Manner of Death (2020)

My speculations to the mystery are off

Anything in Mystery/Thriller dramas isn't skippable. Why? I don't want to miss the important details that will lead to the final revelation. I appreciate the hard work of the whole team in making this series. Although there are some minor details that are illogical, I will just leave them buried. As a whole, the storyline is impressive. I never expected the criminals. I got teary eyes at the end (THIS IS NOT SPOILER). The scene isn't sad but I got emotional while looking back in their story since episode 1.

Regarding acting, let me mention first my opinion to the main leads (Max-Tul). I finished watching their 2017 series "Together With Me" yesterday and I found their roles not fitting to them. Their appearances are serious and mature. They're quite fit in bed scenes though. Here in this series, they really fit in their roles well and they did a great portrayal. Also to mention, I started watching this last night for the reason that I want something far from comedy and school-related dramas. But, I didn't expect that this is another Max-Tul series. Luckily, I made the right pick and realized that Max-Tul are fantastic actors.

All casts act impeccably in this series. Mind you, this is a mystery/thriller with some actions. Every lousy acting can be easily noticed but everything is well-executed.

What a great casts and great team behind.

A must-watch! Romance is like 1% only of the entire series but I don't mind it because even the scenes are not many, Max-Tul acted naturally and hotly. They may not look appealing and attractive for me but their R18+ scenes are steamy as hell. Even if we remove the Romance scenes, this is still a MUST-WATCH! That's how good this series is.

(Overall suggested is 8.5/10 but I will rate 9.0/10)

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More 'mature' BL

This was a neat wee show. I feel bad that it took me a couple of months to get through it, but I feel like I wasn't as captivated as I should have been. That's on me, not the show.

This is a more mature series when it comes to the storyline and acting, in the sense of it's 'older' characters/actors and it's not all about the cute touches, blushes and kisses. The couplings are just accepted, which is something I loved; every now and then you get a little tired of the cliché BL tropes (as much as I love them) and it was refreshing to watch two men be comfortable with one another in private and in public. (That proposal was insane and I loved it, okay?)

The storyline was a little bit of a rollercoaster in terms of who the real villains were, but it got there in the end.

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From promising crime series to a BL of sorts...

(...that doesn't satisfy your need to watch something similiar to KinnPorsche)

Manner of Death has been thrown around the internet alongside Not Me as a series to watch if you're into more "dark themed" BL's like KinnPorsche. As the latter is in overall a great show I didn't need much more convincing to give this a go. At first, I was pleasently surprised to notice the plot emphasizes crime investigation over romance, which I would've preferred to be the case with KinnPorsche as well. That being said, the choice of approach turned out to be a double-edged sword: whereas Manner of Death had all the potential to be a solid crime series, the mystery-centered plot nabbed away necessary minutes from the main couple which is why Manner of Death barely scrapes the BL-surface enough to be called one. I don't mind this though, as I found it refreshing how the romance developed in a natural way in midst of trying to figure out who the killer is. This apply to the side couple as well, who I ended up preferring over the main ship. I'm usually not that into teen romances but That and Sorawit made me smile like an and I still think about them with warmth. I just cannot but respect the age appropriate portrayal of their developing relationship. Overall, I believe the production team also noticed the lack of BL tropes as they threw (out of nowhere) Inspector M and Oat into the love pool in the very last minute. (Not that I mind, I see the potential and I'd wish they would've given us more than just the one scene.)

So, in conclusion, Manner of Death isn't really a BL but a crime series with a pinch of romance. If you're looking for something as intense as KinnPorsche, I'd look for a another series. Even if you're okay with the lack of romance and smooches I'd still recommend you to treat your withdrawal symptoms with something else. For me, Manner of Death lacks in many areas where KinnPorsche shines from production values to acting. KinnPorsche is crisp, high quality of a show, whereas Manner of Death is murky and uninspiring. I bet making gifs of the series is a bitch.

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a definite must-watch

I really enjoyed this! From the beginning it was boots to the ground, "what's gonna happen next?" levels of plot development. It draws you in quickly, and the chemistry between the two leads, as well as with the rest of the cast in terms of who they're portraying, is undeniable.

There were a few parts with the romantic development where I was questioning why something would have happened that way, or how it could have occurred that way (vague, I know) but it really does explain the questions you first ask yourself when watching. You've just got to wait to learn more about the past of each character.

Re: the past, I was pleased how much back story there was regarding the main plot, and how we are presented with multiple different scenarios throughout. It leaves you wonder: what did happen? And there were things I was still confused about up until the very end where it was resolved, which makes for a great murder mystery.

