Monster Next Door

Monster Next Door is such a feel-good BL series, it's one of those comfort watches you just want to curl up with. I usually gravitate toward action-packed dramas with heavy plots or darker themes, but there's always room in my heart for something soft and mellow. And this series totally hit the spot.

The Characters:

Diew is an introvert who's into music and rarely goes out. He even has a pet turtle named Kun Shy-how cute is that? Meanwhile, God is his total opposite: an extrovert who loves hanging out with his friends play drums and basketball. I absolutely loved their dynamic. Diew gives off semi-femboy vibes, and God is more masculine-which is kind of rare in BLs these days, since we usually see the common masc/masc pairings. This contrast made them stand out even more.

One thing I really liked was how their connection started. They talked through their balconies and exchanging sticky notes to communicate without seeing each other at first-almost like a modern blind date. It reminded me of the old-school days of pen pals and phone pals. There's something so charming and nostalgic about falling for someone just through conversation.

And when they finally met by accident? Pure butterflies. You could feel the surprise and nervous energy between them-it was adorable. Their relationship unfolds slowly and sweetly, and when the fluff kicks in? It's full-on heart-melting. Their chemistry is chemistrying, for real.

The Message:

This series really dives into the contrast between introverts and extroverts, and I think the writer did a great job showing how those differences can actually complement each other. Diew and God may be opposites, but they fit together so well-it's like they balance each other out.

I actually relate a lot to Diew's character. He reminds me of my daughter-quiet, no social media, prefers staying at home, reading, watching movies, and just doing her own thing. Introverts often get misunderstood or seen as boring, especially by extroverts, but that's far from the truth. They're deep thinkers, great listeners, imaginative, and they value meaningful connections over surface-level. Introverts do fun stuff too-just in their own way.

That's why I didn't like Diew's ex saying he needed to "change". Honestly, no one should have to change who they are just to be loved. God, on the other hand, accepts Diew exactly as he is, which makes him the perfect match.

Overall Thoughts:

There are a few university-BL clichés here and there, but I found it refreshing-especially with the inclusion of MBTI traits. Even with Diew's annoying ex popping in, there's no heavy drama, no villain, just soft dreamy vibes and a whole forest of green flags from both leads.

The acting is great too. Both actors portrayed the introvert-extrovert contrast naturally and believably. The pacing is a bit slow, but that's expected with a fluffy slice-of-life type of show. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I genuinely enjoyed it.

This BL series tells a story about two college students who live in the same building as neighbors. Its plot was well made and not dragged out for too long. It's also not too sickeningly sweet like most Thai BL series. There's romance, comedy and family drama in this series. The acting from most actors and actresses were decent. Too bad the soundtrack wasn't too good, I didn't like the songs. That's probably the worst part of this series that I can think of. This series is also rated for mature audience, but there's no sex scenes that are too scandalous. So you won't have to worry about feeling uncomfortable watching it. There's something that rubbed me the wrong way. The child actor they picked to play young Diew is too far from the adult Diew. Can't they pick someone with closer features? I mean, at least pick a boy with lighter skin tone. How can the audience believe a boy with dark skin tone can grow up to be fairly whiter? Skin color cannot change that drastically from dark to light. SMH.