Almost nonexistent plot line, basically just sex
*tw: rape, abuse, sex talk*The acting was, without a doubt, absolutely amazing. Especially Bible (Vegas) and Build (Pete) as well as Apo (Porsche) delivered outstanding performances. As someone who didn’t read the book or saw the film, I was going into this completely blind and oblivious.
I didn’t like the toxicity in every relationship. The relationship I couldn’t stand at all was Kinn and Porsche. The writers glamorized rape, mental abuse and physical abuse as if it was a normal relationship. Kinn mentally abused Porsche throughout the whole series, gaslit him and stabbed him in the back multiple times.
I’m not saying Vegas and Pete’s relationship was a good one but it was honest and open. Definitely more enjoyable to watch than the main couple.
In the end, I don’t even recall WHAT THE SHOW IS ABOUT. In the beginning, there seemed to be a storyline but the more the show progressed, the more it was focus on sex and less on an actual story/plot.
If you want a BL version of 365 Days with a tint of fifty shades, go for it, but if you’re looking for a nice and action packed mafia romance with a good and watchable plot, this show is not for you.
Would give 7/10 but just for the performances of actors (if I were to review just the plot line, it’d be 4/10).
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Overhyped and a show to feed the fetishizers. Disappointed.
Oh lord, where do I even begin? I am extremely disappointed with this show that I can not simply put it into words. The storyline is nonexistent and if someone asked me what the story of kinnporche is, I will be brain dead trying to explain. The relationship between pretty much all characters (with their lovers) revolves around sex and I KNOW for a fact that this drama is famous for its explicit sex scenes. It even glorified sexual abuse, rape and torture like what the hell man. Literally WHAT is the story of this drama? Characters forgot about Pete and that’s a reasoning for his storyline? When Pete returned back to the gang, no one cared? I hated it wholeheartedly. I will continue to watch until ep 14 but don’t expect me to watch this show at season 2. I am not coming back. If you actually want to watch a good show that show cases a pure love story, watch the shows untamed, manner of death or bad buddy. Not this. Absolute waste of time (trash in other words.)Was this review helpful to you?
A mafia BL done right
I solely rated this based on my enjoyment as a viewer and now fan of the series.I had no prior knowledge of KinnPorsche as I had not read the novel like many others, but in the early stages of KP's release and the awesome craziness of the mdl comment section, I came to understand and anticipate certain parts of the story which enhanced my excitement for the upcoming episodes - perhaps being a big reason as to why I enjoyed this as much as I did.
As a fan of BL, I have never seen one with such a high quality budget as KP - from its stunning aesthetically pleasing cinematography to perfectly fitting and beautiful sounding osts to strong acting skills and chemistry that's prominent both on and off screen. Other productions should take notes haha.
For its genre, this was portrayed really well. I don't say perfect because I believe it could have included more marfianess in terms of fighting scenes. I would have loved it if they had given more screen time and back story to other characters and spent time further developing some other minor plot holes, but it wasn't necessarily needed, that's just me being picky.
This is the first BL where I loved every couple, usually there's at least one I don't really like and skip but nope, that's not the case at all for KP. The build up between Kinn and Porsche's relationship was so good and left me begging for more; their tension, their passion, their desires and lustfulness for each other ugh perfection. I wish there were a similar build up for Vegas and Pete, but it seemed a bit rushed, even though you could feel their chemistry bursting through the roof. Kim and Porchay were so cute, I really liked their little moments.
As I briefly mentioned earlier, the cast's chemistry is amazing, and they could possibly be my favourite casting of all time! I've never developed that many crushes within such a short amount of time before, they all have their own individual charms and personalities that shine and I came to love every single one of them (which I will continue to support). I will never stop talking about Build's adorable smile (petit poney by 88century reminds me of him lol), Apo's cute goofiness and fashion sense, and Jeff's perfect eyebrows and heavenly singing voice (plus his - Kim's - hot but deadly fighting skills). Also can't forget to mention how Tankhun is the best comedic relief character and lowkey the smartest amongst them all so go him! I loved experiencing KP's journey alongside the cast and other fans, and I'm so proud of what they have achieved as a result of its release, they all did an incredible job.
I'm not one to watch dramas a second time, but I feel like this has rewatch potential considering the plot's many hidden meanings and messages you may miss the first time round (and is also overall just an easy watch - for the most part).
I don't typically give 10's easily, I tend to be pretty harsh and could be for this, but at the end of the day KP is just a drama and I happened to love every second of it!! Such a gem, it will definitely hold a very special place in my heart.
** Please check trigger warnings before watching this!
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1This review may contain spoilers
It's Complicated
KinnPorsche was a WILD ride to say the least!!!Before I get into the nitty gritty of my thoughts about this show, I would just like to say that I enjoyed the fandom that assembled for this show on social media. I loved reading theories and thoughts on Twitter, TikTok, and here on MDL. I loved the engagement that came from this show. It made the overall viewing experience more enjoyable for me.