The subject-matter at times is a bit heavier than I expected, which is funny considering this is a murder mystery show, but if you're looking for something light-hearted and weren't necessarily deterred by the title, I'd steer clear of this one. However, if you're looking for something frustrating, with lots of twists and turns, this one is for you!

Overall, this was really good, and I'll have to re-watch it at some point.

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Mystery Show with BL Elements

**Brief Synopsis**
B (Doctor): Dr. Bun
T (N/A): Tan

- Beginning: B is a medical examiner who has newly arrived in town. The story starts when a friend of his is killed and the police are eager to mark it off as a suicide. He doesn’t believe them and tries to investigate on his own even after someone threatens him to stop.

- Middle: T volunteers to help B with his investigation and after helping B a few times, B finally starts trusting him and they grew closer and start getting more intimate. B end up moving to T’s house to hide from his attackers.

- End: The story ends with the revelation that the head of police is actually involved in human trafficking and drugs and that the girl who died at the beginning found out about this and was threatening to expose them.

**My Opinion**

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT IT:
- The show is a mystery show with BL elements because most of the show focuses on the case. This also means there is little relationship angst. The only angst part is when A found out B lied to him but that part is resolved very fast. But otherwise, the interactions between A and B are very cute and lighthearted. I also like the fact that they work together to solve the case.
- The acting is really nice and the leads do a great job at displaying the love between the main characters. The rest of the actors do a pretty good job as well...at least better then other shows.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE ABOUT IT:
- Pacing is kind of weird for the romance part because it seemed a little too fast. It’s easier to accept if you looked at it as love at first sight. Pacing for the case is pretty okay.
- The mystery feels a little weak and predictable. Very simple and predictable storyline with no plot twists or especially notable moments. Although the show presents itself as a who-done-it type of show, it was pretty obvious since the beginning what the overarching narrative was going to be. The trope “girl got killed because she knew too much” has been done numerous times before.
- Because of its subject matter, the themes dealt are also pretty dark. Themes such as drug addiction, governmental corruption, greed, prostitution are all present.

**Conclusion**
Anyone who wants to watch a detective show with BL elements can take a look. This follows the same template as American detective tv series.

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Tul’s Legacy to Gay Drama

As a tribute to Tul leaving the acting industry for a real estate career:

"Manner of Death ," among all the MaxTul series, is truly exceptional and my personal favorite. This gem stands out as one of the finest gay dramas ever created, transcending the typical BL genre. It's primarily a captivating crime mystery that happens to revolve around two gay characters, showcasing the brilliance of both storytelling and adaptation from a novel.

Learning that Tul is leaving the entertainment industry to pursue a real estate career is bittersweet. While we wish him all the best in his new endeavor, it's saddening to know that fans, including myself, won't get to experience the anticipated series with MaxTul.

This series centers around Dr. Bun, who moves to a rural part of Chiang Mai, and the mysterious death of his friend, Jane. The storyline takes us on a thrilling journey as Dr. Bun uses his forensic skills to prove it was murder, not suicide. Uncovering power, corruption, and sex trafficking among city officials, the plot is rife with unexpected twists and turns, keeping us engaged until the very end.

Though the romance of Dr. Bun and Tan might deviate from the original novel, the essence of their relationship shines through. The chemistry between MaxTul is, as always, superb, and Inspector M's skin-tight uniform is a delight for fans. The acting and cinematography are top-notch, elevating the series to an unforgettable viewing experience.

While I thoroughly enjoyed "Manner of Death ," my only quibble lies with the wedding proposal scene. Pistol whipping isn’t romantic for a proposal in the elaborate scheme, and I couldn't help but imagine flinging the ring back if I were in that situation.

As we bid farewell to Tul's acting career, let us cherish the moments he graced our BL hearts, leaving us with unforgettable performances, especially in "Manner of Death." It is a testament to his talent and dedication, and I'll forever cherish this captivating series as part of his legacy.

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Wild but the good kind

Manner of Death is what you expect it to be from the trailer. Dark and different, certainly not for those who just came to watch two men google each other (though that does happen, don't worry). It feels like them being gay really is only secondary. The murder and everything around is the focus (as it should be!)

I love that there is an attempt of more complex plot. I love a good romance drama, but sometimes you just want something different.

There were a lot of twists and also plotholes for sure. The writing could have been better, but MaxTul ATE with their amazing chemistry.
Just for them, it's already worth to watch.

