Cupid's Last Wish (2022)

My wish is for more series starring these actors

I kept on putting this series off because I enjoyed watching Earth and Mix in A Tale of Thousand Stars, one of the best BL series out there and didn’t want to ruin the pleasure I had experiencing their chemistry and the amazing story-line. But then I allowed myself to binge watch this and well this ain’t ATOTS. I am not saying its bad but it doesn’t compare to ATOTS.

Body swap genre is nothing new. I, myself have seen 3 other series on this before but only 1 of them was strictly BL. The story is Korn and Win are best of friends from childhood but due to the death of Win’s father leaving a quarter of his dairy farm to Korn, it causes Win to suspect that Korn tried to dupe his father to get his wealth. He cuts all his ties with Korn and even forbids his family to contact Korn. However, one day when he finds his sister Lin doing business with Korn, he rushes to Korn dragging Lin along and meets with an accident. After waking up Win realises that he is trapped in Lin’s body and to save himself and his sister he has to gather holy water from 4 temples within 7 days. Thus starts the adventurous road trip of Win and Korn.

As usual Earth and Mix have done a great job in this series. Their chemistry is exceptionally good and they played their part well. Unlike his previous role in ATOTS, Mix had to be loud and obnoxious as well as caring and understanding. At first I thought, he wouldn’t be able to pull this off but was I happy to be wrong. Mix for me stole the show. Seeing him in ATOTS and Fish Upon the Sky, I am glad to say that he has improved his acting skills. Earth has not disappointed me so far in all the series that I have seen him in. The road trip although fun and has a lot of comedic moments, at the back of our mind we all know that time is limited and there is a high stake here. In addition, the story introduces 2 antagonists and I feel they have not been used well in the series. They could have impacted the story way more but they were designated as minor characters who take significant action almost at the end of the series with no consequences.

Body swap genre comes with its own set of difficulties. You usually need actors that can play the part of the other character in order to convince the audience that the souls have indeed switched. One of the series that does this well is “Kamisama no Ekohiiki” another BL series. In this one however, they made a smart choice of showing Mix most of the time in order to remind the audience that its Win in Lin’s body and Korn is always interacting with Win and also now they don’t have to worry about a female character acting all manly.

In conclusion, the series is worth giving a try because of its actors Earth and Mix and some good cinematography. You too are taken on a journey across Thailand and you see the caves and beaches and hills and food. Lots and Lots of food. Now I am waiting to see these actors grace my screen again with Moonlight Chicken

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10/10 so worth it!

It really was a series on another level. Though they had to portrayed such difficult characters. They NAIL IT! Though the siblings had to “swapped souls”, the transition between characters even if there was the gender barrier… it looked so natural and entertaining.
Also, Earth as Korn did impressively. His character had to keep the feelings he had for Win even if they were on a different body of a different gender. The inner feelings that Win and Korn share for eo were so raw that they only need to stare. Didn’t need words for us to understand and feel their love. The chemistry was beyond that. I did cry on some scenes. They were very touching as is the underwater scene.
Loved every minute and I totally recommend it. Support this series on their official YouTube channel “gmntv”

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completely unexpected!

not me putting off watching this because of the body swap plot and then binging it in a single weekend LOL. i generally hate body swap tropes, especially between different genders as it's always super cringe and tacky. HOWEVER clw gets it so right i hate myself for not watching it sooner.

the transitions from lin to win and back are seamless and i never got confused who it was supposed to be. both mix and janhae did an amazing job working on the character win's gestures, body language and way of speaking so even when the actors switched, the essence of win was still there. the editing team made such clever use of angles and camera transitions too to switch them.

i also liked that korn was already in love with win way before even the start of the main plot. i'm talking all the way back during their uni days (side note but those extras we get of them when they were in uni are freaking adorable!) i was terrified it would be some cliche thing like korn only falling for win bc he's in a girl's body but thankfully, nope! none of that here!

some of the dialogue was a bit corny and the beginning was kind of bad for me but overall, i would say it's a really good drama and so criminally underrated!

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Well... That was something...

