Live by the Gun, Die by the Gun!!

The synopsis for this series doesn't do any justice. There is so much more to the story than three kids on the run from the mafia. In this series, the mafia are not just one dimensional bad guys with no motives for life other than the mob. The mafia men here have lives, feelings, and motives. There is so much more to this than just guns, money, and killing. It's a must watch!

Also this is not a polyamory story, nor does it have a love triangle between the leads. This is just about three people, who learn to love each other for who they are and become a "family." It's more of "the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb" relationship. There is really no romantic love between any of them... Just a few kisses, hugs, and one night stands though... I'll try and explain it a bit later in the review.

STORY:

Neo, a pansexual stripper with some debt, ends up sleeping with Mafia Boss Thana's new wife. Thana sends some men after him. While on the run he runs into Shin, Thana's gay son, and Miw, a hostess at a strip club. During the scuffle, Thana's wife is killed and Miw accidentally kills, Phon. one of Thana's right-hand men. The three of them go on the run. Ter, Thana's right-hand man who accidentally killed Thana's wife in the scuffle, puts the blame of her death on Neo and informs Thana. Furious, he sends his men after Miw and Neo, believing that they kidnapped Shin and killed his wife. Thana also secretly orders Ter's death for his failure as well. After receiving his orders, Ter goes to inform Mae, Phon's transgender girlfriend about his death. Mae decides to go along with Ter to avenge her boyfriend's death.

Meanwhile, on the run, Neo, Miw, and Shin seek help and shelter from not only others, but themselves. They learn more about each other's lives, their ambitions, and the struggles they've faced. They also learn to love and accept each other for who they are. While Neo, Miw, and Shin's lives are turned dark and upside down, they learn to survive, so that they can one day be free.

This is the long story short. There is so much more action, violence, carnage, and depth to this story it's so hard to explain. Almost every character has a motive and a drive. There is really no character that is just there to push the story forward. Every character has a background that is explained nicely to the audience.

Neo

Neo is one of the main trio. He is the catalyst of this entire plot. He grew up in the forest and moved to the city with big dreams. He has financial issues leading him to work as a stripper and to sell his body to pay for his debt. He is pansexual. He tends to follow his heart rather than his head, which often leads to more trouble. Neo respects and cares deeply for his older brother Leo. When Leo is killed due to his actions, he seeks revenge.

Miw

Miw is the second of the trio. She is accidentally dragged in when she hears a commotion and walks in to Phon and Neo fighting. She picks up the gun terrified and accidentally shoots Phon dead when he tries to retrieve his gun. Unbeknownst to anyone this is her second body count. The first is John's brother, her stepfather, after he raped her. She accidentally stabbed him dead with a pool cue while fighting him off her. She has a bad relationship with her mother because of this and the many men her mother brings home, and was on the run from John when she accidentally got involved in this. Outside of her family issues, Miw is just a normal girl trying to survive and will do anything to survive.

Shin

Shin is the last of the trio. He is Thana's son and was literally just using the bathroom when Neo ran into the bathroom to hide from Phon and Thana's men. Like Miw, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, Neo was Shin's first love, so he just followed Neo to help him out. Unlike Miw and Neo, Shin grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth, but he never felt genuine love. His mother was killed when he was young and his father always rejected his artsy and non-masculine ways. His father always wanted him to be strong and mainly to take over the family business. Shin always had to follow rules and was never given much freedom. Due to always being controlled by his father, Shin is naive and introverted, seeking genuine affection and love. Since no one is keeping him hostage and since he really hasn't hurt anyone, he could walk away from the situation and return home at anytime. Instead he chooses to help Mie and Neo escape from his father wrath since he disagrees with his father's ways.

Neo & Miw

Neo and Miw's relationship built on the fact that they are both struggling to survive. They come from similar backgrounds, yet they do things very differently which causes them to butt heads often. While many may think that they have a romantic relationship, their relationship is very platonic. They are each other's rock and comfort, but nothing more. They grew up in an environment where they can relay nobody but themselves, so when they find that they can relay each other, they seek solace in each other.

