Buang Athithan (2016)

I like the poster (at least something:)

Firstly, 'Buang Athithan' is a supernatural ghost story: NOT my favorite kind of lakorn. And if dealing with low-budget cgi ghosts forms the whole story and presents a majority of the screentime, I start skipping through such lakorn, no matter the cast. 'The Sixth Sense' became totally unwatchable despite having FIVE super beautiful girls + Louis Scott. Cast isn't everything. But when I'm mentioning it, you can see 2 of the 'Sixth Sense' girls here (One of them looks already a bit on the older side... Oops, that's the one who's 19. Perhaps there is a typo in her year of birth).

Secondly, this is 2-timelines show, which usually I do not like, either. I always stick only with one and ignore the other, or if it's 'Tae Pang Korn' (any version) I drop it entirely. For me, that's unwatchable. But here at 'Buang Athithan', I started watching the "historical" line, too. At least there is no ghost there, yet... and characters seemed to be interacting more in there. Now, as the romance has to be super-good to compell me into watching something this demented, the lead pair's chemistry is very important. But Patricia Tanchanok Good (good name, LOL) while being pretty and cute (the cheek dimple:) is still teenage. Her performance is adequate to not yet being mature actress. Don't take me wrong, I know the exceptions DO exist. Mark Naktakhe just finished another lakorn right before this one, where he was alongside then only 16 years old Benz Narinya, and she stole the whole show and has blown everyone away. Patricia is NOT such a rare exception though, to work smoothly in being paired with 7 years older Prin Suparat. Their dynamics IS uneven. I don't buy their "chemistry". Sometimes their skinship scenes made me shudder (and not with excitement), as he looks like molesting his kid sister. Sometimes she looks ridiculous trying to "tease" him.

So, the romance? I couldn't thoroughly enjoy it. In the period, the wedding scene looks georgeous, but Prin Suparat's fake long hair bothered me, it grew like right from his face in places where sideburns should rather be, like he was monkey (remember 'Planet of the Apes'?:) Patricia Tanchanok Good is probably GOOD pick from thousands of girls some casting agency had to choose from, but she is still a girl, not a woman. She still needed more girlish role. Also, they get married like in epi 4 out of 11 so the rest is no longer romance, just dragging side-story of them dealing with that side-character, who then becomes the ghost/is the ghost in the contemporary line. In the modern version they are not married yet, and he's got human hair, but they have way less exciting character dynamics. She just keeps taking pictures in his house and randomly waking up from dreaming about the period bits. He starts pursuing her rather early, saying he feels like she is someone he's been waiting for. It's the reference of their shared past life, of course, nevertheless it does not change the fact that there is no real spark. Also, soon the oldtime line takes up almost all the screentime.

AND it is soon as boring and annoying as the modern one. That side-character is practically major character here (at least in the modern times, she is just lurking there occasionally) and the side actress has nothing that would make viewers interested in watching so many scenes with ther. I started skipping, again.

Maybe Eye Kamolned & Mark Naktakhe's line could save this show from being a total letdown? I hoped. Sometimes the "second couple" practically becomes the first couple. And I definitely liked THEIR dynamics. They were funny since episode 1, where we see them squabble at the hotel reception. Then they appear in the historical line, too. He is the hot guy from 'Naree Rissaya' (actually 2 years her junior), looks funny with the long hair too, but their couple has more comedy anyways. They're both superior actors to the main couple ones. But soon they almost disappear from the story, there were at least 3 (hour and three-quarters long) episodes with barely any scenes of them together... When they re-appear, they're really cute. Pitty Mark Naktakhe never got any more roles. Seeing him in this stupid show with the fake ape-hair can't be how we are to remember him forever?

In conclusion... I wondered how to rate this. See, if we should cut out anything Butsakorn-related (name of that side-character) the whole lakorn would have about 50 minutes runtime. So I think just knowing this, it's up to everyone whether to watch, or skip.

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Low Budget Goodie

I totally enjoyed this drama bc of the unique n historical storyline, n especially wanting to know how, when, where .. kept me watching bc of the suspense! Actors were all high caliber w/ great display of a range of emotions - kudos to Mark Prin - the camera loves you! The antagonist who opposed the Male Lead n Female Lead was so good at acting her part that I really hated her, so good job at making me feel that emotion! The FL was stunning n cute as can be w/ a range of emotional acting, thank you. All supporting actors were strong giving the storyline a solid base.

Granted, this may have been a low Budget OR it could bc it was 2015/2016 shooting - the CGI may be not a wow but the storyline, suspense, n the actors carried it thru. The historical outfits n scenery were very pleasing. As I'm new to Thai dramas, I appreciated the historical value since I'm interested in other cultures' history! And, seeing it thru a drama love story is a perk for me.

The 'love' part of the drama was not as 'physical' as I would've liked to see but again - the drama n actors/acting itself kept me watching all the way thru. (And, maybe Thai dramas are conservative in 'showing' kissing scenes etc. is why it left me wanting more?)

Please, do not compare this to a billion dollar western movie - it is not, but it is entertaining, informative, pleasing, n leaves you w/ a good fuzzy feeling inside. Thank you to all involved in making this drama!

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