The Tuxedo – Series Review & Ending Explained

Episode 1

Episode 1 Summary

Aioun is a talented tailor who runs the family business. His younger brother Oab faced a mugging while walking home, but a kind stranger named Saichol rescued him from the attack. Oab and Aioun repay him by replacing his ripped jacket for free. Saichol is grateful to have a sharp-looking suit before tomorrow's job interview.

Saichol arrives for a job interview to become Nawee's personal assistant. Nawee is a wealthy heir who runs a clothing export company for his father. He has an rude and arrogant personality. The interview goes poorly, but Saichol gets the job anyway because he wears a stylish suit. For his first task, Saichol is responsible for contacting Aioun to make a custom suit jacket for Nawee.

Episode 1 Review

I thought this episode was an okay start to the series, introducing the characters adequately. Nawee seems like a rich prick, but I'm guessing his personality eases up later in the series. I love that his first scene opens with a close-up shot of his nipple, even before seeing his face. Every character should be introduced this way in BL. 😁

To be honest, I expected the story to be more sophisticated. Maybe I made assumptions since these guys wear intelligent suits and live in swanky mansions, giving the impression of grandeur. Is the plot in The Tuxedo literally going to be about making a tuxedo for a rich guy? That seems a little…simple. I guess I can tolerate it, but I anticipated more to the premise.

Episode 2

Episode 2 Summary

Saichol is surprised when Aioun refuses to make a suit for Nawee, no matter how much money he offers. Saichol introduces another tailor to appease his boss. However, Nawee insists on wearing Aioun's designs. Saichol returns for a second time, begging on his knees for Aioun to reconsider.

Oab talks to his older brother and learns about the bad blood between their families. Nawee's dad stole a design from Aioun's dad from the past. Aioun holds a grudge since then. Oab reasons with his brother, stating they shouldn't judge Nawee based on his father's actions. Aioun finally changes his mind and agrees to design a suit for the wealthy heir.

Aioun arrives at Nawee's house for their first meeting. However, Nawee assumes he's the masseuse. They have a heated disagreement. During the scuffle, both men slip and fall into the bathtub. They emerge from the water with an accidental kiss. After the embarrassing misunderstanding, Nawee is extra irritable and snippy. He makes a patronizing comment about Aioun's small no-name shop, offending the tailor. Aioun storms away, vowing that he'll never make a suit for Nawee.

Episode 2 Review

Okay, we need to talk about the bathroom kiss…LMAO. How did the characters defy gravity and fall into a kiss in the bathtub? Is that even physically possible? This scene was so stupid and ridiculous that it circled back to being ICONIC. I love BL because after watching hundreds of dramas, they can still produce an unexpected moment that cracks me up. Falling into a bathtub kiss is a legacy for the history books. Now I've seen everything. 😆

The Tuxedo has made Nawee's character really detestable in the first two episodes. Every scene shows him in an unflattering light with a rotten personality. Honestly, I don't blame Aioun for hating his guts. Nawee can still be redeemed, but I feel like the series went overboard in making him a caricature. There's no need to portray the lead of your love story as such an entitled jerk. Let's scale back on the antagonism and give Nawee a more well-rounded personality.

Episode 3

Episode 3 Summary

Sichol revisits Aioun's shop. He finds a suspicious intruder trying to break into the building and stops the alleged thief. However, this young kid is Aioun's little brother Art, who returns from boarding school. Later, a theatrical Sichol begs Aioun to make a suit for his dying friend. It is a blatant lie, because the jacket's measurements belong to Nawee instead. Aioun sees through the deception and refuses to make the design.

Moving onto his next scheme, Nawee assaults his assistant and gives him a bruise on the face. Sichol uses his injury to gain Aioun's sympathy. Aioun finally relents and agrees to make the suit jacket. However, Sichol discovers Nawee has agoraphobia and feels terrified of leaving the house. The episode ends with Sichol hitting his boss and then transporting his unconscious body to the tailor's shop.  

Episode 3 Review

Sichol is really carrying The Tuxedo so far. I'm pleasantly surprised by his character's prominence in the story. Maybe he's a little theatrical, but Sichol brings the upbeat humour, vibrant charisma, and silly lightheartedness this series needs. The actor's enthusiasm is noticeable, compared to everyone else and their reserved performances. Sichol (Tape) is easily the standout in the cast.

Ugh, Nawee and Sichol's physical attacks against each other are problematic. I guess it's meant as a comedic moment, but the unnecessary violence crosses the line of decency. Firstly, it's uncomfortable watching a boss hurt his employee, like a gross abuse of power. Secondly, it's irrational. Why would you injure someone just for a suit jacket? These antics are extreme and ridiculous, but not in a fun way. The Tuxedo makes a colossal misstep, going from harmless goofiness to malicious offensiveness.

Episode 4

Episode 4 Summary

After beating up his employer, Sichol takes Nawee out of the house and carries him to the tailor's shop. When Nawee regains consciousness, he freaks out about his new surroundings. Aioun tries to calm him down, but their scuffle leads to another accidental kiss. Nawee feels traumatized and faints again. A childhood flashback reveals he was bullied and suffers from nosebleeds when stressed.