KinnPorsche I would say is more of a romance set in a mafia world and not the other way around. With the mafia plot being more of a background event that comes up at integral times. KinnPorsche I would say is definitely more character and relationship driven which I loved. With that being said, I wanted to start off by doing a character analysis and relationship analysis of the main characters…
MAIN CHARACTER ANALYSIS/ PERSONAL THOUGHTS:
KINN: He is the head of the Main Family. I saw him as someone who is always trying to appease his dad and live up to his expectations. He wanted to become a singer growing up and he had different plans for his life but now he has to assume this position. So, there is this struggle between doing what he wants to do vs what his dad wants him to do. Kinn has trust issues due to a past relationship he had with his ex Tawan and because of the life he has lead and the people he has encountered. He puts up a facade of stoicism and intimidation when in reality he is sensitive and loving. So, it’s interesting to see his walls break down and his true character come to light as the show goes on. It’s good that he found someone like Porsche who helped him to be vulnerable and grow (even though I would say Kinn is definitely one of those types that let’s love cloud his judgment when it comes to his job as a mafia boss). But, I will say personally, that despite seeing the layers of his character as the show went on that he didn’t really stand out to me that much and I know that’s weird to say since he has a lot of screen time but I found myself to not be as invested in his character like I was with the other characters and I don’t know if it was because the way he was portrayed or the way he was written but something didn’t click for me (he’s still sexy as hell though so I will give him that lmao). Like, the way he was acting all tough and badass in the first and final episodes was what I wanted to see from his character throughout the entire series. I feel like they could taken more of those elements into account with the other episodes.
PORSCHE: He is working as a top list bartender when the series begins and it’s said he was a former national Taekwando champion and an underground boxer known as the Phoenix. He’s also an orphan who is responsible for taking care of his brother Porchay. I loved Porsche’s character because he did provide some comedic relief to the show like others have said. He also was a pretty even keeled person and I especially loved how much he cared for his brother (their relationship though not shown too much was very enduring to me) and knowing Porsche’s brother was his driving force for going to the mafia and doing all of the work made me like his character as a person as well. I do have to say though that Porsche was a bad bodyguard and I would have fired him pretty quickly lmao and you would think that with his background and the life that he has lead up to this point that he would know better and have better judgement especially stepping into a situation that can be dangerous and around new people who could have ulterior motives. He fails to see the magnitude of the situations that he’s in sometimes and that irked me. To have him become the head of the Minor Family in the final episode is questionable move since I don’t think he’s really head of the mafia material but it’s a good move on Korn’s part because Porsche is so consumed by his love of Kinn that he will basically do what the Main Family wants I feel personally so it’s almost like Kinn would be the head of both families essentially. I thought Porsche was a entertaining to watch.
VEGAS: What a wounded soul this guy was. He is the son of the Minor Family and like Kinn, he works so hard to appease his dad and live up to his expectations just like Kinn. But, I think the difference between him and Kinn is that no matter what Vegas does his father is never proud of him and sees him as not worthy of being his son. Not to mention, his father constantly abuses him. Vegas has essentially turned into a monster because of his dad and his circumstances and the cycle has continued on. Vegas always had ulterior motives and was always scheming against other people. He was the antagonist and villain of the story and with him and Pete coming together, the depth's of Vegas's character was revealed even more and he became more layered (I will talk about him more in the relationship analysis). But, he was one of my favorite characters of the series because I am a sucker for multi layered and villain characters. I would like to add a disclaimer though that I don’t condone anything that he was doing AT ALL!!!
PETE: He is the most trusted bodyguard of the Main Family and throughout the series he was shown as being loyal and he had an almost innocent way about him. He was pretty kind and happy go lucky from what I gathered about his character. But, he had a hidden darker side to him that was revealed when he got with Vegas (I will talk about him more when I get to the relationship analysis like Vegas)
KIM: I really enjoyed the portrayal of Kim’s character even though he didn't really have much screen time. He’s the youngest of the family and lives a double or you could even say a triple life working as a musician, being a student in college, and doing work in the mafia. He doesn’t really associate with his family that much and he lives on his own. He could honestly do well as the head of the Main Family because he’s smart and doesn’t let anything get in his way. He’s also quite detached and doesn’t know how to use his words apparently when it comes to letting people know his true feelings lmao
PORCHAY: He’s trying get into college to become a musician and I would describe him as naive and young and dumb in love and it makes him to make questionable decisions that can be typical of some teenager. He’s the sweetest guy and you can just tell he wouldn’t harm a fly. We didn’t really get to see much of his character like Kim but you can tell he really loved and valued his relationship with his brother Porsche and you all know I liked that aspect of the show.
TANKHUN: What a joy he was to watch! He’s the oldest of the Main Family and he was kidnapped when he was younger and is dealing with the trauma from that so to others he may come across as a little off. The family decided that he was definitely not fit to be the head of the Main Family so he’s just living his best life watching dramas and wearing the best fashion with his bodyguards in the house. He's definitely over the top and over dramatic but it just works. I think Porsche really helped him to break free and start enjoying going out more since he confined himself to the house out of fear due to his past trauma. But, the thing with Tankhun is that he is actually the smartest one out of the entire family. He was always correct about people and situations. He was one of the favorite characters as well. I loved him so much!!!
