Reviews

A Muder mystery plot that couldn't even kill time!!

We already have 'a serial killer/murder mystery in a romcom' curse in Korean drama and now BLs too? *sigh*

The series tries to be everything—murder mystery, bilingual love story, and fitness BL—but manages to fail at all of them. It clearly had big ambitions, though the execution couldn’t quite match the hype. An example of aiming high and missing the mark.

The bilingual aspect between Thai and Korean didn’t bother me at all. It actually felt natural, as if it made sense that people in Korea would understand Thai, and vice versa. xD
But even with this cultural fluidity, the romance itself here was where things stumbled. The pacing in the early episodes was painfully slow, making it hard to stay invested. When the MC finally started dating, it felt so anticlimactic and lacklustre, it was almost forgettable. The transition from that awkward tension to a full-blown relationship wasn’t compelling enough.
While there was clear chemistry between the leads, their connection often felt fragmented. Jay seemed uncertain for much of the series, completely oblivious to Seung Hun’s feelings and attraction. When he finally came around and acknowledged those feelings later on, it felt abrupt and hard to fully buy into. The shift in his character felt uneven, making it difficult to settle into their relationship.

Now coming to the murder mystery plot, definitely started as an interesting one, but unfortunately, the drama didn’t quite nail it. The whole serial killer subplot felt more like a gimmick than something that was well-developed or meaningful. It came off as a mere plot device, underused and not at all engaging. I didn't care most of the time in the series who died and why. And how the mystery was solved was boring.

Overall, it’s a one-time watch with uneven pacing and a forgettable romance. I’d recommend it as a light background watch or a palate cleanser if you're watching something heavier.

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Too Shallow

It begins with someone somehow coming from the future into the past. Everything is very unclear, and events just happen without explanation. The story feels flat, lacking depth and continuity. It is illogical, with things occurring without reason, and the character knows things without any explanation. There is no solid plot, and it lacks quality and coherence. Perhaps it would get better if I pushed through, but as it was too boring and not well-made, I stopped after the second episode. Normally, I enjoy time travel stories, but this one felt too unserious and not funny enough.

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Can we please stop comparing it with Vincenzo. There're some similarities, like both the ML is a lawyer and a gangster. The most important thing is it's not a cheap version of Vincenzo. It came first, not a copy of Vincenzo.

Loved the story. Every episode had a twist. In every episode I thought that Bong Sang Pil plan would flop, but there are always some tricks under his sleeve. Loved how Bong Sang Pil revealed the villain's evil deeds. The way he turned the table in his favor was so pleasing to watch.

Loved Bong Sang Pil & Seo Yea Ji bickering. Lee Joon Gi & Ha Jae Yi have great chemistry. Nothing more to say about their acting, they're brilliant at what they do.

Both the leads, Lee Joon Gi & Ha Jae Yi, played characters who can’t express their emotions & here they’re full of emotions.

Laughed at the Seok Gwan Dong reaction when Bong Sang Pil said he didn’t care if he donated Seo Yea Ji organs.

Loved the chaos that Bong Sang Pil team caused in the courtroom, which doesn’t happen in real life for sure.

Laughe when Seo Yea Ji pushed Bong Sang Pil face into the food & their team followed him.

Bong Sang Pil using some illegal or tacit in his favor.

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The value of a promise and the power of love

