Manner of Death (2020)

Y'ALL BEEN SLEEPING ON THIS

I've watched Max and Tul in Together with Me and already am a fan of this couple. Their chemistry is no joke. So, saying that I was pretty excited for this drama, would be understatement.

Manner of Death is such a unique take on a BL drama. This is not your typical BL, but, it's so much more and sooo good.
Right from the start, it keeps you engaged, which is very rare. The Storyline, the production, the acting, just everything, is excellent, in my opinion.

I might sound over the top with excitement in this review, but, it's only because this is such a unique story. I keep mentioning that this is not your regular BL story and yes, it's because, I am in my mid 20's (out of the uni, working) and while I do enjoy the college romance dramas, with stereotypical storylines; I was excited when I heard of this BL drama.

Something that is non-college related and in between mature (grown-up) people. This caught my eye. This drama really gave all the mature vibes with a realistic and super addicting storyline.

Manner of Death is a masterpiece in my opinion and tbh, it has been on my top 5 ever since I've watched it.

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Definitely worth watching.

Let me start by saying that this was one of my first BL dramas and I didn't have any high expectations for it, I found it by chance and decided to see if it would be any good. At first I was a little sceptical about such a topic in BL, because at first I thought it would be badly done, and I would spend most of the time being embarrassed. Thank the gods I was wrong!

The mystery itself throughout the series was exciting for me, and every now and then I would change my suspect, the end result being that the culprit turned out to be someone I hadn't even considered. In fact, the handling of the case from the police side in the drama was quite inept, but at the end, it didn't make much difference to me.

The relationship between the guys in the drama turned out to be a good one, as we actually see it develop! It wasn't two episodes in and they're already in love with each other, I didn't know until the end if Tun wasn't playing with Bun and if he wasn't lying to him after all. I even got the impression at certain points that everything Tun was doing was some kind of game and he was behind everything.

I got a little lost in the plot of these two young lovers and overall I didn't pay much attention to them somewhere, but were they influential to the plot? Not necessarily.

The drama as a whole is good, really good, and I don't have anything to complain about really, except for stretched things like that police, I actually can't say that the drama was predictable or uninteresting because it was typical. I hope I'll have the pleasure of watching more such genre-typical dramas in the near future. Because it's really cool when you don't watch x drama whose action takes place at a uni and its theme is enemies-to-lovers.

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Deadly Tales

Thai BLs are known for their diversity in setting up their stories. We can find almost no two dramas alike. The characterisation is unique to each show as well. Clearly this was sarcasm and anyone who's watched Thai BL shows has already figured it out. We have the few rare exceptions like A Tale of Thousand Stars, but experimenting with the genre of crime thriller in BL, a world that has been predominantly romantic so far, is a new and fresh take that is really unique.

In that sense, MoD has much to offer. Once unraveled, the plot is relatively simple despite how convoluted it initially appears to be. It's this simplicity that's brilliant- the motivations of the characters that caused them to act the way they did, the manipulations, the betrayals, losses and the subtle gore are all well written. At no point of time does the show attempt to gloss over the gruesome parts; it confronts them head on and incorporates them into its core. Much like the Voice series, there is no shying away from the depiction of evil in its barest form. It is a particularly commendable effort.

Contrasting these heavy themes is the sizzling hot romance of Bun and Tan that is excellently brought to life by the insane chemistry of Max and Tul. There is the equally cute side pair of That and Sorn which is just as pleasing to watch, butterflies in stomach included. There is a blink-and-miss moment between a third pair as well towards the end of the series and honestly, I want to see more of them.

To watch MoD, however, we need to set aside certain basic standards of logic and reasoning, in fields of both medicine and law, that we have grown accustomed to. Townspeople don't appear in the show again after that brief stint at the beginning. The hospital neither looks like one nor has any significant number of staff or patients or doctors. Even if I'm not a native of Thai, coming from the medical field, I do have a small amount of medicolegal knowledge that felt challenged at every episode- like how a police personnel is not present during autopsy. The investigation of the murders, or what we should understand as one, feels incomplete and inadequate. It's as if everyone forgot fingerprints or GPS tracking existed. Even the media, when it is called in as a plot device, is hardly more than an announcement heard over mobile phones. There are several other loop holes (the villains failing to catch the leads despite having force at hand) and lose ends (the mysterious second memory card) that remain unexplained.

