Here I am again, buddies! This time, with a review of a heartwarming BL series I recently watched and yes, you can totally binge-watch!
First Note of Love (2024)
Country: Taiwan (Co-produced with Thailand)
Episodes: 12 (30’ each)
Genres: Romance, Drama, Music
My Rating: 8.5/10
Casting
- Charles Tu as Neil
- Michael Chang as Hsiao Hai / “Sea“
- Jame Kasama Kranjanawattana as Orca
- Liu Min Ting as Reese
- Chin Tai Yu as Matt
- Kaia Lee as Ting Fei
- Li Ying Hong as A Liang
- Amanda Liu as Xiao Mei
Plot
Neil used to be the vocalist of the famous duo Magnet, but for the past six years, he’s been living in the shadows after a tragic accident that cost the life of his brother Matt, the group’s keyboardist.
Now, Reese – his close friend and manager – makes one last attempt to bring him back by hiring a talented young musician known as “Sea” to work with Neil. Sea thought he was just meeting his idol. But fate had already tied them together long ago… and their connection ran far deeper than either of them expected.
Characters
Sea is a shy and quiet person. It’s hard for him to face this new reality, and he doubts whether he’s truly good enough. But in the end, he realizes that, no matter how unworthy he may feel, some people need him just as much as he needs them.
Neil is lost. He’s stopped caring about his life and has given up on his dream. Eventually, he realizes that while he may miss his brother deeply, music is still a part of who he is. And that grief and passion can coexist. He doesn’t have to let go of one to hold on to the other.
Their Relationship
Neil and Sea have both felt lonely for years, until they meet each other. They share a powerful bond, and fate brings them together more than once, each time helping the other become stronger.
Their relationship developed beautifully. It felt genuine, realistic, and full of warmth. You could really feel their connection through those soft, caring moments. The glances, the smiles… they spoke louder than words (melting my poor heart).
Second Couple
Reese and Orca are such a chaotic couple, but in a totally unexpected way. They’ve been behaving like a couple for years, even if they’re not officially one.
Reese can’t truly be happy unless Neil is okay, because he feels responsible for protecting him.
On the other hand, Orca is chasing his own dream, but never forgets Reese. He’s always by his side, supporting his choices and waiting patiently until the day Reese is ready to open his heart.
Their story is sweet and fun — and even though they speak different languages, their chemistry says everything!
Friendship
Friendship plays a big role in this series.
Reese is a true brother, always putting Neil’s needs above his own. He did everything he could to bring Neil back to music and make sure he was safe, and then went on to face his own feelings.
Mei may not have had a standout role, but her character is very important. She was always present, protecting Neil, Sea, and Reese like a quiet guardian angel. You could tell she deeply cared for all of them.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack is warm and emotional. And since music is a big part of the story, it adds even more depth to the plot. I love it when the music surrounding a series is good, because it adds more emotion to the scenes.
Conclusion
First Note of Love is a story about healing, connecting and finding yourself. I loved how there wasn’t any unnecessary drama, just realism. Nobody forced Sea to follow someone else’s path. Instead, everyone encouraged him to be his true self. And I feel that’s what the series is trying to point out:
We just need to be ourselves and follow our own path.
Oh! And how could I forget the most important message of all?
Even if it’s the end of the world, MosBank will still be in the background… feeding and loving each other.
That’s it for today!!!
If you watch the series or if you’ve already watched it, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. And if you liked this review, feel free to subscribe for more!
Thanks for reading,
Utaku.