'The Promise' is based on that axiom that the Spanish group "La Oreja de Van Gogh" sang: "true love is only the first" with the story of an interrupted love, a love rooted in childhood and entrenched until adulthood, pure, transparent, chaste.
For this reason, the series appeals to a nostalgia for the past, to an idealization brought to the daily life of its main characters, two children: Nanfah/"Nan" and Phupha/"Phu", who grew up together in a remote village in Chiang Mai and that, as children, they begin to build a very good friendship and fall in love with each other, as children fall in love on the threshold of adolescence, in a visceral and tragic way—a bond that is abruptly broken when both separate.
Narrated in two timelines: the past and the present, we see how in their childhood Phu and Nan meet and become inseparable friends. The two share dreams, adventures and secrets. They both promised each other that they would never leave each other, but Phupha can't help but fear losing Nanfah if he revealed that he is in love with him. When his feelings, which go beyond friendship, get in the way of the two, Phu decides to break the promise, lie to his friend and walk away from him.
Oblivious to the reason why Phu broke the promise, Nan searches for him for ten years without success. After this time, they meet again under unexpected circumstances, when Phu moves into the apartment across the street by a coincidence of fate.
At present, Nan and Phu's trajectories have taken different paths. Nanfah, masterfully played by Wattikorn Permsubhirun (Kiak), is a successful graphic designer and aspires to positively impact the world of cosmetics promotion for the Devonte company, for which he works. Meanwhile, Phu, played superbly and with great rigor by Kittikun Tansuhas (Kun), an introverted boy with a fear of the public, spends his time helping his grandmother Namfon (Ruthaiwan Wongsirasawat), an endearing character who will steal the hearts of the public, on the family coffee farm.
After moving to Bangkok, Phu focuses on fulfilling his dreams of running a coffee shop, but destiny has in store for him to become a famous marketing agency model under the care and protection of Nan.
From the meeting, the plot explores the changes in their lives, their personal aspirations, the friendly and working relationships they form with other people, the challenges they face, and how love and friendship intertwine to unite them again, while It also addresses themes such as family, forgiveness, identity and destiny.
With a melancholic and romantic tone, very different from other Thai BL series that I have reviewed on MDL, but also with moments of humor and tenderness, the drama tells us how the two protagonists feel confused and excited when they meet again after so long. However, misunderstandings and obstacles will arise that prevent them from expressing their true feelings. The physical distance has been reduced, but the old barrier takes time to disappear.
Carlos Gardel said that "20 years are nothing." The legendary Argentine tango singer lies. Ten years is a lot. It seems like a lot for two people who love each other to have to be away from each other for so long, but the series, based on a novel of the same name written by Thanyathorn Siwanukroh, who is also the screenwriter of the adaptation, and directed by Kongkiat Khomsiri, known, in addition to his work in horror and action films, as one of the directors of 'KinnPorsche', tells a story based on real events.
Both director and screenwriter know that it is important for the viewer to feel that in the voids caused by the absences, distances and disagreements of Nan and Phu in those years in which the lives of both take separate paths, without knowing about each other, lies the heart of the series, and it is the weight of that absence, of its melancholic background, that makes their reunion so beautiful and moving.
In the characters, the distance that separated them in their youth has become an ocean, which both will try to bridge once the long-awaited reunion occurs. And in this reunion of two children who fell in love, Kongkiat Khomsiri shows his talent because he avoids grandiose speeches, of unbridled feelings, and lets the camera show us what is happening without having to explain anything, spreading a sensation, breathing life into the image.
The director creates a delicate and moving narrative and each shot, each sequence, contains an emotion about to explode. There is no unnecessary accentuation, nor vain repetitions. There is good cinematography, and the dialogues are precise and brilliant. There is a lot of image, as an excellent television series should be.
As time passes, both characters, who express themselves through subtle gestures, glances and silences, navigate victories, losses, obstacles and disappointments. However, despite these setbacks and distances, they always find their way back to each other.
The series is wrapped in nostalgia and that melancholic atmosphere of the reunion of the protagonist couple that ends up becoming a love that overcomes everything. No matter the distance, the passage of time or the attempts of other potential lovers to win the love of the two of them. Nan and Phu are destined to make good on their promise and be in each other's lives for the rest of their lives.
We are then faced with a beautiful story about first love, the one that is born in childhood, continues in youth and is reborn in maturity. The one you try to stay alive hundreds of kilometers away, with a computer or mobile screen that separates an abyss of possibilities and in which you write and cry, and there are no answers or consolation. A feeling that is stopped and repressed by the emptiness that that person leaves, by not being able to look into the eyes, not being able to caress or kiss the other. Finally, there comes a time in adulthood when a second chance may present itself that could be the definitive one.
In this way, the series also explores the connection between the present and the past across two eras, while portraying the complexity of human relationships and the concept of keeping promises.
In other words, the essence of 'The Promise' lies in the evolution of the relationship between the main characters played by the magnetic couple of actors, from their childhood to maturity, addressing the complexities of their love, marked by farewells (or their absence) and reunions over the years. Through this time journey, it examines how divergences and personal challenges affect their bond, while highlighting the lessons and transformations they experience. Likewise, the series invites the viewer to reflect on the nature of destiny, love, promises and decisions.
As you can imagine, the meeting after a decade without seeing each other is full of emotion and meaning. Nan, who has many questions and demands an explanation for the disappearance, will find an evasive friend who refuses to answer her. They are no longer the two children, teenagers, or recent college graduates they once were, and their connection is revealed to be different: exciting but uncomfortable, satisfying but frustrating, free but in need of sacrifice, declarations, and reassurances. Faced with silence, both finally focus on rebuilding their friendship.
The dramatic force of 'The Promise' lies, above all, in the performances, and the staging is purely narrative. The series deepens a prequel in two medium-length films, filmed in 2022 by Choi Sittichai ('21 Days Theory', 2022), and named after its protagonists, 'Phupha' and 'Nanfah', also starring Kun and Kiak .
With very high production values, beautiful photography, vibrant cinematography, precise artistic direction in creating a cozy and nostalgic atmosphere, and successful placement of flashbacks to mark the two timelines, the series narrates the difficulties that occur when one of the Lovers believe that romance is not possible and choose to put distance between them: will the feelings remain fleeting and remain forever in no man's land? Can the two young people make up for time and keep their promise to always be in each other's lives?
As one of the best Thai-made BL series of all time and my favorite, the looks, the silences and a relationship that says more with gestures than with words shine. The actors manage to convey those feelings that arise between two people who know each other and have loved each other despite distances and secrets, and who meet again years later.
The secondary characters add diversity and color to the story, especially Party (Boss), Nan's best friend and Phu's rival; Deena (Marima), Nan's rival for Phu's love; Khunkhao (Seagames), Phu's unknown brother who will challenge him for Nan's love, Giegie (Mint), Nan's friend and co-worker, Ken (Lift), Devonte's director, without forgetting Oliang, Nan's cat who quickly becomes the son of the two protagonists.
Kiak and Kun manage to convey to the viewer that tension between friendship and love as a couple that is not always easy to manage. The human quality of the characters, and the use of the soundtrack to convey each of the moments experienced by the two young protagonists, with songs performed by themselves, keep the audience in pleasant tension during every second that the episodes last 10 episodes of about 50 minutes each.
Despite being framed in the romantic genre, 'The Promise' tries to go further in its narrative proposal, to become an ode to love and true and sincere friendship, a reflection of the differences between a person who fears revealing his feelings and another that hopes to listen to them, between two ways of facing life, that can come to understand and love each other above those differences.
In short, a beautiful and delicious series, one of those that leaves a mark, and a good one, because it will make you laugh, cry, sigh and dream of a love that transcends time, distances and countless obstacles.

