Love in Twilight (2021)

Forbidden Romance between The Beauty and the Beast - Thai style

I really like this drama, I wish I could write a recap article about it. Alas, my article quota is full. So, here is my full review:

STORY
First, I will write the synopsis from the Female Lead point-of-view. Parichart comes from Bangkok with a mission to educate tribal children. Upon her arrival, her ride broke down, so she continues her journey on foot through the jungle. Unfortunately (or fortunately, lol), night comes, and it is red moon (Prajan Daeng, the native title means red moon), where Tiger King roams around to hunt down poachers. She passes out during her encounter with the ghostly tiger. Nontha, a young tribesman who is also the son of the late chief, saves her and takes her to Dr. Sama’s clinic. Upon knowing that Dr. Sama has dedicated himself to working in the remote area like that, Parichart is happy that she finds someone like her, an outsider who has a heart for tribal people. The romance blooms between the two.

This is where the forbidden romance is: As you know in the synopsis, Dr. Sama gets possessed by Tiger King’s spirit since young. Something happened in the past. He’s not supposed to have any romantic relationship. Also, the tribe doesn’t want the two to be together, as Tiger King should stay with the tribe.

Some attempts to thwart Dr Sama and Parichart relationship are planned by the tribesmen. On top of that, plans from bad outside parties who are money hungry.

Finally, this drama is heavy on the message of nature preservation/forest protection. So, if you don’t like that kind of advocacy agenda, better think twice about watching it. Since I like nature, I don’t mind on the messages.

ACTING
First, I’d like to commend the acting of Tono, who played as Dr. Sama. ‘Cursed’ from young with Tiger King spirit possession, Dr. Sama has to live forever with the tribe as he can transform into the ghostly tiger to protect the jungle. He’s a complicated character: remorse of past, conflicted of present, and fear of future. The actor delivered all emotion. His transformation to aggressive tiger-like characters is also great.

Richy, as Teacher Parichart, is misunderstood as an unemotional Female Lead. Her character is calm and quiet, thus doesn’t show much of emotion. Besides, she’s a city girl with a high education background and logic, facing with bizarre phenomena and myth. If I were Parichart, I will be confused and disbelief most of the time too, especially when I found out my boyfriend is also a tiger, lol.

Dr. Sama and Parichart form a calm and quiet couple, unlike the second one I’ll describe below.

Nontha, played by March, is a conflicted character. Born as the son of late tribe leader, he is supposed to inherit the Tiger King spirit from his father. Unfortunately, it goes to an outsider. Nontha delivers conflicted character between envy/jealousy and admiration/fear of Dr. Sama. Having seen March in a similar character in Sand Princess, I knew he could do such characters.

At first I hate the character of Kahlong, played by Xiang, She seemed a typical bitchy second female lead of lakornland. However, after watching sometime, I understand she’s just a young tribe girl who groomed by her dad to marry Tiger King since little (which they thought the Tiger King was in Nontha).

Nontha and Kahlong form an explosive couple full with bickering most the time, not realizing that they actually care of each other, like an old married couple. I’m glad that both characters mature in the end.

There is a third couple, Saksit (Ak) and Dr. Atchara (Ticha), whom I really like, uncommon since I don’t actually like multi couples I thought as fillers. A filler or not, they have great chemistry and I wished to see more of their romance. The female character is really cool.

An individual character whom I also like is Euang, Dr Sama’s nurse/assistant (who was also his dad’s nurse). I watched the actress Rudklao, in You’re My Destiny (Thai remake of Fated to Love You) as the Female Lead’s mom and she was great there. Euang is like a mother figure to Dr. Sama. The only thing that distracts me is her black lipstick, not sure why they made her wear that.

The supporting actors who played as the tribesmen did well with their respective characters. I especially like the comedic relief from the duo boys Lee (Yoon) and Za (Graphic). The villain characters are forgettable.

PRODUCTION
With only 12 episodes I don’t have any complain about the pace, no draggy scene. But I think the ending is rushed. Probably since the filming is taken during the pandemic. There are some unbelievable explanations in the end. I docked 0.5 point for the loose ties/rushed ending.

