Together With Me: A Youth Drama on Society and the Individual

The 2017 Thai production “Together With Me” is a very good BL that tells about love, sexual orientation confusion, societal pressure, and relationships developing during the university period. The series is quite modest, which is the style I like. Instead of telling about the luxurious lives of rich kids, it takes place among ordinary, middle-class students.

One of the important themes of the series is that gay individuals have to hide themselves. The societal and family pressure issues in the series are somewhat heavier topics compared to familiar BL productions. It is a better production than mass-produced university and youth series. I must also say that it is a cult production for boys’ love.

🏳️‍🌈🇹🇭 Curator’s Recommendation: The Best Thai BL Catalog

Together With Me (2017) Plot Synopsis

Korn and Knock, studying engineering at university, are childhood friends. Four years later, they meet again in the same department. Knock has a girlfriend and leads an ordinary university life. However, one night when they get drunk, he and Korn sleep together. After this incident, both begin to experience storms in their inner worlds.

While Korn openly expresses that he is gay, Knock denies both his own feelings and societal pressures. During this process, Knock’s girlfriend Pleng resorts to all kinds of intrigues, uses others, and applies manipulations to separate the couple. On the other hand, an up-and-down relationship develops between Farm and the school doctor Bright. The doctor’s infidelity and Pleng’s games make Farm a target as well.

The character named Phubet is in love with the school’s teacher and Korn’s older sister. These side characters strengthen the emotional and dramatic aspect of the series. Korn and Knock’s relationship will face its biggest test under the value judgments of society and family pressure.

While maintaining his relationship with his girlfriend Ple, Knock tries to stay away from Korn. However, the bond between the two constantly draws them to each other. Korn continues to be there for Knock whenever he needs him. During this process, Ple’s manipulative behaviors and the truths she hid from the relationship begin to emerge.

With the revelation of Ple’s betrayal, Knock’s world is turned upside down. In this period, Korn becomes Knock’s biggest supporter. Knock realizes he can no longer deny his attraction to Korn; however, he gets stuck between his own identity and societal pressure.

Korn decides not to hide his feelings inside anymore and confronts Knock. Knock finds it difficult to openly accept his feelings; but Korn’s love and determination finally bring them to the same point. The series progresses with the duo officially accepting their relationship, coming out to their circles, and dreaming of a future together.

In the later episodes, Korn and Knock, who are now clearer both to themselves and to their circles, choose to stand side by side despite every difficulty. The winner, of course, will be love.

Together With Me Review and Comments

The series definitely got good marks from me for presenting the lives of middle-class characters instead of the usual luxurious life in the BL genre. The theme of “societal pressure” conveyed through Korn’s older sister is quite solid and effective. Korn, who has to face statements like “being gay will harm his family,” actually represents the internal conflicts experienced by many viewers. In this respect, the series also has a psychological aspect.

The message given throughout the series is clear: Regardless of gender identity or orientation, what a person needs is love. Love and devotion do not have a gender. The cliché themes of BL series—intrigue, love, betrayal, search for identity, and comedy—are also present in this series. But in a very balanced dose. Since the series is one of the milestone productions of the BL genre, these themes cannot actually be considered clichés.

Continuing with a detailed comment: The series narrates the pressure society puts on the individual very well. No matter how much a person denies themselves, their repressed personality will eventually surface. The series will convey this inevitable identity crisis to you very well. It was a good choice to watch some reality instead of a sweet and cute romance. That is why, even though “Together With Me” belongs to an old date like 2017, the problems and human relationships it mentions have not changed today. At least, that’s what I think. The series was a good experience for me.

Character Dynamics

Korn and Knock’s relationship has a complex but strong emotional dynamic that forms the heart of the series. While Korn is a calm, mature, and protective character who is aware of his feelings; Knock has a nature that struggles more in the process of accepting his identity, takes refuge in denial, and is easily affected by environmental pressures.

Korn’s patient, self-sacrificing, and constantly supportive attitude becomes the main element balancing Knock’s fluctuating and indecisive state. The duo’s relationship is fed by the safe ground of close friendship on one hand, while on the other, it is shaped by conflicts over the “escape and acceptance” dilemma.

Ple’s manipulative behaviors and the interventions of their circle of friends sometimes push this dynamic to the breaking point, allowing both characters to grow emotionally. In the end, Korn’s stable love and Knock’s courage to face his own feelings pave the way for their relationship to mature and turn into an openly embraced romance. In short, the characters are not superficial, but profound.

Together With Me Series Details

Number of Episodes of the series, which is one of the “cult” productions of the BL universe broadcast in 2017: 13. Each episode is 45-50 minutes on average. For more details and trashy info: you can check the MyDramaList site.

Cast and Characters

A series that will take a place in your memory with its character harmony, impressive chemistry, and the social messages it gives. You can also be sure that the Korn and Knock duo has entered among the sweetest couples of the BL world. ❤️

• Max Nattapol Diloknawarit (Korn): Plays a dominant, clear character who has to face his feelings.
• Tul Pakorn Thanasrivanitchai (Knock): Plays a young man who initially conflicts with his heterosexual identity and denies his feelings.