Is Between Us woke?
TV Show · 2022
Between Us has a wokeness score of 2/10, which we rate as Not Woke. No political or woke messaging whatsoever. Focuses entirely on story, characters, fun, or escapism.
Key points
- Core plot revolves around male romance and personal trauma healing without ideological messaging.
- Multiple relationships including straight couples integrated naturally into university life story.
- Mental health and consent themes serve character development rather than social commentary.
Wokeness analysis
Between Us (2022) is a Thai BL (boys' love) romance series centered on university swimmers Win and Team developing a relationship while addressing personal traumas like insomnia, family pressures, and past losses. The narrative focuses on emotional growth, consent in intimacy, friendship, and overcoming fears through connection, with multiple side couples including straight and other pairings. While it prominently features a same-sex male romance as the core story—common in the BL genre originating from Thai media—it integrates this organically into character-driven plots without explicit political lectures, identity politics, or social justice messaging. Themes like mental health, family expectations, and healthy relationships are explored through personal stories rather than ideological frameworks. Diversity elements, such as varied character backgrounds and relationships, feel natural to the university setting and ensemble cast. No evidence of forced representation, didactic commentary on gender, race, or systemic issues appears; the show prioritizes romance, drama, and escapism typical of Thai BL productions. Viewer feedback highlights chemistry, emotional depth, and entertainment value over any agenda. This aligns with mild modern sensibilities at most, but given the genre's focus on male romance without overt activism, it rates as not woke.
Plot
Between Us (2022), also known as Hemp Rope, is a 12-episode Thai drama series following university freshman swimmer Team, who struggles with insomnia and performance anxiety due to childhood trauma. Senior swimmer Win offers him a place to stay, leading to growing intimacy and mutual support as they confront personal issues. Parallel stories involve other characters dealing with family business pressures, relationships, and self-discovery. The series is a spin-off focusing on the Win-Team couple from the earlier show Until We Meet Again, emphasizing emotional bonds, consent, and growth amid swim team competitions and campus life. It aired on iQIYI from November 2022 to January 2023.
Analyzed by AI on August 31, 2026