The first quarter of 2025 has been an absolute whirlwind, but I’m finally catching up on the BL series I’ve missed. At the top of my list? ThamePo: Heart Skips a Beat (เธมโป้ Heart That Skips a Beat).

Over the past few years, I’ve become more and more immersed in the world of idols and idol culture, so this series had my full attention from the moment it was announced—especially since it stars LYKN.

Debuting under RISER MUSIC on May 5, 2023, LYKN was formed through Project Alpha, a GMMTV competition series designed to create Thailand’s next big idol group. The result? A powerhouse lineup: Nut, Hong, Tui, William, and Lego. After dropping several successful singles, the group was a perfect choice for a music-themed drama.

Leading the series is Jakrapatr Kaewpanpong (William / วิลเลี่ยม) as Thame, an idol on the cusp of a solo career that could change everything—if only he weren’t so attached to his groupmates from MARS (aka the rest of LYKN). Playing his bandmates are: Lego (เลโก้) as Nano, Tui (ตุ้ย) as Pepper, Hong (ฮง) as Dylan, and Nut (นัด) as Jun

Then there’s Supha Sangaworawong (Est / เอส) as Po, a soft-hearted (and maybe slightly naïve) filmmaker hired by MARS’s label, ONER, to document the lead-up to the group’s final concert.From there, things get messy. Love, jealousy, and ambition collide, putting Po at the center of a brewing storm—not just as the object of Thame’s affections, but also Jun’s. As of episode 8, that’s causing major tension within the group, though nothing a good old-fashioned game of air hockey can’t temporarily fix.

What I am really enjoying about ThamePo is how it (at least on a surface level) portrays the reality of idol life. Every move these artists make is scrutinized, their personal lives served up as entertainment for tabloids and anti-fans. The series also delves into internal conflicts—how the industry itself can pit members against each other, making it hard to maintain unity, even within the same group.

Of course, everything is wrapped in the sugar-coated, high-gloss aesthetic of GMMTV, but as someone who’s spent half my life in the music industry, I have to say—it’s a pretty decent depiction of what it’s actually like. Idols may seem perfect, but they’re still human. They love. They fight. They feel.

And let’s talk about the music. It’s top-tier. The series features new songs from LYKN, plus collaborations with GMMTV It-Boy Joong Archen (จุง อาเชน) and Pond Naravit (ปอนด์ ณราวิชญ์), including their single CHARM.

Bonus? The cast also includes Samantha Melanie Coates (Until We Meet Again) and Drake Laedeke (who really needs to get his own show again). ThamePo might not be high art, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun.

Want to own it? The boxset is available for pre-order anywhere Thai media is sold, including eThaiCD.

More BL Series reviews soon so…

Stay Tuned!