1
angeliviki2022
This review may contain spoilers
My favorite adaptation
This is the 4th version I have seen [previously seen Playful Kiss (Korean adaptation), Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo (Japanese adaptation), Miss in Kiss (Taiwanese adaptation)] and I have say this is definitely my favorite. While the other three have stayed truer to the manga series "Itazura na Kiss," I felt this version made both Naoki (TenTen in this Thai version) and Kotoko (Taliw) less extreme versions of themselves. TenTen remains a cold, genius-level student but he has a gentle side that's apparent even in the first episode. Taliw is not the sharpest tool in the shed, but she is surrounded by her small group of loyal friends who are protective of her. Her insights in this version were spot on.
How this adaptation differed in positive ways (IMHO):
- kept the house destruction event believable [not an insect-related lab mishap (Miss in Kiss), 2.0 earthquake that destroyed the house (Playful Kiss), a small meteor hitting the house (Love in Tokyo)].
- made Kinnosuke (King in the Thai version) a lovable character. He was devoted without being stalker-ish and supportive in the most loving ways.
- although Naoki's Mom in the other versions was so extreme that she played a caricature and was a riot, I could see why Naoki felt he had to leave the house to figure out what were his Mom's decisions and what were his decisions. TenTen, on the other hand, had Mom Kaew who often insisted on her way, but they also negotiated. She also knew how to apologize and show her love for him. She never showed up at school and plastered the bulletin boards with dating rumors nor arranged his wedding without this knowledge. I felt that TenTen left the house partly to allow Taliw to rely less on him and to figure out what she could do on her own.
- Taliw did follow TenTen around to a certain degree, and TenTen encouraged this with respect to choosing their college degrees. But Taliw had more of a backbone, esp. at the end of episode 19.
- TenTen's and Taliw's back story in this adaptation was precious. I absolutely loved it.
I know many people prefer a version truer to the manga series, and I truly enjoyed those too. Having seen 3 of them already, I was ready for this version. I'm thrilled to have found this. The main leads had GREAT chemistry. Mike Angelo didn't have to shed a lot of tears to convey his emotions but I could feel his uncertainty and sadness. He is even more gorgeous without the platinum blond. I loved that he and Aom sang the "Kiss me" OST single.
TLDR: Highly recommended!
How this adaptation differed in positive ways (IMHO):
- kept the house destruction event believable [not an insect-related lab mishap (Miss in Kiss), 2.0 earthquake that destroyed the house (Playful Kiss), a small meteor hitting the house (Love in Tokyo)].
- made Kinnosuke (King in the Thai version) a lovable character. He was devoted without being stalker-ish and supportive in the most loving ways.
- although Naoki's Mom in the other versions was so extreme that she played a caricature and was a riot, I could see why Naoki felt he had to leave the house to figure out what were his Mom's decisions and what were his decisions. TenTen, on the other hand, had Mom Kaew who often insisted on her way, but they also negotiated. She also knew how to apologize and show her love for him. She never showed up at school and plastered the bulletin boards with dating rumors nor arranged his wedding without this knowledge. I felt that TenTen left the house partly to allow Taliw to rely less on him and to figure out what she could do on her own.
- Taliw did follow TenTen around to a certain degree, and TenTen encouraged this with respect to choosing their college degrees. But Taliw had more of a backbone, esp. at the end of episode 19.
- TenTen's and Taliw's back story in this adaptation was precious. I absolutely loved it.
I know many people prefer a version truer to the manga series, and I truly enjoyed those too. Having seen 3 of them already, I was ready for this version. I'm thrilled to have found this. The main leads had GREAT chemistry. Mike Angelo didn't have to shed a lot of tears to convey his emotions but I could feel his uncertainty and sadness. He is even more gorgeous without the platinum blond. I loved that he and Aom sang the "Kiss me" OST single.
TLDR: Highly recommended!
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