I am looking forward to the sequel. I loved the very last scene in Triage that hinted more.

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If you are looking for a murder mystery, then you are at the right place.

First of all, I wasn't expecting this series to be so good. I am not a big fan of MaxTul, one of their previous drama had actually traumatized me to the point that I refused to watch anything else with them. But this series just changed my whole perception of both.

Let me break down the review for you all:

Story
I was actually amazed to know that the storyline of the series is actually a bit different from the original novel. Generally, authors don't like if their original material is not followed, but hats off to the author for being open-minded and giving the team creative freedom. The story is so engaging and fast-paced that things are insanely interesting from the first episode. I like how bits and pieces of clues were given since the first episode regarding the murder of Jane which is the headstart of the main events that are to be followed. Elements like corruption, sex trafficking, a victim of sexual abuse and drugs are well incorporated into the story which actually brought the essence of the series and delivered the necessary message to the audience. I like how there was not a single necessary part that was not added to the narrative, rather I had issues with certain parts which were left unexplained.
The series is more like a plot and character-driven. I felt that the relationship thing was actually secondary which is absolutely what I was looking for. The ending was rather good as well as a bit open which gives us hope for the second season(not confirmed).

Acting
Max did a remarkable job in portraying his character, Tan. I like the transition of his expression from caring to fiercesome making it suitable for his character. As someone who has a complicated background and struggles in the mud of the dark side, he is shown as a mysterious person. Initially in the story, you can notice his smile which comes off as he is hiding something, but as the story progresses we see the real Tan and his genuine smile. He sometimes gives a psychotic vibe who is ever-ready to finish his job at all costs but at the same time beneath that cold demeanor, he hides a caring personality for the people who are close to them and would do anything to keep them safe. Max never failed to deliver the right emotions at the right time.
Tul had portrayed Bun. We are introduced to his character as someone who doesn't easily back down even when being pressured by someone influential. It is he who initiates to get entangled in the mesh of the complication in the plot despite being warned and threatened.
Okay, so I was shamelessly distracted by Inspector M. I mean he is so freaking gorgeous. I was so glad that he didn't pick the bad side which I initially thought he might which would've broken my heart. His character is a perfect example of someone who is trapped in the pressure of corrupt power. His conscience of being a policeman is often contradicted when he obeys his immediate superior.

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Manner of Death bored me to death

The beginning was promising and as a crime/thriller fan, I was truly looking forward to this series. I tried not to set my standards too high as it's a Thai series, however, it still fell short. Nothing against Thai series, I just don't believe crime/thriller is their strong suit though it could be because I've been watching meh-tier projects. Or I'm dumb and can't comprehend what they're trying to convey to their audience.
Their surface ideas are always fascinating but deliveries never live up to said ideas. After episode 3, I watched the rest on 2x out of obligation and to see who the murderer(s) is/are. Can't say I was surprised. Thai series tend to lean towards shock value and that's usually when everything falls apart. And I'm not even going to discuss the romance between our leads Bun and Tan because wtf. Halfway through the series, I found myself saying 'huh?' and 'what?' a lot. A lot of it made little to no sense. The timeline was unclear and why was everything 10 years ago?? The acting was decent, I don't remember much of the music... I thought Bun scoffed too much, it was almost every other two lines, or at least felt like it. Tan was alright, kind of unmemorable, he wasn't my favorite character so I didn't give him much thought. I liked That and Sorawit but only as friends, brothers, or partners in crime. My favorite character has to be the hacker guy.

