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James did an amazing job as Boo. I believed every second of his acting and it truly broke my heart. I could clearly see how vulnerable he was. How he fought, gave up and fought again. The few glimpses of hope he showed, how it motivated him to take action, but also the fear that paralyzed him at times. The whole arc of the character was amazing. The parallel between the beginning and ending scenes created this perfect, cohesive picture. Truth to be told, when I saw the ending sequence with Boo's narration I was shocked by how perfect it was. I would not change anything. The most satisfying ending I have ever seen in a drama. I could see that a lot of thought and planning was put into filming and writing it.
The good writing can also be seen with Bell's character. In the beginning, the conversation she has with her superior about the connection and empathy she feels to her patients was foreshadowing of what's to come. She was an amazing friend to Boo, but she was truly not that good of a psychiatrist. And I am 100% fine with it, as it was well written for her character. Not only was she just an intern, so she did not have that much practical experience yet, she also picked that specific job because of emotional and personal reasons that made it hard for her to stay objective.
I love how the show tackled the issue of how depression can affect others around them and how hard it is for people who have never been depressed and have no psychological/psychiatric knowledge to understand it. Starting with the dad, who had a hard time accepting his son might have such a big problem, to Simon, who might have had good intentions, but at times his actions were not fitting when dealing with someone struggling emotionally like Boo.
The show hints about many issues concerning mental health. One of the lines that is stuck in my head is "You think because he's depressed, he can't do anything wrong?" said by one of Simon's friends. Just this one line made me pause the show. I started to think, how much responsibility can a person with severe mental problems really take, how can a victim of their actions feel and react when they can't even truly blame anyone for what happened? Who should take the responsibility? There were many moments that just made you stop and think about the presented topic.
I also have to talk about the clever editing and them trying to visually present the symptoms of depression and Boo's feelings. I felt like they truly wanted to make sure the audience would understand the presented content. The perfection of the scene that was Bell explaining to Boo's dad the core idea of what depression is, was too perfect for me to describe. Her psychiatric approach and explanations intertwined with Boo describing how these symptoms express in him... wow. I literally clapped as I was watching this scene, because I was simply so impressed.
That said, even though in my eyes, this show is pure perfection, it's not for everyone. It's extremely graphic and at times emotionally exhausting. It presents the severe case of depression with all the symptoms of it (including self harm and suicide attempts). It might be too heavy for some.
I would recommend it for anyone who struggles with grasping the idea of mental health struggles and feels like it's hard to imagine how it can manifest in a daily behavior and what it truly means. The explanation does not get any better than here.
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- the cinematography. everything is on point. the camera effects, the shots, the lighting… everything fits in the aesthetic of the show and is beautiful to look at.
- the acting. James Teeradon, man. he slayed it. he’s truly incredible and it makes me want to see him in other roles, because damn. all the other actors are also amazing! there’s not one single bad performance, everything is perfect
- the story. it truly touched my heart in a way no other has done before. you cry a lot, you smile a lot, and the whole conclusion of the story is probably one of the best lessons you could learn
- the way it deals with depression: amazingly. there’s no flaw, it shows the point of view of the depressed superbly, but also shows the reactions of those who are not directly affected by it
- Tony Rakkaen. man his character design for this show is crazy good. he looks like he just came from a cool ass comic or something. I guess that bullet point is more about character design, universe design, all that shit: it’s done wonderfully as well. as I said previously everything fits together
- the characters. all of them are endearing, and both Simon and Boo’s dad have great character development
- contrarily to Spike and Side by Side, the ending is entirely happy. all three shows have a hopeful ending but Spike and Side by Side are sort of bittersweet whereas Skate Our Souls is just plain happiness
cons:
- none which never happens
would I rewatch it: 1000% yes.
