Love Area – Series Review

Kaitoon is a university freshman student. He is poor and must work multiple part-time jobs to afford tuition. Kaitoon runs errands for various businesses, from cooking to making deliveries. However, his employers have recently closed their businesses, causing him to lose a steady income stream.

Kaitoon has moved into a new dormitory building. He befriends his friendly next-door neighbour Nont, a senior medical student. Nont suggests that Kaitoon should apply for a job at a nearby Japanese restaurant called Love Area. After a quick and successful interview, and the restaurant owner Nisa hires Kaitoon as a waiter.

Kaitoon's work ethic impresses everyone at the restaurant. He is hardworking, friendly with his coworkers, and always willing to help with different tasks. Nisa is thrilled with her new hire. Since Nisa knows Kaitoon has financial struggles, she gives him a cash bonus for doing an excellent job.

On his way home after work, Kaitoon gets robbed by a young man around his age. Although the robber threatens him with a knife, Kaitoon insists he's poor and won't give up his money. It turns out the young thief is being chased by scary loan sharks, who have caught up to him. The thugs hurt the thief, knocking him unconscious. They also attack Kaitoon, stealing his phone and taking away his cash bonus.

Despite being robbed, Kaitoon brings the thief to the hospital for treatment. To their surprise, the two of them meet again at the restaurant. Kaitoon learns that the young robber is Nisa's younger brother, Valen. Nisa has hired Valen to work at the restaurant to make money and pay off his debts. She asks Kaitoon to mentor her brother in the workplace, unaware of the hostile relationship between these two coworkers.

Love Area begins with a few unique ideas, changing the BL formula just enough to seem slightly different. The main couple meets in a robbery, which creates an unusual dynamic to their relationship. The secondary couple has already broken up, and their scenes consist of tense exchanges between ex-boyfriends. Instead of two straightforward romances, Love Area adds some twists to the standard narrative, intriguing me with the storytelling possibilities.

Unfortunately, the novelty wears off after a while. Love Area quickly becomes a generic BL series, falling back to familiar tropes and predictable plot developments. From secret crushes to love triangles, you can guess how these common storylines will progress. Plus, the writing is fairly uninspired, never rising above mediocrity. While the six episodes are cute and cheerful, they don't leave a memorable impression. Love Area feels like any ordinary Thai BL drama and doesn't stand out in this crowded genre.

The main romance is a frustrating love triangle with pros and cons. Although Nont is a sympathetic love interest, his personality is too vanilla. His scenes with Kaitoon are so dull to watch. In contrast, Valen has a fun, engaging rapport with Kaitoon. However, his character comes across as immature and borderline obnoxious. As for Kaitoon, he's likable at first, but I'm bothered by his thoughtless behaviour in the last two episodes. Whether there's an attraction or not, Nont deserves to be treated with more respect than what Kaitoon has given him.

The other romance is a sloppy mess. In theory, the relationship drama between two exes should feel exhilarating, filled with animosity and sexual tension. However, the actual scenes between King and Peat are shallowly depicted, never exploring the angst with emotional depth. Their kissing in Episode 3 is a highlight, but the rest of their journey is miserable and not that compelling to watch. On a superficial note, Peat's actor (Tod) is a telegenic snack. This one is a keeper, so cast him in more BL series please~ 😙

Between the inconsistent writing and the unsteady romance, Love Area feels average in most aspects. Luckily, this series is elevated by the charming performance from Kaitoon's actor (Pak). He exudes charisma with a beaming smile, natural expressions, and the constant twinkle in his eyes. Pak stands out among the rest of the inexperienced cast, carrying every scene genuinely. I would have given Love Area a lower score in my review if it wasn't for him. He's another exciting up-and-comer I want to see in better BL dramas, and not just because of his looks.

Love Area isn't a complete series, ending the story around the midway point. COVID impacted the filming schedule, so the remaining episodes will air in an upcoming second season. With this info in mind, the last episode sets up the events and relationship dynamics intriguingly. The final scene on the beach is simple yet well-crafted, compelling me to watch Love Area Part 2 and discover what happens next. Overall, Season 1 is enjoyable despite some noticeable flaws. It's a pleasant Thai BL drama that meets expectations, on par with the typical quality in the genre.