Some of the more glaring parts that didn't make sense:
- Inspector M believes Tan killed Tan's relative-close-like brother Pued out of pure jealousy. I mean, possible so whatever, but then he went on to accuse Tan of and these are his words "cruelly locked him [Pued] up." I'm sorry, Inspector M, but what clean place with nice big open windows suggests that he was 'cruelly' locked up? Not only that, Pued was wearing nice, ordinary clothes. In what galaxy is a kidnapped hostage given clean clothes and good, normal living conditions with no locks or bars? And then Bun went on to say that the place was in the middle of the woods so how could anyone hear anything? Bro, did you not see all the open windows and other houses that were within 20 steps of it? It's not like the shack was in the middle of nowhere, it had an open view with walkways and houses around it??
- So Por sent his men to kill Tan but when Inspector M confronted him on the same day (hours later) he explained it as his men possibly having an issue with Tan that he wasn't aware of. In what genres do minions ever go out of their way to try to kill their boss' sibling and aren't punished for it? Not only was this a horrible excuse, but when Inspector M asked to talk to Tan, Por essentially said 'You can't, I sent him on a work trip and he won't be back for a month' and Inspector M bought his story??? So you're telling me, Big Boss' minions tried to kill Boss' brother between 1-2 AM and say 7-10 AM that same day Big Boss sends the same little bro on a business trip? Huh? Make it make sense.
- The police claimed to have shot Tan because he shot the 'hostage Dr. Bun' and resisted arrest. Crime fanatics know if there aren't bodies, there are usually no deaths. Still, the police ignorantly settled on 'Oh the two bodies must have been carried off within minutes/hours' but if you looked at the body of water, it appeared to be more of a large lake or at least the water was still for the most part...? Next thing we know the police show up at the hospital, a very public place, to arrest Dr. Bun - the man they referred to as the 'dead hostage' to the media. What on earth, why? I mean, we know why, but why in public? Anyway, putting their dumb plan aside, what crime were they going to arrest him for exactly? Surviving? Deceiving??
- The part where Pued and Rung were discussing the 'plan' for Bun was a little murky. As far as we know Rung had no real plan for Bun? Unless we're talking about the threatening, blackmailing, and scaring Bun into dropping Jane's case as Rung was also the one who told Pued where to hide?
- Tan cuffing Bun to the staircase and then leaving him with no food, water, or even his phone to take care of a risky situation was not only dopey but shortsighted. What if he never came back? Bun would have died as he never bothered to find a way to free himself. I literally screamed 'kick/break the wooden stick' every time he was on screen lol. What's dopier is Bun was not a little bit angry or annoyed about getting cuffed for hours. I mean, even the nicest man would have something to say about it? Also what person who isn't a cop goes around carrying and has cuffs on the go? Are we supposed to believe it was premeditated? Tan's shortsightedness?

I liked that this series tackled dark and real themes such as human trafficking, drugs, offenses against minors, and murder (reason #1 I'm giving it more than 5 stars) but when people started dropping like flies and no one really gave af, it became silly and absurd. Initially, Bun would be surprised and shocked to see his acquaintances' lifeless bodies but at one point he seemed numbed and emotionless. Out of sight, out of mind, I suppose. The way he thought of Pued as a close friend but still made a ludicrous comment about Pued being a ghost was odd. And I don't understand why Tan turns serious junctures into flirty, obnoxious moments. The sex scene came out of nowhere and it wasn't a pleasant surprise (seriously skipped it). I wasn't sure if it was the adrenaline rush from them breaking into Inspector M's truck and stealing the laptop or what but I was not expecting sex after committing a crime when I thought discovering the content inside the laptop was first priority.

Speaking of priority, I believe that's what's killed the series for me. The characters' priorities were inconsistent and all over the place. Bad guys suddenly became good and good guys are hidden bad guys. Call it twists if you will but Idunno I didn't feel that our protagonists were desperate enough to get to the bottom of all the murders and mysteries happening around them.

And this is just me nitpicking but why do whenever these characters drive, they can never keep the steering wheel straight? All those little weavings aren't good for your car sir!

On a positive note, I highly enjoyed the last two episodes where they showed us what Rung really did to Jane. Not sure how I feel about Pued's first reaction being to film it but at least it counted as evidence in the long run. Rung and Jane had a nice sisterly-loving relationship; Jane having her sister's birthday as her password was sadly beautiful so when Rung threw their sisterhood away for her greed it was very heartbreaking. I feel horrible for Jane. I don't think she truly got her justice but at least some of her offenders were charged for multiple crimes against multiple victims.

All in all, it wasn't the worst but wasn't the best series. I would recommend it to those who are into shows with multiple villains and plot twists but I myself wouldn't re-watch the entire serie.

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Want more of these!!

This was an excellent drama with top notch direction, screen play and acting. Honestly wasn't expecting much just wanted to watch for MaxTul & Sammon but this exceeded my expectations.
Sammon has written some very good, mature & unproblematic bl novels with quite a variety. Plus the fact that she is supposedly a doctor is assurance in itself that the series would probably be correct technically atleast story wise. MaxTul are kings when it comes to chemistry. You can say they paved the way for uninhibited chemistry through their on-screen & off screen camaraderie. Their acting had developed so much too. I just hope to see more of them in future. Returning to the series. I loved the pacing of the scenes and the direction. The screen play was great. I appreciated how the suspense maintained till the end made this drama all the more exciting. This one isn't for people who just love watching typical BLs but more for the seasoned veterans who can enjoy both typical bls and celebrate such gems.

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