Oh GMMTV, you really outdid yourself with this one. Possibly the most appropriate series I will ever review on a site called Tropes Are Life, this drama has it all when it comes to romantic cliches. Don’t let that scare you off though, because those cliches exist as a product of the nature of the characters, and are too believable for insult. 

Fittingly titled, Theory of Love, the series follows the romantic and interpersonal relationships of four film majors in their third year of university. The friends have been a staple of their campus since meeting at freshman orientation and are well known by every department, both as a unit, and for their individual quirks. Third takes on the role of the focal character for the majority of the series, letting us into his head through voice over narration that I frankly, loved. He also introduces us to the main conflict: his three year, unrequited love for his best friend Khai, a notorious serial dater who often uses Third to break up with his girlfriends so he doesn’t have to do it himself… and yes, Khai is, without a doubt, an ass.

I cried at least five times with Third, partly because wow was his mental narration relatable, and partly because his actor, Gun, is incredible and there is no way I could stop the waterworks. (I mean, look at that face…) The series does a good job of expressing the feelings of a one-sided love, without making Third into too much of a bleeding heart. It probably helps that Khai isn’t even a very good friend, let alone romantic interest; he has almost no redeemable qualities for a good amount of the show. 

However…

Despite his TRASH actions in the beginning of the series, Khai does get a redemption arc. If I’m being honest, I didn’t think there was anything the writers could do to make me want Khai and Third to be together, especially because the beginning of his redemption arc actually made me hate him more.

BUT OF COURSE…

Between the writing and Off Jumpol’s (Khai’s actor) excellent delivery, I ended up rooting for them in the end. It was refreshing that Khai wasn’t able to easily weasel his way back into Thirds life; he had to work for it. Then, even when he makes it back, he almost immediately has to face the trust issues created by his past actions. Which, leads to this FANTASTIC scene:

Beyond the realistic portrayal of Khai and Third’s relationship, the other thing I loved about this series was, to no one’s surprise, the tropes! Oh the tropes.  There are so many, and every single one of them was flawlessly weaved into the storyline. What should have felt cheesy, or like lazy writing, instead felt compelling and realistic. 

Each episode shares its title with a famous romantic film, and mirrors some small part of each of them. Episode 2 hits us with one of the highlights of the series, in which Third reenacts confession scenes from famous movies in his head. It’s just one of many instances where the writers sense of humor shines through.

Another notable moment, that I can’t not talk about, is when Third is crying in the shower, fully clothed…and the water goes out. Let me tell you something guys: I NEVER understood why crying fully clothed in the shower was such a common scene in asian media!! It’s always used for such emotional moments, but I just can’t take it seriously. So, when Third walks into his bathroom, turns on dramatic music on his phone, and proceeds to cry in the shower, only to have the water go out??? I DIED. I was sitting on my couch like: FINALLY!! Someone acknowledged how dramatic this trope is!! And him using a water bottle instead? Gold.

Now, even though Khai and Third’s story takes center stage in Theory of Love, there are two other side-stories within the show that follow the two other group members. Bone’s story starts adorable, gets complicated fast, and ends on a bittersweet note. The meet cute for this story line was so, so good, but it ended up breaking my heart in the end.

Two’s story is one that I wish I had gotten to see more of. The relationship between him and Un was really sweet, but also very underdeveloped. That’s unfortunately just the way it goes for side characters in a GMMTV series. [Also, in case anyone was wondering: Un is literally the light of this show, even though he doesn’t get a large amount of screen time.]

One of the show’s flaws is most definitely the female characters; namely, their lack of distinctness. It was very clear that they were a plot device, and though I understand the inability to bring any more characters into a story that has three different plot lines, I think the writers could have given the girls a bit of a break. 

Before we close out, I can’t end this article without talking about the two main actors: Off Jumpol and Gun Atthaphan (ATP). I’m not sure this series would have been as good if different actors had portrayed Khai and Third. The two played a side couple in the 2016 series Puppy Honey: Senior Secret Love, and stole the hearts of fans despite their very limited screen time together. The fans of OffGun, lovingly named Babiis, continued to support (and ship) the actors for three years after the show aired, which finally spurred GMM to cast Off and Gun in Theory of Love. They had known each other for five years at that point, and I think their offscreen friendship most definitely contributed to their onscreen chemistry. 

IN CONCLUSION: this series has a plot that will make you cry, make you pissed, and then make you wish someone would say cheesy lines to you in front of a large group of people. The actors delivered, and the story is believable; go watch it, because you won’t regret it. 

P.S. Please check out these movie posters they recreated for this show because they are incredible.