23.5 Stars Milk & Love Tell All About Season Finale of Their Thai GL Series

K-Ci Williams
·18 min read

GMMTV

Spoilers ahead for the finale of 23.5.

Milk and Love, the effervescent stars of the Thai GL series 23.5, seem to live in each other’s orbit.

“Even on the toughest day, something good can happen to you. It depends on how you look at it,” the character Sun says in the very first episode. For Milk Pansa Vosbein, who plays Ongsa, and Love Pattranite Limpatiyakorn, who plays Sun, that “something good” was as simple as turning up to set each day to create something memorable with each other — GMMTV’s first major girls’ love series.

Adapted from the novel When the Earth is Spinning Around by Blue, 23.5 begins with loveable goofball Ongsa, who’s living the dream life when she finds herself messaging on Instagram with Sun, the pretty girl from her high school class. And it’s perfect, except for one thing — Sun thinks she’s messaging a boy named Earth, and Ongsa goes along with it. 23.5 follows Ongsa and Sun as their connection deepens online and IRL as the Earth spins on its axis, tilted at 23.5 degrees. All the drama and chaos sit in their orbit.

“It’s something too profound to put into words,” Milk tells Teen Vogue, “because we’ve been committed, we've supported each other, and we've given our all, not knowing what the outcome would be. But now, I feel we've achieved something. I sense a level of success, a milestone as the two of us embark on this journey together. I believe we'll continue learning together, step by step, in the future.”

In the series finale that aired on Friday, May 24, Sun declares, “We don’t need video clips, music videos, good films, or nice photos, because I keep our love and friendship in my heart and my memories always.” And Love agrees. A day on the set of 23.5 rarely allowed time for an excursion, but where appropriate, Milk would take Love to the market. “It felt like a special memory, an activity we enjoyed together, just the two of us,” Love tells Teen Vogue. “It's a picture that only we two have seen, and it's precious to me.”

Ahead of the series finale of 23.5, we caught up with Milk and Love over video call and subsequent email to chat about the importance of telling GL stories, their approach playing Ongsa and Sun, and the words of love and care they have for each other.

<cite class="credit">GMMTV</cite>
GMMTV

Teen Vogue: How did you react when you learned you were going to be paired together for GMMTV's first big GL series?

Milk: I was happy and excited. I felt that this show wasn't just about love between girls, but also many forms of love. I'm really glad to be able to be a part of this show, to see how it opens up a lot of warm comments and feedback, and also how successful it becomes.

Love: At first, I was really excited and nervous. I told my company [GMMTV], if they were going to do a GL, that if there were a chance for it, I wanted to do it. Once we were on this project, I always asked them to tell me directly if there was any problem with my acting or interpretation of the character, and that they can always tell me what I did wrong. I'm always willing to adjust and improve. Both of us are really new to this leading role.

Milk: No matter how many roles we’ve done, every role is always new to us.

TV: I have to ask for other Bad Buddy enjoyers out there. You had such wonderful chemistry as Ink and Pa, and then reprised those roles in Our Skyy 2 and Zero Photography. What did you enjoy most about playing those roles?

Milk: Ink is a respectable person who commands respect among her peers. She doesn't tolerate bullying, values justice, and is gentle, supportive, and provides advice to her friends and juniors. She also loves photography, which is a unique trait. In Zero Photography, Ink is now in a relationship with Pa. She was once calm and composed, and is now someone who is scared of their partner, spoiling them and catering to their every need. And as always, Ink remains gentle and supportive, especially towards loved ones.

Love: As for Pa, I like that she is quite a mischievous and tomboyish girl. She has a brother named Pat. This role allowed me to use a lot of energy, different from the character Sun. Pa expresses a lot of energy, which I really enjoyed.

TV: Now we know that BL stories are very popular worldwide and have also meant a lot to queer people, and to boys and men especially. What do you hope that GL can bring, with your show helping to lead the way, for queer girls and women?