The problem is, all these avoidable mistakes decrease the credibility of a well written story. It was sometimes quite challenging to sit through the forty minute ordeal. Yet, none of the scenes could reasonably be called fillers. So what was the issue? The poor amalgamation of the various intersecting story lines. Until That and Sorn became involved in the crux of the plot, they were barely just more than extras. Romance runs parallelly and is often abrupt. The car scenes didn't appear to be filmed properly. On the whole, it gives the appearance of a haphazardly patched up cloth of rags that is torn at best and missing at worst. The story frankly deserved better treatment.

Characterisation was not bad but there was an overabundance in some characters and a glaring lack in others. Bun is the multitasker of the show. He is firstly a medical examiner who doubles up as an emergency doctor performing surgeries (without proper equipment) if the need arises. He investigates the case on his own on the side and at home, he is a chef. Tan pales in comparison, having nothing next to a protective instinct towards Bun and a sad past to back him. He could have been a little more twisted for how grey he was. On the other side, the mastermind behind everything is shown to be far more evil than the perps who actually did the deed. They are equally bad and should have been shown as such. Similarly, Inspector M was an interesting character who deserved more depth than he was served.

One of the best things the show gets right is also, ironically, the character dynamics. The single straight relationship in the show is unequal and imbalanced. Por, Pued and Tan and Rung and Jane represent textbook definitions of toxic relationships. They are crafted well and the tension amongst them is brilliantly utilised and portrayed. I'm pretty sure I've never seen a more despicable character than the villain here and that I will continue to despise them even if I re-watch the series later, is a testament to how perfectly sketched they are.

The background score is suitable and the soundtrack is good. Cinematography could have been better, especially of the hospital segments. All actors give decent performances but Max and Tul often appeared somewhat restricted. Bhu, Putter and Great were comparatively free in their expressions. Overall production value seems low but is not as off putting. At 14 episodes, the story felt drawn out, only coming together towards the end, in around 3-4 episodes. I would recommend it solely for its unapologetic portrayal of the Bad but I'm not going to re-watch this show.

Manner of Death deserves every applause for exploring dark themes and is a hit or miss, depending on the audience's taste. If only it was tighter in all the places it is weak!

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Trust No One~Watch with Caution

Rated = 8~35/50 ~ 7
RPG Scene // A Mermaid in the Flower Meadow with Merlin's Staff. I have no idea what's going on, how she got there and should I trust her? Am I high? LOL

This was an absolute trip to be honest. The moment I heard that all the big wigs were a circle of power, I knew what was going down. However, it still doesn't prepare you for the absolute ride this show is. There are so many twists and turns that I may have felt dizzy at one point LOL Trust no one, because that's how the show sets you up. It's a constant watch for clues and evidence.

The plot follows a young doctor or forensic examiner to a small town where he went to high school, in an effort to escape the dirty underground of Bangkok, only to discover that corrupt people are everywhere and if he wants justice, he'll have to prove it himself. The deep dark dirty secret here is a drug and human trafficking ring.

I did actually guess this in the first episode. All the signs were actually there but the plot really wanted you to hate everyone lol

This shows does gets very dark and very sad. Not too graphic but I can imagine it being upsetting/triggering for some watchers.
There is however, a happy ending at least, and possibly the most satisfying arrest I think I've ever seen in a show.

