Recap
Wen looks at pictures of himself with a cat instead of focusing on the Marina Food Court project. Then he realizes they’re planning to demolish the building where Moonlight Chicken is located. They tour the market and his boss talks to Gaipa’s mom, while Gaipa and Wen exchange looks.
At Heart’s, he and Li Ming play a sign-language-learning guessing game. Heart thanks Li Ming for trying to speak with him. Li Ming learns about Heart’s experiences abroad, writing to each other on the notepad.
Wen helps Jim take food to the shrine for an event he’s sponsoring. Wen looks sad and guilty. They kneel at the altar and Jim asks about it, thinking Wen’s issues are financial. Wen asks if he really has no chance with Jim.
We flashback to a younger Jim, celebrating the opening of Moonlight Chicken with his boyfriend and praying at the shrine. Later, he discovers pictures of his boyfriend with a woman but doesn’t say anything.
After telling this story Jim says he has mixed feelings about the diner, but Wen knows he loves it. Jim asks if Wen feels better, but doesn’t get an answer.
Jim learns from his landlord about the potential demolition. When Li Ming arrives, Leng pushes Jim into telling him. The only option is to buy the building but it’s expensive.
Wen stops staring at his work ID and meets with Jim. The night they first met Wen was celebrating his promotion and assignment to the Marina Food Court project. Jim says he’s not angry but tells Wen not to come to the diner that night.
Gaipa brings a brooding Jim a beer, which he doesn’t drink, and offers to ask his mom to talk to the landlord. He can’t get Jim to agree to attend Loy Krathong with him.
Jim is called into Li Ming’s school about his nephew’s academics and future. Li Ming sees him and is silent while his classmates hassle him about the trouble he’ll be in. Predictably, Jim lectures him and Li Ming admits he wants to work and travel. They fight and Li Ming leaves.
Wen sees Li Ming while working and talks with him. Wen reassures Li Ming that it’s okay to not know what you want to do. Li Ming says talking with Jim always leads to them fighting, and Wen says that’s because they’re both stubborn.
Leng and Praew make flower baskets for Loy Krathong. Jim can’t reach Li Ming, and Praew tells him she saw him with Wen.
Wen is having dinner with his stepfather, who gives him love advice. Jim calls about Li Ming, and Wen invites him to join them for dinner. Wen’s father wonders if this is a new boyfriend, Wen says he’s just a friend and looks at the beer can.
Heart’s parents are out, so they’re sneaking alcohol. When they put the bottle back they get a little close, shy and awkward. Li Ming invites Heart to Loy Krathong.
Jim meets Wen’s father and watches them together. Afterward, Jim talks about wanting Li Ming to get a degree and not go abroad to work. Wen mentions that he went to college and lives paycheck to paycheck, but Jim talks about not having enough money to survive the day.
Wen feels there are many ways to be, like Jim being happy with Moonlight Chicken. Wen thinks Jim is no longer angry with him, and Jim says he said he wouldn’t be.
Li Ming floats a paper boat with a candle in it in a bucket. He wants to float a basket in the river with Heart next year. Heart agrees, and they pinky promise. Li Ming gets Heart up and dancing.
Gaipa and his mom do their baskets by the river.
Jim gets the baskets Praew made and he and Wen float them in a pool.
Heart’s mom slips a note under the door, and we see Li Ming is spending the night.
Wen goes home and has a beer, and there’s someone already sleeping in his bed.
Thoughts
I googled so you don’t have to:
Loy Krathong is a festival that involves floating krathong, the baskets, in a body of water, and making a wish. People can also thank the Goddess of Water or worship the Buddha’s hair pagoda in heaven.
Part of this show’s charm is seeing these different locations in Thailand and aspects of Thai culture, which you don’t get as much of with the Engineer/Architect school dramas.
Once again, the distinctions about income levels were very down to earth. Yes, going to college and living paycheck to paycheck isn’t great, but it’s better than not being sure if you can afford food tomorrow. And the restaurant Wen and his father ate at was definitely more expensive than Moonlight Chicken.
Jim continues to be moody and uncommunicative, so his actions show his true feelings. He tells Wen he’s not upset but pushes him away, and avoids calling Wen even after learning he spoke with Li Ming. But then he finally calls, meets Wen’s father, and joins him for Loy Krathong, despite earlier rejecting Gaipa. Wen is the person he wanted to open up with at the literal end of the day.
And no wonder Wen is everyone’s confidant, he’s so even-tempered and willing to listen. He also bridges the age gap between Jim and Li Ming. During their talks about love and gender, and work and school, Jim showed an older way of thinking while Wen was more open.
Speaking of uncommunicative men, both times Li Ming has been with his classmates he’s been withdrawn, they had to drag him into a soccer game. But with Heart he’s pushy and talks about what he really wants. It’s interesting how with Heart, a young man trapped at home, Li Ming seems freer.