Shows I’m Looking Forward to From GMMTV 2025 – Riding the Wave

I’ve enjoyed watching GMMTV’s annual trade launches. Even though I might end up watching maybe just one or two shows from the line-ups each year, just watching the big event and seeing the trailers for upcoming projects is very exciting in and of itself.

For GMMTV’s “Part 2” trade launch back in April, I decided to write about the shows that interested me the most. And of that list, I have yet to watch a single one. Though I think most of them haven’t even started production yet. I actually haven’t even seen any of the shows from Part 1 of “UP&ABOVE”, especially TayNew’s Peaceful Property. (I’ll get to it soon now that’s wrapped up its run!) Though I might follow Thame Po when it premieres next week.

GMMTV has really ramped up production of new programs. So who knows when the shows announced in “Riding the Wave” will even premiere. 2025 or most likely 2026.

But one thing’s for sure, GMMTV knows what audiences want. Especially audiences from around the world. As evidenced by this trade launch, LGBTQ-focused series are incredibly popular. And, let’s be honest, the big money makers for the company. I saw a chart listing GMMTV’s productions the last, I think, decade. And the way there’s been a steady rise in number of so-called “BL” and “GL” series is very striking.

I believe all but one scripted series announced during “Riding the Wave” had an LGTBQ-focused main plotline. And even the anthology series that was announced predominantly featured LGBTQ-focused stories.

So let’s get to it. It’s very interesting that one of the first projects announced during the trade launch was a musical adaptation of the seminal 2007 Thai film Love of Siam. That film is really my first exposure to Thai media. And definitely one of the very first Asian films or TV series featuring a gay romance I ever watched. A musical version of it could be very interesting. And I think one that evokes a lot of nostalgia could be amazing!

Dare You to Death

Dare You to Death is about a pair of rivals (Joong and Dunk) who eventually fall for each other as they investigate what’s seemingly a serial murder case at a school. Seems like a familiar “Whodunit?” kind of series which can be good. I still have not seen a series with Joong and Dunk, but their chemistry is evident in the trailer. And great to see Sing!

Head 2 Head

Head 2 Head feels like a typical, feel-good BL series. Definitely an enemies-to-lovers plot with some childhood friendship and some kind of destiny thrown in for good measure. (Actually a common theme through many of the new series!) The series stars Sea and Keen as the lead couple and I haven’t seen their debut series Only Boo! yet. But this seems like a nice, fluffy series that suits them, judging from the trailer.

Burnout Syndrome

Burnout Syndrome was the first to really catch my eye and really for one specific moment in the trailer. Of course I know OffGun as they are one of the most popular GMMTV pairings of all time. Especially as one of the OG three pairings alongside Krist/Singto and Tay/New. But the moment that really caught my eye was where Gun’s character cries as Dew’s character walks out the door. It’s a safe bet to think Off and Gun’s characters are the endgame here. And while I’m not so much of a follower of their couple, I would be interested in seeing that twist wherein Gun and Dew’s characters end up together in the end.

Again, another familiar plotline with the boss-employee dynamic and all that. But the show could get creative and don’t go the obvious route here. Gun was really affecting in that moment where you can reasonably believe his character has feelings for Dew’s. As a Filipino-American, I know all about loveteam culture. But if this show goes against the grain, I would be very interested in watching!

I Love A Lot of You

The one “straight” series, I believe. And it’s an interesting concept. Feels very much like a nice romcom/drama movie plot. The title itself, I Love a Lot of You feels a lot like some sentimental romantic film. So it being a series can give it a lot of opportunity to do more with the time.

Whale Store

I’m not much of a GL viewer. But Whale Store looks like a cute, fluffy series. And with some nice nostalgia added as well.

Only Friends : Dream On

Now when this trailer first started and as it cycled through these different interactions (or really, confrontations), I got a bit of déjà vu. And then all of a sudden, everyone’s favorite *ahem* fuckboy Boston appears. As soon as Neo popped up and the familiar strums of the guitar started playing, I sat up and got really excited. A new season of Only Friends? Yes please!