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This review may contain spoilers
i am writing this while i have literal tears running down my cheeks.this show is one of the best things i've seen in my whole life. that goes for the whole project s series by the way.
as a person who suffers with mental disorders myself, this was very very close to home, but it shows that the they did achieve what they aimed for. being real. they hit the nail right on the head with how real it is.
while i don't recommend this to a person who's still in a very bad state of mind, since it can be very personal, i do recommend you put this on your to watch list, and watch it when you're better.
i'm honestly flabbergasted, i cried the whole last episode. i would even attach an image to show you all.
the show had a great way of portraying how Simon didn't know anything about depression and all, reacted heavily and wrong to it, but the more he hang out with Boo and Bell, he understood it. he didn't push it as much, where in the first moments you would see him almost force Boo to do something.
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The plot was amazing!!! They went beyond my expectations!!! They literally made us feel what it's like to have depression. They don't just tell, they SHOW. I'm still in awe with how amazing this series. I wanna give a huge applause to the director, the writers, the staff and the actors & actresses. ALL OF THEM ARE AMAZING!!!!!!
One thing I love about the story (it may seem nothing to you but it's not to me) was that Boo had absolutely zero friends in school. Many other shows or videos that talks about depression always include that the person who has depression "have friends in school but still feel lonely". However, for Boo, he literally has no friends in school and feel extremely lonely. Boo is me. I'm Boo. Just like Boo, I feel lonely in school and don't fit well in there. That was +1 point to me.
I'm the type who likes to observe the actors' and actresses' facial expressions more than being into the story. So I love talking about the characters' emotions and expressions.
James, who played as Boo, was extremely amazing as to how he potrayed his character, who has depression. I love that he was so into his character that he felt connected with Boo. I was absolutely speechless with his acting. No words can describe how beautiful James' acting was. I could instantly feel his pain just by looking at him. I could feel what he's feeling. I could see hisㅡnot so obviousㅡsmall expressions.
Toni, who played as Simon, was the best in acting as a jerk in it. Because of him, I hate Simon yet still love him. I love observing Simon's face changing when he realises his mistake. Simon is someone who keeps saying that he doesn't care about the person but he actually do but still doesn't want to admit it.
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The rest of the cast was also more than well put. I have the hugest love for Simon.
The series addressed a whole bunch of issues such as mental health and the consequences of neglecting it, parent-adolescent relationships, failure and persistence etc... A lot can be taught to our communities through such a series. Such high ratings...well deserved.
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It proved me totally wrong...
Its main plot is about a teen who is depressed, he also has a very pressuring dad who simply doesn't realise his son is suffering at all...at first everything seems to just get worse and worse, and yes... it does touch some very dark themes, as a result of all the things he goes to commit suicide until by accident he meets Simon and his gang.
I found it really inspiring... and I would definitely recommend it to anyone out there who's a bit depressed xD
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Wow! I watched James in Great Men Academy, where he played Love, and he was very cute and sweet in that role. But nothing could have prepared me for his brilliant performance here as Boo. This was acting of the highest level... compelling, convincing, believable. As an actor, James is the real deal.Along with that, I was impressed by the entire cast... not one weak link among them.
This was a no-nonsense depiction of teenage depression. I was particularly impressed that the writers kept it real, without resorting to the typical "and they all lived happily ever after" ending. While the ending was not sad, it was clear that Boo was not "cured," but was improving and remained hopeful.
My only complaint with the story is that I could have done without the Boo/Fern "relationship." I had no problem with Fern as a character, but to have the two of them enter into a pseudo-romantic relationship seemed not only unrealistic, but unnecessary. Along with that, making the Boo the cause of Mon's career-ending injury was overkill. For me, the first 4 episodes were incredibly powerful. After that, the direction the writers took gave the story less impact.
This is not a lighthearted story, but I highly recommend it.
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PLOT:
This series was not a joke! The plot was totally insane, insane in the sense that it will do complex games with your mind and with your emotions but I love playing the said game. Don't misunderstood, I just want to applaud this series in a different way. I totally love this series. Story wise it was wonderful. Lesson wise it was more wonderful but what makes this series the best was the fact that they've discussed an issue which concerns our community now. They showed how terrible depression was. Yes, your heard it right. Teeradon "James" Supapunpinyo (Boo) the male lead was suffering with depression. He badly wanted to become a normal person, he even went to the hospital on his own though he was still underage or below 18 years old. I will stop telling the story from here because I am doing a review not a summary. I might spoil those who haven't watch yet and I don't want that to happen. But again this series was really something.
