GIRL RULES Episode 1 Review
Girl Rules premiered March 9. The show centers around this group of six women and their complicated friendships and relationships, kind of like L Word. This show is totally different from other released Thai GL series because it is not the typical slow burn girl love story.
The opening scene of Episode 1 of Girl Rules actually gives us a really clear timeline.
Four years ago, they were still together. We see them in the bathtub celebrating Prim’s birthday, where Bambi promises that she’ll never let anyone else hold Prim’s birthday cake or give her one. She even wishes that every year they’ll celebrate Prim’s birthday together.
Then the story jumps to one year ago, where we see Prim alone blowing out her birthday candle. That moment already hints that something must have happened between them.
After that, we move to the present day, which is actually Prim’s birthday again, one year after that lonely moment. So the timeline the show gives us right at the beginning is: four years ago → one year ago → present day (Prim’s birthday again).
It’s actually a really smart way to set up the story because the show immediately tells us where we are emotionally and narratively before the plot fully unfolds.
Now about the opening credits—they’re actually superb. The visuals are really good and honestly feel like they could have been used as the official music video instead of the one that was released.
The only thing I didn’t really like was the music. It’s very heavy on autotune, and it feels a bit odd. I get that they probably wanted something upbeat to match the vibe of the show, but it’s almost too cheerful.
That said, while the song isn’t my favorite, it still works for the opening credits because it fits the energetic tone of the visuals.
The character introductions were actually done really well because they immediately showed what each character does for work.
For example, the first one introduced was Shasha, and we see her posing confidently, which makes it clear right away that she’s a model. Moments like that quickly establish who the characters are without needing long explanations.
This approach is especially helpful for viewers who are completely new to Girl Rules. If you haven’t read the book or you’re coming into the show with no background at all, the character introductions in Episode 1 make it much easier to understand everyone.
The show does a good job of presenting the characters in a way that’s simple and easy to follow, so even first-time viewers can quickly get familiar with who’s who.
Another thing that stands out is the personality of the characters. They’re not the typical soft or overly polite characters you usually see. Instead, they’re confrontational, forward, and very confident. They speak their minds and aren’t afraid to challenge each other, which gives the show a much sharper and more dynamic energy.
An interesting aspect is the character dynamics because the show mixes up the usual pairings that viewers are not used to. Normally, there are fixed pairs like NamtanFilm and MilkLove, but Girl Rules swaps them. Here we get Namtan with Love and Milk with Film, which immediately changes the dynamics.
For example, Prim and Gorya, played by Namtan and Love, already have an intense dynamic and even share a kiss early on. Meanwhile, Bambi, played by Film, comes back with a very different energy. Her character is bratty, a bit bitchy, and extremely flirty, which feels quite different from the kinds of roles she usually plays.
Shasha, portrayed by Milk, also brings a similar bold energy. As a model with a strong attitude, she comes across as confident and openly flirtatious. Then there are Mim and Preaw, played by View and Mim, who also seem to have their own chemistry and subtle vibe developing between them.
Because the show mixes these pairings and personalities, the group dynamics feel fresh and unpredictable, which makes the interactions between characters much more interesting to watch.
In terms of acting, I honestly have no doubt that these actresses can perform, but I was surprised by some of the scenes with Film’s portrayal of Bambi. The way she played the character was really on point. There are moments in the episode that completely catch you off guard—scenes where you think, “Whoa, I didn’t expect that.” Her performance adds a lot of edge and unpredictability to the character.
I also want to applaud Love in this episode. Her character feels much more straightforward and bold compared to some of her previous roles. She delivers that confident energy very naturally.
According to the director, the kissing scene between Namtan and Love was actually filmed in just one take, and you can really see that on screen. There’s no awkwardness between them at all—it feels very natural and genuinely delivered.
GMMTV clearly has strong scriptwriters. Though there’s not much deep dialogues in the episode, some of the lines in Girl Rules feel much more mature compared to the usual polite dialogue you hear in many Thai GL series.
Right from the opening scene, the tone is already different. When Prim says, “Happy F…… birthday,” it immediately signals that the show is going for a bolder and more unfiltered style of dialogue.
There are also moments later in the episode, like the bar scene where Preaw curses, that reinforce this tone. It’s not just the fact that there are F-bombs, but the way the characters speak feels more natural and less restrained.
Because of that, the dialogue feels more grounded and mature. The characters sound like real people who are blunt, emotional, and sometimes messy, which fits well with the confident and confrontational personalities the show is portraying.
The visual style of the series also stands out, especially with its use of bright colors. The show uses strong color contrasts that immediately set a bold and vibrant tone for the scenes.
There’s also a nostalgic feel to some of the visuals that almost takes you back to the 80s or 90s. This is reinforced through certain props and design choices, like when Prim is seen using a retro headphones (yes, I used to have those), as well as the presence of turntables and vinyl records.
These details give the series a slightly retro aesthetic while still feeling modern, adding another layer of personality to the overall look of the show.
In terms of pacing, the first episode moves quite fast. Considering that the series has 12 episodes, it feels like the story is trying to establish a lot of things quickly right from the start.
Even though the pacing is fast, the episode is still easy to follow. The timeline, character introductions, and initial dynamics are all laid out clearly enough that viewers can keep up with what’s happening.
However, because the series features three different pairs, it seems likely that the first episode is rushing through the setup so the next few episodes can focus more on character development and relationship dynamics—especially between the relationship between Prim and Bambi, along with the rest of the group.
So while Episode 1 does move quickly, it works as an introduction. Hopefully, the next episodes will slow down a bit and spend more time developing the characters and the overall storyline.
As for the musical score, the opening credit song is still catchy, but the actual singing, especially the heavy use of autotune, can be a bit of a turnoff. It’s not necessarily bad, but it does feel slightly distracting at first. Still, it’s not a major issue and the upbeat style does match the tone the show is going for.
Throughout the rest of the episode, the use of music is actually quite minimal, which works well for the series. The songs and background music are chosen carefully and don’t overpower the scenes.
Because of that, the musical score feels well-balanced. It supports the mood of the scenes without becoming distracting, and overall the music fits naturally within the episode.
Overall, Episode 1 does a strong job of setting up the world of Girl Rules. It introduces the timeline, establishes the personalities of the characters, and immediately shows that this series is going for a bolder and more mature tone compared to many other Thai GL shows.
Even though the pacing is quite fast, the episode still manages to clearly introduce the main characters, their dynamics, and the overall vibe of the story. The mix of confident personalities, unexpected pairings, and sharp dialogue makes the episode engaging from the start.
As someone who hasn’t read the original book, the episode actually makes me more curious about what will happen next. Interestingly, the trailer already showed many of the scenes that appeared in Episode 1, which means we really don’t know what’s coming in the next few episodes. That makes the story even more exciting because there are still a lot of surprises ahead.
Because of that, Episode 1 works well as a setup and definitely makes me excited to watch the next few episodes and see how the characters and their relationships will develop.
A solid and intriguing first episode with strong character setups and bold tone, but slightly rushed pacing.
