Call It What You Want – Drama Review & Ending Explained

Bas

Bas should have been the main story in Call It What You Want. His plot was building slowly in the background and subtle hints were dropped that something is amiss with his character. However, the series took too long to reach the dramatic revelation and didn't allow enough time to explore the consequences afterwards. It's so easy to lose interest in the boring trivialness of the first two hours before a gigantic emotional bomb sets off in the final act.

To be fair, I understand the thought process of telling the story this way. First, the plot lulls you into a false sense of security, since everybody minds their own business without paying attention to what's happening with Bas. In the background, you notice this guy making weird comments, holding back his tears, and throwing up a lot. However, his behaviour never seems urgent enough for anyone to intervene. It doesn't help that Bas has been trying to disguise his trauma, using the diet as an excuse to cover up his inner turmoil.

I could feel the powerful impact of his confession in the final episode. It's shocking to hear what has been happening to Bas right under everyone's noses. While I suspected something was wrong with him, I underestimated the severity of his problem until he confessed. Suddenly, everything starts to make sense once you realize the root of his trauma. This is why he's behaving so erratically. This is why he keeps making those uncomfortable remarks. Why didn't we see it all along?

Sexual abuse

Would you notice the signs of a coworker being sexually exploited in the workplace? It's easy to watch back the show and carefully pick up on the red flags that Bas has been exhibiting. However, it's also just as easy to overlook when someone has been suffering in silence next to you. Imagine how much effort Bas has put into keeping up this charade, hiding his trauma from the rest of his coworkers.

I don't blame Ait or James for not doing more to help Bas. Not everyone is equipped to console the victims of sexual trauma, and it's a much more delicate issue than most people are accustomed to in their everyday lives. That's why there are professional helplines and dedicated resources to helping sexual assault victims like Bas.

Of course, there are also kind-hearted souls like Marco, who are patient, understanding, and so tremendously empathetic. Thank goodness he was there to comfort Bas after his confession, treating him with the care and compassion he needs. Marco's behaviour has been exemplary, ensuring that Bas is supported, keeping him company at all times, and comforting him without pressure or judgment. I can finally relax, knowing that Bas is in safe hands with Marco looking after him.

Exploitation

Bas was not the only victim in Call It What You Want. There's also Kaprao, who bravely spoke about his abuse, even when Tee tried to smear his reputation in the media. Ait is a victim as well, and he was in the process of being groomed under Tee's psychological coercion.

Call It What You Want uses a BL drama setting to explore the topics of corruption and exploitation in the acting industry. Although the storytelling lacks some fluidity, it's still an interesting glimpse into the ugliness behind the beautiful illusion. The glamour of the celebrity world isn't as idyllic as it may seem. Some companies will exploit young hopefuls like Bas, Ait, and Kaprao, who are desperate to make it in the industry. Not all of them will speak up about the abuses or misconducts in fear of jeopardizing their future careers.

The strict diets, the forced cosmetic surgery, the social isolation, and the sexual abuse are all chilling to watch. These plots come with enough plausibility for me to believe that they could actually happen in real life. It's a reminder to stay alert and not tolerate unethical companies that refuse to treat their staff like human beings.

True story

An interesting fact is that Call It What You Want has released a statement, declaring their drama is inspired by real events that happened. The story contains some vague references to the BL series 2Moons and 2Moons2, which were plagued by online reports of controversies with their production company Motive Village.

I will refrain from commenting since my only knowledge is limited to reading a few articles on the internet, but my sympathies will always fall with the victims against an exploitative company. This is so obvious that it shouldn't need to be stated out loud, but please treat actors with decency and respect.

Knowing the context of the real-world events does raise the stakes of Call It What You Want. This is a trailblazing BL series with an important message to tell. I just wished they had emphasized this storyline instead of leaving it until the end. Forget the BL romance. Scrap the love triangle. These generic plots are so trivial compared to the much bigger topic that needs to be discussed. The sexual abuse is the most important topic in Call It What You Want, which deserves all the attention.

