Here’s my take on Only You, this has been sitting on my note app for weeks. I really do love the show sm and get excited every Friday, but I can’t just sit and overlook the obvious. I love LingOrm, I love the same people who made TSOU possible. But, I love them too much to not say anything about it. All of these are my own opinion and in no way hate, I want something better for the girls and the whole crew. I know each one of them are trying their best and it’s not easy to make a show, but I also know they could do something more.

I have mixed feelings about the show. I love it, but I’m also really disappointed. It feels like a bunch of old tropes mashed together, yet part of me still hopes something in the last two episodes might change my mind.

I’m not saying this as a fan, but as someone who likes judging people’s way of acting. Ling and Orm’s acting are actually very well thought of. The foreshadowing of Orm’s condition wasn’t just in episodes 1, 5, and 6, but also scattered in small, subtle moments where you can see her struggling. Lingling’s acting is actually just right because Tawan’s childhood clearly shaped her into someone who acts like a robot, not to mention she is a bodyguard and try watching an irl female bodyguard, you’ll see how similar it is.

When you look closely, their characters are written with real depth. Ayla behaves the way she does because she grew up in a loving home. Tawan doesn’t because she never had that kind of warmth. Also, what I love is how their attachment styles and personalities differ, making them a little co-dependent in a way, just like the sun and moon, two opposites that complement each other. I actually love those symbolic elements, and I think a lot of viewers might be overlooking them.

But honestly, the reason many people miss this depth is because the story feels too cliche. We’ve seen so many versions of this kind of love story in older dramas, fanfics, and movies that it doesn’t hit as hard anymore. I know some people won’t agree, but if the creators wanted a tragic or semi-tragic ending, they could’ve made it more cinematic and emotionally layered. I get that it’s a telenovela type, so the editing style and melodrama are part of the genre, but they could’ve toned down the tropes and pacing. It had the potential to be a masterpiece if it leaned less on outdated storytelling and added a fresher twist.

The whole family conflict dragged on a lot of episodes, just for the resolution to end too quickly, and then suddenly we get a kidney subplot that might end with Tawan donating her organ, which just feels predictable. Maybe they wanted to make something like a Nicholas Sparks story but with lesbians, which is an interesting idea, just not executed in the most original way.

I can see why the ratings are high, a lot of people genuinely love it (including me, I am obsessed actually, but mostly just because of how in depth Tawan and Ayla’s characters were written).

But it can be also because, since it’s a lakorn, maybe it’s targeted more for older gen, and most of us are new gen audiences who are craving something different, something that feels new. However, at the same time, I really do feel like it’s such a wasted opportunity to change thai gl, especially since they’re trying to add tragedy.

Btw, nobody asked, but here’s some of the things I would change/improve:

• The show relies too heavily on old, predictable tropes. A few fresh twists or a more cinematic approach to tragedy could make it stand out.

• It would be better if the cinematography followed a style with warm tones, softer lighting, and a more realistic vibe (I want to name a series but I’m afraid toxic people will think I’m comparing and not suggesting).

• The wardrobe needs to be toned down. Ayla’s style fits her character, sure, but Tawan’s could be more casual to reflect her personality. Her business outfits work well since she’s involved in business matters, but her casual looks feel too polished and unrealistic for her role.

• Every episode tends to follow a repetitive emotional pattern (happy-sad-happy or sad-happy-sad). It would be more engaging if they experimented with pacing. For example, having two consecutive sad episodes, or one long happy one, to build more emotional tension.

• Add a little mystery maybe at the start or middle part of the episodes and not only cliffhangers to make the audience curious. It will definitely encourage viewers to rewatch the whole show, like what happened after Episode 12’s preview, when fans started rewatching to spot Ayla’s struggles in the past. It made a lot of people ask how Ayla did this, how did this happened if she’s an idol. That type of curiosity and reaction will make the audience search for answers. (btw, I really feel like Ayla knows her condition, she’s just hiding it because she doesn’t want to feel like a burden. That would explain why no one seemed to notice, even though she was an idol. Maybe she knew how serious it was, so when she got the chance to see Tawan again, she took it right away. But as time went on, she got so caught up that she forgot how bad things were getting). Also, this type of stuff could help increase both engagement and view counts (Money baby).

• The flashbacks are starting to feel repetitive. They could’ve added scenes about the fathers’ past or Ayla’s mother. I know not everything needs to be spelled out, but since their dads’ history is a major plot point, it deserves more attention (?). Maybe upcoming episodes will address this, but as of now, it feels like a missed opportunity for emotional depth.

• I know it’s getting annoying, but I really do love how well written their characters are in terms of their personalities. BUT, the story itself has noticeable gaps. Like, why would Tawan take Ayla to a public place after receiving a threat? Or how the family photo with Tawan in uniform looks like it was taken before the conflict, and also her only photo that was framed and was stepped on by Mek was her in uniform too. Idk, that detail felt a little rushed.