to apply cosmetic touches to a Police accused of repressing members of the Thai LGBTQIA community.”
With these words I meant that homosexuality is still illegal and considered taboo in that country. Same-sex unions are not recognized under Thai law, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman. This prevents gay couples from applying for bank loans or joint health insurance. It also prevents the possibility of adopting children. Thai homosexuals do not enjoy the same rights as heterosexuals. Thai law denies transgender people from changing their sex on their national identity card.
Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1956, but was considered a mental illness until as recently as 2002. Many Thai Buddhists believe that homosexuality is a punishment for sins committed in a previous life. Thai homosexuals suffer physical and verbal harassment in the classrooms by their classmates, and discrimination at work, under the permissive gaze of society, despite the image of tolerance towards this group in order to attract tourism to the country. The Thai Police, the result of the Military Juntas that emerged after successive coups d'état, is accused, both by the local population and internationally, of being corrupt, torturing and repressive.
The Royal Thai Police is the most corrupt state department in the country with tens of thousands of complaints annually, according to regular reports from the Ombudsman's Office, and many of these complaints come from members of the Thai LGBTQIA community, who go unheard mostly.
The high-profile crime and dismemberment of the Colombian surgeon Edwin Arrieta, known as the “Daniel Sancho Case” (name of his confessed Spanish murderer) confirms this. This macabre murder once again brought to public attention the dynamics in the Asian country, the excesses, the parties and the mechanisms of privilege when the victim is a homosexual.
The LGBTIQIA collective is openly discriminated against and even with criminalizing laws, which, to wash its face before the international community, welcomes all those foreigners who will be part of the collective, but without displays of public affection
At a legislative level, Thailand has much more permissive LGBTIQIA policies, but at a factual level, there is discrimination, taboo and extensive stigma. Perhaps that explains the media treatment that has been given to the Sancho case from within the country itself: half-hearted, without fully clarifying the relationship that the two men had, and the eagerness that the police have shown to close the case. In addition to trying to maintain the idyllic image of the country before Thai and international public opinion so that tourism is not scared away.

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Don't snooze on this masterpiece. it's a must watch

Going through all type of emotions while writing this review, wanted to hold on to it, but I can't anymore(considering this review has been on my notes for weeks now, which I keep adding and making new adjustments come every week/new ep)

First, I want to wholeheartedly thank sign production team for showing us the beautiful culture of Thailand. The myths, folktales, culture, storytelling is just beautifully done and depicted. This is the type of series you honestly learn from and may even help you in exams or random historical/mythological conversation. Gosh I'm in awe?. Now I want to visit Thailand so bad.

Second, you needed to see how my jaw dropped when I learnt that this is Tharn's first ever acting job, he is everything but a rookie actor. I do call him a monster rookie actor, far much better than those several years in the game. Job well done. I'm not joking when I say this is the best work I have seen so far from Thai bl production(I'm sorry but I hate Thai bl production, just overly saturated, terrible actors who can't act for shit, zero to half baked storyline, unnecessary cringy ass talks, and NC scenes). But this was literally the opposite of all that. Everything was properly depicted. Or is it the chemistry of all the couples?. No this guys did a great Job, well done, like take your flowers for a job well done?. I try as much as possible to stop myself from watching the new EPS so I can binge watch at once and that I have failed terribly??. I knew I wasn't the only one feeling this series when I saw the rating and number of comments on here?, good to see that we still have people with taste. Like do away with NC scenes in this series and I will be very much still be seated for this masterpiece, that is how much I love this series and I just hope it continues this way till the end

Lastly, this series isn't for you if you are looking for some burnt out rinse and repeat storyline sprinkled with unnecessary NC scenes everywhere alongside zero to mid ass acting/actors, in summary fast paced very common mediocre production, not my fault you are more into garbage just so you can satisfy your horny ass. So don't come here saying shit.

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action/fantasy bl with fire chemistry ?

First of all, the fact that Saint is the producer blew my mind a little bit, but lets get into it.

This story has everything-- our leads are new recruits in a special investigation unit, they train together and hunt down criminals, the murder mystery alone keeps your interest pretty well, but there's so much more. The two MLs are linked by destiny, they have a past that goes much farther back than they know, the fantasy element of this show is pretty good, I love a good lore. The merging of these two aspects of the story, or rather lack thereof, is the only thing that had me kind of disappointed. They invested so much time and energy into building up both the story of their past lives and the story of this big wig criminal that they have to hunt down, I expected the stories to be somehow linked. But it was kind of a crime fighting by day, fantasy love dtory by night type of feel, with a bit of both in some scenes. It was great at first but towards the end it started to feel like they were trying too hard.

Im not sure who threw this cast together, but it was beautifully done, theyre all well written characters played by good actors with fantastic chemistry. The tension between our two MLs gives you butterflies, Phaya and Tharn are both lovable in their own ways, I love love love their chemistry and can't wait to see their relationship develop even more. I love our side characters relationships too, wish we had seen more!

High quality everything, rarely do we see good storyline, good acting, and good graphics all in one BL, so the fact that we have all 3 in one, recipe for success right there. These aren't short episodes either, these are hour + long episodes packed with content, you feel like you just watched a short movie. Unfortunately, toward the end it started to feel a little more dramatic, the length of the episodes seemed to drag on a bit.

The ending was happy, but felt a little ?????
I'm not sure how to explain, I just felt like, oh, okay, that was it?