RELATIONSHIP ANALYSIS:
KINN & PORSCHE: To start off with these two, I do have to say that I am still a bit confused on how exactly they found their way in love with one another. You know Kinn had eyes on Porsche and Porsche was his type but I am still trying to understand what really drew them to one another especially on Porsche’s side. On another note though, you could say that these two helped each other in the sense that they both found someone that they could be vulnerable with unlike any other. They had great physical and emotional chemistry with one another. Something that was ever present in their relationship though was the trust and jealousy issues and even when you thought that those issues had been resolved, the issues still kind of lingered on to me especially the trust issues. Yeah, they are cute and sexy and all that but I’m still debating on whether I think they are actually a good couple or not weirdly. I think they still have a long way to go and need to work out some kinks in their relationship. But, I was happy to see them together in the end.
VEGAS & PETE: Their relationship came to be the one that I was most invested in and they didn’t even start interacting until the end of the show. I think what really drew them to one another was their shared trauma. Vegas was abused by his father and Pete was abused his father as well. Vegas finally found someone that broke down his walls and got to the root of who he truly is. Pete was able to reveal another side of himself with Vegas. He didn't have to put on this happy go lucky attitude even though he was dealing with his childhood trauma as well. He could just be his true self with Vegas so I understand the appeal with this pairing. The reality though is that the show focused on the beginning stages of their relationship and it just doesn’t sit right with me. I have to judge what I see and I didn't like what I saw. Vegas tortured and abused Pete and kept him locked up and that’s just not right no matter how you look at it. I get why Vegas and Pete are drawn to each other and I get the attraction but the abuse just rubs me the wrong way. Pete, despite his feelings of love for Vegas, knew that the situation he was in locked up with Vegas was not okay too that’s why he ultimately chose to run and they come together in the end which is questionable. I also want to add that you could argue that Pete is a masochist and you could also say that Vegas and Pete’s relationship is a dom and sub relationship when it’s an EVOLVED relationship but even then, those types of relationships have boundaries and communication between the two parties about how the relationship is going to be. Vegas already started their relationship off on a bad note with the abuse and the power trip so it doesn’t really make sense to me why their relationship was romanticized the way it was (no matter how cute they are together… you need to see past that to the truth of the situation and the truth is ugly). If I had a friend in a relationship or situation like this, I would tell her to run or help her to get out of it. And I get that it’s fiction but that still doesn’t change how I feel. I think if they met under different circumstances I would feel better about them as a couple. They come back together at the end and I feel very conflicted by it because while they may love each other… the love is rooted in abuse and pain.
KIM & PORCHAY: As for these two, I don’t really feel like they got a whole lot of screen time and opportunities to really delve into their relationship compared to the other couples in the show so I was not really as invested as I could have been with them as a couple. Their relationship was more surface level to me. You had Kim agreeing to give guitar lessons to an eager Porchay ,who doesn’t know that Kim is apart of the mafia, just to get intel to find out more about Porsche and what the deal was with him. Kim ultimately started to have feelings for Porchay but he wasn’t going to let it interfere with his investigation (which I really don’t understand what the point was of his investigation since the audience was already getting information from the other characters). Porchay revealed that he loved Kim (which I thought was a bit too much since he hadn’t known Kim that long to even use a word like love but he is a teenager so I understand lmao) and then it’s revealed that Kim is apart of the mafia and Porchay goes through a teenage crisis where he dyes his hair and tries to take drugs because he’s so heartbroken and he doesn’t want anything to do with Kim and you see Kim looking out for him without Porchay knowing and trying to get back with him to no avail. There was no arc or resolution for this couple. Hopefully if they do a season two, we get to see this couple explored more.
PROS & CONS:
PROS:
— CHEMISTRY: When I tell you the couples featured in this drama work SO freakin well together. The chemistry was NEVER lacking. There was no awkwardness or anything in terms of the affection or closeness that was presented. I have to bring up the love scenes featured in this drama as well since they were a huge talking point and they were tastefully done and the actors did what needed to be done (let me just leave it at that lmao). I commend the actors for being open to portray racy scenes like that. I think it takes a lot of courage and willingness to bare your soul and your body like that for an audience to see
— MATURITY: I love that this BL drama in particular dealt with more mature topics and was aimed for an older audience. Since I am an adult, I like to see stories that I feel like I can relate to on some level. Some BL dramas I feel can be too juvenile for me at times in terms of the topics and material covered so I can’t really connect with them like I want to but with this one it immediately clicked with me
— CINEMATOGRAPHY: THE LOCATIONS!!!! Applause all around to the camera crew!!! Everything was shot so beautifully and the lightning was equally as gorgeous. The show was just so aesthetically pleasing. You can tell that they had a budget to give this show the best quality that they could give and it showed
— MUSIC: Let me just start by saying that the opening theme Free Fall has and is still on repeat. I love that song so much!!! And not to mention the songs that Jeff and Barcode did for the show. They both have such amazing voices!!! The music really added to the overall feeling of the show and I think they chose the right music for the right scenes. The music just took the show to another level for me
CONS:
— SCRIPTWRITING/PLOT: I feel like this drama could have been written better overall. There were some plot holes and writing that I found to be questionable at times. The writing I feel was inconsistent for some of the episodes. Some episodes it was on point and some episodes it left me wondering what was going on.
