{Watch Party Wed. #1-GL} Whale Store xoxo Episodes 1-2
Hello, Internet, and good mornight to you all!
My name is Taffryne, shoppekeeper of Midnight on Memory Lane, and it is my absolute delight to welcome you to the first official post of Watch Party Wednesday!!!
'Tis a pleasure to finally get the ball rolling on the actual blogging part of this!
As the title says, this post is about the first two episodes of the Thai-GL drama, Whale Store xoxo by GMMTheeV staring Milk and Love as the main leads. I've finished both episodes (as well as the Episode 3 preview), thusly, I humbly present my thoughts for your enjoyment and consideration. Accordingly, please mind the spoilers ahead.
Since this is the first post regarding this show, allow me to present you with the relevant synopsis and background information:
Whale Store xoxo
Drama Type: Thai GL
Source: Adapted from the Novel "The Whale Store" (aka "คุณวาฬร้านชำ The Whale Store ร้านนี้ไม่มีรักขาย") by Snow Leopard (เสือดาวหิมะ)
Directed by: P'Golf
Season: GMMTV 2025 (aired June 2025 - Aug 2025 on Wednesdays)
Main Pairing: MilkLove 🥛🩷 (Mascot & Fandom: MuvMuv)
Platform: YouTube with English Subtitles
Duration: 10 Episodes at ~50min/each
Plot Summary: "In quick succession, Wan loses her father and is abruptly unemployed, suddenly inheriting her father's grocery store, crumbling away during hard times. She soon gets to know hardworking and flirtatious store regular Maewnam. Maewnam is supportive of Wan's efforts to turn the business around, but she's hiding the truth about her family's business which threatens Wan's plans."
MDL Link: Click here!
Disclaimer: I apologize if there are any crucial cultural notes or nuances that I misunderstand or fail to recognize. I, unfortunately, must trust the accuracy of the translated subtitles to represent the story and characters.
Trigger Warnings: Death of a Parent, Grief and Loss Depiction
Episode 1
I was not expecting a wholesome-presenting Thai-GL Drama named "Whale Store xoxo" to catch me in my emotions quite as much as the first episode has. Granted, it's not as heart-wrenching as episode one of Cat for Cash (shoutout to that series), but dang did it shoot me right in the heart. On one side, we've got the heir-to-the-store, Wan, dealing with the unexpected loss of her father, the subsequent "I was never home enough" guilt, and the trauma that both of those bring about in one's soul. On the other side, we have Maewnam dealing with a disapproving mother and the inevitable pain that comes from discovering the dead body of someone you knew and cared about. I wasn't quite sure how big a part grief would play in the relationship that these two woman bloom into, but from this episode alone I'm fairly certain it'll play a big role. As someone who's unfortunately dealing with grief herself, Maewnam's monologue about her father being "the one who always was waiting for me, no matter when I came back..." hit with a particular sharpness; it's certainly furthered my investment. Grief is perhaps the most double-edged sword of sentiments that I deal with here in my shoppe. I'm looking forward to watching these two heal together...and maybe I can heal a bit myself alongside them. (hopefully with less paperwork)
Out of that sad start and into some lighter reflections: Wan's boss was an absolute asshole and I will be happy if he never shows up again or if she sticks it to him by being a successful store mogul or something. Just, jeez. The entire rant about hiring women with kids (how convenient it was "women" and not "people", hm?) was blood-boiling, and his entitlement to people's time just because he pays them a salary that I'm sure isn't enough was nauseating. Massive props to the actor, Suam, for being such an easy-to-hate douchebag.
I can't prove it because you all obviously weren't watching the show beside me, but I 100% called that Maewnam's bickering coworkers, Tonnam and Chom, were actually secretly dating. I have no other evidence than my own intuition reading their particular flavor of "bickering couple" as they oh-so-nonchalantly escaped to a stairwell together. I'm curious to see what more will happen to them as the show progresses. If nothing else, "serious one" and "eccentric one" nearly always make a good match.
Something funny that I'm sure my fellow Thai-drama consumers can appreciate is that I am once again plagued with the "oh, hey, I know that set!" curse (affectionate). The titular Whale Store is in the same corner vendor/shop spot that nearly every drama to have a vendor/shop spot uses. In particular, I know this one from Deep Night, Naughty Babe, and I believe also Me and Thee. The office settings I know without a shadow of a doubt are the same building as ThamePo, Me and Thee (again), and I think at least a couple of other series that needed a "fancy high-rise office building" setting. I'm sure others will pop up as we go on; its an inevitably that I have fun with not unlike laughing at the obvious product placements. That being said, OH MY GOD NO. ABSOLUTELY NO. WHOEVER DESIGNED AN APARTMENT WITH A DANG GIANT SEE-INTO-THE-SHOWER WINDOW NEEDS TO BE MICROWAVED FOR TOO LONG AND REPEAT KINDERGARTEN BECAUSE WHY??? Thank you, person, for giving me yet another entry to my "building features from drama sets that I hate with a burning passion" list.
