Fahlanruk – Series Review & Episode Guide

Fahlan is a senior university student in the Economics department. This campus stud is known for his handsome looks and athletic prowess. He is a skilled tennis player whose matches draw many adorers. Fahlan is currently dating Tle, his boyfriend. However, he also flirts with other women and men. Fahlan has the reputation of being a playboy.

One night, Fahlan attends an indie show at a bar. The performer is Sher, an aspiring musician. He is also a junior student in the Architecture department. Like Fahlan, Sher is a campus heartthrob whose love life receives much attention. He is rumoured to be in a relationship with his best friend, Prince. However, Sher has a reputation for switching different romantic partners and never committing to anyone.

Fahlan and Sher flirt after the show, signalling their mutual attraction. They have a raunchy hookup in the washroom stall. Later, they take their passions to the bedroom and engage in a steamy one-night stand. The following day, Sher makes it clear this is a casual fling. He doesn't want to have a romantic relationship. However, his rejection provokes Fahlan, who feels determined to sleep with him again. Fahlan aggressively pursues Sher, making his courtship public. Sher rejects him and maintains his no-dating policy.

As their flirting continues, Fahlan suggests they can be friends with benefits. They don't need to be official boyfriends. Instead, they'll enter a modern arrangement of sex buddies. Sher is intrigued by the idea. After being pestered by Fahlan, Sher eventually agrees to the FWB dynamic. However, he still doesn't plan to date Fahlan. Their physical relationship is only meant to fulfill sexual desires, but Sher isn't looking for a committed romance.

Fahlan and Sher's recent intimacy has attracted attention from their peers. Fahlan's friends Ping and Tap are curious about this romance, offering their observations or critiques throughout the courtship. In addition, an online fan page teases the idea of Fahlan and Sher being a couple. Another student, Mint, secretly runs the page. She is a hardcore shipper who wants the two campus hotties to fall in love, fulfilling her wildest fantasies. She stirs public interest in Fahlan and Sher's flirtation, making many others notice their interactions.

As Fahlan and Sher become famous, each receives temptation from other suitors. Fahlan also hides his flirtation from his boyfriend Tle. Meanwhile, others gossip about whether Sher will choose Fahlan, Prince, or neither. Fahlan sees Prince as a love rival and believes he is why Sher won't settle down for a romance. Another student, Gear, shares the same theory. Despite harbouring a secret crush on Prince, Gear won't confess his feelings. He assumes Prince and Sher are in love. Meanwhile, Ping struggles over his one-sided love for Tap. However, Tap only sees Ping as a platonic friend.

Fahlanruk is about two university playboys who become friends with benefits. Their casual hookups sound like a sexy premise for a BL series, highlighting erotic passion and conflicted desires. However, the actual story is a dull snoozefest. The narrative drains all the exciting energy from sex and replaces it with joyless relationship drama. Instead of flirting, the characters constantly whine, throw tantrums, or rehash the same arguments. Fahlanruk is dominated by repetitive conversations and pointless interactions.

Beyond many tedious scenes, the story is jumbled nonsense. Fahlanruk doesn't know how to structure a cohesive narrative, from clunky plots to awkward exchanges. The series becomes an unintentional comedy since the writing is so laughably amateurish. It's hard to believe anyone approved this dire script with cringy dialogue, blatant exposition, and embarrassing cliches. Each episode tries to sound profound with a philosophical quote about love. Yet, it's impossible to make sense of the muddled themes, which get lost between dumb conflicts and overblown theatrics.

Both protagonists have rotten personalities. Fahlan exhibits disturbing behaviours, including control issues, disregard for boundaries, and entitled arrogance. Even though the actor (Tonkhao) is physically attractive, his character's appalling antics make him undesirable. Fahlan harasses his love interest until Sher agrees to be with him. Once together, they form a dysfunctional couple with a toxic dynamic. Worst of all, the sex doesn't even look great. The performers interpret their intimate encounters clumsily. They think passion equates to frenzied, reckless movements.

The supporting cast is obsessed with Fahlan and Sher's boring relationship. All the characters gossip, meddle, and offer inane love advice, making it seem like they have nothing better to do. Pink, the BL fangirl, is the worst offender. She's far too invested in a romance that doesn't involve her. Ironically, Pink breaks up the fantasy couple she is shipping in a ridiculous love triangle storyline that nobody wants. The series also introduces pesky rivals who try to seduce the protagonists. Instead of creating drama, these unimaginative plots perpetuate jealousy and trust issues.

There is little attempt to expand on Fahlan and Sher's characterizations beyond their sex lives. Every storyline revolves around their sordid love affairs, hammering the same few points throughout the twelve episodes. Likewise, the secondary couple is just as shallow. Ping and Tap take forever to admit their feelings for each other. Their unresolved sexual tension is increasingly annoying without making progress. By default, Prince and Gear are the most tolerable pair in Fahlanruk. This cute side couple proves less is more, benefiting from their lack of screen time.

Fahlanruk has cast newbies with no screen experience. I don't need to point out the worst because everyone is dreadful, especially during dramatic moments. Their forceful attempts to cry or emote are agonizing. Neither the acting nor the storytelling improves over time. Fahlanruk remains a terribly written BL drama with nonsensical plots and insufferable romances. At least it's awful from the start, so you can quit early without committing to the rest of the series. I watched all the episodes and felt mentally drained by the end, like experiencing a traumatic nightmare.