— ROMANTICIZATION OF ABUSE AND DUB CON (or however else you want to define that scene in Episode 4): I mean come on now. Kinn had no business trying to have sex with Porsche who was under the influence of a date rape drug and then to top it all off, you had freakin Vegas who had given him the date rape drug and tried to force himself on Porsche not once but two times. Vegas also sat up here and abused and tortured Pete and people want to act like that’s okay and look past that blatant fact and bring up the fact that they are cute together which rubs me the wrong way. It’s not okay and it will never be okay. Vegas needs some serious therapy and Pete needs therapy too to recover from the abuse he experienced. Actually the whole cast needs therapy if I am being honest.
I am still debating on my overall final score but for now an 8.0 out of 10 sounds good because I was expecting more from this show but I was genuinely entertained by this show week by week despite its flaws. The experience watching KinnPorsche is definitely one that I will never forget.
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Bad Boys Trying to Look Good
There is an axiom about individuals being drawn to ‘bad boy’ imagery and this is the classic case of that. The story became so convoluted and twisted in its outcome that when I finished the series, I did not care. It was all so contrived. This series tried too hard to make these characters ‘likeable’. They are not. They are rotten to the core, looking at life rather cynically and fatalistically. They would lie, cheat, steal, murder, and torture, to gain power, control, and wealth. They are despots guised as human, smiling as they look at life cheaply. I did not understand nor appreciate this series. It left me feeling confused by all its hype.You can read my full review of this series at BLBliss.com
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Two years ago, this would be ground-breaking
Like many people, I have been waiting for this series to air for way too long. I have been through all the airing dates, the delays, the rumoured cancellations, the teasers, the trailers, everything. Even though, it’s been a few days since KinnPorsche finished airing, I wanted to write this review, because I waited way too long to watch this series. I will try to make it as less tiring as possible.I haven’t read the book, so my thoughts are solely based on what I watched, how I experienced it and my expectations. So excluding the first two episodes that were worse that my physics teacher in high school, below are my thoughts for the rest of the series.
Directing & Cinematography
With a few exceptions, I would say that there were quite a few visually pleasing scenes and for the most part the directing was very well done. I liked the lighting they used and the framing.
Fight scenes
The fight scenes were a huge problem for me. Some were good enough to entertain me and others were ridiculous. Besides the sounds that sounded fake most of the times, but well they were much better that some other Thai series I have watched, there were other problems.
One of those problems was the camera movements. I get why some directors like shaking the camera to create tension, even though I don’t agree, but you need to know how to do that. Showing me a wall when there is a fight scene is not the right way to do it! Making me dizzy and confused about what is happening is also a huge miss. Plus, when the fighting scenes are not well choreographed, don’t use full shots! How am I supposed to get into the fight scenes, when I see people standing there pretending to fight the air, because the protagonist must win, even though they could have easily killed him like nine times?
OST
For me, "Why Don’t You Stay" by Jeff Satur was definitely the highlight of the original soundtrack. No lies, I am basically obsessed with this song. The instrumental and the opening song were also quite nice to hear.
Product Placement
It’s a Thai series, I don’t know why I expected something better…
Plot
So, here lies the biggest problem. I haven’t read the book, so after watching the trailer, I had certain expectations. I was waiting for a plot driven series with a sprinkle of same-sex relationships. What I got was romance with a sprinkle of nonsensical wattpad-like plot.
Ok, let’s be honest, the plot makes no sense. Like at all. Porsche is acting like a three-year-old, being irresponsible af and the mafia is being way too cool about it. There are way too many things that don’t make sense, but I will not mention them, because of spoilers.
Humour
Oh God, I hated it. To be honest, it is a hit or miss, I personally didn’t like it at all, with that fish scene being quite disturbing (still hoping that those fish were fake). Imagine my shock, when I was expecting to watch a serious mafia-based plot and the first four episodes -at least- had so many comedic scenes that felt like they were there just to make the episodes longer.
Acting
Before talking about the actual acting, where the hell did they even find so many good looking people? WHERE? All of them were like they walked out from a fashion show or something; Vegas and Tay (Kinn’s friend) obviously forgot to change their model-like clothes.
And now to the acting. I would dare say that it was much better than I expected, especially taking into consideration that many of the actors don’t have that much experience. I enjoyed the majority of their performances and most importantly I didn’t feel like they forced themselves to act. People that have been watching BLs for a while, know what I mean.
With the exception of some scenes that felt a bit cringe (mostly the ‘’I am speaking another language’’ ones), I was very satisfied with the acting. The chemistry between the actors was also very good and to be honest, I feel like all the cancellations and delays helped them get more acquainted with each other and this is the result.
Romance & Intimate scenes
Like I previously mentioned, I liked the chemistry between the characters and I think they did a pretty good job, making their relationships seem real. At some point though, the main couple became a bit boring to watch and I would like to see more of the other couples, especially the relationship between Vegas and Pete that felt like it started way later that it should have. Even the relationship between Kinn’s friends was much more interesting and I am mad we didn’t get more of them.
KinnPorsche offered some very steamy scenes that you have probably not seen before in a popular BL series. And once again, everything felt quite natural to watch which is a huge plus!
All in all, KinnPorsche was an entertaining-enough series, thus the rating, that should not be taken seriously. I enjoyed it much more, when I accepted that this is not the serious mafia-based series that I was expecting (since they had advertised it as such) and the mafia-plot was basically the background that just didn’t have to make much sense.
