23.5 (Thai GL) – Season 1 Episode 3 Recap & Review

UFO

Episode 3 of 23.5 begins with it being revealed that Ton and Ongsa dating for 3 days just because he had helped her during Songkran. He still likes her but tells them to keep it a secret since it may hurt his fans’ feelings. Of course, someone eavesdrops and records the conversation which is later leaked.

The school committee’s latest problem is a glowing green light at night. However, Alpha refuses to investigate as they will get suspended if they are caught at school after hours. Aylin pops up and spots the photos of the light which has her thinking of aliens. In class, everyone votes for Sun as class president. Everyone is relieved when Ongsa volunteers as treasurer.

She realises why when their teacher tells her to collect fees for the sports day and no one is cooperative. But once everyone learns that she is Ton’s ex, they fall in line. However, a jealous fan, Blossom who is on the basketball team strikes a deal with her – she will pay up if Ongsa wins against her in a match.

Meanwhile, Mawin has a crush on Tin but he simply follows him. Alpha notices and tells him to be himself. He doesn’t take the advice and instead joins the secret green light hunt proposed by Ton, Tin and Charoen. Aylin too wants to investigate on her own but Bambam refuses to give permission. Instead, Luna joins her and Aylin is surprised.

As for poor Ongsa, she actually doesn’t know how to play basketball and Sun teaches her. It’s a mess as Ongsa falls and in trying to help her, Sun falls with her. Ongsa gets flustered and Sun calls her cute. This just makes Ongsa more nervous.

At home, Ongsa posts sad stories and Sun checks on her. She feels disheartened that she is not good at anything and Sun cheers her up. At that moment, Alpha enlists Ongsa’s help as she figures Aylin is at school searching for the green light. They run into Sun outside and she joins them. The school gate is locked and they climb over. Clumsy Ongsa falls over Sun and they have a moment before Alpha interrupts them.

At the same time, Ton’s group is also searching for the light. Elsewhere, Luna worries for Aylin and holds her hand as they hunt in the dark. Both groups run into each other with Alpha’s not far behind. She scolds them all for breaking the rules. In the end, they also finally find the source of the light – it is from Ton’s fans making green lightsticks for his birthday.

A teacher spots them and they all scatter, trying not to get caught. Ongsa trips and Sun helps her hide near the stairwell. Once the teacher leaves, a relieved Sun hugs her, shocking Ongsa. As for Aylin, she starts crying as she had hoped not to feel alone if she had found an alien. Luna offers to be her non-human friend, the moon and a hesitant Aylin agrees.

The next day at school, Alpha scolds the school committee for breaking the rules. She punishes them by putting them on cleaning duty for the whole semester. But she does help Mawin as she assigns Tin to be Mawin’s assistant for his punishment.

As for the match, Sun worries for Ongsa’s injured ankle and offers to talk to Blossom. Ongsa refuses as she wants to do something on her own for once. The match is a disaster with Ongsa unable to score a single point even when she steals the ball.

However, Blossom is impressed and gives her the fees. Sun is happy for her and calls her cool. She goes on to say that if Ongsa was a guy, all the girls would have fallen for her which disappoints Ongsa. While heading home, Aylin guesses aloud that Ongsa is sad because she has a crush on Sun. Charoen overhears and is shocked at the end of 23.5 Episode 3.

The Episode Review

23.5 Episode 3 has all the predictable yet fun tropes of a rom-com. But what makes it fun and refreshing are the characters and their dynamic with each other. Not only Ongsa and Sun, but the other couples like Aylin and Luna, and Tin and Mawin are likeable and relatable which makes viewers want to keep tuning in to see their story get explored further.

Each episode feels like a sitcom, with a different mini-story every week which is a pretty clever way to keep the Thai GL from getting predictable. But we do wonder when the Earth reveal will pop up. There also needs to be a bigger conflict that will keep the main plot moving but we are yet to see what this is. It’s still too early, so we can cut them some slack and enjoy the sweetness of the show.