James and Ait

Call It What You Want needed way less of the romance between James and Ait, which wasn't that interesting to watch. These two characters are not the right fit for each other, and Ait's personality seems too immature for someone like James. 

The series tries to play up the angle of ~love at first sight~ and even included some bullshit about it being a science, but this doesn't work for me. I agree with Bas when he says it's an infatuation and they can't be in love after meeting each other for only a few days. Their relationship was too awkward, the scenes weren't written well, and there was little depth to their romance.

The love triangle with Marco is unnecessarily complicated. I initially thought James and Marco were boyfriends and was shocked to learn they were Just Friends. This love triangle added nothing to the plot except for some annoying instances of jealousy. To be honest, James and Marco felt more like a natural couple than James and Ait, although the only ship that I care about is Bas and Marco above all.

The sex scene

One detail that I hated is how James and Ait reacted after Bas gave his confession. As soon as Bas left the apartment, it didn't feel appropriate for these two to make out and have sex with each other. Here I was, still reeling from the shock of the sexual abuse plot, and suddenly I had to sit through some sort of tone-deaf romantic exchange. Dude, I'm not in the mood to watch this!

There's a correct time and place to include sex scenes, and it's definitely not right after Bas cried about his molestation. This couple rubbed me the wrong way with how they behaved, almost as if they didn't care about what happened to Bas. Hello? Your friend just got sexually assaulted, maybe not the best time for a steamy making out session. 😒

Bas and Marco

In the few scenes they shared together, I already became a big fan of Bas and Marco. The two characters had never interacted until the final episode, so it wasn't immediately obvious they would be paired up together. I remember seeing a comment in a YouTube video along the lines of "Bas and Marco are the couple that I never knew I need", which describes my feelings about them.

Bas and Marco have surprisingly strong chemistry, making their scenes quite engaging to watch. You'll find yourself drawn to this couple even without any affectionate moments. I enjoyed their connection on a purely emotional level. Marco has been an incredible pillar of support during this difficult time, and he is exactly the type of positive influence that Bas needs in his life.

Marco's jokes

Thank god I got used to the bad CGI in an earlier episode, so I wasn't too distracted during their excellent scenes in the car. I loved the moment when Marco told unfunny jokes to cheer up Bas, finally succeeding in a joke so bad that it made Bas laugh. You can clearly tell what he was trying to do. In his goofy way, Marco wanted to keep Bas occupied so that his mind wouldn't wander off to depressing thoughts.

This scene was highly effective. Not only did it lighten the mood, but the scene revealed so much about Marco's personality. His character might be crap at jokes, but he's really good at cheering people up!

Excellent acting

The actor playing Bas (Michael Kiettisak Vatanavitsakul) was incredible, especially in the final episode. He did some great work at capturing the emotional intricacies of his character. It was a subtle, restrained, and nuanced performance without ever going overboard. From the anguished expression on his face to the shaky tremor in his voice, this guy really pulled off a convincing portrayal of trauma.

The other actors were fine in their various parts, but Call It What You Want is all about Bas for me. I'm honestly upset this isn't a better drama because it limits the visibility of his fantastic performance.

Needs a better ending

I have mixed feelings about the ending of Call It What You Want. The final scene is actually a great moment, where Marco encourages Bas to shout at the ocean as a type of therapeutic remedy. It was a beautiful scene, releasing all the tension in a symbolically powerful gesture.

At first, Bas was confused: "Why are you swearing at me? 🤨", which was such an endearing comment that can only come from his character. It's this kind of simple, childlike naïveté that makes him easy for bad people to take advantage of, but it's also what makes personality so precious.

However, it was only a good scene for the end of an episode, not for the ending of a series. We just got started with Bas on his journey to recovery, but it's already concluding without a satisfying closure. While I'm glad there's a Season 2 to continue the plot, it would've been better if they trimmed out the filler in the first season and used that time to tell more of Bas' story. Stopping the plot at this point halts all the momentum they have been building up during the series.