Okay so let me start out with saying that I thought the couple was cute... just not in this show.
I also want to come out and say that I myself am a writer, so I am pretty picky on what I do and don't like. Although if it was an all around a fun thing to watch, I tend to overlook a lot of things that I simply couldn't with this show.
I will try what I would have changed personally to make this show a more enjoyable watch for me to write at the end of this review. Just some small changes that would have made the original.. a little more watchable without changing it too much.
So if that's something you are curious about, you can just scroll down and skip the rant hahaha
I honestly personally always love hearing how people would change things!

There was so much about this show that makes me want to go on a rant... But let me start with saying how much I LOVED the music! It was such a bob! I also like the idea of a roadtrip show that has a couple getting progressively closer as they go on this quest. That being said... it wasn't what I hoped for and got progressively worse instead. I Initially didn't think I was going to watch this one when I knew it would be kinda genderbend, but with all the raving reviews I gave it a shot anyway.
Boy was i disappointed...
It starts out with Win being an absolute child throwing a tantrum for no reason. (This may just be an opinion thing, but I honestly didn't think Korn being in the Will of Win's father was that big of a deal, when Win explicitly states right before that scene that Korn is family to him. But then proceeds to immediately throw him out of the house and cut of all communication, demanding his family to not talk to Korn either, because his father actually treated him like... well, family.)
Anyway some reviews promised that Win would become better with time and to that I must say... sure in the last 2 episodes my most hated character turned out to be my least hated, when everyone else just got that much worse.

I do agree with someone else saying that I would have liked more scenic scenes, exploring the culture and traditions since it is a roadtrip show. Anyway here are some points that bugged me:

- The aunt and uncle added nothing to the story and if they had been left out, nothing would have changed AT ALL.
- I also disliked the mothers lack of backbone with them and how irresponsible she was with the holy water. She quickly turned into the main villain in the last episode for absolutely no good reason either. Saying that she deliberately planned out the Will to break up Korn & Win's friendship, because of what?
- The doctor friend wasn't bad... just not that interesting and definitely not the friend I would go to for relationship advice.
- The sister was ... a sister I guess. She seemed to have zero autonomy tbh. Kind of like an empty shell that was treated as a plot device. She is frail and innocent, but secretly talks to Korn to anger Win, so Win could end up in a car crash with her. She was the reason why they had to go on a quest. Win is in her body, making it so he has the deepest insecurity as to why Korn likes him. For him or for Lin? She blindly follows Non's advice and gets herself engaged to someone she has no feelings for, only to hopefully have Win confess to Korn (WHICH I WOULDN'T DO EITHER IF I WERE HIM! - IF MY CRUSH GOT ENGAGED ... ESPECIALLY TO MY SIBLING) did she have any autonomy of her own?
- Unpopular opinion... but I hated their first kiss. I hated how I couldn't enjoy it when it was honestly the most intense and moving kiss in the entire show and somehow I couldn't help but be conscious of the fact that he was kissing Lin's body.
This upset me on multiple levels, 1 being that Lin's body is technically unconscious... therefore this does in fact classify as assault in my opinion. Since Lin never consented to kissing Korn even if she isn't conscious of it and Win is the one experiencing the kiss. 2. I would freak out as Win as well since I would be confused as to who Korn was imagining kissing in that moment, especially when he deliberately tells the mom afterwards that he took advantage of Lin based on his emotions and wants to take responsibility for this?! Korn.. sweetie.. tell me honestly, who were you really imaging, cause I is confusion right now.
- The time jumps. Is it just me or did I get really confused over how the car ride took 17 hours to get from one temple to the other, but they were able to get back to the farm for Katin in less than what seemed like an hour?
- Why after the quest was fulfilled and Lin supposedly is getting engaged to Korn and Win and Korn are friends again does it take a whole month for Korn to even pop back up on the farm with no contact from anyone in the meantime?
- WHY ON EARTH would Korn say yes to the engagement? And than proceed to tell Win that their kiss had meant something and ask Win if he really has no feelings for him. I'm sorry but why on earth would I tell you that I love you if you just got yourself engaged to my bloody sister, making it seem as though you mentally were with her during our trip since you said you wanted to take responsibility for kissing her??? Nope nope nope.