Aioun takes care of Nawee gently and sympathetically. They discuss his fear of leaving the house, but Nawee says his agoraphobia is severe and not treatable. They're getting along as the conversation continues, a significant improvement from their last exchange. One of Nawee's shirt buttons fell off, so Aioun helps him patch it up. When the tailor hurts himself with a needle, Nawee grabs his finger and sucks on it. Aioun secretly enjoys the intimate gesture.

The episode ends with an argument between Aioun's two younger siblings. Oab lost his brother's pet turtle years ago, and Art still holds a grudge. Art plays a prank and hides Oab's business ledger, which contains Nawee's measurements for his suit. The book is accidentally thrown away with the trash. Although the brothers make up in the end, the notebook is permanently lost.

Episode 4 Review

Let me understand the situation. Sichol knows his boss has agoraphobia, but he still uses violence to forcibly remove Nawee from his comfort zone. Is that necessary? Why not just ask Aioun to revisit Nawee's house to take the measurements? Sichol's actions feel very thoughtless, intentionally aggravating somebody's psychological trauma. Based on what I've seen so far, I have no confidence that The Tuxedo will portray the mental health storyline sensitively. I don't feel comfortable watching this.

What are the chances of the characters having two accidental kisses? To be fair, this one is more in the realm of possibility than the bathtub kiss. Still, pulling the same stunt twice feels like you don't have any other tricks up your sleeves. Their clumsiness was funny the first time, but I've seen it already. Give me a real kiss, please.

Aioun and Nawee's relationship progresses too quickly. They hated each other in their last exchange. Now, they're suddenly intimate to the extent of sucking on fingers. I don't understand the drastic change in their dynamic. It feels unbelievable Aioun develops an inexplicable crush, unless he's really THAT shallow and falls in love after seeing Nawee's shirtless body. 

Episode 5

Episode 5 Summary

Episode 5 begins with a conversation between Nawee and his father. They chat about the dad's upcoming birthday party. Nawee seems eager for parental approval, but his father is emotionally distant. Later, Nawee shares his excitement with Aioun, believing their father-son bond is improving. After all, they finally talk about something other than work. However, Aioun learns from the news that Nawee isn't the legitimate child. Instead, he's the bastard son.

Aioun arrives at Nawee's house to retake the measurements. There's heavy flirting between them and Nawee feels sexually frustrated about their intimacy. Afterwards, Aioun works on designing the suit. Nawee is pleased with how the finished jacket looks on him. The pair flirts again, only to be constantly interrupted by Sichol. The episode ends with Aioun meeting Nawee's dad. Aioun could barely contain his anger against the villainous man who betrayed his father.

Episode 5 Review

Aioun and Nawee's flirting scenes were pretty cringy. Measuring someone's body could be a sexy moment, but not how The Tuxedo does it. Their heavy-handed interactions came across as awkward instead. With that said, I like this couple's aesthetic and believe the actors look good together. I also enjoy the dynamic, at least on paper. The love story between a down-to-earth tailor and a wealthy heir is a compelling concept. Unfortunately, the series doesn't explore the full potential.

I thought there would be more emphasis on designing the suit jacket. The series dedicated multiple episodes to this ongoing plot, so it's a prominent part of the narrative. Instead, Aioun finished creating everything after a quick montage. The Tuxedo could've been more imaginative. For example, bring Nawee into the design process and have him give feedback. Make this project a creative collaboration between the couple. The jacket needs focus considering its significance to the story. Otherwise, it's no different from a meaningless suit off the rack.

Episode 6

Episode 6 Summary

Nawee attends his dad's birthday dinner with his stepmother and stepbrother. However, his father has a nasty announcement. He wants to cut Nawee from the family business and disown him altogether. The dad will compensate him with a large sum of money, but they will cease their parent-child ties. Nawee is devastated while his stepfamily gloats. Aioun confronts the dad and calls him a terrible person. Afterwards, Aioun comforts Nawee in his time of need.

It is Aioun's birthday, and his family celebrates by throwing a party. Nawee handmakes a doll as a present. He even delivers the gift in person, overcoming his fear of going outside. However, Nawee is shocked and upset to see Aioun's girlfriend at the party. Nawee and Chanjao clash over dinner, competing for Aioun's attention. Chanjao even speaks of getting married to her boyfriend. The episode ends with Aioun confronting Nawee in private. The two leads kiss passionately.

Episode 6 Review

Wow, Nawee's dad is an asshole. Now we know where Nawee inherited his rotten personality from. In my opinion, I disagree with taking the plot in this direction. Disowning your illegitimate child is too intense and melodramatic, not something you can unpack in a twenty-minute episode. We haven't seen much of Nawee's family until now, so the subplot escalated from 0 to 100 with little buildup. With that said, I kinda love the smug stepmother and bitchy stepbrother. They seem like fun antagonists, and I wouldn't mind seeing them in a few more scenes.

