First Note of Love – Series Review & Ending Explained

Matt and Neil are brothers who formed a band called Magnet during their university days. They rose to fame with hit songs that topped streaming charts and sold out shows across Asia. However, a car accident claimed Matt's life, leaving Neil heartbroken. After his brother's death, Neil struggled with grief and performance anxiety. He even fainted backstage once. Since then, Neil has stepped away from the spotlight for years.

Reese is Neil's manager at Echo Music. He faces pressure from executives who want to cancel Neil's contract due to his inactivity. Determined to help Neil stage a comeback, Reese encourages him to return to the spotlight. However, Neil seems uninterested. He has let himself go, growing out his hair and stubble. He puts little effort into his career. Nonetheless, Reese reaches out to Sea, a 20-year-old songwriting prodigy. Reese hopes Sea can create tracks for Neil's return.

Sea is a university student who works part-time as a waiter at his friend Luang's café. He lives alone in a small home. His family has moved abroad, and they have grown distant. Sea is surprised to get a job offer from Echo Music. As a child, he was a fan of Magnet. He treasures a memory of Neil playing him a song, which inspired his love for music. Sea was supposed to attend Magnet's concert on the day Matt died.

Sea feels nervous about agreeing to the job offer. He feels intimidated by the idea of working with his childhood idol. However, Luang accepts the offer on his behalf, so Sea has no choice but to attend a meeting at Echo Music. Reese and his assistant Mei are both fans of Neil. Reese praises Sea's talent and says his style is perfect for Neil's comeback album. However, Neil is unimpressed. He sees Sea as a timid university student and criticizes him for lacking confidence. After calling Sea "overrated", Neil doubts their ability to work together.

Sea is upset that Neil, his childhood idol, harshly criticizes his music. Feeling frustrated, he lashes out and calls Neil a has-been singer. This remark hits Neil's insecurities since stepping out of the spotlight. Sea abruptly leaves the meeting afterwards. Despite Reese's attempts to apologize on Neil's behalf, Sea refuses the job offer out of pride. Later, Reese confronts Neil, annoyed and insistent that he give Sea a fair chance. Neil eventually listens to Sea's music and feels intrigued by what he hears. He meets Sea at the cafe for a second chance at collaboration.

First Note of Love is a therapeutic BL drama about a fallen rock star who crosses paths with a quiet songwriter. Together, they navigate a journey of grief and healing. Music is integral to the story, setting the mood with an emotional soundtrack. I particularly enjoy the opening song, which is gentle, soothing, and full of melancholy. It perfectly captures the essence of this series. Along with the elegant cinematography, First Note of Love captivates us with its artistry.

While there are heartfelt moments in the couple's journey, they get overshadowed by the filler. Dull chats and mundane interactions add little to the story, dragging down the pace. First Note of Love needs a tighter script that cuts the unnecessary scenes. Dare I say, almost the entire first episode can be skipped. The second episode flows better when the characters meet properly. A few other episodes face a similar issue, like the weaker songs you want to fast-forward on an album. The slow pacing lingers throughout the narrative, so you may feel bored because nothing special is happening.

I love Sea's character. In any fiction, my favourite archetype is the sweet, shy, and sensitive protagonist. Sea ticks every box imaginable. He's an adorable twink with an aura of sadness, melting my heart like kryptonite. In Episode 2, Sea wears a hoodie with a baseball cap, tapping his fingers on the keyboard and nodding along to the music. When he flashes a bashful smile, I'm utterly smitten. Sea is so cute that my brain's chemistry short-circuits and develops with an irrational fondness for him. I can ignore everything bad about First Note of Love by only obsessing over Sea.

Michael Chang captures Sea's timidness with darting glances, nervous expressions, and an embarrassed smile when he can't hide his excitement. I already liked Michael from his last BL drama, but he reaches peak cuteness in this series. He also shines in dramatic scenes. Any time Sea gets teary-eyed, I'm crying along with him. His co-star (Charles Tu) brings roguish charm and a confident swagger, especially whenever Neil wears a leather jacket. I thank First Note of Love for saving Charles from the ruins of HIStory 4 by giving him a better project to define his career.

Due to my attachment to Sea, I'm fond of his romance with Neil. While the relationship isn't very passionate, I still like their sweet interactions and supportive bond. Anyone who can make Sea blush adorably is a good match in my books! That said, their connection feels slightly rushed. Early on, some playful sexual tension would make their arc more engaging. The secondary couple doesn't interest me, partly due to weaker performances. However, I enjoy the novelty of seeing a Thai actor in a Taiwanese BL drama, adding a unique cross-cultural twist to the story.

The last two episodes bring the storylines to a satisfying conclusion. Neil finds closure with the trauma of his brother's death, a journey that may be predictable but still feels poignant. Sea, who once used music to escape his sadness, learns to connect with his lover and open up through a song. Despite some slow or uneventful moments, I appreciate the sentimentality in First Note of Love. My favourite aspect is Sea, the irresistible twink! Beyond that, I also enjoyed the sensitive character arcs, emotional growth, and the thoughtful use of music as a therapeutic tool.