Fish Upon the Sky became one of the most talked-about Thai BL dramas of 2021 because of the unusual relationship dynamic between Pi and Mork. Unlike many romantic dramas where the main couple immediately develops emotional chemistry, Fish Upon the Sky begins with misunderstanding, insecurity, and rivalry. Pi initially sees Mork as an obstacle standing between him and his crush, Muang Nan, while Mork secretly harbors feelings for Pi from the very beginning.
What makes their relationship interesting is how gradually it develops. Their story is not built around instant attraction alone. Instead, the series focuses heavily on Pi’s insecurities, fear of rejection, and difficulty accepting genuine affection. Mork, meanwhile, acts as someone who consistently pushes through Pi’s emotional walls, even when Pi repeatedly rejects him.
The relationship also explores themes of self-worth and emotional vulnerability. Pi spends most of the series believing he is unlovable because of how others treated him in the past. Mork becomes the first person who genuinely accepts him without expecting him to change. That emotional foundation is what slowly transforms their rivalry into romance.
Let’s break down how Pi and Mork’s relationship evolves throughout Fish Upon the Sky and why their emotional dynamic became the heart of the series.
Why Pi Initially Hates Mork
At the beginning of the series, Pi views Mork as his biggest rival. According to the official synopsis of Fish Upon the Sky, Pi is a shy dentistry student who has a crush on Muang Nan, a popular and kind pharmacy student. However, Mork is always beside Nan, which immediately makes Pi suspicious and jealous. This jealousy becomes the starting point of their relationship.
Pi already struggles with self-confidence because of years of bullying related to his appearance. Before his makeover, he wore braces and thick glasses and constantly felt judged by the people around him. After photos of him online received cruel comments, his insecurity became even worse.
Mork’s teasing personality only intensifies Pi’s frustration. Instead of openly confessing his feelings, Mork constantly jokes with Pi and interferes with his attempts to get close to Muang Nan. From Pi’s perspective, Mork seems arrogant, overly confident, and intentionally annoying.
However, the audience gradually realizes something Pi does not understand yet: Mork is teasing him because he likes him. This misunderstanding creates much of the romantic tension during the first half of the series. Pi interprets Mork’s actions as rivalry, while Mork is actually trying to get closer to him emotionally.
Mork Falls for Pi Long Before the Story Begins
One of the most important reveals in Fish Upon the Sky is that Mork liked Pi long before Pi ever noticed him. According to episode summaries and relationship breakdowns, Mork had secretly admired Pi for quite some time and used teasing as a way to interact with him. This changes the entire context of their earlier interactions.
Mork’s feelings are genuine from the start. Unlike Pi, who initially focuses entirely on Muang Nan, Mork pays attention to Pi himself rather than his appearance or popularity. This distinction becomes very important later in the series because Pi assumes people only value him after his makeover. Mork repeatedly proves otherwise.
Several reviews and fan discussions point out that Mork consistently supports Pi emotionally even when Pi pushes him away. Whether helping him after embarrassing situations or confessing directly despite rejection, Mork remains emotionally honest throughout the series.
At the same time, Mork is not portrayed as perfect. Some viewers criticized his overly persistent behavior and teasing style, especially during the earlier episodes. However, the series frames his persistence as coming from genuine affection rather than manipulation.
What ultimately separates Mork from Pi’s earlier crush on Muang Nan is emotional depth. Muang Nan represents idealized admiration, while Mork represents someone who truly understands Pi’s fears and insecurities.
Pi’s Insecurities Become the Biggest Obstacle in Their Relationship
The biggest obstacle in Pi and Mork’s relationship is not an outside rival. It is Pi’s inability to believe he deserves love.
Throughout the series, Pi constantly doubts Mork’s sincerity. Even after Mork confesses his feelings directly, Pi struggles to accept that someone genuinely likes him. According to reviews and plot summaries discussing the series, Pi’s insecurity is deeply tied to years of bullying and social isolation. This emotional conflict becomes especially clear after Pi’s makeover.
Although changing his appearance gives him more confidence initially, it does not fix his deeper emotional issues. Pi still fears rejection and worries that people only care about him because he looks more attractive. This is why he repeatedly pushes Mork away despite clearly developing feelings for him.
One of the strongest aspects of their relationship is how realistically this fear affects Pi’s decisions. Instead of immediately embracing romance, he reacts defensively whenever the relationship becomes emotionally serious.
The series repeatedly shows Pi panicking whenever he starts feeling vulnerable around Mork. Even after realizing his feelings, he proposes keeping their relationship secret because he is afraid of public judgment.
This secrecy creates additional tension between them because Mork wants to love Pi openly while Pi remains trapped by insecurity.
How Mork Helps Pi Accept Himself
Mork’s most important role in the story is helping Pi gradually accept himself. Unlike other people in Pi’s life, Mork never treats him differently because of his appearance. According to relationship analyses and episode discussions, Mork openly states that he liked Pi even before the makeover. This revelation becomes one of the emotional turning points of the series because it directly challenges Pi’s belief that he is only lovable when attractive.
The relationship, therefore, becomes less about romance alone and more about emotional healing. Mork consistently reassures Pi that his value does not depend on popularity or appearance. This support becomes especially important near the end of the series when Pi’s old photos are leaked publicly at Mork’s birthday party.
Pi immediately assumes Mork will feel embarrassed by him, which triggers all of his old insecurities again. However, Mork responds by making it clear that he genuinely loves Pi regardless of how others see him.
This moment is crucial because it completes Pi’s emotional arc. For most of the story, Pi believes he must change himself to deserve affection. Mork helps him realize that genuine love already accepts him as he is. That emotional progression is ultimately what makes their relationship work.