PS: I love how Lin's period only lasted a day... gosh a girl can only dream xD

Lastly this is some simple changes I would have made personally:
After the 3rd temple Win does in the original start to warm up a little more towards Korn as he is thinking about what this anger truly has brought either one of them. I would have liked that to continue more smoothly with little hints such as Win at first stubbornly refusing to eat before the temple visit and afterwards awkwardly start to accept Korns attempts at making sure Win eats. This will also be noticed by Korn and show some relieve on his side by this subtly change in attitude. These little hints growing bigger when Win unexpectedly does something for Korn instead, since they bonded over food it was nice when he got Korn coffee. I would have liked to see him do things like that more often without having to deny that he did it because he cared. Maybe instead of denial, shrug it off like it's no big deal whilst having lingering longing eyes on Korn as he takes his sip. I personally would have unfortunately have to scrap the cave kiss T . T
Simply because it is still Lin's body and I can't get over that fact. Instead I would have had them have the entire scene stay pretty much the same up until the point where they are about to kiss. Win would look down, because he can't accept it quite yet being in Lin's body and feeling that conflict of desire vs fear vs honoring his sister. (whom he still thinks is in love with Korn as well.) Korn obviously asks him what is wrong and Win tells him he can't do that to his sister. Implying on both residing in her body as well as kissing the guy she might like. leaving room for interpretation on Korn's side.
After the bodies swap back, I would scrap the whole engagement thing by having Lin feel to passive to tell her mom she doesn't want to get engaged rather than it being a set up. Than have Korn come over to the house for the engagement talk, which makes Win storm out because he can't handle the rejection, being certain that Korn & Lin like each other. Korn ends up actually rejecting the engagement upon mutual agreement with Lin, as his rejection gives her the courage she needs to tell her mom she doesn't want it either (which suits her personality more in the way she is portrayed, rather than someone who plans out a set up that could hurt their brother) Korn wants to tell Win, but Win is gone. He ends up looking for Win when he finally finds him at their spot. They have a whole moment of will they, won't they because both are still scared out of their minds to actually confess, but Korn tells him that it has always been Win he was looking at and they share a kiss. Then it ends with all the fluffy scenes and the farm becoming more well off as we gush over the peppered in kissing scenes of Korn & Win.

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Not recommended for calculative viewers

To be frank, I can't see what other reviewers see about the chemistry between the 2 leads in the series. The chemistry doesn't feel like lovers but friends/brothers. Their chemistry lacks intimacy, roamance, the feeling of longlines for physical touch, getting awestruck, staring at your partner. Even the way they look at each other doesn't feel like a look between lovers but old friends.

Coming to the story, I think it's too unrealistic. If I even accept the soul switch, my mind cant just accept many things that happen between the leads (normal things) as between boy and boy, it's a girl's body being treated like a man, especially by Korn is just too much for me to accept. in most of the scenes they have shown win playing the role of Lin, but if you think from Korn's scenario it will be too much to react like the way he did during their long trips.

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Much Better Than Expected

I was really hesitant to watch this one entirely because of the body swapping element. I figured that it was going to do the "oh, I fell in love with you as a girl but I decided it's your personality that I want, not the body," which is fine in theory but is often executed in a way where I can never fully believe the feelings for the character in the correct body. It just tends to feel too much like a hetero romance that becomes gay at the last possible second. I was worried that this one would follow that trend.

Spoiler: this is definitely not the case.

In fact, it's so clear from moment one that Korn is so far gone on Win that he can't even look at anyone else that I could just sit back, relax, and enjoy the hijinks. I could also enjoy Win's inevitable angst and heartbreak over Korn being in love with his sister because it was just patently untrue.

This was my first exposure to Jan, and I have to say, she was a favorite. I loved the way that she played Lin as Win - it was pitch perfect and I thought that the show did a really good job alternating between her and Mix when they were body swapped.

This was also my first exposure to EarthMIx and I have to say it was a good one. They work well together, have an easy chemistry that is very believable. I can definitely see why they were co branded.

