BadPenny
Above Sea Level
Great acting, lots of SUSPENCE
Okay Max and Tul, as expected, had amazing chemistry and totally carried the gravity of the plot. Every time they do a drama together you can just feel the inevitable, inescapable draw between their characters, and this drama is no different.
That being said, it is very different in other ways. Can we say "Yay!" for actual politics? And murder? And human trafficking? And police corruption? And Max's character still not knowing how to cook? Gah!
It comes off much less as a BL drama and much more a Lite Suspense Thriller with sexy gays. But there is a LOT of gay going around, so technically, yes, it's a BL. It wasn't a college story, so that was nice. Plus, this Drama has the most impressive villains in it I've ever seen in a Thai BL, along with several really effective plot twists.
Most of the other cast members did a really good job as well! Seriously, they accepted a challenging story and made it thrilling to watch. The only exceptions were the actresses who played Nam and Dr Faii. They alternated between overacting and dead-eyed. Especially the actress who played Nam, who seemed to occasionally be playing Ophelia from Hamlet. On Quaaludes. Yikes. But it was worth it to experience the other actors. As a Max and Tul vehicle, I'd count it as a win.
On the issue of production value: Oh, it's a good thing MyDramaList doesn't have a star rating for that. It would have tanked the overall score. The main problems with production were probably the result of budgetary constraints. I think there were exactly three set buildings used in the whole show. And they all get used for multiple plot locations, without redressing the sets in some cases. So a couple of times I had to re-watch scenes just to resolve confusion created by lack of unique sets. There is a scene involving a surgery and wow, I actually giggled during that. The absurdly low quality of the set and implausibly inadequate props shredded the 4th wall. Seriously guys, it needs to look at least a little bit realistic for a surgical theater.
Film angles and steadiness at times had issues. Though that may have been an artistic choice. It looked like they had a shoulder camera and ants in their pants.
Numerous scenes were shot as 1/3 static side shots on interlocuting actors. It's not something you generally see in film because it's DEAD boring. The storyboard artists and the director needed to have actually had lunch with each other to discuss dynamic alternatives.
The one setting that consistently delivered was the wild jungle scenes. The natural setting was astoundingly beautiful. The entire, overall feel of nature was wonderful.
My major plot complaints?
1) All I'll say is no one survives falling that far. Newp. Not even into water.
2) Surgery doesn't work like that.
3) And lastly, if my boyfriend ever set up a marriage proposal under the circumstances that appeared at the end of the drama, I'd feed him the engagement ring. It was the single most tone deaf marriage proposal EVER!
But it was a romp of a story to bring out Max and Tul in, and to give their fans a something very different than the usual fare. I've watched it all the way through twice and there are moments I absolutely loved. Most of them are the cloak and dagger stuff, but the fragile moments of love trying to bloom in patently hostile circumstances was really well done too,
Max and Tul have incredibly believable on screen attraction. You can just feel it. So, Overall the series had some really breathtakingly good moments, just because of Max/Tul. This will take you on a wild ride.
That being said, it is very different in other ways. Can we say "Yay!" for actual politics? And murder? And human trafficking? And police corruption? And Max's character still not knowing how to cook? Gah!
It comes off much less as a BL drama and much more a Lite Suspense Thriller with sexy gays. But there is a LOT of gay going around, so technically, yes, it's a BL. It wasn't a college story, so that was nice. Plus, this Drama has the most impressive villains in it I've ever seen in a Thai BL, along with several really effective plot twists.
Most of the other cast members did a really good job as well! Seriously, they accepted a challenging story and made it thrilling to watch. The only exceptions were the actresses who played Nam and Dr Faii. They alternated between overacting and dead-eyed. Especially the actress who played Nam, who seemed to occasionally be playing Ophelia from Hamlet. On Quaaludes. Yikes. But it was worth it to experience the other actors. As a Max and Tul vehicle, I'd count it as a win.
On the issue of production value: Oh, it's a good thing MyDramaList doesn't have a star rating for that. It would have tanked the overall score. The main problems with production were probably the result of budgetary constraints. I think there were exactly three set buildings used in the whole show. And they all get used for multiple plot locations, without redressing the sets in some cases. So a couple of times I had to re-watch scenes just to resolve confusion created by lack of unique sets. There is a scene involving a surgery and wow, I actually giggled during that. The absurdly low quality of the set and implausibly inadequate props shredded the 4th wall. Seriously guys, it needs to look at least a little bit realistic for a surgical theater.
Film angles and steadiness at times had issues. Though that may have been an artistic choice. It looked like they had a shoulder camera and ants in their pants.
Numerous scenes were shot as 1/3 static side shots on interlocuting actors. It's not something you generally see in film because it's DEAD boring. The storyboard artists and the director needed to have actually had lunch with each other to discuss dynamic alternatives.
The one setting that consistently delivered was the wild jungle scenes. The natural setting was astoundingly beautiful. The entire, overall feel of nature was wonderful.
My major plot complaints?
1) All I'll say is no one survives falling that far. Newp. Not even into water.
2) Surgery doesn't work like that.
3) And lastly, if my boyfriend ever set up a marriage proposal under the circumstances that appeared at the end of the drama, I'd feed him the engagement ring. It was the single most tone deaf marriage proposal EVER!
But it was a romp of a story to bring out Max and Tul in, and to give their fans a something very different than the usual fare. I've watched it all the way through twice and there are moments I absolutely loved. Most of them are the cloak and dagger stuff, but the fragile moments of love trying to bloom in patently hostile circumstances was really well done too,
Max and Tul have incredibly believable on screen attraction. You can just feel it. So, Overall the series had some really breathtakingly good moments, just because of Max/Tul. This will take you on a wild ride.
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