Love: For me personally, I feel that it's not just love between girls, but it's for everyone. 23.5 is a show that empowers people with confidence and courage to love other people, to love themselves, their friends or their siblings. I feel that the narrative of 23.5 is like constellations. There are many different types of stars in our universe, but they came together to form a perfect constellation. It's a variety of things that came together into something really warm and nice.

TV: And the work that you both have done is still incredibly important because it can be a voice for those people. Do you think there’s any message that young girls who also love girls, like your characters do, can take from the show?

Love: Sun is very open to her family. When there's something going on with her, she would tell her family about it. I hope that the audience can also open themselves up, be themselves and talk to their parents openly. I believe that family is an important aspect of our lives, surely they are ready to understand us. It's a very coming-of-age story, and I wish the audience can see Sun as a role model to tell your own story to your family.

Milk: I see this show as one that isn’t just specifically about love between women but more forms of love than that, and that this show has the potential to be loved by more than just queer women. Let's look past whatever gender we are or vice versa, let's see it as “I am already in love with this person, then I'm going to have a feeling of love for this person regardless of gender.”

Love: And to add to P’Milk’s answer that similarly, when it was revealed that Earth was Ongsa, Sun would still love her for who she is.

TV: Your GMMTV mate Nanon once said that BLs could be used as a soft power to campaign for LGBT+ rights. What do you think the social purpose of GL can be? Something similar? What storyline or genre do you hope gets a GL next?

Milk: I'm absolutely certain that, regardless of the genre, whether it's GL or BL, it can serve as soft power for society as a whole. Because love comes in various forms, we can't limit it based on gender or anything else. Ultimately, we should focus on the fact that it's love. Love comes in diverse forms. In the future, I believe there will be a variety of movies or series, whether they're comedies, dramas, or many other genres. I believe that in the future, people will prioritize living with love over focusing on sexuality. And the fact that love comes in various forms is what I believe will be more widely accepted in the future.

Love: The situation is no different for GL. Just like BL, GL can also function as soft power. Despite their differing names, BL and GL represent two fundamental starting points. These narratives extend their message beyond the community, showcasing real identities to wider audiences. This spectrum of love is genuine, beautiful, and enriching. In 23.5, this diversity is exemplified by the couple P'Godji and P'Golf. Regardless of the GL genre, I aspire to explore them all, particularly within dramatic contexts. Given the chance, I'm eager to take on such roles and see where it leads.

TV: Tell me about your individual process as performers. From getting the roles of Sun and Ongsa to the script to when the cameras roll.

Love: After I got the role, during the workshop, I wrote a diary as Sun, from her perspective, like what happened in the day and to tell her story each day. It got me to know the character, especially in the way she would express those events in writing. It also helps on-set with the way she would eat or what kind of things went through her mind.

Love in the series *23.5*.
Love in the series *23.5*.
GMMTV

TV: Would you ever share any of that with your audience or do you keep those for yourself?

Love: I did share it, but not with the audience — with my acting coach. I wrote it on a scrap of paper and showed it to them. But I threw it all away because I didn’t want to keep all those things with me.

Milk: Ever since I got the script I always think about which tone of voice Ongsa would use or what her character is. Is she really reserved with a soft voice? It didn't seem like it. Until I actually got to act as her I found that Ongsa wasn't the type of kid who has low energy. She has so much energy in her but she just didn't get to express that extrovertedly. She just kept to herself with all that energy which resulted in quite a quirky character that is hard to describe.

TV: Remember the time Onsga ran outside and threw her phone in the trash?

Milk: She's the type of kid who, when she freaks out or panics, she doesn’t know how to fix it [laughs]. It was just a moment of panic, and I also had to work with my glasses. Back then I had to have them the whole time on set until I got familiar with them and realized what kind of mannerisms Ongsa would have.