The thing is, that five years ago, when the BL series that got produced every year could be counted in one hand, people didn’t have high expectations. This would be phenomenal back then. Why? Good budget, good actors, fun to watch.
Nowadays, there are so many BL series and people have the option to choose what to watch, picking what they think as best from a variety of dramas. At this point, the majority has started looking for well-written stories and not just for a portrayal of a same-sex relationship on screen. This series is definitely something relatively new, but certainly not ground-breaking.
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This review may contain spoilers
Empty and Disappointed
Rated= 3 ~ 21/50 ~ 4.2Scene// Goblins chasing me across the Mountain Pass with a basic Btch sword
If you're going to make a mafia show, be brave and give us a mafia show. Vegas is the only character I'd come back for a second series for, but because I genuinely like Apo as a person, I decided to finish this series with the mindset of it being a standard BL series. I initially dropped it at ep.10.
/Finale EDIT~
The series actually gave me a little of what I wanted/expected in the last 2 episodes and it has been left with an intriguing plot twist that paves the way for a sequel, which is interesting. They must have been planning/hoping for a season 2 from the start. I felt like I had seen the end of Act 1 rather than an end to the series. This show LOVES plot twists and I wanted that from a 'mafia' theme, but it's very frustrating when the writers can't maintain a rhythm to execute it well.
Overall, if I had gone into this series thinking that it's just another Thai BL (or better yet, no expectations at all) I probably would have enjoyed this more, rating it more around 7. The noncon and repeated loss of plot would still have kept the rating down. As other reviewers have said, this show is wildly popular because of it's 18+ content and the intense idolisation of the cast and the new Kings of BL couples, MileApo who say they don't do fanservice but they very clearly do, Mile more so because it sells and it's working.
I'm exposing myself here as I do feel very emotionally drawn to Apo. I see a lot of myself in him and I can't help but want to cheer him on, so if there's a season 2 or whatever comes next, I'm likely to be back for him. Bible who plays Vegas, is another honourable mention. Only then I'll remember my lesson and leave my brain off. //
I started watching shortly after ep.2 aired and I'm legitimately devasted at how this has turned out and no, it's not because of the violent content. The trailer promised us everything we wanted from this show and I was hooked from the first episode. Heaven knows the BL genre has a routine. A system that works and after a while, it gets stale, frustrating and needlessly melodramatic.
KinnPorsche started off sexy, tense, violent, dangerous, everything you'd expect from a show classified as a 'Mafia BL' but each week as I've waited, the story gets less and less of what it promised and is just falling into the same old BL routine. The route that works. Drama for dramas sake.
I loved episode one. It was everything I thought the show would be. Two humanly broken characters trying to survive their world while colliding into each others.
/Finale EDIT~ I got that flavour back in ep. 13 & 14. If they can keep the plot on that level for whatever sequel is in the works, a lot more people wouldn't be left feeling so angry about this series.//
I can forgive the drunken kiss in ep.3. I'm an adult. I've gone to parties and been drunk. If you live your life, this will probably happen at some point. Understandable human screw ups and Kinn was shown to feel bad about it. Cool. I like that.
But then the first red flag happens in ep4 when a drugged up Porsche gets r*ped by Kinn. It doesn't matter that he was 'seducing' him or Kinn was holding back or that the piano music made it seem really romantic. It was r*pe. There could have been alternate scenes to this situation that would have given just as much sexual tension without involving this very toxic trope in LGBT+ media. But I was willing to wait it out and see how this was dealt with.
The next episode is spent torturing Porsche further while he deals with ptsd and Kinn feeling bad about it but not actually doing anything, and just rubbing salt into the wounds because he was 'distancing himself'. Then it's all forgiven because Porsche realises he's in love with Kinn and has put it behind him by the time Kinn manages to say something, at the end of episode 6 after their happy little vacation in a forest.
Am I surprised? No. Not shocked in the slightest. This happens a lot in BLs because when it's two hot guys, it's just rough sex. They're tough enough not to make a big deal out of it right?
Followed by lots of romantic fluff and the ever eye rolling 'return of the ex/third party' arc. Again. More drama for dramas sake because Tawan was only there to annoy you, as most third party arcs usually are, and Kinn didn't involve Porsche in his plans because we don't know what Kinn is going to do from one moment to the next.
If hot guys having sex, every where and anywhere is what you're looking for, cool. I'm a member of the LGBT+ community and every now and then eye candy is fine. But I honestly had higher hopes for this one. It really isn't as revolutionary as everyone says it is. A new standard in filming and sex scenes for the BL genre, absolutely, but revolutionary? Absolutely not.
----Further thoughts on story & characters----
The actors seem like really sweet people who are just trying to make the world a better place and they did the best they could with the script given to them. And personally, is one of the biggest reasons why I think this show is doing so well. They are talented, likeable people, and everyone has the hots for them. It's always a winning combination.