There is one thing I don't get: the mom's plan to marry Korn and Lin off to each other so that the farm would be all theirs. If her husband hadn't given Korn a percentage in the farm at her insistence, wouldn't it have gone to Win or Lin anyway? Or maybe she was afraid of an even split with the money hungry sibs? She truly doesn't seem to have a problem with Win and Korn together so I just don't get it. I will say that her manipulating of Korn and Lin into marriage does drive me infinitely more insane upon rewatch because now I see her machinations right from the get go and know she knows how much she's forcing things.

Aside from that one quibble though, I just love this drama. It's become a comfort rewatch for me, and if you're in the mood for a mostly low stakes drama with fun leads and good chemistry, I can't recommend it enough.

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Only good if you're a big fan of EarthMix

Out of all of EarthMix's projects, this one is by far the worst. While the two have great chemistry, who thought that this plot was a good idea?

Win (Mix) is in a car accident with his sister, Lin, and when he wakes up he's in his sister's body. He then embarks on a journey with his former friend Korn (Earth) in order to retrieve holy water to return to his body. Along this journey, past issues between Win and Korn resurface and as the two learn to get along again, feelings between them emerge - but does Korn have feelings for Win, or does he only care about the body his soul is transported in?

The entire conflict of this show being "is he into me or is he into me because I'm in my sister's body" is crazy. What even. Regardless, watching the relationship between Win and Korn change was very enjoyable, and the fairly slow burn friends-to-lovers was fun to watch. But thank god it was only 10 episodes because I don't think I could have watched much more.

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An Unexpected Comfort Drama

So weeks later.. I am in a series slump as I wait for certain shows to air and my current choices seem limited, and I find myself wanting to come back to this particular drama. Listen, this is in no way a masterpiece.. there are several directorial and even screenwriting choices that deserve more than a serious side-eye, as they pummel the shows’ transitions and prevent a smooth emotional development for its characters. It starts unnecessarily melodramatic, making Win seem like tyrant for virtually no justifiable reason. It exaggerates several moments for what seems to be sheer shock factor, succeeding only in gaining, yet again, a serious side-eye. I could go on and on about this, because it hindered what could’ve been another brilliant EarthMix series; however, I will focus on why, out of everything, I find myself wanting to come back to this show in a moment when I feel a little stuck.

Yes, many reviewers have said it, and I will say it again: EarthMix fluff. There is something about these two.. how they portray their respective characters and respond to each other that just never fails to come across as comforting. They have an undeniable chemistry that just pulls you in no matter the circumstances. And here we have them at odds yet stuck together, with no choice but to push through their warring emotions in order to succeed in their journey. It creates the most angsty, hilarious, and heartwarming dynamics that will be the main motor that will get you through this series.

As usual, Mix did a brilliant job, portraying the constantly shifting and conflicting emotions of Win with loads of heart and humor. Many hated Win as a character because he initially acted like a tyrant, and he did, but isolate that initial incident from the rest, and it seems almost uncharacteristic, which is why it makes it even more annoying that they (the crew) chose to be explosive at the beginning for what seemed to be mere dramatics. Win is high-maintenance, and that can come across as snobbish and spoiled, but to me he came across as determined, fiercely protective, and a little insecure when it came to his own heart, which made him relatable at many instances. He deeply valued loyalty, which is why betrayal hit so hard for him. And yes, maybe he was a little spoiled, too.. and this is where Korn’s character comes in.

Every princess needs a prince to spoil him, and boy does Korn love to play the part to perfection. He was so in tune with Win’s feelings and who he was personally that, despite the switch, he knew exactly what to do to comfort and lift him up. He was patient, which by itself can seem so little, but paired with Win’s big personna and their circumstances, patience is everything they both needed. Some said Korn was a pushover that just took the brunt of Win’s antics and acted like a hurt puppy throughout the show, but I strongly disagree. Superficially, it can seem as such, but Korn very much did not take Win’s sh*t. He was perceptive and knew how to handle Win’s emotions and how to ease, soothe, and lift them. He knew when to push or pull, causing Win, ironically, to be the one to change direction. He took a lot of brunt, yes, but he did so knowingly and, perhaps, even as a bit of a punishment, since he knew how he had hurt Win (albeit unwillingly). But still, he pushed forward with the slight hope that, one day, he might win back his heart.
All in all, if there is a firm and dependable character at any of GMM’s dramas, you know Earth will be the main prospect, and for good reason. Though Phupha (TOATS), Jim (Moonlight Chicken - which I also reviewed and highly recommend), and Korn are very different, they all have a strong and dependable aura that Earth just knows how to exude perfectly. So put him and Mix together in anything, and they create a sort of magic that makes you feel at home.