To end on some miscellaneous notes: Wan's 3-in-1 umbrella/flashlight/self-defense weapon is absolutely genius and I need one. The cat is absolutely adorable and I sincerely hope they're a regular and DON'T DIE (looking at you, again, Cat for Cash). I will never ask Wan to fix anything because, bless her heart, the tape and twine ensnaring she did to that poor bike sign is terrifying. I will count on her for words of wisdom though, because: "Poverty is scarier". Yes, Wan, yes it is.
Episode 2
Holy smokes Whale Store xoxo has me hooked. It's so sweet and sentimental, oh my stars. First off, let's have a huge celebration for the cat getting a name and matching collar with Maewnam!!! Congratulations, you cute furball. Let's also congratulate the bickering couple on mostly-successfully having their secret date via sibling bribery!!! I can't say I've ever been in that kind of position myself, but I must tip my hat at the brother giving his sister's date a ride, nice company, and promptly skedaddling away after payment. A true gentleman of the secrecy arts for sure.
Getting into the actual substance of the episode, the portrayal and resolution of Wan learning about "everybody talks in small circles" and "don't fuck with the salon lady" was really enjoyable. Sometimes, you honestly just need an open mind and heartfelt apology to mend tears and put a new foot forward. I also appreciate how both sides recognized they were in the wrong and came together to try again. Wan is dealing with both taking the store over and her father's estate, so she's obviously going to need vent periods while trying to figure out what the heck the status-quo for the shop and it's patrons are. Her father may have had the delayed-payment system or new exactly how much rice to scoop, but when it's all second-nature to him and not in a how-to binder, how is Wan supposed to just figure it out without help? She's more of a closed-off person, so someone accusing her of swindling them or asking tons of questions at once is going to put her on guard (even if that wasn't the intention). Now, I'm not saying she should have just let it all out there at full volume with her doors wide open, but I can understand her frustrations. On the other side, these clients have already been doing things their way for years and are likely also dealing with the grief of losing Wan's father. He was their business associate and their friend; it's natural that they would hope his daughter could just swoop in and get things back to how they were. In the end, I think it's great that Maewnam gave Wan the context she needed to properly address the situation. I think it's even better that they all came back to show her things like how much rice is 30 baht's worth or to welcome her into their social circle. I hope they become a true support system for her moving forward.
Now, onto the flirting between these two because, oh my, are these women flirting. Granted, it's mainly from Maewnam's end for now because Wan thought she was a student (and thusly younger than her); But, the "secretly call me theerak (thai pet name for couples like "darling" or "sweetheart") because it happens to be my full name" scene or the "let me tenderly wipe this tear from your face" bit showcase an excellent chemistry. I am a little bit wondering...how many times can you pop into your crush before your meet-cutes become stalking-risks? I know Maewnam has her jobs at the various shops, but it's food for thought. Elsewise, I'm right there with Wan's friend, Noey, watching from the stands because these too are just oozing their feelings all over the place. Maewnam better bring her utmost extra self for when she finally confesses to Wan! I expected nothing less given how I believe this is MilkLove's 5th year of being a pairing together. They're also the first official GL pairing GMMTheeV casted (as far as I'm aware). Nonetheless, these two do an excellent job of making fluttery eyes and windy hair look romantic as hell. I can't wait to see what they do as the intimacy between Wan and Maewnam deepens.
The final reveal of Maewnam's parents being the main backers/founders/supporters (I'm not sure yet) of Mouse Mart has me worried beyond reason for the angst and maybe even betrayal arcs that could rattle through the Whale Store (in that "ooo, this'll be good" way). I can already imagine how Wan finding out that Maewnam is of a Mouse Mart family could shatter the sweet image she has of her as that crying student in the rain turned cheeky professor. I can also see how maybe Maewnam refuses to help her family with Mouse Mart and instead goes the route of helping Wan chase them out of town. The anticipation shall fuel me through my work week, I can tell you that much.
Episode 3 Preview
WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE ARE ABOUT TO GET A TRIFECTA OF "WHEN WILL YOU STOP HIDING OUR RELATIONSHIP" ANGST, THE MOST UPFRONT CONFESSION EVER FROM MAEWNAM, AND THEIR FIRST KISS IN EPISODE THREE?!?!
I hope you've been able to watch and enjoy the show for yourself! If you haven't, that's okay too. My thoughts are here to keep you updated in the meantime. This blog post has gotten long enough, hasn't it? There's still two others to get posted before I'm out of nighttime and into tomorrow, so I'll cap this one here and hope to see you in the next!
May we meet again when the clock strikes 12:00!