*Kinn could have been a phenomenal character. He is deep and complicated but we never see why. Only that he doesn't trust anyone because of an ex and is currently obsessed with Porsche. He's super rich and acts like every seme ever. He exists to be rich and sexy with a big **** and that's it. He's completely colourless despite always wearing red and some pretty nice suave suits. He just mopes about in his pyjamas drinking and being jealous in the first few episodes. We only see inside Kinn's head when it comes to Porsche and even then, it's glimpses. Kinn is as much an emotional fort to the audience as he is to the rest of the characters. What Kinn says is controlled by the writers. With the exception of the forest episode where he suddenly transforms into a love sick puppy, what he says and what he doesn't say is purely for drama and emotional tension which is lazy writing and infuriating for me as the viewer. He is also shown to be able to fight pretty well but that was only convenient once to ramp up the sexual tension between him and Porsche. You would also imagine a character like this to be exceptionally intelligent but this is never explored either. No intense out manoeuvring or mind games despite all the chess analogy. Oh yeah, and he forgets about Pete because convenience for plot, and having sex with Porsche is more important.
No real mafia business transactions beside once beating up an old man for vague reasons and to slightly injure Porsche to further his romance.
I honestly still don't know what the family does other than a very brief overview where even Porsche doesn't really care and falls asleep, so we see and understand very little about the family dealings. There was an Italian branch but they appear, disappear and then reappear to be slaughtered. No other purpose than to serve as a shoot out.
This is not a Mafia BL. It's a BL with a slight mafia theme.
*Porsche.
You can do anything when you look as good as Apo Nattawin. Can't lie. He is a stunning looking human being. Every shot, he's glowing, captured from every angle as the camera lingers over his sculpted features and abs and just teasing full frontal as the camera pans down some shower shots. Apo is the main visual in this show and the camera crew knew it. Unfortunately, his character Porsche, is frustrating and stupid. A little more depth than Kinn as the show is mainly his POV but the writers failed him. Hard. He started off strong, a sexy cool guy, a martial artist who took down armed men in minutes, an underground boxer driven by money problems, and escapes Kinn's kidnapping. A character who has raised his little brother from childhood with little help from a gambling addicted uncle who just seems to make things worse. He is understandably reluctant to join the mafia as gangs have ruled his life since his parents death.
Once he's with Kinn, this is all forgotten. He's bumbling, childish and annoying. Only every now and then do the writers remember he has skills and it's still never put to use. I was expecting a man fighting to protect his little brother, tooth and nail in a cold mafia world, with conflicting difficult emotions about his job, his role and his burgeoning love for his boss. Nope. We get a useless fool getting drunk, starting fights and needing to be saved from them, and suddenly, and almost randomly, in love with Kinn. Then he spends the rest of the show mostly in his underwear, doing something in water and having sex with Kinn.
Apo's body is more important than Porsche's story.
/Finale EDIT~
I cannot emphasise that last line enough. Apo may have seen this as a challenge as an actor but as the viewer, he might as well be made to do poster or calendar at this point. We've seen everything besides his genitals that are carefully hidden behind Kinn's arm and clever camera angles. Nudity is natural when the plot makes sense. This is just pure fan service //
Kinn and Porsche are obviously the main focus of the show. Their name is the title. But it really is just about Kinn and Porsche's romance and that's it. Everything else is an add on or a serves as a background. Two other couples are squeezed in for variety but neither really make sense.
Kinn's little brother, Kim and Porsche's little brother, Chay, starts out with an actual plot on Kim's behalf and has just developed into cringe. Jeff is the second visual in this show but he's not as sexualised as Apo since there's no sex so they're just focusing on his 'silent cool guy' persona, leaving him as a blank wall. Kim is clearly, and seems like the only, mafia brains in this whole show but there's so much time spent on Kinn and Porsche that we don't really see a lot of what he's up to or why.
Chay is sweet and innocent and to be fair, seems almost too pure for someone who has had the upbringing he's had. If Porsche worked that hard to protect Chay from the cruelty surrounding him, we never see the depths of this in Porsche's behaviour.
As adorable as Chay is made out to be, he is flat and one dimensional serving as nothing more than the brother of the protagonist and a chess piece for Kim's detective work. Much like Kim, there just wasn't enough spacing for their plot for me to be satisfied with it. It just seems like a rush to develop a romance and create more drama from it.
Then finally, there's Vegas and Pete. Stockholm syndrome. There's meant to be a relationship out of this one but I honestly couldn't see it. A very toxic and abusive one, yes. But the loving, romantic one that fans are hoping for. In the next 3 episodes? Really? I feel bad for the BDSM community because this is not how it works and I'll be really annoyed if we're using the word 'love' at the end of this.
/Finale EDIT~ I actually appreciate how this one developed. Unfortunately, they were using the word love after this, however, it was portrayed more for what it was, 'trauma bonding' but being confused as love. This twisted dynamic was almost what I had been expecting from Kinn and Porsche but the plot was still very rushed and again, left open for a season two. I would actually be interested to see more of this one, if it was done right. //
The rest of the characters exist to fill out the bodies. We know nothing about them other than they are the cardboard cut outs of the giddy, goofy friends but are still the best bodyguards there, or are the love experts for Kinn and Porsche because that's the only thing that matters here.
Porsche has two school friends who are so rarely seen, it's like the writers remembered them at the last minute and had to add them in during post.
The ep 9 & 10 plot twists were barely plot twists because we rarely seen the characters involved. I can't feel anything for a character who had no development, no interactions other than be bullies to Porsche, with 3 second cameos every other episode.