I do however have some complaints. I felt like there was info missing for convenience. E.g where were the kids parents? There were a few kids in this show and not one of them were seen with parents or did Nam just own a house as a high school girl? Her friends had to report her missing. What about Natty's parents? Not a word. So I felt like either I'm missing something socially here or they were just forgotten about because plot.
When our ML's are listed as fugitives and are on the run, they are sitting in the police station, a cop walks by. Nothing. That really took me out a little LOL You would think someone would say something?
Not to mention the du ex machina that happens at the end. It was one of those, write yourself into a corner with tension and then BAM, out comes that little character and a little detail you weren't meant to think much about it to save the day. Unfortunately for them, I did remember. I knew it the moment I saw it.
Also ~ What the hell kind of proposal was that? Was I meant to find that romantic? LOL

As intense and as dizzying as the plot was to follow, even if you have guessed right on where it's headed, there were a few times were it was a little too noticeable that some details were just being casually left out because they wanted to keep the plot complicated, and those details would have made too much sense LOL But it did ruin the immersion for me.

Having said that, I did still enjoy it but because of it's upsetting context though, I'm unlikely to watch this again.

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CRIMINALLY SEXY ACTORS TO BLOW YOU UP WITH THIER TALENT!

So this is my 3 thai bl and MAN! this couple holds so much power , i still remember there scenes where so MINDBLOWING ! that made me to stop the show right there and go out to take some fresh air because they can make the room temperature go higher and higher ! OK! coming back to the plot i would say it has it uniqueness, cause for me kind of people who are new to thai bl and just watched some teen drama as a plot as their initial thai bl's , so for me the crime was a so different and unsettling cause all i thought was that these thai bl's are full teen drama . but this show gave a wider range to my thoughts and i would say it was a bit slow in between but all together its a nice crime bl to watch and coming back to square one their scenes where oh my god! being a hentai i loved it ! and yeah for me plot always come first so this was new and i personally adore thriller and the dark genre so yeah! it was good you can for sure go for it and have a nice time watching it !

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Highly Recommended

I may have came for the BL story, but I stayed for the murder mystery. I was soo happy to see that there was a legit story that was not only very well fleshed out, but so captivating and just happen to have a BL sub plot. So lets get into it.
The main storyline is centred around the murder of who I thought was a main character. This then drives everything that comes next Without going into any spoilers, this series will have you constantly on your toes. No high-school melodrama, no one trying to find themselves(not that I mind those stories), but it was refreshing to see just good ole grown ups trying to be good people and a good friend (mostly).

Nothing made sense and I suspected everyone at one point, however, the one that turned out to be needed the most slaps. Like, how dear you be the killer. Never has a show been so well written than I didn't know who the killer was right off the back. This was honestly a masterpiece, the relationships that developed seemed to be effortlessly done. Everyone had me wondering if they were going to get together or not. Punctuated only by the level of corruption, the main story line will have you wondering from start pretty much till the end.

The main actors had so much chemistry with each other, and I don't just mean the two leads but practically all of the main characters. Tan, Bun had one of the most developed back and forth of he lil sketchy but is he genuinely in like. Their rollercoaster of emotions was a highlight of the series. That and Sorn were right behind being my second favourite to watch onscreen, I mean I still don't know where their relationship stands but on the back of that bike must be real hot (in my head). Sorn was literally that friend that everyone should have in their lives, sweet (inside and out), caring, loyal and brave-ish. That man who dared to watch that adorable face and point a gun to it. SHAME ON YOU... Inspector M, had me wondering if he trying to make people commit a crime from the moment I saw him in that uniform... Boi!!! somebody better make a side story with somebody on that body, boy or girl, I don't care he deserves some love and less bullets. Pued didn't have much screen time but I had his back and so did his brother.

You really should watch this series to see what I wrote about.


PS: Sorn and Inspector M need some more gigs, I love watching their talent (no that is not an innuendo)

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Positive Catalyst in Thai BL

This is a great start for the shift of Thai BLs into much more than a fluff fest. This didn't even focus on the romance part that much and I didn't mind it at all. They fell in love so naturally. This normalized the same sex relationship and I live for that.

I was really invested in the plot of this series. It is ambitious and wasn't afraid to portray real life issues like corruption and human trafficking. It showed us that these issues exist and it is hard to overcome. It was more than just finding who the killer is. This may not be as good as other crime mystery shows out there but considering this was marketed as a BL show, this is already good enough. For giving us a story with substance like this, I'm giving it a higher rating.