Milk in the series *23.5*.
Milk in the series *23.5*.
GMMTV

TV: Now I can imagine that a lot has been expected of you both in leading a series like this. It’s GMMTV’s first GL series after all. How did you manage any pressure or expectations of these roles?

Milk: I admit that I felt a lot of pressure, even if it might not look that way. So I tried to find activities that help me relax. During shooting, one way for me to get the pressure off was to do my best on this character and put all my effort into every single shooting [day]. It's very fortunate that I have P'Fon, the director, acting coach, who helped me to adjust the character the whole time until we got this perfect Ongsa.

Love: For me, I did feel the pressure from the day I found out I was picked for this role. I always keep in touch with my company and crew members, so we would work with each other to fix things like, whether a line rolls off the tongue, or any scenes that might be confusing. As we worked on this, we developed this trust in each other and it helped lessen the pressure because we knew we’ve got each other's back.

And each and every day, I reflected on myself. If there's any day that the pressure was too much, I would walk to the director and ask her how I'd done for the day and upon which points I should improve. It's impossible for the pressure to not be there. But by sharing our thoughts and feelings it made the working environment more relaxing.

TV: Episode 11, “When Earth Has No Sun,” is bookended with lengthy scenes on the swingset. What emotions or experience did you each have to access to perform that scene? What was the filming process like?

Love: That scene was after the lunch break and so I cut myself off from P'Milk for the whole break — as my character was angry with her character — to spend my time alone building up the anger. I would not talk to her walking into the set. For me, once my feelings were at 100, all the tears would come out by just saying the lines. Of course, there were times when we needed to practice for the blocking and I would let it all out those times as well. I tried not to mix or carry any personal experience or feelings into the scene — I let my feelings flow with the dialogue.

Milk: At that time, when she cried, I cried too. It could be the miscommunication that worsened our characters’ relationship. It's quite a heavy scene. I tried not to expect anything and when I saw her cry, I cried too.

TV: I know that often, those kinds of moments only happen because two actors create such an intense connection on set. It’s kind of heightened, right? Talk me through your thoughts and feelings from that final reconciliation in episode 11.

Milk: Ongsa needed to show Sun her seriousness and commitment, and from my perspective, it felt necessary to express this through actions or body language. I chose to act based on the emotion of the moment, believing that Ongsa would want to do the same. When we try to hold onto someone, we wouldn’t just stand and talk; we would express our feelings through our tone and body language to convey that we can't be without them. I think physical touch can convey Ongsa's deep feelings and desire for reconciliation. It can replace words and intensify Sun's understanding of Ongsa's seriousness and inability to live without her.

Love: It feels like the deep inner feelings between Sun and Ongsa still have a sense of sweet, cute puppy love. However, there might be some misunderstandings or issues that cause conflict between them. I feel that Sun is always ready to forgive Ongsa for everything, as long as Ongsa understands what Sun wants and how Sun wants to be understood. If Ongsa gets that, Sun is always ready to forgive. In that scene, it was a feeling of happiness that Ongsa understood Sun, and Sun had been waiting for this moment for a long time, waiting for Ongsa to truly understand how Sun feels.

TV: How did the crew react? I’ve been on sets before during those intimate moments, and the crew all huddle behind the monitors, crying.

Milk: I noticed that the entire crew went silent to let the actors get into the emotional state. When I had to enter a scene that required crying or intense emotions, the crew would leave the actors to themselves. Once we were ready, we would signal them. I have to admit, the crew was really professional. However, I also noticed that some crew members were teary-eyed during our emotional scenes. They were probably so touched and absorbed in the story of Ongsa and Sun that they ended up crying.

Love: At that time, many team members had to be cautious of the rain because there was a storm. However, there was one person who seemed to be on the verge of tears and was actually crying—it was the makeup artist. They said they felt really sorry for me and for Sun, seeing me cry so hard and feeling such deep sorrow.

<cite class="credit">GMMTV</cite>
GMMTV

TV: Milk, I want to talk about the scene with Onsga and her family, where she admits she was afraid they would be upset that she likes girls. Thank you for that scene. I hope you know that there are so many people who that scene will resonate with. What were your thoughts on that scene?

