Drama Digest
The Thai drama, Love Area Part 2: Director’s Cut, is a played-by-the-books BL drama that does not bring much novelty to the table. Sequel to Love Area, it picks up the story of restaurant coworkers Valen (Gun Tieosuwan) and Kaitoon (Pak Chavitpong Pusomjitsakul), that by the end of part 1 had started hating each other less. Kaitoon finds himself developing a crush on Valen, who has no clue. Valen has also caught the eye of Nont (Pan Norawit Bowonsantisut), his next-door neighbor. Conflicting sentiments and suppressed emotions result in a meandering plot rife with love triangles and misunderstandings.
The Feel-Good Part
Viewers who care about the usual tropes like cute clumsiness, constant bickering, and unexpressed thoughts might find enough. The series takes a chance with painful conflict, further explorable in other dramas. However, it fails to do justice to these heavier themes, which is a different matter. However, some moments of overwhelming desire occasionally balance out the bleak atmosphere. In addition, a transgender love angle is included, which should have been explored further.
The Disappointing Factor
There’s quite a bit here. The plot runs circles, with excruciating twists and turns that would have worked if characters had adequate depth, and if there were many more light-hearted scenes. The absence of both of those things means many fans of the genre will find it challenging to approach. Since the characters are underdeveloped, you often form your understanding of one person at the expense of the other’s shortcomings. There are too many three-sided romances enough to make you lose track at times. The tone is wonky, and the atmosphere is uneven. Writing is the weak link by far, leaving not much to judge the performances.
In-Depth Analysis
The biggest let-down is that the plot lacks a destination. It could have been an emotionally stirring tale, had it provided the required breathing space for its solemn themes. It could also have balanced things out with innovative dialogue and crafty humor. Instead, its exploration of bleak themes unnecessarily transforms into an engulfing, bleak perspective on love. Even the pleasant sequences are nascent at best. At worst, they lead nowhere because the momentum never rises. Co-incidental misunderstandings, which in better BL dramas form a minor plot point, form the story-telling vehicle in this one. Decisions made by characters come off as inexplicable and confound the viewer. The second half of the series is a meandering exercise in repetitive ideas and overused tropes. Though poignancy and critical examination of love are a turn in the right direction, the execution feels wrought with errors.
Star Power
The leads, Gun Tieosuwan and Pak Chavitpong Pusomjitsakul turn in decent performances. The supporting characters are often one-dimensional, leaving not much to judge there.
Overall Opinion
With the themes it grapples, the drama already puts itself in a niche. And seeing there seems to be no urgency or deeper understanding in the writing process, the drama alienates even that audience. Besides some regular BL fare, it misses the genre mark by remaining in tedium through out. Not recommended.
