Love Design the Series Review: Beautiful Production, Missing Chemistry

When the pilot for Love Design the Series first dropped, we were ready to hand over our hearts, wallets, and emotional stability. For American viewers, picture HGTV’s cozy renovation energy wrapped in a Hallmark-style sapphic romance — a formula so aligned with our interests that we practically had the popcorn popped before the premiere. With Kao and Yam, two gorgeous women radiating unapologetic sapphic energy, front and center, our expectations were soaring. But as more promotional content arrived, cautious optimism crept in. Were we witnessing peak moments up front? Could the story sustain itself? With numerous Thai GLs releasing simultaneously, we ultimately decided to wait until the full series — and the special episodes — finished airing before reviewing. And thank goodness we did.

As a completed product, Love Design the Series offered a solid concept but didn’t quite align with our taste. The pacing faltered, the chemistry between Rin and Aokbab never felt convincing, and — truthfully — we found the chemistry between Kao (Aokbab) and Yam (Mind) far more compelling than the show’s intended pairing. The spark we hoped for just never ignited. In festive holiday terms: watching this show felt like waking up on Christmas morning expecting an Xbox, only to unwrap a hand-knitted sweater from Grandma. We appreciate the effort… but we will never forget what could have been.

Before We Dive In: Why This Review Is Worth Your Time

If you’re deciding whether to watch Love Design or you’ve already finished it and need someone to validate the chaos you just experienced — this review is for you. We break down what the series promised, what it delivered, and where the blueprint started to crack. Whether you're here for sapphic chemistry analysis, storytelling critique, or an extended moment of Yam appreciation, consider this your guided tour through the architectural choices — good and questionable — behind Love Design.

Aokbab and Rin stick their heads through a cutout of a house on the series poster; Rin wears her signature chaotic smirk while Aokbab looks surprised, teasing the dynamic of Love Design the Series.

✨ What Worked Well

High-Quality Production

Visually, Love Design the Series was a triumph. The sets were modern and thoughtfully crafted, wardrobe choices supported character storytelling without overpowering it, and makeup remained polished throughout every emotional arc. Locations felt curated rather than convenient, giving the series a luxurious aesthetic that elevated even its weaker moments. In the competitive world of 2025 Thai GLs, this production easily lands in our top seven for overall design excellence.

Strong Acting Across the Board

The acting was never the issue — in fact, it was one of the series’ brightest strengths. Both leading actresses have well-earned reputations for their talent, and it showed.

• Kao delivered nuanced micro-expressions that added depth to Aokbab’s internal conflict between Mind and Rin.

• Jane portrayed Rin as wonderfully irritating in the beginning (complimentary) and gradually softened her performance as Rin evolved.

Even the supporting duo (Tetris & Vee) offered comedic relief that never overshadowed emotional nuance. The cast collectively worked hard — sometimes harder than the script deserved — to bring authenticity to every scene.

The Brothers & Family Dynamic

The inclusion of the Brothers added welcome levity and stability to the story. Their backstory surrounding their competition with Mind Space (i.e., Thee), combined with their role as Aokbab’s emotional support system, gave the series heart. Their comedic timing was refreshing, and more importantly, we appreciated the rare but delightful representation of healthy, supportive men in a Thai GL. Their presence grounded the show when other elements drifted.

Mind: The Arc That Actually Delivered

And then there’s Yam as Mind, who absolutely deserves her flowers — a whole bouquet, honestly. In the flashbacks, Yam infused Mind with a warmth and openness that made her instantly lovable. She embodied a mentor who wasn’t just shaping Aokbab professionally, but also quietly, inevitably falling for her. The tenderness of those early scenes made their history feel genuine, lived-in, and incredibly easy to root for. Their past love story felt organic in a way the present-day romance never quite achieved.

In contrast, present-day Mind is far more reserved — stoic, measured, and emotionally contained — yet Yam plays her with such controlled authority that she commands the entire room without needing to raise her voice. Her screen presence alone could silence chaos, and every shift in expression carried more weight than entire monologues from other characters.

