Great Series and some political insight to 1910s and 1920s China

SPOILER ALERT. This review does not talk about details of episodes, but does contain information about the main characters, that only comes to light in the later episodes. Comedy, family-political-romantic drama, mixed with crime mysteries. The summary and other reviews are accurate. Imo, this show has a lot of creativity and depth. Inspector Qiao, a one time mob capo for the Bai crime family, has become a doggied police inspector with an odd sense of seeing justice done. Although, he still carries some of his former tendencies of a cold hearted mobster, willing to use torture to resolve an investigation. His relationship with Boss Bai is still from a sense of loyalty. Leon Zhang does a great job of showing the internal conflict Qiao has struggling between loyalty and justice. Episode 1 shows Qiao unsuccessfully trying to resolve a murder case. In comes Lu Yao, an intelligent, educated and handsome young man with OCD. The OCD is one of the main driving forces behind Lu's never-ending pursuit to solve cases, always ensuring the culprit is discovered. Hu Yi Tian portrays Lu as cocky and confident, all the while Lu is almost sub servant when interacting with his family. Just as Qiao and Lu begin to bond advancing the investigation, reporter Bai You Ning enters the picture. The beautiful, energetic, Bai is just in the way at every turn, setting the relationship between Lu and Bai on a course of constant dispute. Qiao and Bai You Ning know each other, as it turns out Boss Bai is her father. Thru Lu's brilliant deductive skills, and aid from You Ning and Qiao, the cause is solved in a dramatic fashion. Xiao Yan is the reason I started this series. Her part as Green Snake in the drama The Legend of White Snake made me a fan. She does not disappoint. Silly, cute, annoying when needed. Xiao brings her serious, thoughtful, and beautiful persona to life just when her relationship with Lu needs to take the next step, on multiple ocassions. So sets the format of the series. You Ning and Lu, thru fortunate or unfortunate circumstance, become roommates in a rental flat. Separate sleeping and living areas, so it's all good. Thru the course of the series, Qiao and Lu develop a bromance lite relationship. Lu and You Ning work closely together on cases and sling insults at each other at every opportunity. They do become the love interests of the show. The crime part of the series is creative, if somewhat fantastical and silly. Just as in the Murdoch/Holmes/Poirot shows, a little factual science turns into over the top crime mysteries. Thru it all, there is ultimately a main culprit, but you'll have to get to episode 35-36 to see it all brought together. Bolstered by the great acting and charisma of Qiao, Lu, and You Ning, and taken at face value, this series is top notch niche entertainment. I binged it and enjoyed every episode. Not cluttered with outsized emotional drama, the show really keeps the mystery at the forefront.

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Better than expected

This style of show is not my norm. Started this as filler between on air shows. I got hooked. Beautiful to look at. The theme song and music are haunting, huge add to the depth and emotions of scenes. The last 6 episodes are powerful emotional storms. They drained me, sad to heart crushing. Don't freak, there is some tearful happy mixed in. The introduction and development of Bai and Qing will get you heavily vested in their stories. Ruyi is a pitiful image of desperation pursing a never to be love. She performs evil blinded by her one direction love. Her emotional pain and dispare are so real. Yu Lang mastered her roll as Ruyi. In the end I still had sympathy for her. Qing (Xioa Yan) beautiful and enduring radiance. Funny, angry, sad, mean, childish, vengeful, she delivered every scene worthy of award recognition. Bai (Ju Jing Yi) is entrancing. Her macro/micro expressions and body language perfect in character. My only dump would be Xu Xain. I just thought to flat and lacked personality or emotional expression. The acting, visuls, music, and directing all come together to make this series perfect for your currently watching list. Fantasy, romance, acton, heart breaks, abound in this wonderful adventure.

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Cannot really explain relationships or roles using the typical "mains" and "support". The cast is not properly accredited in the above synopsis. The entire cast, most of which are not even listed above, really shine. Every character presented, is credible and engenders sympathy. The roles of Phat and Wirat generate the appropriate hate for gangsters. The dramatizations are in the same class you expect in kdrama. Thai boxing is a national ceremony of pride and history. My favorite fighter is Yanin Vismitananda. Tony Jaa is a munster of a martial artist with Thai Boxing. In interviews on video and in either Karate Magazine and/or Taekwondo Life, they expressed how Thai Boxing influences the Thai people and culture. This show makes this painfully obvious. In a way I understand easily. Exposure to the miserable life of the young boxers made me want to cuss. Facts provided thru the show really highlight how destructive Thai boxing world can be on people just trying to survive. Getting facts and the dramatizations that display some of these. This show had a huge impact on me. I highly recommend this show for viewing.