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Romance Between a Model Student & a Delinquent!

“It shows that some people can overcome their suffering while others get consumed by it.”

The sea is an unfathomable and contradictory place—calm one moment, violent the next, uncertain most of the time, and filled with hidden dangers and unexpected beauty, much like the new Japanese BL, Our Youth.

Adapted from the webtoon of the same name by Hi Nun, the story follows model student Minase Jin (Motojima Junsei) and delinquent Hirukawa Haruki (Kamimura Kenshin) as they navigate a turbulent youth marked by violence and loneliness, all while figuratively floating in a choppy sea where no one expects them to become involved with one another.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/11/13/our-youth-first-impressions-ep-1-2/

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NamtanFilm Chemistry is on Fire!

For those wondering about the epiphany of this quote, it might probably resonate with Ai-oon, one of the main leads in the show. She has spent her entire lifetime standing in the shadow of her successful twin, Ob-oom, who was a capricious two-timer. Chao Planoy is slowly becoming one of the most popular Thai GL authors in the industry, with almost 6 of her novels being adapted into live-action series (GAP, Blank, My Marvellous Dream Is You, Affair, Apple My Love, Pluto) and two others are in production (Mate The Series & Us The Series). Her stories mostly depict angsty and catastrophic relationships. “Pluto” is no different, what sets it apart from the other adaptations is the production quality and the excellent casting. Starring Namtan Tipnaree in dual roles alongside Film Rachanun, the storyline is mystique yet entertaining.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/11/14/pluto-series-first-impressions-ep-1-to-4/

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An Apt Remake and Epic Romance Recalled!

