Triage – Series Review & Ending Explained

Story

Time loops

I like stories that revolve around time, including time loops, time travel, alternate timelines, or anything similar. Going back to the past and changing your destiny is a fascinating concept to me. However, these ideas are tricky to pull off because you must consider many variables. It's even harder when you include a romance, adding another complex dimension to the nonlinear narrative. Unless you have a clear vision, the logic can go haywire and become confusing quickly.

Triage creates a multifaceted mystery that feels intriguing and innovative. How does a doctor go back in time to save a patient who seems destined to die? Each episode comes with new revelations & suspenseful twists to keep the viewers on the edge of their seats. I won't pretend the series is perfect since it does stumble over several plot holes. Nonetheless, I focus on enjoying the thrilling and unpredictable journey instead of scrutinizing any gaffes. Ultimately, Triage succeeds in entertaining me.

I want to be encouraging to Triage because it's an ambitious project that does something different than the usual love story. It never crossed my mind to combine a time-loop mystery and a gay romance together. What a creative hybrid. I can't recall another BL series that has done anything similar. Triage is not only the pioneer of a revolutionary concept, but it also sets a high standard with an excellent story. If there are any BL dramas about time manipulation in the future, they'll be compared to this series. Triage walked first so that other unique BL stories could run.

Tol

I hated Tol for most of the series. While I understand his skepticism around Tin in the earlier timelines, he seems rude and hostile in many exchanges. Also, the way he treated Rit is disgraceful, highlighting his privilege. Tol acts like a rich prick with an arrogant personality. He has some redeeming qualities, such as taking care of stray animals or paying for his girlfriend's medical bills. Otherwise, Tol's behaviour is unappealing.

However, I like his growth throughout the episodes. The main story in Triage is about Tin changing destiny to literally save Tol's life. On a more subtle level, Tin also influences Tol to change as a person, becoming less conceited and more empathetic. His attitude improves for the better. After Tol regains the memories from previous time loops, he learns from the mistakes in his past. Tol treats Rit better, shows kindness to Mai, and seems more sensitive about his feelings. His character evolves through a powerfully introspective journey.

Tin

While Tol undergoes remarkable changes, Tin stays true to himself throughout the series. He is a hero in every timeline. Maybe it's the doctor in him, but his first instinct is to help others in need. When Ait chokes, Tin immediately goes to help him. When Rit gets bullied at school, Tin defends him and takes his side. There are many instances where his character consistently abides by his moral principles. Tin doesn't give up his goodness despite facing lots of adversity.

Tin also goes through a journey in Triage. He feels jaded about life after his sister's death in an accident. The pessimism clouds his judgment, affecting his professionalism at work. Dr. Sak exploits Tin's vulnerability and manipulates him. However, Tin rediscovers his drive after experiencing the time loops. As he tries to save Tol's life, Tin rekindles his lost motivation. He doesn't give up over failing each time. Instead, he becomes more determined to rescue Tol. The hero within Tin laid dormant after his sister's death, but this side of him awakens as the story progresses.

Romance

Tin and Tol

It takes a while for the Tin and Tol love story to heat up. Understandably, Tin was more preoccupied with saving his patient's life than hooking up with him. Tol also had a girlfriend, adding another roadblock to the BL journey. Maybe Triage teased a few exchanges here and there. However, there weren't a lot of legitimate romantic opportunities in the first few episodes.

Their relationship begins improving around the midway point. Initially, Tin befriends Tol as a strategy to gain more influence over his behaviour. Tin wanted to leverage their friendship to stop Tol from driving drunk after the party. The unexpected development is that the two characters bond and enjoy each other's company. During one of the timelines, they ett along particularly well, culminating in a kiss by the end of Episode 5. The kiss is a spontaneous reaction, but it spurs a full-fledged attraction that strengthens with each passing episode.

The Tin and Tol pairing feels epic because the couple overcomes so many obstacles. Destiny constantly throws curveballs at them, including car accidents, health scares, and gun-wielding assassins. How many times have Tin watched Tol die tragically before his eyes? Yet, each death raises the stakes and makes you cherish the delicate relationship moments more. I love the element of danger and surprise because you can't predict what happens next in the romance. Will they kiss or will they die? Anything is possible!

Tol and Mai

Mai is two-timing her boyfriend and using him for his money. Her actions would be scummy under normal circumstances. However, Mai also has a sympathetic reason. She's desperate to afford a medical procedure for her seriously ill mother. Would Tol have lent her the money if they didn't date in the first place? Where else could she realistically find the funds? I can't answer these questions, but her predicament is intriguing. It creates a complex conflict in the storyline.

Tol paying for his girlfriend's hospital bills is a charitable act. To his credit, he continues to pay for Mai's expenses even after discovering her secret relationship. While I appreciate his kindness, I wonder if the old Tol would have done the same in the original timeline. Probably not, right? I suspect he'd lose his temper and hold a petty grudge. Fortunately, Tol shows compassion for Mai's situation after regaining his memories from the previous time loops. I like that they end their relationship amicably because it could've gone a lot worse in the darkest timelines.