I have watched Max & Tul in their previous series and I think this was a step up in their acting too. They were already good but I saw improvements in here. I also really liked Great Sapol in here (and it doesn't hurt that he is hot too). This is my first time watching him but he was a scene-stealer and he caught my attention playing as Inspector M.

Rewatch value is lower as it is how I always rate crime mystery genres I watched. It's just that it wouldn't give off the same excitement if I knew who the culprit is already when I rewatch.

Overall, this was an amazing series and I'll definitely recommend it.

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More than just the return of MaxTul

First of, it's so refreshing to finally see Max and Tul playing somewhat functioning adults. It’s a major development from eternally teenage acting Korn/Knock.

I usually complaint about the pacing in dramas, especially BLs, because half of the time the main characters are either fighting or trying to get back together. Manner or Death, on the other hand, is more of a slow burn on the romantic front and has compelling plots happening at the same time. All characters are interesting and fit into the overall narrative of the show. I like how we get introduced early on to characters that might not look important at first and then we start to see them in a new way episodes later. The acting on this show is amazing, everyone brought their A game.

I feel like this show explores the mystery aspect very well. There are many twists and the mystery is being developed throughout the series, and not just in the last 2 episodes. It’s a very complex situation, so I thing the viewers can’t easy start to predict what gonna happen too much ahead. Unfortunately, as it’s the case with mystery series, the rewatch value is diminished greatly the the nature of the plot.

I’d really appreciate a reasoning for Tan’s enormous house having a kitchen on the back porch and several empty rooms. In my head cannon that’s the secondary kitchen they use because it has the view of the woods.

It’s not related to the plot, but I have to say this: I hate the main promotional imagine for this show.

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Watch it. You'll regret it if you won't.

Okay. First off. I've always, always been here for Maxtul, but I could never rewatch any of their other series because of A. They contained major queer stereotyping and internalized homophobia, buuuuuttt it's like MoD took a 360 and turn around all this homophobia and I'm here for it. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I thought this is one of the few shows that did a good representation of us. So anyways unto the series.


1. Setting: Viangpha Mork definitely has those dark, gloomy, inky atmospheres that either make you feel cold or sleepy. IDK why but it does that for me. And so I thought it didn't need to be all that to be mysterious or eery, but it kinda helps with the setting, I guess? Altho it's more on the post-production than the actual place, so there's that. (But the place they used as Viangpha Mork is sooooo beautiful tho? If I ever go to Thailand, I'd definitely. definitely go there.) Anyway, they wanted to portray a little town, where even in its close-knit community, has ill powers lurking everywhere. And that's just how it is in real life anyway. Like the abortion clinic, and the murderer aspect. It kinda gave it the extra mystery because of how tiny and close-knitted their community is, it still shows they only know so little, just above the surface. It was a good touch. But I still think you can do that without it looking like "Forks" or "Collinsport" yk? But Tan's house was a dream tho. I'd love to have one myself.

2. Writing: Goddamn. I think this is the first time I've seen a MURDER/MYSTERY/THRILLER CRIME Series, where the characters have no qualms of going around, leaving their goddamn fingerprints everywhere. I mean it could be because of how small the town is, they didn't have equipment for these? IDK but damn. Not even a single cloth finger gloves like the magicians use? I mean but well, it's kinda minor tho. and the other issue is how Bun is like the all-around doctor in the series. I mean it could be because he's the only surgeon in the town? and so he has multiple cases of different stuff? Like at one point it seemed like he was in the ER, in the surgery room as well. But I think he's supposed to be just a pathologist tho? Maybe? Or maybe they decided to change it up and made him into the chief surgeon who also does autopsies? I personally think that's how it is. Anyway, the rest of the writing was super good tho. Like how they make characters seem like it is, then make them the good guys again, then the bad guys in the next scene. It was good. It wasn't extra. Just natural and subtle. It's like the ONLY guy who I know is the good guy is Dr. Bun and that for me, made it even more exciting.