For those who are looking for a vivid comparison between the Thai & Japanese version, fret not. We are at your service!

After a bevy of Thai remakes of Japanese adaptations (Cherry Magic & My Love Mix-Up!), now it’s time to watch the Japanese remake of popular Thai adaptation “Love in the Air”. If you have watched the original show, you might be reminded of the fact that it turned rookie actors Boss Chaikamon, Noeul Nuttarat Tangwai, Fort Thitipong & Peat Wasuthorn into fan favorites. Each of these pairings have a cult following and their popularity could be attributed to the NC scenes that are a part and parcel of most universe’s created by author MAME. When I first heard about the Japanese remake, I had my own doubts. Japanese BL actors can be categorized into two varieties- firstly the ones who are dedicated and go all the way in, which means they are extremely comfortable with their co-star and their NC scenes are phenomenal. Secondly, the ones who are in for fame and find it uncomfortable to even kiss their co-star. I kept wondering if the Japanese actors Nagumo Shoma, Hamaya Takuto, Suzuki Asahi & Nagatsuma Reo would be honest to the original interpretation? Would they be comfortable stepping into the shoes of the Thai actors who left a deep impression in the minds of avid fans?

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/11/12/love-in-the-air-koi-no-yokan-first-impressions-ep-1-2/

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a lovely, heartfelt ghost-of-the-week with a weak through plot

I wasn't originally going to watch this show because it looked like a style of humor I don't really jive with (and it wasn't really), but I was convinced by the gifsets of exorcisms. The first seven episodes of this series are absolutely heartwrenching--I cried every single week and came back ready for more. Even if I wasn't a huge fan of the slightly obnoxious comedy aspects, I really felt that the individual hauntings were so beautifully well done it was beyond worth it. However, once we left the ghost-of-the-week format to chase Home and Peach's stories... the plot got muddled, less sharp, and less interesting. I enjoyed my time with these characters, but it ended on a bit of a whimper for me.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
This story was at it's absolute strongest when it was incisive and political. The early episodes delve into important failings in society in a sympathetic and earnest way that I found very moving. Particularly, Ciize, Foei, and ForceBook's hauntings have really stuck with me over the weeks (although I liked the other ghosts as well). There was a true sense of justice and purpose in these episodes that hasn't been present in a lot of dramas lately.
But, as I said above, I was very disappointed in the end of Home's story. Rather than truly delve into the issues unpacked in early episodes, Home's entire family got off easy. The societal evils of capitalism melted away into a pretty trite family drama that wrapped up quite easily. It felt the humor became more and more forced, when the show had been successfully trending to something much more emotional and resonant.

ACTING:
This is a tough one. In those most emotional moments? This show is spectacular. Tay and New have an undeniable chemistry that makes their arguments feel very natural and high-stakes. Likewise, the moments intended to show off this growing family feeling are all so, so lovely and warm. Mook and Jan blend into this chemistry perfectly and it truly does feel real.
On the flip side... some of the "comedy" is borderline unbearable. Shrill, whiny screams, performative deliveries, and egregious over-acting with no charm riddled the "lighthearted" moments and felt considerably more amateur than I KNOW these actors are capable of. Perhaps it was simply not my style, but I rarely laughed at this "comedy."

PRODUCTION:
This production was pretty fun for GMMTV this year. While it felt a tad bit over-produced, it was still enjoyable and fun. In particular, the wound/ghost makeup was genuinely exceptional. I put me perfectly on edge of a little uncomfortable, a little grossed out, a little awkward that helped nail that emotional impact.
That said, I think it's a little ironic how curated some of the scenic design was, given that this was supposed to be a story about finding out what Home mean. It was a bit too... clean, by the end. I missed the hominess of Peach and Pangpang's original apartment. I would like to see GMMTV directors/designers be a little bit more intentional and thoughtful about how the look of the show reflects the themes and messages.

