The Sign – Episode 5-6 – Recap and Review

When last we left our destined lovers, they had switched from Tharn giving Phaya the cold shoulder to Phaya giving Tharn the cold shoulder.

These next two episodes have uneven writing issues that make me scratch my head. Episode 5 is a lot of investigating and Phaya and Tharn repairing their relationship. Episode 6 is their relationship falling apart and a new investigation. Some of it feels repetitive while other things are missing.

Let’s get into it!

How is that criminal investigation going?

Let’s talk about something important: Our killer, Narong, has a thing for taking off his shirt. Even when working with dangerous chemicals. It’s. A quirk.

But Narong isn’t working alone, he’s working with one of the cops! Oh no! Narong’s sister was the cop’s girlfriend. She died by suicide after the man who assaulted her went free. 

The man who assaulted her is our next potential victim. He’s terrible! Narong gets him, goes shirtless, and prepares to livestream the murder. The commander interrupts the livestream by calling him, and Narong picks up. The commander scolds him and tells him to stop. It’s all kinda silly. No, it doesn’t work.

Phaya and Tharn find him before he succeeds. Phaya gets into a prolonged fight with Narong, who eventually yanks the protective amulet from Tharn off Phaya. Narong is then powered by green light that he uses to blast Tharn away. Only, Tharn then blasts him away with his own green.

Narong is taken into custody. A video his sister made for him is discovered and played for everyone. Would she have wanted that? That makes me uncomfortable.

Evidence is found against the man who assaulted her, and he’s taken into custody.

So what was that all about?

I’m not 100% sure. The whole thing reasoning behind Narong and the cop forcing people to kill the men who’d assaulted them is vague. It seems like he wants to start a revenge movement. But what he actually did was assault and retraumatize victims.

There’s a lot of discussion of justice and revenge and living with the scars of the past. They talk about it over and over again. Like they talked about destiny and karma. So, maybe the delayed justice/revenge thematically ties into their past lives? Probably?

Whatever, how are Tharn and Phaya doing?

When we start, Phaya is still upset with Tharn for revealing his dreams to the doctor. He’s manhandling Tharn and even accidentally hits him. Yai is ready to step in.

Despite that, when they get into the investigation they’re professional. Phaya is his usual protective self. When they take down Narong there are some good hugs.

They also both recognize that something supernatural happened with Narong. His eyes turned green like in Phaya’s dreams.

Phaya apologizes to Tharn. Things are going so well that Tharn let’s Phaya stay with him. Phaya has a Tharn sex daydream. (I got it wrong in the last recap, that was Tharn’s sex dream about Phaya. Honestly, I really don’t care about imaginary sex scenes.)

What about that doctor?

He shows up at Tharn’s but Phaya answers the door. The doctor’s eyes turn green. Phaya grabs the doctor’s shoulder and it leaves a crazy mark. He sends the doctor away.

With the doctor gone, Phaya can enjoy the essential-BL-trope of wiping Tharn down with a cool towel. Then there’s some cuddling. In the morning there’s wrestling. Luang Por calls them to discuss the case and warn them against revenge and anger. 

He also warns Tharn to keep Phaya and the doctor away from each other. 

Phaya is hot on the case of their past lives…

… when not being harassed by his grandmother, sister, and annoying friend about immediately quitting being a cop.

At his grandmother’s home he dreams about that woman again. She turns into Tharn. Then he sees a Garuda (mythical beast with bird parts and wings).

He wakes up in a panic and calls Tharn, worried for his safety. Tharn is unworried. Phaya mentions Tharn’s visions, which I don’t remember seeing them talk about? But apparently now he knows.

It suddenly occurs to Phaya to ask his sister about her archeologist friend. Phaya talks to this friend about his dreams. She is unqualified to speak on the nature of reality or the supernatural. But she does have some dusty old books he can check out.

He does — and falls into vision of himself and Tharn in fantasy outfits. There are Naga and Garuda. He is injured and Tharn helps him.

When he wakes up, he finds the book he was looking at has a drawing of eyes that look like our doctor’s eyes. It’s labeled “Son of Naga City Governor”. Phaya takes it with him.

Tharn and Phaya fight, again

Tharn and the doctor are about to head out for dinner when Phaya shows up. He thinks he needs to protect Tharn from the doctor. 

Tharn gets in between them and tells Phaya to stop protecting him. Then he goes in the car and the doctor magics the door locked. With Tharn trapped there, the doctor tells Phaya he’ll kill Tharn rather than let Phaya have him. Phaya punches the doctor. 

Tharn is let out of the car and punches Phaya. So. Now they’re fighting again. 

But at least there’s a new job to focus on!

Most of our Special Investigations Team, except Phaya, take on an unusual volunteer job. They’re acting as bodyguards for an art exhibit. 

Everyone is there. Phaya is there as a guest. So are all his family and friends. And the archeologist we met just like a minute ago. The doctor is there. 

Phaya tries to apologize to Tharn. Tharn wants him to apologize to the doctor.

But as Tharn is on rounds, he bumps into a man — and sees murder!

Notes for the writer (or producer, or whoever made these choices)

I love all the different elements of this show but they are such a jumble sometimes. 

When I said I wanted the side characters to do more than gossip about our lead’s sex life, I didn’t want 10 minutes of relationship backstory. Why show us that? What does it have to do with the main story? 

Because our leads start out with skinship starting day one, the two-episodes-of-imaginary-sex-but-also-back-and-forth-fighting feels like it’s meant to maintain tension and conflict. It doesn’t work for me. 

I’d rather have a scene with Tharn and Phaya talking about Tharn’s visions. 

Tharn’s character in general is missing pieces. He won’t be with Phaya because he’s worried about Phaya dying. But he bristles when Phaya tries to protect him. He keeps protecting the doctor who just oozes evil. Is it a past life thing? But what does now Tharn think is happening? 

Why does Tharn keep ignoring what Luang Por said? What did he think when Luang Por said to keep the doctor and Phaya apart? He didn’t seem to do anything towards that goal. In fact, telling Phaya to apologize to him is the opposite.

Nevertheless, our leads are good actors and their chemistry is great. The fight scene between Phaya and Narong was great. Narong being shirtless for no reason was great. The Garuda is great. The show is a fun and exciting adventure with a lot of different, interesting pieces.

But it wouldn’t take much to be even better. That’s the frustrating part. 

Also, I think it’s funny that Phaya’s grandmother lives in the Unforgotten Night house. A lot goes on in that house.