“Vampire meets human, love ensues” is a much-loved trope spread across various forms of pop culture media. There’s something alluring about the vampire-human love story, with this otherworldly dynamic leaving a mark on every generation through the years.
Thai Boys’ Love (BL) series My Golden Blood, is one such tale of passion, drama and love. Starring Joss Way-Ar and Gawin Caskey, the show unfurls as a tale of two individuals and their journey through love, loyalty, sacrifice and self-discovery.
The story is of 20-year-old Tong (Gawin) – who possesses Golden Blood, a rare and powerful type of blood irresistible to vampires. And how fate pulls him towards Mark (Joss), the 200-year-old heir of the Amarittrakul family. When an accident happens and the sweet scent of Tong’s blood awakens the thirst of the vampires, it’s up to Mark to protect him.
This in a nutshell is the show. But beyond it lies an emotive tale of identity and what it means to be human. In conversation with Earmilk, Joss and Gawin delve into the core message of the show, getting into character and what they’ve learned from each other, among much more.
“In the BL genre most series are focused on relationships between humans so this one focusing on a vampire who has lost all his feelings, emotions is very interesting. The show focuses on what it’s like to be a human – the intricacies of our thoughts, of our pasts and futures – and for a vampire who lost all of this what it’s like to live,” says Joss.
He adds, “It deals with the questions “Would you rather be immortal but not feel anything for the rest of your life? Or would you rather be mortal but get to experience things and life? “
Reflecting on the evolving relationship between human and vampire, the series easily reflects a deeply real question of what is acceptable in society. However, the show still manages to retain all the mystique and campiness of what makes a good vampiric story.
Speaking of the references he drew from for his character, Joss says, “There’s a particular movie I like – Dracula Untold. He’s a king of a nation who has to become a beast who kills. And upon receiving the script, I was excited to tap into a similar animalistic instinct inside me,” he continues, “But because this series is basically a romance, the director wanted Mark to have that sex appeal too, So, we also drew from Interview With The Vampire’s Lestat.”
He also notes taking influence from the older people on how they see the world to embody the essence of someone who has been alive for a very long time.
While Mark’s arc sees him relearning emotions and senses – tasting food for the first time, smelling things for the first time, having sexual urges for the first time – Tong’s journey is one that goes from innocence to maturity.
If Joss stepped into the shoes of someone older, for Gawin the challenge was to play someone much younger than him. He says, “The character is only 20 so I had to dig deeper into how I felt about certain things.” His arc takes from an isolated youth and naivety to a quiet confidence and maturity, further cementing the reflections of the show on how our experiences lead to growth.
In the series, Mark loses the untouchable confidence he carries as he begins to find his humanity again. Meanwhile Tong gains confidence and strength as he settles into a passionate yet challenging relationship.
Joss and Gawin’s real life dynamic is not much different. On what they’ve learned from working together, Joss says, “Gawin is really chill and reserved. I’m the type to keep pushing forward. I want to get things done right away and that can lead to mistakes. Working with him and his approach pulled me back and made me more careful,” Gawin adds, “Joss makes me more assertive and makes me more inquisitive. He gave me new perspectives and pushed me to be more proactive in asking questions.”
This is possibly why the pair agree on how fans are drawn to their natural dynamic, pulled in not just by their undeniable on-screen chemistry but the balance they strike with each other off-screen evoking a sense of fondness within us.
My Golden Blood, which is currently airing, is a compelling tale with layers beyond what might initially draw us in with both Joss and Gawin solidifying their status as rising stars in Asian entertainment.
So if you’re looking for a dose of fantasy-laden romance with a deeply human core, then tune into My Golden Blood!
The show airs every Wednesday at 8.30 PM BKK time on GMM25 and is also available to watch on GMMTV’s official YouTube Channel.