A NOTE:
At risk of becoming the too woke friend, I do think this show crossed a line of queerbaiting for me. I want to be perfectly clear: this has nothing to do with Tay or New (who were always clear it was not a BL), shippers promoting the show, or even a preference for it being a BL. This is about certain tweets from the director and official account, as well as "Easter eggs" for "bl fans" in the script left a sour taste in my mouth.
If you want the attention and energy of queer audiences, you need to actually engage with queer storylines and characters. I don't want clever references or teasing jokes that fail to come to fruition. This half-in-half-out style feels slimy and exploitative--just tell the story you mean to tell, whichever that might be.

In all, I enjoyed this show but it definitely still makes my ever-growing list of 2024 dramas that failed to stick the landing.

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Parbdee, I will get you that Emmy!

Where to even begin describing how wonderfully written and executed this show was. I haven't been able to start and finish a GMMTV show since 23.5 and I am so glad that this is the one that finally stuck. I was hooked onto the music the second I heard it, and have been streaming it daily since it his Spotify. The first episode really pulls you in and you immediately get a feel and attachment to each of the characters. Home, Peach, Pang, and Kan are all so different from each other but make perfect sense together. TayNewMookJan did an amazing job as these characters and made me fall more in love with them each week.

The storytelling and world building of this show is masterful and really gets into the core of what a TV show is supposed to be. As an aside, since the rise of streaming only shows, there's this energy where shows with 8-12 episodes just feel like a really long movie chopped into pieces with no rhyme or reason. Not with Peaceful Property. Each of the early episodes had a ghost story A plot and a Vimarsukan family drama B plot, and it kept me hooked week to week. Every ghost story A plot had me sobbing more than the previous week, I think the writers did a phenomenal job of balancing humor with more solemn concepts like grief and feelings of inadequacy in your own family.

Overall, this show is amazing and I need Parbdee to continue making visually amazing, well written comedies like this. I cannot recommend Peaceful Property enough.

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Brilliant show

The NEW CDrama of 2024, "Smile Code" has awakened Fans from around the world to watch this upcoming story about a young man played by Lin Yi who suffers from Alexithymia. What is Alexithymia? It is a condition where a person is unable to express emotion, and 1 in 10 people suffer from it and their unable to "LAUGH". It is common condition with people that suffer from depression and Autism (ASD).

Next, comes the witty, clumsy, and humorous Shen Yue who makes everyone laugh except Lin Yi. They develop a friendship based on coincidences and it sparks a new relationship about Love while still dealing with the aftermath of their past family trauma and circumstances. This is another beautiful love story with 34 episodes and is a must Watch series. This is a drama that is unlike any other drama because it deals with a condition that is not talked about and the only cure is finding another person who has the opposite personality.

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TayNew DELIVERED

Peaceful Property was not a show I expected to like all that much if I'm being honest. Based on the trailer, it looked to be a monster of the week-style horror/comedy ghost hunting show, and I wasn't sure that the jokes would land all that well given the language barrier. However, this show was so much better than I expected!

Peach (Tay) and his sister Pangpang (Jan) are struggling to make ends meet after Peach lost his job as a chef due to a car accident that left him unable to work in the kitchen. Pangpang has been trying to make it as an influencer, which ends up working in their favor when Home (New) discovers their ghost hunting show. Ever since the accident, Peach has been able to see ghosts - which is exactly what Home needs after inheriting multiple haunted properties from his recently deceased grandfather. Home is trying to sell the properties asap, and needs Peach's help to exorcise the ghosts; Pangpang plans to film everything and start up their ghost hunting business. Peach and Home don't get off to a great start, but through working together on the exorcisms, they start to understand each other and bond more. However, it seems that there's a lot more hiding in the secrets of Home's rich family, and he has unknowingly dragged his new friends into a bigger mess than any of them could have expected.

While the show did start off very episodic, it perfectly transitioned into drama that spanned for longer. It managed to use the first few ghost hunting adventures to help flesh out the characters themselves, making the twists in their relationships and backstories more interesting and engaging. I love a found family, and that's exactly what this show delivered. If GMM wanted to, they easily could have made this a BL - Tay and New were absolutely wonderful in their arcs and the tension between them was excellent. Even though some of the twists were expected, the way they were done still left me surprised, and there were plenty of instances where I had no idea what was coming next. A really fun watch overall!

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