Now, on another very important note, Miss Jan Ployshompoo also stole my heart and quickly became one of my favorite Thai actresses. She is organic, absolutely hilarious, and deeply captivating. She compliments Win’s character rather than hinder him, adding an extra layer of humor and heart to an already beautiful characterization by Mix. Both her and Mix switched between their characters seamlessly, and turned what could’ve been an annoying occurrence into an entertaining, charming, and even heartwarming one.

So, in the end, this became a comfort drama for me, mainly because of how the cast portrayed their characters, the dynamic that played between them, and their rich, enthralling chemistry; they pulled at my heartstrings, and I deeply miss them for it. If you want a no-brainer, fluff and feels drama to blithely dive into, then Cupid’s Last Wish might just be it for you; it unexpectedly was for me.

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EarthMix is the highlight of the show

For those of you who have reservations about this actually being a BL. Trust me, it definitely is. I was actually really impressed with how well the story handled the body swap; it's not usually a trope that I enjoy.
This was a decent and fun, short and sweet road trip show. It doesn't blow anything out of the water, it's not spectacular but it is cute and enjoyable, even in light of the poor writing.

If you want to enjoy this to the best of your abilities, you can't really take any of it too seriously. The story is no stranger to plot holes and at times it could get a bit frustrating. Some of the writing choices (particularly towards the end), were illogical and kind of felt like a cheap cop-out but I'll admit it.... the EarthMix scenes and their chemistry made up for all of my frustrations and the poor writing; but only just about. Watching them bicker, bond and remember why it was that they used to care for each other was quite entertaining to watch.

I loved Mix's acting in ATOTS; I didn't love it here as much as I did in ATOTS but it wasn't bad. He didn't have as much to work with but he did a good job and did what he could with what was given to him with his character. On the other hand, with Earth you could see quite an improvement in his acting and range. I was pleasantly surprised! The portrayals of Win and Lin by both Mix and Jan were convincing and pretty good!
It was kind of hard to grow an attachment to any of the characters, as you don't really get to know them until the last third of the show which was disappointing because I wanted to care about them but ultimately it was due to the way the story was told.

The EarthMix scenes make this show enjoyable and worth a watch. Without them, ehh maybe not. It was pretty average.

My Rating: 7.65/10 stars

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CLW is for silly people like me!

SOO... when I said to people: I will watch CLW (Cupid's Last Wish) they were like "It's bad", but let me tell you the truth: I think people were still in A Tale of Thousand Stars.

I understand since this was the second series of EarthMix as a couple, and people were with high expectations since ATOTS was a fucking masterpiece, but CLW it's not bad. It's not something FUCKING GOOD AND MEMORABLE like ATOTS, it's a rom-com, and with fantasy. The main point here is being funny and silly, and they did this Very Well. I have so much fun watching this. It was so enjoyable and fun. It's body-switching but in a funny way, not in a hard and sad, so it's great! I don't like body-switching but as I said, it's so fun!

About the acting, Earth (Korn) and Mix (Win) are good, as always, they are good actors. But for me, who really caught my attention was Jan. Her acting was AMAZING as Win and Lin. I already knew her but damn, she's incredible! She's so underrated and that's so sad. She's like, amazing. For real.

The soundtrack it's so good and funny, I loved it.

Cupid's Last Wish is a funny rom-com and what I say is: Don't watch with expectations. Actors can do very different roles with very different plots, that's literally acting. But if you don't like rom-com and are expecting something deeper, go watch another title. CLW is for silly people like me!

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