/Finale EDIT~ the characters in question are never spoken of again, further exposing how little the writers cared about them. //
Kinn's older brother Tankhun is another example of this is just another BL that just happens to have a mafia background. He's the camp character. Every BL has to have one for some reason because heaven forbid a gay show is taken seriously. There's no development for him either. He's supposed to be a damaged character which is why Kinn is the heir and not him but instead of letting us feel any pity for his pain, he's reduced to the whacky comic relief character with an outlandish wardrobe. I can almost let the cartoon sense of humour throughout the show pass but Tankhun is just too much and almost insulting 10 episodes in.
The cinematographer is the real hero of this show. They know what they're doing. They know how to capture the most beautiful shots, make use of lighting, colour psychology, framing, let everyone know there was a bigger budget than usual for the show with nice cars and expensive hotel rooms. There is a never ending source of beauty happening around the characters. There's no rating for them but if there was, I'd give them a 9.
This is meant to be 14 episodes and the pacing is like it were to be much longer. I would be guessing 50 if I hadn't previously known. I would be more accepting if that were the case but it's not. This show is all sparkle and no taste and in the end that's all it's going to be. All that budget, those gorgeous trailers/art films released before airing. It's all hype and it's a major let down.
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Sad, Disappointing and Toxic
Abusive, Toxic relationships, romanticizing of sexual abuse, torture and rape. The story line is pretty much non existent. It just seemed like scenes put together with a minuscule story at best. I am heartbroken because I had such high hopes for this show. A lot of people seemed to think this is a watershed moment for Thai BL but for me this is sad and disappointing and it has continued the toxic tropes that we have come to expect of most Thai BL shows. I really wish this was better. I really wanted to like this.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
All that glitters is not gold ?
Every time my friend says she would like to recommend a bl I ask her one question: Is it Taiwanese or Thai? If it’s the former I will definitely watch it but it’s the latter I will be hesitant to because for me Thai bl is usually just cute boys being cute. ?Note: First time writing a review I will probably mess this one up. ?
When recommending KP, my friend convinced me it’s not typical Thai bl, it’s way different and it will blow my mind( surely did but not in the good way though). When I saw the trailer and boooy I was hooked couldn’t wait to start watching it. The trailer promised mafia stuff what could possibly go wrong with that? Later found out, the series is titled KP for a reason, yeah everything is about Kinn and Porsche. They get at most 80% screen time. You don’t get a chance to know the other characters better so much that when they are killed off you don’t know whether to feel sad or say good riddance, coz you just don’t care about them. Don’t get me started on the pacing. I keep asking myself why so many unnecessary scenes take too long.
Plot
If you are expecting one solid story that makes sense nah you won’t get that. But if you are looking for hot men doing it there is surely a lot of action ? you would like. ?
Characters
Porsche: I’m sorry but he is just stupid. He claims he is a heavy drinker but gets stupidly drunk after few drinks and makes himself susceptible to rape( except when it’s Kinn his love interest doing they make it seem it’s anything but that). He is so kind and forgiving, he will forgive way before you even apologize ?. No matter how many lies Kinn tells him, calls him a slut, Kinn just need to hug and kiss him and all is well. IMO there is nothing more to Porsche than being Kinn trophy bf.
Kinn: The son of the main family which is supposedly the main mafia family. Except for a few occasions I don’t see him doing any mafia stuffs. His cousin Vegas keeps complaining that he can’t measure up to him but I keep asking myself measure up to what exactly????IMO Vegas mafia character is way more believable than him. He sometimes also make the most nonsensical decisions and don’t tell his boyfriend what’s he doing and later blames the bf for not trusting him ??♀️.
VegasPete: The more I watch the more I prefer this couple to the main one. Their love story is nonsensical to me but it’s more interesting. There is at least tension but with the main couple everything is so easy. The main couple’s conflicts like I said earlier on they are resolved way to easily with just a kiss.
Porchay: awww what a sweet child. That’s what he is. Typical teenager head over heels for a stranger. Even when he later on founds out that this stranger lied to him, got close to him just to investigate his family his only concern is whether or not this stranger ever loved him.
Kim: Kinn’s brother also Porchay love interest. This one na detective of the main family, his investigation makes up just 1% screen time. You would think someone doing sth that actually matters to the plot would get more screen time but noooo.
Anyhow: With all this complaints I should have dropped it by now but I won’t. Such strange loyalty but I always finish what I’ve started. Besides I have fan fic to run to for canon compliant stuff so I can get more character study and whatnot. Fan fic has a way of making these bland characters seem more interesting.
Won’t be fair to not add things I liked.
I think the actors did their best. As compared to other Thai bl I have seen they are more talented and their chemistry is amazing.
I also like how on screen they do seem comfortable with each other during intimate scenes.
The sex scenes are hot. ?
The music is fine too.
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Really!?! Major disappointment!