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Watched this movie to see how the story advances. It does not have any value-added storyline. I rented this on prime, sort of mad about that. Have no desire to see part 3. Overall, it feels lazy on the writer's side of things. It's Witch 1 storyline with a different Girl. Same - o, same - o. Lab escape, mad scientist, superpowered villains hunting Girl, add one twist and your done working for the day.

This is Part 2 of what is going to be more to come. It ends dead stop, mid thought, anticlimax (big time). Many scenes in this movie are filler, not necessary to the flow of the story. Some of them were downright annoying, others just confusing. I also had some timeline challenges generating some confusion about why I was watching certain scenes.

This is not an action-packed movie. It is not a movie with a lot of good fight scenes. The only dynamic fight occurs 1.45 hrs into the movie, basically the end of the movie. This fight does have some actual skilled fighting but is heavily dependent on superman level special effects. This fight is the peak of the movie and delivers great action, some fair dialogue, and sets up what becomes the big flop ending. First fight 56 mins in, is two super powered villains beating a car door. Second is 1.10 hrs in, again superpowers and special effects. Scene 1 and 2 last about 3-5 mins and don't really involve fighting skills.

Cast is good for the most part. Several scenes are carried by the actors as the writing lacks depth. So, thru the movie, many actors save otherwise what is lack luster scenes. I do believe the directors organized and delivered as best available from the script. Park as Kyung Hee is the most compelling performance. Park seems to be a level above this movie. Sung as Dae Gil is really good and generates the one heartfelt scene of the movie with an innocent friendship developed with Girl. Shin as Girl is perfect and delivers that one moment my eyes got watery. The best just fun stuff comes as Dae Gil and Girl try to be friends. Comparing to Witch 1, Shin completely captures the lab escapee girl. Plus ++++ level 4 superpowers (way beyond the super villains).

Villains: 1 - typical throw away gangsters, set up to be fodder during 2nd and last fight. 2 - Superpowered mercs (level 1 powers, just really fast/strong and can take a beating), with a tie into Witch 1. The attempt to generate some comedic relief between the lead mercs is value added. 3. The stylish superpowered mercs (level 2 powers, special skills, uber fast/strong, harder to kill than a zombie and regenerate body parts in seconds), no value added to storyline. Do create the only dynamic fight scenes. You will recognize their click from Witch 1. Totally bring the callous next gen merc cool kids vibe.

I really wanted to get into this movie. I love Park Eun Bin as Attorney Woo, and I am rewatching Woo now. I wanted to have another Park go to, I am disappointed.

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Under rated. Fully recommend. I started with use it as a filler show. By episode 3 I was full on binge. Watching this drama as a Thailand drama, made in Thailand, with Thailand actress/actors/directors/writers, it is very good. Keeping in mind the societal norms, political and police corruption, and the wealthy abuse of others, it is home grown Thai life. The plot comes out hot, brutal, and corrupt - all showing in ep. 1. The rape, physical and mental abuse, by her husband; starts Kate (Bee Namthip) off into a complicated journey of pitfalls and twists. Bee turns in a next level performance as Kate. Out classes her cast mates. Generates great sympathy as the desperate victim of most of the men she meets and even her best friend. But that is just part of Kate. She is conniving and deviant. In this role Bee demonstrates a wide variety of personalities, from depressive pity to a psychotic murderess. Dynamic!! I cheered for her in those couple of moments she gets for romance. Jin (Goy Arachaporn) wins best supporting role. Her facial expressions and body language are tops. Jin's love for Tew is boundless. Overlooked and taken for granted, Jin ever hopes for Tew to return her love. And he sorta does twice and dumps her twice. The soul crushing emotions Goy gives to Jin's character made me want to murder Tew. Raht (Ten Tosatid) is a driven culprit capable of murder and love. Raht presents as a strong man full of violence and empty of belonging. Ten is a handsome/beautiful man. Raht winds up in the middle of corrupt cops and politicians, he soon regrets. When he seems to have finally found love with Chatchai (Kate's husband), it only sets how hard of a fall he suffers when Chatchai is murdered.
This show delivers many surprises in twists and turns. Kate's, butt munch husband, Chatchai is abusive dominant to Kate. In a twist, I appreciated, Chachai gets dominated by the corrupt political boss, to include bondage and undesired buggery. Cheers!
Some of storyline is typical for drama. Some of the storyline is not anticipated nor predictable. Episodes 12 and 13 go crazy with twists. I am really thrilled with the out of the box twists. Kate is beautiful and successful in her life, although it turns into a plague of unwanted attention and behavior from jerks. Throughout the drama she is depressed, desperate, angry, nuts, and suspected of being a murderess. And man is she all that and more. Ep 13 wraps up 12 episodes of what is Kate really like. Love you or hate you, in this show, Kate will kill you.
Overall, the cast is really good and cohesive. Several of the supporting roles are excellent. Naner Nisawan and the female cop that breaks the case (yea I get it, can't find her name) both deserve more work, great acting. Writing is good, the directing is okay. I thought the scenery and music added value.
One thing that slowed down a hirer rating from me, was Tew (Aim Bhumibhat). Tew, the character is immature, selfish, and ignorant. Too often a whiny weak person. On the outset he seems to be a bold seeker of justice. But a couple of episodes in he just develops into a weak man with little conviction in himself. I did not like the presentation of the character delivered by Aim. To me, Aim lacked presence. In emotional scenes he was flat, unconvincing. In the handful of "action" scenes, Aim was off balance out of his comfort zone with painful obviousness. I have no other exposure to Aim's body of work. It may be unfair to evaluate his on-screen presence. His deep emotional scenes were across from Kate and Jin, who are on a higher level of presentation.