Sing and Gap

Oh my gosh, I adore the secondary couple! These two have a fun dynamic. Early on, I thought Sing was a bit too harsh towards Gap. However, Gap's grumpiness creates some amusing moments, like them quarrelling over the iced coffee. I also like the balance in their personalities. Sing is hard and serious, whereas Gap is soft and playful. Despite their differences, the two actors do an excellent job of creating a comfortable rapport. Put them together, and the pieces just fit.

The characters are great when they're investigating Dr. Sak's misdemeanours together. I love the exciting action sequences where they hide in lockers or escape from dangerous assassins. However, I'm unsatisfied with the abrupt transition in their love story during the last few episodes. Sing and Gap have suddenly become boyfriends in the final timeline, like they skipped a few stages of the romance. I'd like to see the entire journey of how their attraction naturally develops. This couple leaves me wanting more content from them.

Acting

Good performances

Most of the story is told from Tin's perspective. The lead (Tae) portrays a startled yet sensible protagonist who reacts to extraordinary circumstances naturally. It's a challenging role, but the actor is capable of handling the material. Also, Tae stands out from the typical Thai BL actors, who are usually polished and boyish. In contrast, he's scruffier and manlier with an ordinary charm. I think he's an excellent choice to make the Tin character feel real.

His costar (Tee) is a pleasant revelation. Earlier in the series, he played a pretty standoffish character, making it hard to connect with him. As the story progresses, he opens up more and shows vulnerability. Tee surprises me after Episode 10, where the spotlight shifts onto him. He shows a lot of range in his performance. The actor seems less restrained and a lot more vibrant than previously. The change is so significant that it makes me take notice and appreciate the nuances.

Style

Adrenaline

Triage is excellent at maintaining a sense of adrenaline. The story creates momentum, builds upon it throughout the series, and unleashes powerful climaxes during the pivotal moments. Some BL dramas lose steam, have slow episodes, or drudge through filler. That isn't the case here. There's never a dull moment in this action-packed journey, full of thrilling ups and downs. 

Episode 10 is a compelling episode that captures the excitement of Triage. Both storylines have heightened tension as the characters find themselves in grave danger. In the second half, the series amplifies the emotions and tragedy of Tol's death. The stakes feel higher with Triage since the leads don't have plot armour protection. They could genuinely die at any time. Although they come back to life in another timeline, the impact remains. Knowing that anything could happen to these characters makes the suspense more gripping.

Happy ending

Triage has a happy ending where the main characters are reunited in the final scene. Previously, Tin died in Episode 10 from a gunshot wound during a violent scuffle with Dr. Sak's lackey. After his death, Tol was devastated until Jinta granted him the last chance to go back in time and change his destiny. However, the events have changed drastically in this timeline, and Tin wouldn't have his old memories. Although Tol has an opportunity to save the doctor's life, he must adapt to the circumstances.

In the final episode, Dr. Sak and his henchman Doi have gone rogue. Dr. Sak kidnapped the leads and prepared to kill them for their silence. Meanwhile, Doi also held Gap and Sing captive in their apartment. As both storylines reach their climaxes, the characters get into intense altercations. Gap and Sing survive their fight, but Doi manages to escape. Likewise, Sak flees after police intervention. Unfortunately, Doi ambushes the leads and attacks Tin. The doctor can't escape his fate and still succumbs to life-threatening danger.

Tin falls into a coma in the final episode. Tol stays by his bedside and waits for his recovery. Eventually, Tin's family transports him to their hometown for long-term care. Over time, everyone seems to have moved on and resumed their everyday routines. Yet, Tol feels lost afterwards, drifting through life aimlessly. In the final scene, he visits the clock tower, a key location where the leads share their first kiss. To his surprise, Tin appears before him. He has recovered and awakened from his coma. Best of all, his memories are intact. The characters kiss as the series ends.

Ending review

Triage shifts the plot after Episode 10. Suddenly, the narrative is told from Tol's perspective as he revisits the past and changes Tin's destiny. A part of me appreciates the storyteller for doing something different, adding a sense of unpredictability. Yet, I don't love how the events and character dynamics changed during this last timeline. For example, why are Sing and Gap suddenly boyfriends in this alternate universe? It feels like the storyteller cheated and took shortcuts during the final arc.

I wasn't entirely on board with the new direction. The circumstances altered too much without explanation, breaking the cohesiveness of the first ten episodes. Instead, I wish Triage stuck with the original formula. Let's put Tin through one final time loop, make Tol fall in love with him again, and they beat the bad guys together. Regardless, I still liked most of Episode 11 and some of Episode 12. There were iffy parts, and I had a thought in the back of my mind that the narrative seemed strained. Yet, I suppressed my concerns and focused on the adventure.

Unfortunately, the events in Episode 13 were too convoluted that I couldn't excuse the ridiculousness. Suddenly, the villains appeared out of nowhere, behaved with no rationale, and forced contrived fights that didn't make sense. The narrative was an incoherent disaster and tough to follow due to a lack of logic. Of course, there's a tacked-on happy resolution in the final scene. To be honest, the Triage ending deserves a lower review score, but I overcame my dissatisfaction. After a while, I didn't take the plot holes too seriously and just laughed at the silly chaos.