The Sign (2023) – Powered by IDF

First Impressions

“The Sign” is the second Thai BL project produced by Idolfactory (IDF), starring Billy Patchanon Ounsa-ard and Babe Tanatat Phanviriyakool as the lead couple. The supporting cast features, amongst others, Heng Asavarid Pinitkanjanapun and Surprise Pittikorn Siripornsawan, two actors under IDF who already made a name for themselves in the original series “Secret Crush on You” and “War of Y.”

The series was directed by A Natthaphong Wongkaweepairod, who also directed “School Tales – the Series” and “Gap – The Series,” Thailand’s first full-length Girls Love series. I genuinely enjoyed watching these two productions and have high expectations for “The Sign,” especially since the main couple, Billy/Babe, have amazing chemistry.

The Plot:

For as long as Tharn, a kind and gentle young man, can remember, he has had premonitions and visions about those around him, sensing both the good and the bad.
When he meets clever and charming Phaya and starts working together with him on the same team in the Special Investigation Unit of the Thai Police, it feels as though they have known each other for a long time.

(Source: MyDramaList)

The Cast:

Billy Patchanon Ounsa-ard is “Phaya”

Babe Tanatat Phanviriyakool is “Tharn”

Heng Asavarid Pinitkanjanapun is “Dr. Chalothon”

Surprise Pittikorn Siripornsawan is “Singh”

Gap Jakarin Puribhat is “Yai”

Tack Phongsakorn Sukiang is “Khem”

Poom Nuttapart Tuntistinchai is “Thongthai”

Akk Akarat Nimitchai is “Captain Akk”

First Impression:

This review is based on episodes 1 to 4, which have already aired on CH3 and have also been released in an “Uncut version” on Idolfactory’s official YouTube channel. It may feature a couple of minor spoilers, but I have done my best to avoid any major spoilers to the plot as it would ruin the fun of diving into the world of “The Sign.”

The story of “The Sign” revolves around Tharn and Phaya, two rookie police officers who meet each other at a training camp of a special investigation unit named the “Investigation Detective Force” and end up working together as partners on the same investigation team.

Tharn grew up in a temple, and ever since he was a child, he has had visions, meaning that he can foresee people’s fates. For personal reasons, Tharn’s dream has always been to become a police officer and join its special investigation unit.

Tharn doesn’t have many friends as he has always been labeled “weird” or “crazy” by the people around him because of his “gift.” At this point, he’s just stopped telling anyone about it directly. The person closest to him is his older brother Yai, who also wants to join the police force, and the two brothers enter the training camp together.

At the camp, Tharn makes the acquaintance of Phaya, another trainee. Phaya and Tharn are assigned to different teams, but for reasons Tharn can’t explain, many of the visions he has during his stay at the training camp are related to Phaya, and naturally, they get Tharn into trouble at times.

Phaya is an ambitious and intelligent young man with a very good eye for detail but can be quite hot-headed and reckless. Despite his hot temper, Phaya has the potential to become not only a great police officer but a great team leader as well if he can learn to control his emotions and actions and not act rashly on impulse.

From the moment Phaya meets Tharn, he is intrigued by the quiet young man and feels drawn to him like a moth to a flame, even though he can’t really explain why. Determined to find an answer to that question, Phaya tries to befriend Tharn and find out more about him, while Tharn, on the other hand, tries to keep Phaya at a distance for certain reasons, which I won’t mention here since I don’t want to mention any spoilers.

So far, I’m enjoying The Sign immensely; it hooked me from the get-go. Episodes 1 and 2 are set at the training camp, and it is very obvious that the cast has not only spent many hours at workshops learning how to fight and use weapons but that the production team and the director clearly worked together with experts in the police and military training fields in order to bring the environment of a training camp for the special forces to life as authentically as possible, and it shows. It’s important to point out that the production values for this series far exceed virtually any other BL series we’ve seen. These efforts are outstanding, with multiple locations, choreography, and props, and include ALL of the minutiae from computer monitors and specialized logos – things we’d expect to see populating such an organization’s environment.

CGI? …in a BL? We here at LWG have watched hundreds of BL series. So far, we haven’t seen CGI used to such great effect as it is here. Maybe a skyline or background here and there. Besides Cooper’s “Past-Senger,” the BLs “La Plouie,” and maybe “Love in the Air,” there is not really a lot of history of high-quality CGI usage to the level that Saint makes use of it here. The screenshot below doesn’t do it justice, and based on what we’re hearing, there will also be much more.

Idolfactory appears to have spared no expense in getting this series to air. Executive Producer Saint Suppapong’s hands are all over this production. He was deeply involved in all aspects of production, and we’re so very proud of him for what he’s achieved, especially here.

Saint Suppapong Udomkaewkanjana is the Executive Producer

Billy and Babe make a great lead couple. They have very good, natural chemistry, and the growing tension between their characters can be felt every single time Tharn and Phaya appear on screen together. This on-screen couple definitely had a strong start, and I hope that Billy/Babe will keep up that momentum as the series progresses.

There have also been various hints already that Phaya and Tharn will not have to face a number of obstacles as their relationship develops but that, as members of the special investigation unit, they will also be dealing with a particularly difficult case of murder. After just three episodes, I already have so many questions as well as some theories, and I can’t wait to find the answers.

I also love the side characters in this show so far. They all have interesting, multi-dimensional personalities and certain quirks, making them feel real and very human.

The music is also more diverse than most other BLs, ranging from the “rock,” maybe approaching “heavy-metal” sound of the main title, and the episode-parts intros and outros to even Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik,” composed in 1787! “Blues-sounding” tracks, too!

So far, I can’t really say anything negative about “The Sign.” The timing of the choreographic moves during one or two of the fight scenes could be a little bit tighter in regard to certain moves and actions the fighters perform. However, this is a very minor quibble, and it’s not bothersome, especially when considering that none of the main and supporting actors have any previous fighting or martial arts experience and the fact that fight scenes are generally very difficult to choreograph in the first place.

If you are watching “The Sign,” what do you think of the show so far? How do you think the story between Phaya and Tharn and the investigation of the mysterious murder case will unravel? I’m definitely looking forward to diving deeper into the world of “The Sign.”

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars. [See our Review Guide]