VISUAL
I docked another 0.5 point for the CGI. The tiger is actually not bad, because it’s supposedly a ghostly tiger, not a common one anyway. But the other CGI, especially towards the end is bad.
The nature setting is beautiful. Dr. Sama’s old house, with antique furniture, looks creepy like in horror shows, with flowing curtains blown by the wind through open windows. The house really represents the beast’s mansion.

OST
Opening song รักคืน (Night Love) by Bowkylion
Ending song บนเส้นด้าย (On a Thread) by Tono and the Dust
Insert song สัตว์ร้าย (Beast) by Tono and the Dust

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Unique storyline with a lot more potential that had me wishing for more

What attracted me to this drama was the storyline. There is also the overall theme of protecting the wildlife and forest. The romance story and development between the two leads was not very convincing, and honestly, I didn't care for it. This is rare, as I usually am a romcom person. I only wanted it because I wanted Sama to have love and happiness. This story was full of events that moved at a pretty good pace, where I never felt it dragged too much or I needed to fast forward. The Suea Phaya storyline is definitely more dominant and interesting than the romance. Maybe this is also why the romance plot falls short? So, if you are wanting a full blown romance story, you won't really find that here. There are some cute scenes at the beginning and end, nothing too memorable, but that is mostly it.

As for characters, I would have to say Kahlong is my favorite female and overall character. She is adorable from beginning to end. Ali, Asa, Tuamahka, and Mong are also in line of most liked characters. For me, it was the FL that didn't cut it for me. This is my first time seeing Richy act in a drama, so I am not familiar with her work. However, in this drama, she is either crying, her leg or ankle is hurt or needs to be rescue. She tends to have this worried/ serious/yet blank look to her with a monotone voice. Yes, there are some positive aspects to her, but overall, she is a rather flat and boring character and yet, out of no where, she is key in some major plot development. She loves him yet it isn't really conveyed in her facial expressions, actions, eyes, or even voice, which you do see in Sama (thank goodness). Her love isn't very convincing. For example, even though you can see the pain on Sama's face, she didn't even try to understand how the mom of her student was killed or his feelings. Later, he gave her the one thing (enchanted dagger) that can kill Suea Phaya, and she just left it out and about and even used it on Hunter Boon (who she knows is hunting Suea Phaya), which is how they lost possession of it. I think it's part acting and part writing that makes the FL just insignificant. Even Aunt Euang had more facial expressions than the FL.

Sama's character is complex, with a sad and traumatic past, who is a good and reserved person by nature. His character could've used more depth and attention. I'm grateful for the flashbacks to his past, but I wished more was elaborated on what it was like when he was first shot at, the first transformation when he found out, his loneliness, his parents, etc. I also wished there was a scene where FL sits down with ML and ask him about this - how scared and alone he must have been. I think Aunt Euang and Kahlong were the top two characters who understood his sufferings and loss and were trying to do things in his best interest. I also think Sama didn't get the love story he truly deserved. Lastly, this is the first time I would have been ok with the ML facing death, as it makes sense to what he has endured, but the ending was alright. I like Tono and he was able to showcase the sadness, frustrations, sweetness, and the Suea Phaya side of his character.

What I also didn't like: Some of the characters just die a quick and unexpected death and you're left just accepting it and moving on. Some plots were pointless, had no real closure and/or wasted time - Teacher Fon, Police Director's backstabbing, Sama transforming without the red moon (I wanted more on this), and the Chief's daughter making a ruckus. Dr. Atchara's character wasn't completely necessary but she wasn't horrible either. There was a time where I wished she was the FL (the tiger specialist who ends up falling for a man who becomes a tiger), but I also wanted her to be with Officer Saksit lol. I wished there was more of a balance and focus of Sama's story and Suea Phaya's, as both are equally important. I was a bit disappointed it had the stereotypical happily ever after ending. I wished the FL reassured the ML it was his decision and not start off with how everyone needs him so he should return to the living world. At the end, the drama can be summed up as "hunters trying to hunt Suea Phaya but fails and dies."

What I liked: The music was good and appropriate. It takes place away from the city and the drone shots of the forest and mountains were beautiful. There were a lot of support cast that I ended up liking and enjoying. No complicated love stories. Not a lot of fillers. The creation of the tiger was better than expected. I'm glad Nonta matured throughout the drama and even Aunt Euang softening up was a weird delight in its own way.

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