#yojom

Now this is the kind of energy every younger pursuer needs to bring to the party!

The ending didn't negate any of the previous intricate story elements (ala Last Twilight) or the expert film craft that I've squealed about for the past two months. Instead, it simply dashed out resolutions so trite and fast it became a high camp version of practically every complaint thrown at Thai BL. Entirely unintentional, but with eyes to see and joy in your heart, you too can laugh as hard as I did.

For example, do you have an issue with forgiveness in these shows? Scroll through my blog to see my consistent defense of it, but that's because, among other reasons, the character has gained some emotional and practical distance from the person and conflict. Imma say it's okay to take some time to process and seek some evidence of changes in behavior before you feel chill that your ex threatened to report you to the cops for pedophilia and grooming to try and get with you. Like, we can legit go no-contact with that ex for a while. We don't have to include him in the family shots while you declare your love and give tongue to your new boo (after which you'll be surprised your fam knows you're dating, of course). This is especially true if your ex didn't get a punch to the face by your boyfriend who, even in his maturity, has been characterized chiefly by his willfulness and protection of others. It was a glorious wtf moment!

And, of course, Yo did give into Tee's blackmail, but not with any amount of chill. People complain about an eleventh-hour forced break-up, but have you ever considered laying out twenty thousand candles, unspooling three strands of fairy lights, and crafting hand-made drawings of your relationship to break your boys' heart? (And thank you @doublel27 for that observation among others while talking this out with me last night!)

Let's talk about Thai QL parents! The bane of so many viewers. Well, Jom didn't merely make up with his hateful father. He did it in one sentence while accepting the chief of the year award. Turns out all it takes to resolve parental strife is take down his corrupt politician friend who's ordering the destruction of your towns' farms and attempting to murder you and your neighbors. All I've ever wanted is your conditional love. Thanks, dad!

How do you feel about time jumps? This one My Sweetheart Jom was actually in on the joke, luckily, with a dream sequence mourning Yo's forty-year study-abroad stay, Saint in wonderfully dreadful geriatric makeup while his faghag looked pristine (this show was always about age and maturity at its core). But no suggestion of communication between Jom and Yo in the irl five-year gap? And Yo showed much more maturity than I ever would on the return, because I would've murdered Jom and his unsexy teasing refusal of dick-town if it had been five years--and I have been nothing if not generous of my boys who divert instead of directly showing their affection (see my documented love for SOTUS, ATOTS, a whole post about bratting, etc.)

That brings us to that sex scene. Claims of gratuitous NC scenes abound in BL discourse. This series needed a sex scene or the implication of sex occurring--the latter might've been better as the rest of the show operates in a pg-13 realm. Like I said, at its core it was about age (specifically the age of majority) and maturity, so, yes, that's about sex. But I've never seen a sex scene run so counter to the arcs and characterization and for soooo long--maybe that's just the uncut version?

Behind the surreal pink haze and crystal beads, we're really back at square one. Jom's caring for Yo, with little input and even shock from the latter who's otherwise shown throughout the series to be experienced and horny. I'm not talking about the reality of sexual politics here. Have fun edging your partners' from behind without concern for what it means about your personality outside the bedroom. For Yo and Jom, they just went through a whole journey about Jom learning to accept Yo's maturity. At best, I can argue that Jom's learned to express his affection directly, here, but the bedroom's never been a space where that's an issue. Sex isn't gratuitous here, but the specific sex they had was.

MY SWEETHEART JOM (2025, THAILAND)

Episode 2

Part 2 of 2

Close quarters for Chief Jom (SUPPAPONG UDOMKAEWKANJANA aka SAINT) and Yo (NUTTAPART TUNTISTINCHAI aka POOM)

But the danger has passed and they are ready to go...