ACTING/CASTS:
It was the first time for me to see Teeradon "James" (Boo) doing a heavy drama. I saw a different side of him in this series. Too much different from the Teeradon of Hormones, of the Bad Genius and all other series and films that he has done. He perfectly played this role and took it by heart. Rakkaen (Simon/Baimon/Mon), everytime I see him what I can remember is the male lead in the Senior Secret Love: Bake Me Love Series. I really love his acting in this series. A funny yet serious kind of person. I like his green hair too. To Chansangavej (Bell), I am not sure if I have seen her somewhere but I think I did. What made me like her in this series was when she cried outside of Boo's room after Boo's father shooed her away. Her acting in that scene was so emotional. Regarding Boo's father what I like him most in this series was when he humbly asked Boo where he hide the antidepressants. That scene in the kitchen was so heart moving. To Narupornkamol (Baifern), I don't like her that much in this series. She's been in Hormones the Series right? I think she was there. Well, Maybe I just don't like her role here. Sorry. :-) By the way special mention to the friends of Mon, to Jasper and Dong. Skating was not a joke. The bruises and fractures that you can get from playing it were really serious so I salute you guys. (Mon) did a good job too though I know that in those difficult scenes and tricks a double took over his place or maybe I was just assuming...hehehe. ????
MUSIC:
The best application of background music for me in this series was when Teeradon "James" (Boo) was about to do the jump in the Something Giant Park. The background music there was in English and I found it very appropriate. Hehehe. The background music every time an emotional scene is going to happen was also remarkable. I was able to appreciate the scene better because of it.
OVERALL:
I've already watched Project S: Side By Side and I thought that was already the most emotional series that I've watched but this series butt in and took over the throne. During the first episode I can already feel the hurt and the pain because of what the male lead was experiencing. I can't cry because its too much of a pain...I don't know why. There were some scenes where I covered my eyes but still leaving some small holes to peeped in on those scenes which makes my heart beats so fast. I've been into a roller coaster of emotions and think I am lucky for feeling those things because at least I know that I am normal not just like Boo the male lead. Depression is a topic which needs proper attention. Once a person showed some symptoms of depression, be alert and be always ready to comfort because there's nothing we can do anymore once they are gone. With all being said and done, I will give a 15/10 rating for this film. Sorry but this series was too perfect for me. The series was too emotional so if you can't take to watch such film I advised that you should watch it with a friend.
Leaving Is / Not Simple / As Breathing
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Best portrayal of depression in an asain drama
This drama has the best example ofa depressed person I've ever seen
till now. Like I haven't seen a
depressed person is real life so I
can't say but after reading some
books and articles online and in real
life I got an idea of it. I'm so glad
this drama exists, even though it's
underrated af but I'm thankful to the
producers to make this kind of
drama cuz it really was needed.
Now for those who don't know about
it. The drama focuses one a high
school teen named boo who's
suffering from depression for quite
a long time. He does not know what
to do so he Google research like
any teenager and finds out that he
has symptoms of depression and so
he immediately told his father about
but his father said " it's just
SADNESS, you'll get over it. Focus
on your studies" after hearing that
boo knew that he ain't getting help
from anybody and he also tries to do
suicide but one thing stopped him -
his skateboard. One day, he stole a
skateboard from a guy name Simon
and now he loves to skate. It's the
only thing in his life that makes him
happy. The drama is his journey of
how he dealt with his depression
with the help of his friends and
family. The way they executed the
story was brilliant. I loved the
cinematography of it. I know it has
nothing to do with the psychological
genre but the colour of the drama
was of neon. They always used
neon colour or red and green which
really was amazing cuz that created
the atmosphere matching with the
storyline. The acting of every actor
was so good. Specially James and
Simon's actor. They really did an
mind-blowing performance. The
other actors were good too but
these two were just incredibly
amazing. It really felt like a drama
about a depressed person when the
colours were all neon. Boo's journey
was showed amazingly. I loved the
psychiatrist character's portrayal
and how she was an intern and
hence she had more feelings for
boo. Simon was an amusing
character and I loved him for that.