Was expecting mature, intimidating, dangerous mafia guys but instead got 2 man childs acting like they've just discovered sex for the first time (with all the cringey, awkward, overly horny crap that comes with it). Don't even get me started on the seriously messed up relationship of the 3rd couple. VegasPete stole the show with their chemistry despite their all kinds of wrong relationship. KinnPorsche on the other hand was seriously laughable and utterly unbelievable. Kinn saves Porsche from being RAPED while he's drugged and then a few minutes later RAPES the drugged out Porsche himself... and yet Porsche some how falls for him? Are you kidding me?! Not to mention he befriends Vegas the guy that drugged and tried to rape him in the first place. Also the mafia plot went out the window like 4 episodes in because they are by far the most ridiculous, unintimidating, laughable mafia i have ever seen.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I sat down on Sunday (10) and binged watched this series where I was able to complete it on Tuesday (12). And what can I say? I felt underwhelmed. I felt this the first time I saw the trailer and wasn't as excited as most of the people were. But I still decided to give it a try.Story-6/10
I honestly liked the first half of this series. I sat down and watched eight episodes at once, cause those seve episodes piqued my interest and kept me entertained. After that, I honestly don't know. Maybe it's due to the fact that this series is character driven and not storyline driven. So, after Kinn and Porsche got together, basically the other half is them falling out with each other and coming back together. Which got a bit tedious for me.
The characters of Kim and Chay really did nothing for me as a couple. Whatever was going on with them- just did not interest me. For Vegas and Pete...while they both need to see a psychiatrist and I may not like some parts of thier relationship, they were one of the two reasons why I continued with this series. The other reason is the character of Tankhun. Loved him to death! As for the other characters, it was neither here or there for me, especially the dads.
There were some parts of the story that made me scratch my head, some parts that made me scream at them beacuse they were idiots and some parts that were just too predictable. As such, I am giving the story a 6.
Acting/Cast-9/10
Not gonna lie- the cast acting was amazing. They actually did well with this script. And for that reason, I'm giving them a 9 (mostly due to he characters of Tankhun, Vegas and Pete).
Music-9/10
The music was also one of the best features of this series as well. As such, I give a 9.
Rewatch Valu-5/10
Personally, I see myself watching this is a very far, far, far away future. Not right now, though. So, I will give that a 5.
Overall-7.5/10
Overall, I give this series a 7.5. I really wanted to loke it the way most people here did. But, unfortunately, it just did not happen for me.
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Inconsistent plot, acting and storytelling BUT definitely Sexy!
Completed: 7/10/2022"KinnPorsche" is such a hyped up mafia BL drama that I figured I would check it out to see what it's all about. I then realize this is not really a mafia drama, but a mafia slice-of-life drama with a good-looking cast and many sexy scenes. I was expecting an action-packed mafia drama with a side of romance. But it turns out to be a romance drama with a side of mafia action.
What I Like:
1. Sexy scenes - Not going to lie, if you are 18+ and enjoy sexy scenes, this is the drama for you. The scenes are shot beautifully and well-acted. You can feel the emotions and the sexual tension. The scenes are both sexual and sensual, and they definitely could make you blush. Kinn and Porsche's kisses are a treat and they really put in the effort.
2. Good-looking cast - Yes, this drama is full of good-looking guys. Isn't this one of the biggest attractions? Of course, we all have our preferences, but for me, Porsche and Kim are my kinda of handsome.
3. Production - I am not sure if this is considered a big budget production in Thailand, but I enjoy all the scenes in the Main family house. Beautiful rooms with sweeping views of the city, gorgeously decorated interiors with high end furniture/props/chandeliers, etc . Oh, can't forget the gardens, fountains, koi ponds and the swimming pool (both indoors and the one with city view). Great cinematography, nice tailored suits for all bodyguards and the leads. Some of the action scenes are well done and don't seem too fake.
What I don't like or have mixed feelings:
1. Plot - There is no central plot to the drama. It's very character-drive the majority of the time, and it seems like a slice-of-life drama about bodyguards. It's not until towards the last couple episodes that a certain family plot becomes more prominent. There isn't enough about the mafia, and the focus is on relationships/romance. Some scenes and episodes are great and interesting, others are cringey and give me that "What the heck did I just watch" feeling.
2. Comedy - The comedic moments in this drama are too over-the-top for my taste. I am sure many love it, but I don't think they fit the general feel of the drama. I can take small doses here and there, sprinkled throughout the drama. But when the comedy is concentrated on a certain episode, that's too much for me to take. Thus, I feel this drama is very inconsistent.
3. Romance - Yes, I like the sexual and sensual scenes. But on the other hand, some of the scenes are too cringey. Two adult men are acting like teenage girls in love for the very first time. I thought these guys are in their late 20s, or early 30s, and have already been in different relationships before. All the romantic relationships in this drama are quite toxic and unhealthy. These guys are walking red flags. Relationships full of lies, mistrust, dishonesty and not always consentual.
4. Inconsistent acting - I feel that all the actors are best with the more emotional scenes. I particularly enjoy Porsche and Vegas' acting. Kinn's acting doesn't always hit the mark. I do not particularly like Porchay (I know it's an unpopular opinion). I find him too awkward and I don't know why Kim would be interested in a little kid like him.
5. Illogical plots holes- Let's just say there's no way we should still see Vegas after the final credits. All wounds heal ridiculously fast. No one needs to wear any bulletproof vest because even though you're showered with bullets, you won't die.
I will recommend this Thai BL drama if you want something with a mafia theme, sexy scenes, high production value and a good-looking cast. But don't expect an amazing drama with a good script and perfect execution. I enjoyed it for its entertainment value and WTH moments that make me laugh, thus a rating of 8.0. There are better Thai BL dramas out there, e.g. "A Tale of a Thousand Stars", "Not Me", and "I told Sunset About You".
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