Milk: In that dinner scene, Ongsa must have a lot of feelings. She was afraid of telling the family “I like this person who also has long hair,” but after she confessed, instead of pulling away the family embraced her more and I think that it's a really cute scene. And it’s not just herfamily, but also her friends. After they know that she likes Sun they're cheering her on, they support her. I think that 23.5 is a really warm and supportive show.

TV: I know when you spend so much time with characters, they truly leave a mark. How have you each changed by your experience playing Sun and Ongsa? What impact have they had on your lives?

Love: I was a fast talker with little time to think, but Sun takes her time to think and talk, takes her time explaining things. She's a very compromising person. I learned to talk slower and think more before I speak and be more observant to people around me.

Milk: I got to have clearer diction. I'm able to speak louder. I learned to have a stronger tone in my voice, which was really nice since I usually speak quite softly. Another aspect that Ongsa made an impact on me was how, through her, I received a lot of warmth, a lot of cheering and a lot of support from all the characters around her. Whether it's family or friends or just anyone.

TV: We have to talk about Episode 12. How do you feel about the show ending?

Love: I feel sad that it's time to say goodbye to Sun. I hope it can become good memories for the audience and for me also.

Milk: I feel glad and also sad. Glad that I got to deliver everything of this show to the audience, that everyone got to experience this show, 23.5 and the characters. And sad that I will miss all the bonds with everyone on set, whether it's the actors or crew members that I have memories with, with all my clumsy moments or when I tease them. I'm gonna miss those times. Until this day, I'm still happy that people open themselves to this show.

TV: In episode 12, Sun goes to America, leaving Ongsa behind for one year. I think the show deals with those feelings really well. It’s so mature of them to be able to communicate clearly and be okay throughout that year. What are your thoughts on that storyline?

Milk: If we're in a relationship with someone, there may be times when each person pursues their own responsibilities, their own dreams, but we don't drift apart. We still keep in touch, like how Sun is in America and Ongsa is still in Thailand… Each of us is following our own dreams… And maybe one day, we might meet again. No matter how long it takes, there will come a day when we'll be together again. I think it's like the real lives of many people, where different individuals separate to grow. Ultimately, between those separations, we never truly drift apart. I truly believe that distance doesn't matter. What matters is how deep our love is, how much we trust each other.

Love: Even though Sun has been in America for a year, the relationship is still going strong. I feel that regardless of our age, whether we're young children, teenagers, or working adults, if we have confidence, understanding, and enough love for each other, what they call a "long-distance relationship" won't pose any problems. As long as we have these three things, I believe that Sun and Ongsa may have already had significant adjustments in their understanding of each other in episode 11.

Sun studying abroad may make Ongsa miss her, feel a bit disappointed, and Sun may also miss Ongsa, and want to come back at times. But ultimately, communication, understanding, and sufficient love for each other make for a healthy relationship like this, not the toxic kind often associated with long-distance relationships.

TV: What words do you have for each other in thanks for the wonderful partnership that you’ve built over time and in filming the show?

Love, speaking English: For Milk. I appreciate everything that you do, that you’ve done for me. Not only just a partner, but also she’s a bigger sister to me. She always asks me, what do you want to eat? She always goes into the restaurant and says, okay I’ll order everything that I think you want to eat. I think she is such a good partner, good sister. This relationship lasts forever.

Milk: Where should I begin? I was happy from the day I knew that I would be paired up with Love, to this day. We became closer and we opened up to each other more. I believe that in the future, if we keep on this relationship where we keep sharing and supporting each other, this can become something that is long-lasting and everyone will be able to continue seeing MilkLove in whatever version that is to come.

TV: One final question as we wrap up. InkPa or OngsaSun?

Milk: MilkLove.

Interpretation provided by Worapat Arnontavilas. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue

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