I loved how they showed that his
friends and his dad slowly started
to accept the fact that he's
depressed and slowly started to
understand his situation. It wasn't
quick and it wasn't that they were
not trying to but they took time as
a normal person would. I loved
every character's development and
how in the end they gave us a
beautiful message, you don't need
a beautiful reason to live, being
alive is beautiful in its own.
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Skate Our Souls Will “ Save” Your Soul From Typical Idol Dramas...
There’s no denying that Project ; Skate Our Souls does have a certain “idol” teen quality within casting a fairly “ good looking” and a “ young” actor such as Teeradon Supapunpinyo ( renowned for his roles in Hormones 2 and 3) to play our main character, a depressed high school student referred to as Boo throughout the series.Yet rather than playing upon his looks alone, Supapunpinyo’s appearance is fairly unrecognisable ; from clothes chosen by the stylist to hang loosely upon his frame to a buzz cut hairstyle accompanying his fatigued appearance, Supapunpinyo truly seems to step into his role throughout the series as a teen struggling with depression.
Yet contrary to the the unassuming appearance of Supapunpinyo as Boo, Toni Rakkaen skates onto screen impressively as Boo’s senior and a pro- skater, Simon with a vivid array of wardrobe choices and hair which seems to channel his inner G- Dragon ( particularly from BIGBANG’s music video Fxxk it).
It is made evident for viewers that from his appearance alone during their first meeting , Simon is seemingly everything that Boo is not; confident, cocky and certainly a vivacious flirt with Boo’s kind-hearted and worried doctor and psychologist Bell( Chayanit Charnsangarvej).
This would seem to naturally draw the conclusion that the show will take the cliche route of trying to enforce
a strange and sudden “ fraternal” friendship between Boo and Simon over the course of the series , with the former suddenly trying to help Boo to overcome his depressive thoughts, get together with his younger sister Fern ( Narupornkamol Chaisang)and for everything in the end to become hunky dory.
Yet refreshingly unlike a lot of idol dramas which would take this route , Boo and Simon’s relationship is complicated between a mixture of teasing and later revelations which plays a greater role in later episodes. This was a surprisingly intriguing development between the characters as individuals (including Fern), rather than just mere plot devices to get the story to advance.
On the other hand, perhaps the one compliant which should be noted about this series,is that the film quality isn’t brilliant. Whilst this does add a sense of realism at times to being like a fly-on- the- wall documentary of a fictional character ( Boo) ‘s experiences , this sometimes did not help with portraying the emotion or depth of some scenes ( sometimes this often didn’t help with actually portraying the problems for Boo during his moments of “spiralling “ in the show). Additionally there’s no sugarcoating as well that whilst our cast is fairly good, there are a couple of lacklustre moments of acting also ( even from Supapunpinyo during some scenes of his interpreted role upon “ depression” ).
On a more positive note, however, one aspect of the show which must be praised is the portrayal of a complicated and progressive relationship between Boo and his father ( Tom Phollawat Manuprasert) . In several early episodes of the series, Boo’s father is shown to realistically not be able to quite grasp what’s “ wrong” with his son’s sudden slipping grades and weariness at home . Whilst most idol dramas would write this off as Boo’s father being “uncaring “ and a “ villainous” character, he’s actually revealed to love and care about his son over the course of the drama . This relationship is dedicatedly presented as complicated and surprisingly heartwarming even in the final episodes.
Overall Skate Our Souls was a surprisingly more realistic and refreshing portrayal of teenagers and youths in Asian dramas with an intriguing plot premise of friendship, development and genuinely likeable characters. Certainly worth dedicating time towards and watching if you want a break from typical “ sugarcoated” idol teen dramas.
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