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Ideas on how to watch GFN

This review is more about how to watch and appreciate the messaging of GFN. This series is very provocative and brutally blunt. Very power format. I might add educational for me to see issues expressly from the view point of school aged youth. The obvious - Kitty Chicha is brilliant casting. Her physical stature adds value to Nanno's presence. Her prep for the part is unique. Each episode introduces a wealth of excellent actress/actors. The high quality of production, directing, and sound track are evident in every episode. Episodes 6-7 are must watch tv. Morakat Liu's talent explodes into her character. Watch this interview with Kitty, gives definition to Nanno. I do not see a spoiler in this, its not about events in episodes, just general background of the series. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiO2qHctu-o. I am an old westie (from the western hemisphere) living in Florida, USA. I had to ditch my expectations and sensitivities for drama tv. Don't look for the pleasant ending. The theme for story lines is dark, and the endings are going to leave you feeling uncomfortable. GFN episodes are not shy, will slap down your comfort zones, get straight into your face with messaging. It feels like the visual representation of social issues that many of us only get exposed to on the net. GNW is timely, with today's (Oct 2021) criticism of social media and effects it has on youth widely being discussed. The inspirations for episodes are horrific events in Thai news, presented in GFN by foreboding scenes, often disgusting and shocking. A couple of episodes made me want to shoot the tv. Reading some of the distractors of the series, episode one or two are a show stopper. It sure knocked me down. If you watched the interview and start the series with episode 3, you'll develop a better understanding of Nanno. Then come back and watch ep 1 & 2. Order does not matter, cept 6-7. With 90% of content centered in school setting, much of the expected culture norms are not present. Fantasy and fiction are a staple, executed to perfection. After getting over my emotional response to ep 1 & 2, I binged. Its engaging and addictive. Highly recommend watching to experience the waaaaaay out of the box approach to story telling.

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Fresh is Best

The plot of this story is unique to me. Original concept. From introduction of each character they are fully developed with minimal film time. Emotional investment and attachment for Zen starts with Phatchatorn's young Zen and only continues to grow thru the movie. The time and effort, study and research, Yanin puts into this part, gives her complete authenticity and creditability. Body language and manner of verbal iterations are typical autistic behavior. Yanin brings her youth, diminutive size (5ft2in, 90 lb), and the explosive power of her martial arts . The styles of martial arts she portrayed required further research. Tributes to Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan are beautifully choreographed . Yanin's fight scenes display masterful talent, unique attacks, and brutal reality. Prachya Pinkaew is famous for his skill as a director, and with Yanin , he reached new heights. Yanin herself comments on the dangers of the choreography and fight scenes. The cut outs at the end of the movie demonstrate the risks. Coming out of Thailand , this movie is a standout for its inclusiveness of crossdresser/transgender actors. Their parts are seamless and natural, just another character in the scene. The amount of masterful talent of Yanin's physical skills, original concept, directing , choreography, and inclusiveness makes this movie unique, fresh and the best.

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Yanin having fun

Yanin is impressive with her physical skills. The amount of pain and injury she endures in Chocolate and Raging Phoenix is just brutal. This movie is just miles away from the pain. I love the fun that comes out in this movie. Yanin smiles a ton, beautiful to see. She has off beat funny in her. It look's like she just has a blast making this film. This is the perfect film to watch for campy content, with ass kicking, ass kickin from Yanin. Petchtai Wongkamlao is a huge presence. He brings his timely humor into every scene, and at the same time that steadfast experienced persona you see in his other movies.

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Stepping up and out

I watched because of Yeon-Seo. I watched all her early work (that I can access) up thru 2021. I see a step up in a complex character pushing multiple roles, from pre-Bo Ri. I also liked the twisted can go any direction plot(s). This show put me onto Yoo-Ri. She nailed it, and from some of the other stuff she has done, this seems to be a step out of the box for her. The Ji Hoon/Jae Hwa never wavering, push thru it all, feelings for Bo Ri was a really nice anchor to the rest of the nutty characters. Overall it just felt like everyone got to fill out their roles and contribute in big ways when in scene, from mains to supports.

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