The Sign: A BL Police Thriller Themed Around Reincarnation and Ties of Destiny

The Sign is a Thai BL series broadcasted in 2023-2024. To give a micro summary of the series: Phaya and Tharn, who have just graduated from the police academy, realize that they are connected by a tie of destiny from their past lives. Meanwhile, they also investigate unsolved old murders. Murder, mystery, past lives, supernatural events, and of course, reincarnation form the foundation of the series.

If you like reincarnation and the theme of “lovers bound together forever by fate,” the series is exactly for you. I wrote down what I felt and my critiques while watching the series below. Detective work and mystery await you.

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The Sign, 2023 LGBT-Themed Thai Series Synopsis

Tharn, who is about to complete his police academy training, constantly begins to see visions. These visions are quite realistic, and it is as if he sees the future and what is going to happen. During that time, with the drowning of the team lieutenant in a nearby lake, Tharn’s visions continue to increase, and he begins to see images related to his teammate Phaya.

They investigate both the suicide case in the team and the meaning of the images and sounds they see. Tharn and Phaya, who saw each other for a while in childhood and have found each other through strange visions ever since, also start to have feelings for each other. At the end of the mysterious events at the police academy, they graduate. They are assigned to solve difficult cases in the special forces. Meanwhile, their instructor is also the new chief of their group in the academy.

In the series, serial murders are solved first. Then, occasionally, the past ties and childhood periods of the duo are revisited. Meanwhile, a third person is included between the two: Dr. Chalothon. He is a mysterious and dangerous identity. Phaya continues to see visions about the doctor. During this time, the bond between the duo becomes clear through dreams. Especially the monk, who is a spiritual companion, provides companionship for the connections from past lives.

In the later episodes of the series, the police events go as far as solving the mystery behind the death of Tharn’s parents. While this event is being solved, on the other hand, the duo must prepare for their encounter with their past lives on the 15th day of the 11th month. In the final episodes, the mystery between the duo is solved. But there is one more obstacle to experiencing their unfinished love from their past lives. The evil character Chalothon is the enemy of the duo.

In the finale, all police cases are solved, and even if they undergo reincarnation, the tie of destiny between the duo does not change. Chalothon, the evil character who came between the duo who were together in their previous lives too (a life with mythological and supernatural powers; they also use these supernatural powers while investigating police cases), had separated them. They strive to reunite in their new lives and eliminate their common enemy.

Series Review and Comments

First of all, it designs a very good mystical and mythological universe for the BL series audience. Especially the fights and struggles the duo experienced in their previous lives are well visualized with animations and animal representations. The harmony and chemistry of the characters, the contrast between them, and the attraction born afterwards are quite good. Another important character in the series, or rather Yai, who adds dynamism and fun to the series, does at least as good a job as the lead actors. This character will probably be the favorite of most of you while watching the series.

Reincarnation and ties of destiny hold a very important place in Far East culture and mythology. As I said, the war between two characters who had mystical powers in their previous life and the evil character Chalothon trying to separate them also confronts them in their new lives. Actually, the rebirth theme is a theme most of you have watched before; in this respect, it is quite cliché and does not bring an innovation. But the mythological elements and animated scenes in the series add a different dimension to the series. Again, although the monk appears as a spiritual guide in the series, it is not well understood exactly what he does or what his duty is. I guess they put him in to strengthen and complete the mystical theme.

Let’s come to the police academy. Very inadequate. And again, the story loses its tempo from time to time. Suddenly, in the middle of mystical events and reincarnation, you find yourself in a meaningless police chaos. Also, there are very glaring points and deficiencies in the police academy training. It will not look like real police training to the audience, meaning you. It is both very exaggerated, and the huge academy building is completely empty; there is no one.

The series hardly touches on the main theme until the seventh or eighth episode. You can more or less guess the events from the course of the series. Another point that caught my eye is that the cops are “too handsome.” You might suddenly feel like you are watching a “Biscolata commercial” (glossy male model ad). There is still no real phenotype representation. It is as if there are only special investigation police at the police station. The police station is also completely empty. The chases and action are not bad, but the production is weak.

However, the series will truly offer you a rebirth-themed BL romance wrapped in supernatural powers with a mythological and epic side. The series is definitely watchable. Start the series especially if you are bored with university and youth productions. However, occasionally the series flows slowly and can stray from the main plot. Although the chemistry of the duo is good, it could have been better. Before I forget, the theme that love has no gender and identity is also processed in the series. The character who was a woman in her previous life is born as a man named Tharn in his new life. But for the ties of destiny, being a man or a woman does not matter. The important thing is the completion of an unfinished relationship and the defeat of evil.

Character Dynamics

The relationship between Phaya and Tharn progresses on the axis of reason and intuition, logic and belief. They have a strange relationship that continues with constant tension and ups and downs. Phaya is a rational character trying to explain everything; Tharn is an emotional soul acting with his intuition. This contrast both makes them clash and completes them. In the bond of the duo, there is “fate or choice?”. What is the meaning of all mystical processes? Will fate repeat itself?

Is the Series Worth Watching?

Yes, it is watchable. A multi-layered BL drama. You might like the mythological and epic theme in the past life. The suspense theme in the series will also satisfy you more or less. The sound effects in the suspense scenes are also good. You can feel the tension and fear better with low-frequency bass sounds. If you watch the series with a sound system that has a subwoofer, it will be more enjoyable. Character harmony and chemistry are okay. But you will feel the tension more rather than the passion and devotion coming from the past between them. You might feel like the chemistry of the actors doesn’t match. The series is 12 episodes. Some episodes can be tedious; the main story is squeezed into the final episodes.

The Sign (2023-2024) Series Details

The BL series is about the reunion of Phaya and Tharn, who were separated in their past lives. Ties of destiny, reincarnation, supernatural mystical powers, and police procedural themes are the focus of the series. The novel adaptation series is adapted from the novel named “Premonition” (ลางสังหรณ์) written by I-Rain-Yia (ไอเรนเยีย). The series consists of 12 episodes. Where to watch? You can watch it on ch3plus (3+). For more fan comments and garbage information, you can check the MyDramaList site.

Cast and Characters

Briefly in a who-is-who format. I wrote down the important characters and their actors.

• Billy Patchanon Ounsa-ard (Phaya): A police officer who sees visions from his previous life and can think more rationally. Since childhood, he has the same dream about his past life.
• Babe Tanatat Phanviriyakool (Tharn): An emotional character who gives sudden reactions. He sees events regarding the future. With this vision, he easily solves cases in police events. Especially when Phaya is in danger, thanks to his premonitions, he saves his partner before the event happens.
• Gap Jakarin Puribhat (Yai): A supporting character who adds action and comedy to the series. Tharn’s brother. A cheerful character who relieves the tension between the duo.
• Heng Asavarid Pinitkanjanapun (Chalothon): The demonic and evil character who came between Phaya and Tharn in their previous lives and separated the two lovers.