Miw & Shin

Miw sees a version of herself in Shin. She looks at him as a little brother. While she will do anything to survive, she wants to set Shin free since she knows what it's like to feel trapped by your family. Miw comforts and gives advice to Shin as an older sister. Similarly, Shin views Miw as a sister. She is his family and he cares deeply about her. She was the first person to really understand him and he values her dearly. Because of this he wants to give her the freedom she deserves after such a hard life.

Shin & Neo

Shin is Neo's first love after they met in art class. Neo views Shin as a friend, rather than a lover. As they go on the run together, they grow closer as Shin learns more of Neo's past. As Neo and Miw grow closer due to their similar backgrounds, Shin gets jealous, but he does see that Neo is happier with Miw, so he backs off. Deep down, rather than getting jealous of Neo and Miw for having a relationship, Shin is more jealous because all of his love and affection is one-sided, but between Neo and Mie it's mutual. Miw often has to remind him that they love him back as well and love is mutual between all three of them. Neo does treasure Shin deeply, but it's very familial.

Neo & Miw & Shin

The relationship between Neo, Miw, and Shin is very complex. While most people will understand that they learn to grow and love each other because of the circumstances they are thrown in together, I don't think many will understand how deep it goes. Only those who have hit rock bottom might understand them well. Working as a stripper or hostess, selling your body, being in debt, putting yourself in a vulnerable position to make money to survive. There is more to this than just watching it on the screen and feeling sympathy for the characters. If you've ever been buried so deep in the mud that you can't breathe, you would know how the characters feel. It's not just about surviving, it's literally life or death. Neo, Miw, and Shin are trapped not only in their situation, but in their lives as well. The small happy moments they share together are the small gasps of air they can breath while they drown. When any of the three characters get intimate with each other, it's the only time they can be themselves and breathe freely. They can't trust anyone else. They can only put their shields down, relax, and be vulnerable to each other. None of them are seeking romance from each other, they are seeking solace. They are looking for a light in the dark.

Ter & Mae & Phon

Ter and Phon are Thana's right-hand men. Unlike most mafia stories where the henchmen have no backgrounds, we learn through them that they are not replaceable robots, but that they have lives too. Through Phon and his love for Mae, we learn that killing and doing bad things have consequences, not only to themselves, but to their family and friends. Mae tells Phon to get out of the mob, Phon is torn between both. He ends up getting killed leaving Mae distraught. Ter is guilt ridden and wants revenge. Mae accompanies him as she has nothing left to live for. As they chase the trio, they start to seek solace in each other, which slowly leads to understanding and romance. Ter, however, still lives by the gun and is eventually killed for it. Mae hits rock bottom and she needs to make a decision to survive.

Ter and Phon's backgrounds show that even our enemies have lives and people who care about them. No lives can be killed without consequence. They even have motives, money, revenge, guilt, etc. Mae, however, is an interesting character. She is transgender, but that is irrelevant to the story. She could be male or female and her role would be the same. She is just like the trio, struggling to survive. While her situation isn't as extreme and dangerous, she is shown to be a normal civilian like us. She is unsatisfied with life and thought she found the right man. When hell burned over, instead of looking for greener pastures, she chose to go down a dark road. Mae shows us that our actions do have consequences. She could have mourned Phon's death and moved on like the average person, but when she chose to avenge him, she chose a road that's hard to return from. Mae hits rock bottom and by the end of the film she's in the same boat as the trio, but instead of having someone to lean on, she has no one.

Leo, Luang, PP, Motel Owner, etc. (All Characters the trio meet)

When you watch this series, pay attention to all the characters the trio meet. Every single person has a background and motive. It's very different from a usual series. They all have motives and desires. They are all struggling and doing what they can, in their power, to survive. I won't explain it all since it'll take too long, but definitely keep your eyes open for all of it.


ACTING:

All the actors were amazing! Every character felt real and you could feel every emotion they felt. Everything from the little gestures, to their clothes, to their movements, were amazing. There really was no weak actor here. They all were in sync with their roles. Even the trio, who had a hard task of portraying such complex characters had amazing chemistry. My favorite part is that any role can be replaced by any gender and the outcome is still the same. There is no overly masculine or overly feminine characters. They are all gender neutral.

OVERALL:

3 Will Be Free is an amazing series with so much depth to it. Not only in the storyline, but in the characters as well. You don't have to over analyze it like I did, but watch it and enjoy the emotions it brings.