La Pluie – Series Review & Episode Guide

Tai has a condition called Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Anyone with this illness temporarily loses their hearing whenever it rains in proximity. Although it affects a small population, there is no treatment. Tai regains his hearing once the rain stops. He finds ways to cope with his disability, like bringing a pen and paper to communicate with others.

Beyond losing his hearing, Tai gains a new supernatural ability after becoming an adult. Whenever it rains, he can communicate telepathically with another person with the same condition. Due to their unique relationship, this individual is supposedly his "soulmate". Destiny allows them to hear each other's thoughts. Two years ago, Tai's soulmate started communicating with him. However, the introverted Tai ignored his prompts and never replied to his partner. Nonetheless, the anonymous soulmate continued talking to him in a one-sided conversation.

Tai doesn't believe in the idea of having a soulmate. His parents have the same condition. They met after communicating telepathically, fell in love, and started a family with four sons. Despite their happy family life, they eventually got a divorce. Tai reacted terribly to their separation. He blames his mom and distances himself from her. Tai's pessimism also stops him from communicating with his own soulmate. He doesn't want them to have any relationship.

Tai works as a writer for a magazine, La Boy Magazine. He reports to his boss Bow, who is also a close friend. Typically, Tai works from home instead of appearing at the office. Bow encourages him to stop being so introverted and socialize with people more. While working at the cafe, he meets a veterinarian named Patts. Tai instantly recognizes his voice and identifies Patts as his soulmate. As the two chat casually, they form a connection. After meeting in person, Tai changes his earlier stance and begins communicating with Phat more.

Tai has three siblings. His little brother Tien is a university student attending film school. Tien clashes with his classmate Lomfon and doesn't get along with him. However, Lomfon becomes interested in Tai and wants to know him better. Like Tai, Lomfon also doesn't believe in the idea of soulmates. He thinks telepathic communication is the mutual symptom of an illness, not because two people are bounded by destiny. As Tai explores his relationship with Patts, he reassesses the concept of them being soulmates.

La Pluie has an original premise. On rainy days, the protagonists lose their hearing and gain the ability to communicate telepathically with each other. I was immediately intrigued by the unique concept, which offered lots of storytelling potential. This BL drama uses a supernatural twist to convey the complexities of living with a disability. How creative! Unfortunately, the series doesn't explore the topic with enough depth. La Pluie underutilizes its promising ideas and misses the opportunity to tell a meaningful story.

My favourite part about La Pluie is Title, the adorable actor playing Tai. He carries the series with a poised performance. This role seems tailor-made to highlight the performer's best qualities, from his bashful smile to his sensitive persona. The moment that swayed me was when he played with the stray cat in Episode 1. The overload of cuteness in that scene made me weak in the knees. Also, I'm fond of his character archetype in fiction. A shy, slightly tormented protagonist in glasses unlocks the way to my heart. La Pluie has cast a dreamy lead that I can easily champion.

The other cast members aren't as strong, showing limitations in dramatic scenes. Patts' actor (Pee) seems reserved when his role demands more charisma. With that said, he looks handsome on camera and forms a telegenic couple with his co-star. Their image is marketable in the BL industry. Also, they share great chemistry in intimate scenes. Each romantic encounter oozes passion and desire. One of the later episodes cracks me up due to the sex montage. We see the characters doing it in the bedroom, the shower, and the bathtub. Wow, they're everywhere!

Despite their sexual compatibility, Tai and Patts don't have an engaging romance. They fall in love quickly with little bonding, which takes away the fun of seeing them nurture their attraction. Patts seems smitten with Tai before even meeting the guy. The series emphasizes how the leads are soulmates so much that it feels obnoxious. The more it pushes the idea of a pre-destined bond, the less organic their connection feels. La Pluie also teases a love triangle with Lomfon, who challenges the notion of destiny. Yet, it doesn't execute the storyline compellingly.

The first half of La Pluie is mostly mediocre. However, the second half becomes aggravating. Firstly, the plot focuses too much on the ex-girlfriend, who brings needless drama. Secondly, Patts behaves like a jerk in Episode 10. Driven by jealousy, his feelings for Tai turn into an unhealthy infatuation. He loses control over his emotions to the extent that I worry about his mental health. His over-the-top response makes me doubt whether this couple should be together. As someone not invested in their relationship early on, I became even less of a fan during these last few episodes.

La Pluie annoys me with other storylines. Tai's hostility toward his mom is uncalled for. He throws childish tantrums over his parents' divorce instead of considering their feelings. Likewise, I have no interest in the secondary couple. Tien made an awful first impression with his pettiness toward Lomfon, and the rest of their scenes don't entertain me. This series has too many underwhelming plots that never fulfill the immense potential. As much as I like the adorable lead, the sexy encounters, and the mesmerizing atmosphere, La Pluie is ultimately disappointing.