Look, I’m going to be honest, I started the Warp Effect for two reasons, and their names are New Thitipoom and Sing Harit. New’s sweet but naughty smile and Sings comedic genius had me from the get-go, even though I knew going in that this was not going to be one of the BL Dramas that GMMTV has become internationally renowned for. But that didn’t matter. I’d watch New and Sing in just about anything. Also, it’s hard to go wrong with a sex comedy filled with beautiful people. 

But then something happened. This Sex comedy started dealing with real issues. Women’s reproductive health, gender identity and expression, the dangers of gay hook-up apps, and the fact that men have body dysmorphia too. 

It’s F*ing brilliant. 

Episode 4 finally introduced us to Mollie, the ex-girlfriend of Nim (Jan Ployshompoo), one of the stars of the series who is helping Alex (New) and See-ew (sing) put the pieces of what’s happened to Alex together. Mollie is played by Silvy Pavida and is non-binary. An actor Mollie auditioned for the film Jean (Fah Yongwaree) is directing. Jean is ignoring some serious menstrual issues that I am almost certain will play a significant role in her character arc as we advance through the series 12 episodes. 

Alex and Nim also discovered that See has a kink. He likes to act (and be treated) like an actual dog. The two handle the revelation in an authentic way. They’re confused at first and remain so even after See explains what it is, but only because it’s their first time seeing/hearing about it. Still, See is their friend, and the fantasies he and his partner get into in the bedroom have no bearing on their friendship. 

Army (Fluke Pusit) invites a handsome hook-up, Cha Yen (Jay Jatuporn), whom he meets on a hook-up, to his apartment only to realize that he’s seventeen, whereas Army is almost 30. While the age of consent in Thailand is 15, Cha Yen is still a minor – which could spell trouble for Army. However, he allows the teenager to stay in his apartment for the night (only after he says he could find another guy who doesn’t care about his age to sleep with). But Army makes the kid sleep on the couch. The following day, while dropping him off at school, he tells him to be careful. The world is dangerous, and just because he got lucky finding an adult with morals doesn’t mean he always will. He doesn’t want to see him get hurt. 

While out with his friends and his girlfriend Kim (Chaleeda Gilbert), Alex’s younger brother Ice (Phuwin Tangsakyuen) starts to get lost in his own head when his friends start talking about how women only care about how big a guy’s junk is. He gets even more self-conscious when later, after having sex with Kim, he realizes she didn’t climax. She assures him the issue isn’t with the size of his manhood and how, even if she doesn’t always have the big O, she’s still enjoying every moment with him. He needs to not let his toxic friends into his head. 

These are not new topics. They’ve always been a part of our consciousness. We’ve even seen them on television and in film before. But what makes their representation in The Warp Effect so poignant is the fact of how honestly these issues are portrayed. See is not the butt of a joke, Mollie isn’t a token representation, and Ice is just a man with a fragile ego. These are well-written and complex characters, and the actors portraying them are doing so with honesty and integrity. Representation matters. These stories are essential, and I LOVE how GMMTV is telling them. 

More Warp Effect soon, so…

Stay Tuned. 

You can watch the episode below.