The Loyal Pin: A Journey Through Love, Loyalty, and Royal Intrigue in Volume 1

Exploring the Beginning of Anil and Pin's Epic Journey in "The Loyal Pin: Volume 1"

Ah, young love—full of butterflies, literal caterpillars, and that overwhelming sense of not knowing what the heck is happening to your heart. Welcome to our deep dive into the first volume of The Loyal Pin, where we witness the very beginning of Anil and Pin’s enchanting, and slightly mischievous, love story.

May We All Have the Confidence of Anil

Let’s kick things off with Anil, who starts unofficially but oh-so-obviously courting Lady Pin at the tender age of 14. And can we just take a moment to applaud the fact that there’s only a one-year age gap here? Pin’s 15, and honestly, that’s a rarity in these Thai GL series (at least from what we have seen)! Anil, though, seems to possess a confidence that’s hard to find, even in adults—someone call Renee Rapp, because we’ve got a confidence queen on our hands!

“Friends Don’t Talk Like That”

Remember our obsession with the formality between characters in Gap the Series? Well, The Loyal Pin didn’t disappoint. From the get-go, Princess Anilaphat tries to convince Pin to drop the royal titles and just call her Anil because, as she wisely puts it, "Friends don’t talk like that." It’s a simple yet powerful moment, and I love how it echoes our discussions about the importance of language in portraying relationships in media.

The Mischievous Duo: Anil and Prik

Now, let’s not forget about Prik, Anil’s loyal confidant and equally mischievous servant. Yes, folks, we’re talking about Prik—who, fun fact, is played by Looknam Orntara Poolsak, aka Jim from Gap the Series. How rude is it that we can’t find a single still of her from the set yet? But I digress. Prik is fiery, spicy (her name literally means chili, after all), and has the best friendship dynamic with Anil. Together, they’re like a royal version of Bonnie and Clyde, minus the crime spree.

Caterpillars, Butterflies, and Metaphors—Oh My!

One of the most memorable scenes early on is when Anil brings a caterpillar to the Bua Palace, and Pin mistakes it for a worm. “That’s unbelievable. How could such a fat caterpillar turn into a light butterfly?” she asks. And immediately, I couldn’t help but think of this as a metaphor for Pin’s journey. Pin starts as a “caterpillar”—weighed down by her aunt’s expectations and her own confusion about her identity. But when Anil leaves for seven years, Pin is left in a sort of emotional cocoon. Only when Anil returns does Pin start to realize her true feelings, transforming into that light, beautiful butterfly we all knew she could be.

Anil’s Impact: From Cotton Candy to Cute Glimpses of Freedom

Anil makes every excuse in the book to see Pin, from sending her personal driver away to hitching a ride with Pin to school every day, to inviting her to the temple festival where they sneak out of the palace. This scene is such a gem—it’s not just about Anil treating Pin to cotton candy (which, by the way, they will definitely be color-coded with in the series), but it’s also about Pin experiencing freedom for the first time in her life. Anil’s impact, folks. It’s real, and it’s heartwarming.

A Mastermind’s Move: The Art of Reducing Punishment

One of my all-time favorite scenes? When Anil insists on escorting Pin back home after they’re caught sneaking out. Princess Patthamika, Pin’s guardian, is ready to lay down the law, but Anil—being the mastermind she is—manages to reduce Pin’s seven-day punishment to just one afternoon. And what’s the punishment? Hanging out with Anil and copying textbooks, which quickly turns into Anil sketching Pin like one of her French girls. Classic Anil.

Pin’s Awakening: The Pine Palace and Those Adorable Hairpins

Fast forward through years of letters (with a healthy dose of flirting, obviously), and Anil builds her dream house, The Pine Palace, right outside Pin’s window. And if that’s not a declaration of love, I don’t know what is. By the time Anil returns to Thailand, it’s clear that these two are more than just friends—though Pin’s slow-burn realization is both adorable and, at times, frustratingly relatable.

And let’s talk about the hairpins. When Anil gifts Pin a gold hairpin, she’s essentially saying, “I belong to you.” And Pin, finally catching on, responds with, “Pin belongs to Anil only.” Cue the swoon-worthy consummation of their love. This is what we’ve been waiting for, people!

The End of Volume 1: A Rude Awakening

Of course, it wouldn’t be a love story without some heartbreak. Just when we’re riding high on Anil and Pin’s blossoming relationship, Anil gets shipped back to England, and we’re left hanging with Pin anxiously waiting for her return. “I will come back soon. Khun Pin, please wait for me.” And that’s where it ends, folks. Rude, right?

Final Thoughts

Volume 1 of The Loyal Pin has set the stage for what promises to be an epic and emotional journey. From childhood mischief to the stirrings of first love, Anil and Pin’s story is one that captures the essence of growing up, discovering yourself, and learning to navigate the complex world of love and duty. We can’t wait to see how this unfolds in the series—there’s so much more to come!

Stay tuned for our next episode, where we dive deeper into their evolving relationship and all the drama that comes with it.