Part of me wonders if they started to lose it towards the end because they got such good feedback that they started to think they'd get a season 2 and wanted to save some of the plot twists for S2, which is why they ended it the way they did. All in all it was a great show, the ending wasn't bad, just didn't match the energy of the rest of the show in my opinion. I'll be excited to hear if there's a season 2!!!

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A Mesmerizing Tale of Eternal Love

"The Sign" is a captivating series that masterfully intertwines elements of fantasy, mystery, and romance, ensnaring viewers from the onset. As the narrative progresses into its dramatic and intense latter half, it manages to maintain a grip on its audience with unwavering intrigue and escalating stakes.

Central to the series' allure is the electric chemistry between the leads, Phaya and Tharn. Their dynamic is the pulsating heart of the narrative, radiating both tenderness and tension that is palpable. This duo is enchanting, their interactions marked by both intense sparks and profound concern for each other, setting a high bar for on-screen romantic chemistry. The love story of Billy and Babe challenges cosmic forces, presenting a romance that defies the odds and captivates the audience's imagination. Complemented by stellar acting, the chemistry between the cast, and breathtaking cinematography, "The Sign" offers a compelling viewing experience from the very beginning.

A heartfelt appreciation is extended to the production team for showcasing Thailand's rich culture, myths, and folklore with such elegance and authenticity. The depiction of these elements adds a unique depth to the story, enhancing the overall narrative and setting "The Sign" apart from other series in its genre.

At its core, "The Sign" revolves around two souls, Phaya o Sakuna (Billy Patchanon Ounsa-ard) and Tharn Wansa (Babe Tanatat Phanviriyakool), who have loved across centuries. Reincarnated and brought together at an academy for future police officers, they find themselves amidst a journey filled with visions of their pasts and a mysterious criminal investigation that tests their love.

The series shines in its action sequences and fight scenes, which are executed with precision and aesthetic grace. The integration of various genres, including action, thriller, fantasy, and romance, is seamless, offering moments of sweetness, humor, and suspense that are equally well-crafted.

The ensemble cast delivers performances that resonate deeply with the audience, with particular praise for the leads, Phaya and Tharn, whose portrayal is nothing short of stunning. Surprising is the level of acting prowess displayed by all, especially given that for some, this marks their debut.

"The Sign" stands as a testament to the dedication and hard work of its crew, evident in every frame. It's a series that deftly avoids cliché and unnecessary fan service, focusing instead on genuine storytelling, authentic chemistry, and well-choreographed action. The background music, authentic soundtrack, and visually appealing cinematography further elevate the series, making it a must-watch for fans of the BL genre and beyond.

In summary, "The Sign" is a beautifully crafted series that not only entertains but also showcases the depth of talent within its cast and crew. From the laughter and camaraderie of supporting characters to the intense love story at its center, it's a series that leaves a lasting impression, making viewers yearn for more.

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Highly ambitious, but faltered along the way

The Sign has everything I adore in a series: romance, mystery, action and that infallible touch of mythology, which is my weakness. Under these circumstances, my rating should be higher, also considering the story is interesting, the plot is airtight (plot holes are one of my peeves), and the chemistry genuinely chemistry - fies.

Not that this is a bad rating, but again, I would generally rate something like this much higher. So let me explain my thought process, starting with the mystery/action aspect. It's solid, it truly is. Albeit slightly predictable and simple, it was consistent. I genuinely loved that they solved multiple cases that umbrella - ed as one big case, and as far as I took note, there were no loose ends or plot holes. Every case they worked seamlessly tied up with the major case through the players, and it even seemed like they would link the mythological aspect to this plotline.

That's where I was wrong. Let's clear this up first: I know it's difficult to incorporate mythology/history into a fictional account. It requires tons of research, poring over books, journals, documents, and so much more. I also understand that when you're working with mythology and history, it's a difficult situation to maneuver, (especially when you're talking about two major characters who's stories have wide and varying interpretations). But there's still room to work with. Without giving away too much, let's just say I expected more. They promised grandeur and complexity, but what we got was absolutely none of that. The entire mythological plotline was tied up to the romance between the leads and not much more.

Which then leads us to.. the romance. I'm going to be completely honest, Billy and Babe, they have chemistry. I did say the chemistry chemistry - fied, and I wasn't lying. They have a hot and cold relationship in the beginning, which I'm going to chalk up to a genuine plot point, it was understandable. Even when you felt they were being bratty, frustrating or just a teensy bit hypocritical, they turned the situation around pretty smoothly and soon. It's really too bad we didn't get to see enough though. This is a totally subjective opinion, but they spent so much time focusing on solving the cases, and the mystery of their past that there was barely any romance. At least for me. And I know it's ironic because I said I appreciated the well developed story, but I wanted romance as well. That's more of a me thing, but I just wanted to mention it.

Let me segue back to my rating now, because despite the positives, I did kind of end up saying they could have improved upon it. That is the reason for my rating.
The truth is, I genuinely enjoyed watching the series. The plot was innovative, the characters were endearing and you all know that I already have a slight bias because of the mythology plot they used. When you watch the series, you can tell they put a ton of effort into this. The cast, the crew, everyone. But I just wanted that little bit more. Again, that's a me thing.

While I do wish they had changed a few things, tied up the loose ends that inevitably cropped up, it was a decent series, and truly one of a kind: I don't see a lot of mythological BLs and it was a rare treat in that sense.

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