But the moment that truly solidified Mind as one of the strongest elements of the series was her confrontation with Thee. The instant she pieced together the sabotage he’d been orchestrating behind her back, Mind unleashed a controlled, strategic fury that was nothing short of marvelous. We stood. We cheered. We were ready to mail our hearts directly to this strong, commanding woman. It was one of the few scenes in the entire series that delivered the emotional payoff we’d been craving — and Yam carried it with effortless power, precision, and presence.

⚖️ On the Fence: Story Potential vs. Story Execution

A Strong Concept That Lost Its Rhythm

On paper, this show had an excellent premise: two ex-lovers running competing architecture firms, rekindled rivalry mixed with emotional upheaval, and the added tension of a younger, hotshot designer disrupting the equilibrium. We were seated, hydrated, and invested.

The architectural scenes — client pitches, creative sessions, office politics — were genuinely intriguing. Moments at the house and in the library also delivered solid emotional beats. When the story focused on professional tension and personal history, it worked beautifully.

But the pacing struggled. Some scenes overstayed their welcome with unnecessary slow-mo or extended emotional beats, while others ended abruptly before they could fully develop. Emotional investment came and went in waves, often leaving us more confused than intrigued.

Most notably, we received rich, layered backstory between Mind and Aokbab. It was compelling enough that we genuinely believed the show was building a redemption arc between them. But Rin’s feelings for Aokbab — seemingly rooted in admiration for a drawing — never translated meaningfully into romance. The sudden shift toward a Rin–Aokbab endgame left us puzzled and slightly frustrated, as if we missed a memo.

❌ What Didn’t Work

Lack of Romantic Chemistry

This was the series’ biggest structural issue. We simply did not feel believable chemistry between Rin and Aokbab. Fake dating can be electric when the motivations are clear and mutual yearning is established — but here, we never understood why Rin fell for Aokbab or why Aokbab reciprocated. Even the kiss scenes, hindered by odd camera angles and staging choices at times, lacked emotional punch.

Meanwhile… Kao and Yam? Chemistry. Connection. A history that made sense. Tension that felt lived-in and real. The show accidentally built a stronger emotional case for the exes than the actual romantic pairing, and that’s hard to ignore.

And honestly: Rin reads like someone who has absolutely no interest in marriage, while Aokbab (and Mind) absolutely do. #Mindbab simply makes more narrative sense.

The Special Episodes Fell Flat

In any series — much like bonus chapters in a book — special episodes are meant to elevate the narrative, not dilute it. They should deepen emotional understanding, offer meaningful closure, or reveal new layers that enrich the story and make the journey feel complete. Special episodes exist to add value, not simply extend screen time.

Unfortunately, these special episodes didn’t accomplish any of that.

EP9 introduced new conflict, but because of how EP8 ended, the timing felt more exhausting than exciting. We had waited so long for closure to a story we were already only mildly invested in, so being asked to wade through another round of drama felt more like obligation than payoff. The pacing issues persisted, making the episode feel like leftover narrative scraps rather than intentional storytelling designed to enhance the main arc.

EP10, while lightly entertaining thanks to the side couple, lacked the emotional depth or narrative impact to justify the additional fee on WeTV. It didn’t expand the world, add meaningful insight, or resolve anything that hadn’t already been addressed. We walked away feeling indifferent — and indifferent is the last emotion a special episode should ever evoke.

Specials are supposed to remind us why we cared.These reminded us why we were ready to move on.

Final Verdict

We’re glad we watched Love Design the Series, but it isn’t one we’ll revisit. The show lacked memorable moments, iconic chemistry, or unique contributions to the Thai GL genre that would make it a rewatch staple. It was enjoyable enough in the moment, but once the credits rolled, we felt ready to move on.

We absolutely hope to see Kao in future GL projects — ideally opposite Yam, because that pairing carries a natural sapphic energy that deserves a stronger narrative. Jane is talented and clearly has a successful career ahead, but the Koa–Jane pairing didn’t resonate with us, and we see no need for a repeat.

Much respect to the cast and crew — they delivered strong performances and beautiful visuals — but for us, Love Design simply didn’t leave a lasting imprint.