OMG. Aioun's girlfriend was a curveball I didn't see coming. Her existence hurts as much as a sucker punch to my gut, like discovering a boyfriend has been two-timing. I feel BETRAYED by Aioun's character, who seemed likable, trustworthy, and most importantly, single. Knowing he has a long-term relationship made me reassess his flirty scenes with Nawee in the past. Ugh, what a scumbag. I thought Aioun was too good for Nawee before this episode. Now, they're on the same level and deserve each other. 😬

There are interesting parallels between the two plots in this episode. Nawee is relegated to the outsider in his own family, while he is also the third party with Aioun and his girlfriend. Both situations bring out his character's insecurities about not being loved or wanted. Aioun mirrors Nawee's dad, since they are unfaithful and dishonest about their relationships. If Nawee had a backbone, he'd earn my respect by rejecting the kiss in this episode. His stance would've made a powerful statement about not being anyone's second choice.

Episode 7

Episode 7 Summary

Chanjao pressures Aioun to marry her. However, he seems unwilling to shop for an engagement ring. She is annoyed, asking him to be honest if he doesn't want to commit to this relationship. He remains wishy-washy and we don't see Aioun give a decisive response.

Sichol is worried that Nawee seems totally reclusive, shutting himself inside his room all day. He calls Aioun for help. Aioun arrives at Nawee's house, where the two men quickly unleash their pent-up sexual tension. They kiss and make love passionately. 

Later, Aioun encourages Nawee to leave the house. However, Nawee suffers from a panic attack when left alone in a coffee shop. He freaks out, falls into a pool, and almost drowns. Aioun rescues him just in time. However, Nawee is still traumatized and not in a good place emotionally. He also recalls Aioun's plans to marry Chanjao. Nawee insults Aioun on purpose, calling him "nothing but a suit maker". They break up and end their relationship at the end of the episode.

Episode 7 Review

Aioun's girlfriend is such an unnecessary addition to the series. Her subplot isn't interesting, and she serves no purpose other than to make the lead look worse. Aioun went from a mildly likable protagonist to a spineless, despicable cheater. I hate seeing him hem and haw, fake headaches, and make anguished expressions about marrying his girlfriend. His behaviour is very unattractive. The Tuxedo should've focused on Aioun's feud with Nawee's dad and scrapped this storyline.

Nawee's trauma has been handled uncomfortably, almost like The Tuxedo is mocking his condition. Beyond the tasteless mental health portrayal, I'm exhausted with Nawee and his emotional turmoil. It's not fun watching his scenes due to the excessive melodrama. His character is too complicated and he needs to be simplified. Just make Nawee a rich guy with an attitude problem, instead of this tragic figure burdened with heavy psychological trauma.

Aioun and Nawee's sex scene is this episode's saving grace, the only highlight in an otherwise dreadful narrative. I really like the sensual ambiance of their sexual encounter, complete with seductive kisses, sultry visuals, and soulful music. My enjoyment is not that deep. Basically, The Tuxedo appeals to my secret suit fetish. I get a rush watching two hot guys undress from their formalwear and make out for a full minute. 🤤 The experience reminds me of watching an upscale adult film, which sounds like a diss, but I mean it as a compliment! 

Episode 8

Happy Ending

Episode 8 begins with a flashback, confirming that Aioun and Chanjao broke up before he had sex with Nawee. Aioun tells Chanjao that he doesn't want to get married. She takes the news amicably, remaining friends with him afterwards. Later, Chanjao introduces Aioun to a designer in England, and he decides to move overseas to expand his company.

Meanwhile, Nawee's stepbrother visits his house to taunt his sibling. Yet, Nawee ignores his insults and doesn't seem upset. He has gotten over being disowned by his father. However, Nawee made cuts to his lavish lifestyle and fired most of his staff. Even Sichol is only working for him on a part-time basis. Sichol is worried about his employer and tells him that Aioun plans to move away from Thailand.

The Tuxedo has a happy ending where Nawee and Aioun reconcile. They become an official couple in the final episode. Nawee leaves the house with determination after learning that Aioun plans to move abroad. Aioun is surprised to see Nawee, who has made a tremendous breakthrough in overcoming his agoraphobia. Nawee pleads with Aioun, who agrees to stay with him instead of moving abroad. They cry, embrace, and kiss. The episode ends with the couple making out.

Ending Review

I hated Aioun and Chanjao's breakup scene. He stood there with a dumbfounded look, mumbled a few insincere lines, and she instantly forgave him for leading her on. There was no emotion, no drama, and no point to this entire storyline. Why did we spend three episodes on this random irrelevant girlfriend? The Tuxedo could've used that precious time to develop the patchy BL relationship.

The drama in this episode is so dull and annoying. Why is Aioun relocating to England suddenly? This last-minute plot has nothing to do with the main story. Instead of forcing unnecessary tension, let's use the finale to show the leads building a future. Maybe Nawee can invest in Aioun's business and they work together. Or Nawee gains his independence, starts a new company to rival his dad, and Aioun supports him by his side. The Tuxedo's lacklustre ending completely wastes its potential, a letdown to an already disappointing series.