I enjoyed the first season, which I actually followed along as it aired. It was a lot of fun. And I am sure this new season will be the same. New pairings, but the same messy lives of these horny young adults. Lol. If this season can build off of the solid original, then this will be a winner! The first of these announced series that I plan on watching for sure!

That Summer

That Summer is another series that feels familiar from the trailer. But if executed well can be a great, enjoyable, feel-good series. I will say, this was the first of a few (I think) that includes amnesiac main characters. I haven’t watched Winny and Satang yet, but they have good chemistry in the trailer.

My Romance Scammer

I really liked Junior and Mark in Cherry Magic. So it’s great to see them getting more work together. This series seems to take a familiar rom-com set-up and adds some interesting twists. I think we all know how the series will end. But again, it’s another series that can be a nice, feel-good experience.

Melody of Secrets

Melody of Secrets stars Force and Book. And it’s a romance wrapped in mystery and suspense. I don’t know if the trailer did much justice to what the series could eventually be. But it has solid lead stars in ForceBook along with Ployphach and Jan.

Love You Teacher

Another amnesiac-ish series. But it looks fun. I like Perth from all the series I’ve seen with him, though I haven’t see anything with his pairing with Santa. The set-up for this series has a lot of potential of plenty of sweet moments. Including that with the cute schoolchildren.

Me-Tu-Love

This is the anthology series. And it has a good set-up for what can be plenty of fun stories with different stars.

Cat for Cash

First and Khaotung star in Cat for Cash which is another series that I think can be an enjoyable experience. Sweet, warm-hearted and nostalgic. The only series I’ve watched of FirstKhaoutung is Only Friends, so this fluffier series would be a fun watch.

Girl Rules

Girl Rules seems like a female version of Only Friends. And if so, then that’s awesome! Ladies can be just as messy as guys. So there is definitely lots of potential here!

Boys in Love

Boys in Love feels like a nice, old-school series. Speaking of Love of Siam, I don’t know why I got the same vibes here. It’s a familiar high school-centered plot. But I see that it is full of refreshing new faces. Alongside the experienced Papang and Podd too. So this could be an enjoyable one.

My Magic Prophecy

My Magic Prophecy adds super magic and supernatural vibes to a familiar romance story. I haven’t watched any series with Jimmy and Sea as the leads. But they have great chemistry here.

A Dog and A Plane

Being a big fan of TayNew, I am definitely looking forward to this one! I’ve yet to watch Peaceful Property, but it’s so great to see them continue to get projects together! This one looks like the most fun series they’ve done together so far. And even though I’ll watch anything with Tay and New, the story has great potential as well. Definitely excited for A Dog and A Plane.

Me and Thee

Speaking of fun series, Me and Thee looks like just that. Great to see Pond and Phuwin together. And this has potential for them to show off a different side of their pairing! A soap opera-loving mob boss? Fun!

WU

I’m not really sure what this series could be about. It seems like there could be a nice procedural aspect to it alongside the story of the main couple (I assume) featuring Sky and Nani. This trailer definitely reminded me I need to watch High School Frenemy though!

Memoir of Rati

Romantic period dramas seem to be all the rage in Southeast Asia. But Memoir of Rati is definitely that. As an outsider, seeing Thailand during this time in history should be very interesting and enlightening. And the main couple look good together. (I know they also had a recent series, which I did not check out. Yet.)

Ticket to Heaven

This is the last project announced. And let me tell you, I was crying through it! This story starring Fourth and Gemini absolutely deserved the finale presentation during this trade launch. The story of two young men who fall in love while having to deal with their Catholic faith? In Thailand? Wowow! I definitely did not expect such a story to come from Thailand, let alone GMMTV. But this pilot trailer was amazing.

I have not yet watched any series with Fourth and Gemini yet. But they delivered in just this trailer. What more in the actual series!

Exploring the Catholic faith and its views on sexuality is a quite a heavy topic to discuss. This is not your fluffy BL series. So if this series can have a deep, thoughtful and respectful discussion about all this, then it will be an immediate winner.

Probably my favorite trailer of the night. This is one of the three series I will definitely check out once it is released.

But overall, lots of options for viewers. Whether you want a fluffy romance drama or mystery and suspense, as well as everything in between; GMMTV definitely offered up plenty to choose from here!