Gaycation is a mix of a travel show and a deep-dive documentary that feels incredibly personal. It follows Elliot Page and best friend Ian Daniel as they head out to explore what life is actually like for LGBTQ+ people in different corners of the globe. Instead of just hitting the tourist spots, they really get into the nitty-gritty of the local cultures in Japan, Brazil, and Jamaica. The first season is made up of four main episodes, each about 45 minutes long, and it wraps up with a heavy special episode about the tragic Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. In Japan, the pair hangs out in Tokyo , looking at the weird mix of high-tech living and old-school traditions. They check out a place where you can actually rent a friend, party in the tiny bars of Ni-chōme, and even see a "friendship marriage" at a temple. The most intense part is when a young guy uses their cameras to finally tell his mom he's gay, which shows how much pressure there is to just "fit in"...
The story starts with Phopthorn, just a regular guy who is working hard to get by. After an accident, he wakes up and realizes he is now in the body of Apo, a famous billionaire social media star who happens to look exactly like him. Apo is supposed to marry Suriya, a high-class guy with a sharp way of talking but a very kind heart. Suriya also has a secret power: he can read minds. At first, the fake Apo has to try and trick everyone into thinking he’s the real deal, which is hilarious because Phopthorn is nothing like the original diva. Because of his mind-reading, Suriya quickly figures out that this isn't the real Apo. Instead of telling everyone, they make a deal to keep pretending, which leads to a lot of mix-ups and eventually real feelings. While their families are busy planning the wedding, the two of them try to figure out what actually happened to the real Apo and who was behind his accident. Of course, while they are solving the mystery, they get to know each other and fall deeply in love.
This is a really silly and fun show to watch. The first few episodes are great because they show Phopthorn trying to learn how to be Apo. However, I did find it a bit weird that after Suriya spends all that time teaching him how to act, the character just kind of stops trying to fake it. I might have missed something there! The parents on both sides add a lot of chaos and laughs, especially Suriya’s mom. There was a funny part where she sends a butler to spy on the couple to see what they are up to. Suriya’s dad eventually turns into a bit of a villain because he blames Apo for changing his son. The show started off strong and the last few episodes were good too, especially when we find out that Suriya’s ex-boyfriend was actually the one who caused the accident. But I felt like the show lost a bit of its magic in the middle. Even though mind-reading is a big part of the plot, it didn't actually cause as much drama as I expected. If you’re looking for an intense suspense thriller about psychic powers, you might be let down. On the bright side, the romance is done really well. There are a lot of "does he like me?" moments that keep you guessing. When they finally do kiss, it feels very passionate, romantic, and real. Their chemistry feels totally natural, which helps make the goofy scenes feel more grounded. The whole show really depended on whether you could believe these two actually loved each other, and the actors totally nailed it. You can feel the sincerity in every promise and sacrifice they make. The actor playing Apo is definitely the star of the show. There is a second couple in the mix, but honestly, I wasn't very interested in their story.
Overall, it’s a pretty good show, but like a lot of series, it felt a bit dragged out in the middle. Since the episodes are an hour long, I think a tighter script with more of those light, funny moments would have made it even better for me. (6.5/10)
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