3. Actors: Well as you can all see (or will see when you start watching) everyone in this series are such eye candies. Every single one of them. Yes, I know some people will not agree. But to each his own. But they were all good-looking people goddamn. OMFG. My bisexual self just kept on rising and getting on edge every episode goddamn. But what I loved about it more is how most of their actors are new in the BL scene. Like they are in the entertainment industry, but not in BL. And I think that's amazing because it means that this series was recognized to be a Crime/mystery/ thriller, not just as BL. I understand that there are a lot of actors that are not comfortable acting in such because to each his own, but damn, the number of fresh faces I saw there excited me to no end. The only familiar face there is Dr. Oat and MaxTul, and Tan's brother, but YK. Amazing.

4. Acting: The actors acted superbly, for a crime series, and IDK that made it even more amazing for me because, FINALLYYYY no one is fangirling, shipping, or drooling over the hot guys. IT WAS SUCH A RELIEF. I'm so done with the usual roles of girls in the BL series. I'm not just talking bout the fangirls, also how most girls in BL acted. Either they want their male friends to be gay and ship them with other guys, or how their gay friend automatically is supposed to be the fashion icon just because they're gay. Like, stop it, people. Their sexuality does not dictate their fashion choices stop it. And well some actors definitely need improvement, and will ofc become better with more projects to come, but overall, it was the best at their current limitations and capabilities and I love that for them.

5. Cinematography: Idk what else to say. One of the very few Thai BL series that took my breath away with their camera work. it was quite simple? Like I mean it wasn't unique in the crime/thriller series to have unique angles to give it the ominous aura, but for a BL? This made me so happy. Their exploration and their ambition to produce variety in the BL scene made me so happy. It's FINALLYYYYYY. Thailand, please produce more quality series, please.

Overall, it wasn't a perfect series, but for me? It was PERFECT. It was everything I needed and more. A BL series where the BL plot isn't the driving force of the show but instead overshadowed by the murder mystery plot, and the showcase of issues and the reality of our society? I mean, someone better stand up and show me that. That's amazing. And what's makes it even better is that this can serve as a starting point or a booster for other producers who's been wanting to bring something different in the Thai BL scene, but were hesitant for the market's reception. I hope this shows them that even with all the toxic fanatism in the industry, there are those that came for the show and the representation. And I hope it shows them that the market is growing bigger and diverse and that it's more than okay to explore and go beyond what's bringing more money in.

Anyway, I've said so much now. WATCH IT PLEASE. POR FAVOR. Have an open mind, watch it for it is, without any expectation. Just watch it.

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My 10 Stars Rated BL Series

Great plot, Great story lines and Awesome Actors!! If you like to watch something more mature, serious, investigation and crime show that isn’t like the typical BL movies, than I would highly recommend “Manner of Death”!

The really good thing about this BL series is that it doesn't focus on student life and love dramas. This action movie focuses on the forensic, criminal and investigation. It has a balance between the action and romance between the Tul/Max - well I don’t mind slightly more romance as I really love both of them. I do like how the stories being plot even though some scene could’ve been a bit better at parts.

I have always liked Tul / Max in whatever series they had a role in. I have watched a lot of movies in which they have starred - not many to begin with. Before "Manner of Death", I found Tul/Max have always being playing student or freshman roles, at least - that's what I remembered. I always felt that Tul/Max able to portray a more sophisticated, serious and mature character - and I’m proven right, I found that both Tul /Max did a very good job in “Manner of Death".

Tul gave the best performance of the series, and this character really suits his style - stable, mature, intelligent, energetic of which, didn't even go through some traumatic experience for him to show his acting chops. Max on the other hand, continues his tradition of being the guardian and care taker of Tul. Nonetheless, something I really like about his role of being mysterious. That should say enough about the calibre of Tul/Max acting. Excellent performance.

I am also very impressed with all the supporting cast in this movie. I can feel the great synergy between them and the main actors - so much better than the others BLs drama.

Honestly, I really enjoy this series and to my opinion, this is the best BL series i ever watch, thus far. Really hope there are more similar genre series but longer.

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